As we walked up the beautiful, peaceful mountain to our church, I could not imagine a young boy running out of his home with a machete and threatening to take my life. These people have been through so much! Many have lost mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, friends, and grandparents. One old lady who I met in the village told us that she lost her husband in the genocide. Another story that really touched me was hearing about how a daughter could lose her father in a war. These are just a few stories that really impacted my time here. I can’t imagine going through what these people have been through – how a two year old child can be killed by being smashed against a wall, how a priest can turn over to be burned 2000 people who hid in his church, how humans beings can be so reckless and gruesome and cruel. Even today, they are affected by the horrific genocide that took place only seventeen years ago. Though the country has done much to move forward, people are still struggling through the pain and hurt.
Being here this month has shown me that people can forgive, and that God is able to come into a country and transform it. I’ve also seen that people don’t judge each other based on the shape of their nose or by the amount of cows they have. I think in our lives, things can seem so small and yet it is so hard to forgive them. But then you look at the lives of the people here and what has happened to them… it’s incredible that they can forgive! And how much freedom they have found in life! Freedom is such a big gift to have and over the past month, God has definitely been teaching me about freedom in my life. Freedom in my words, in my actions, and in everyday things. You should not be bound by your fear. I’m going to miss this place and this month. This place has changed me for the better and I’ll never forget it. If you get the chance, you should definitely visit Rwanda. I just want to encourage you all not to look down on other people for being different from you or not fitting your beliefs or perceptions. Instead, love and accept them for who God has created them to be. peggy
