Title:  My story

Francois Sieberhagen

For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him.  Philippians 1:29

Suffering comes in different forms.  It can be because of sickness, poverty or even rejection because of your faith.  Suffering in any form creates challenges.

As a photographer one is often confronted with the impact suffering has.  This is especially evident when trying to capture it on film.  Usually the people in question will smile and tell you everything is fine.  Only when you put the camera down, they are willing to discuss the real issues and then the hurt surfaces.

During my travels in Rwanda, I met a special group of people.  We were high up in the mountains, far from any of the main roads.  Some of the people in the group started talking about their needs and circumstances.  Their tales were testimonies of courage and great faith.  These were people who held on to God by faith to provide for them and show them the way out of their misery.

They asked me: “What are you going to do for us?”  This question challenged me and made me think, “who am I, what is my motive, what am I trying to achieve!”  All I could tell them was that I would try and retell their stories as accurately and as passionately as I possibly could.  What happens after that, I would not know.

Was that enough?  Maybe not.  Materially I could not do much for them.  Maybe the ear I lent was an opportunity for them to verbalise their feelings they were hiding in their hearts.

Later I realised that those people had a very positive effect on my life.  Simply because the testimony they lived was worth following.  Even though they suffered they were still able to praise God.  They lived their faith despite all the trials and tribulations they experienced.

Most of us also experience suffering and our paths cross with other people who suffer in different ways.  The question is:  “What do people see when their paths cross ours?  What do they experience?”  Do they experience Christ?

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be Jesus to other people through my deeds and actions.  Amen.