Our tribute to our Rwandan friend and colleague

Several days ago, we learned that Covid took the life of a wonderful African Christian. Gaspard more closely reflected the beauty of Christ in his daily life than almost anyone else we've had the privilege of working with. A man of many languages, he is now speaking all of them in heaven, and many more! His gentle, godly personality is adding to the worship of his Lord Jesus Christ. 

Gaspard's funeral in Rwanda with his extended family attending

We came to know Gaspard, a refugee from Rwanda, when we lived and worked in Istanbul. Being in a worse situation than almost any other refugee, his wisdom and gentle nature added immeasurably to the work of giving encouragement to individuals who came to our office from more than 65 countries in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. The refugee office known as IIMP, Istanbul Interparish Migrant Program, was initiated almost 30 years ago. 

The first war in Iraq, Desert Storm I, witnessed a sudden arrival of refugees. At the same time in Africa, Gaspard was selected as an international student to study at Moscow's best universities. Three years later, with his passport and baggage in hand, he was returning home to Rwanda. Unknown to him, a genocide was taking place in the country, and as of that day, all incoming flights were canceled. He had only a few days left on his passport and renewing it was why the trip back home. Unable to leave Istanbul, because his passport was no longer valid, Gaspard became a man without a country. He was also unable to complete his studies in engineering. He faced an uncertain future, being stranded in Istanbul. 

Seeking help from anyone or any organization, Gaspard came to the Union Church of Istanbul. Since he could speak Turkish, Russian, French, Swahili, English, and several local African languages were ideal for acting as an interpreter. Refugees lined up each morning outside the tiny office at the back of the Union Han, the building owned by the international church. Gaspard showed incredible wisdom when relating with refugees. 

We knew Gaspard because of his unending compassion, even in the toughest of days. When refugees came to our office, he noted their names and asked pertinent questions. He visited sick people in the hospital and coordinated the three soup kitchens that were part of the IIMP program. Gaspard coordinated the appointments for individuals coming for interviews so that our work in the office flowed smoothly. He had a wonderful memory for names. Despite constant stress, which came from working with 300-400 refugees each month, we never saw him get angry. His were always words of kindness and encouragement. 

Gaspard brought the fresh presence of Jesus Christ into every encounter.  He knew how to listen, getting to the deeper stories that were hard to share. Being a victim of beatings, imprisonment, torture, and robbery often causes people to push those memories down as they struggle to find the next meal. Gaspard understood them because he, too, lived from month to month on the small salary paid by IIMP, and he also had experienced many dashed hopes. Many memories flood back as we mourn the loss of a gentleman who was also a gentle man.