Deogratias shows his big Burundi smile, thankful that his wounds have healed!

Dear Friends,

Deogratias is a young man living on the streets of Bujumbura, Burundi, in East Africa. He and two of his friends dedicated their lives to Christ and began discipleship training with Heaven’s Family partner Bienvenu Bizimana. One Saturday night Deogratias and the other disciples were caught by the police, beaten, and thrown into jail.

Deogratias was beaten on the head and needed many stitches to mend his right ear. He also received blunt force injuries to his head and torso

Bienvenu heard about what happened the next morning and hurried to the police station. He was told that the men were imprisoned for sleeping in the street, which was prohibited and punishable by the law. The police also said they suspected them to be troublemakers.

Bienvenu explained that he was their pastor, and showed the police photos of their baptisms in an attempt to prove that they were disciples of Christ, not the troublemakers they believed them to be.

The police then allowed Bienvenu to see Deogratias. Because he was terribly beaten and bleeding, they permitted Bienvenu to take him to the hospital. The other men had to stay in jail and would not be released until they provided government identification, which they did not have the money to purchase.

At the hospital, Deogratias received badly needed medical treatment. Heaven’s Family’s Critical Medical Needs Fund paid for his treatment, and we prayed for him as he healed.

The next day Heaven’s Family purchased the government IDs for the three men, and today they continue their discipleship training and witnessing for Christ in Burundi.

Deogratias and friends are so happy that they have their own IDs

Your donation to the Critical Medical Needs Fund made a huge difference in the lives of these brothers in Christ. Deogratias and his friends are very grateful for loving them enough to help.

“Whatsoever you do to the least of the brethren…I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matt. 25:38).

In His service with you,

Patti Samuels
Director, Critical Medical Needs Fund