“My motto is that disability is not inability. With God, all things are possible.” — Grace
Grace, a young woman living in rural Rwanda, was born without three of her limbs. From a young age, Grace suffered painful words and unimaginable loss from those who called her a curse.
But through the support of a special woman and the local church, Grace discovered she has a God-given purpose. Now, she lives and dreams without limits.
“You’re Nothing But a Curse”
When Grace was born, many of her family members saw her disability as a curse. Some of her family members even pressured her parents to kill her.
“When I was born, my family and relatives thought I was a curse. They tried to convince my mother to stop breastfeeding me so that I would die of hunger. They said that nothing like this had ever happened in their clan before and that as soon as I was born even the livestock started dying.” — Grace
But Grace’s parents thought she was beautiful from the moment they laid eyes on her. Beransiira, Grace’s mother, remembers the day she was born: “When I saw my baby, I just thanked God…I loved what came out of my womb, that which God created within me.”
Unfortunately, threats from Grace’s family intensified. Her own uncle threatened to murder her father if Grace and “her curse” were not taken from this world. But Beransiira and her husband would do anything to protect their precious daughter.
Because Grace’s father refused to give in to his family’s demands, he was murdered. Thieves took his life as he worked as a security guard protecting a nearby home. And those thieves? They were thought to be organized by his own brothers.
No Time to Mourn, Only Time to Flee
Beransiira had no time to mourn her husband. To protect her daughter’s life, she had to flee her home immediately. With Grace and her four siblings in tow, Beransiira fled to Uganda.
Instead of finding refuge and security, Beransiira found more threats from her husband’s family who lived nearby. They still weren’t safe. But that’s when God sent Betty, a woman who would change the course of Grace’s life forever.
Finding Compassion in More Ways Than One
Beransiira turned to Betty, a local Ugandan village leader, for help. Filled with compassion for the family, Betty told Beransiira she would care for them.
“When I heard Beransiira’s story, my heart was filled with compassion toward her, and I offered to help. Grace came to live with me when she was just 4 years old. At the time she was tiny and very malnourished. She was in a bad condition. I already had many children of my own, so I wasn’t sure what life with Grace was going to look like, but I took her in anyway.” — Betty
Betty’s authority in the community commanded protection for the family, allowing Grace to experience a childhood free from fear. With Betty’s help, Grace and her family could finally experience the love and safety they deserved.
Grace Experiences Jesus’ Compassion for Her
Betty soon registered Grace with the Compassion center at her local church, where Grace received the critical medical care, nutritious meals and other essentials she needed to begin to heal. And instead of hatred and ridicule, she received acceptance and love.
“I think if Grace had never joined the Compassion program, she would not be alive today. When I think back to when she first came to my place, tiny, malnourished, without medical interventions, without school fees, rejected by her family — her mother trying to figure out what to do with her. I think that without the Compassion program she would be dead.” — Betty
As those at the center surrounded her with encouragement and care, Grace began to experience Jesus’ love and compassion for her too.
Her family’s hatred and pursuit of her and the painful words of other children had hurt her deeply, leaving her feeling less than and left out. But all of that began to change as she grew in her relationship with Jesus.
Grace started to feel less like a curse and more like a woman with a God-given purpose. She began to believe she was limitless.
“Compassion helped me to know God and grow in him deeply. I learned not to live in self-pity, but to press forward and pursue my goals and involve myself in activities with others. And over time, I grew to accept and love myself.” — Grace
“I Believe I Can Do Anything”
Grace has grown in confidence and now believes that she can do anything. By finding her identity in Jesus, Grace now focuses on her abilities instead of her disability.
“I think people believe that those of us with disabilities are useless and can’t do much in the earth. To them, we’re not useful or productive. But I’ve never thought like that. Whatever normal people do with limbs, I can do them too. For instance, I cook, I am able to mop our house, I’m able to wash, and so I’m not limited. I have a goal of being a journalist one day and doing radio presentations. I believe I can do anything.”— Grace
Grace knows that with God, she and anyone living with a disability can truly live without limits. She continues to work toward her dreams and God-given purpose, knowing full well that nothing can stop her.
God’s Word says that we are more than conquerors through him (Romans 8:37). With God, we’re limitless, and Grace’s life is undeniable proof.
“I trust that my testimony has a purpose and a big one at that. To encourage other people like me, termed as disabled; to know they have a purpose, that God loves them and they can make it in life.” — Grace
Just like Grace, millions of children and young people are learning to see beyond the limits of poverty and into their God-given potential. How? Through the love of those serving as the hands and feet of Jesus: sponsors, supporters and local churches around the world.
You can help a child live without limits by providing the care they need to see beyond poverty and into a brighter future.
