Carita is a widow from the genocide that occurred here in Rwanda in 1994. We had the opportunity to visit the section of town where she and other widows from the genocide reside.
We first heard about Carita at the genocide museum in the city. Our contact Pastor Rose recognized her portrait and her story while we toured the museum. Right away, she told us that we would go visit her.
During our time with her, I requested her permission to ask a rather straight forward question and she was more than willing to answer. I prefaced my question by mentioning how one of the biggest arguments against God is due to the problem of pain and suffering. Many people believe that in view of the genocide that occurred during WWII, or in Cambodia and Rwanda, there is no possible way that a God could exist. A loving God would never let such atrocities happen. I then asked her how she viewed God in light of all the pain and suffering she went through back in 1994.
She replied plainly, “I still believe in God because it is only by his grace that I am still alive. I know that He is not the one that caused [the genocide]. My God loves me and He has always provided for me. He has been there for me.”
Another thing that touched me rather deeply was when we asked her about what we could pray for, she asked us to pray that God would keep her alive so that she could continue to take care of her grandchildren who lacked parents. Once her grandchildren become old enough to work and take care of themselves, she would be fine with God taking her home.
It just amazed me how someone who has been through so much only views her life as a means to help others. That was the sole reason she desired to remain alive. It also amazed me how the widows of the genocide were the ones taking care of the orphans. Though they all had so little, they were still giving all they had for others.
