It is hard to put what I experienced today into words. I feel so blessed to have spent four weeks in this amazing place. My heart melts for the land of 1,000 hills. I could ride all day through the whole country and still be just as enamored. We were out in the hills with squatty potties and bucket showers but it was one of my top months. The people here are warm and genuine our host blessed us with laundry and warm water for our showers. These are a people who have survived what most of us would consider a nightmare. I was able to ask ignorant questions and solemnly they would explain about losing family members, being displaced and how their country is recovering.
Being a visitor here has been so sweet and beautiful. The land and people have a way of just drawing you in. Never in a million years was my heart prepared for our trip to the memorial. When we got to the gate we prayed over our hearts and mind. We asked God to protect us but to break our hearts for what breaks his. I asked God to show me himself and help us to not feel despair or to be overwhelmed by the evil.
When I walked into the memorial you sit in a short intro video. It talks about the details and you get introduced to the stories of some survivors. Then you walk through a well designed timeline. It has signs in 3 different languages and you can read your way through this horrible event. One survivor in a small video says it felt like Rwanda was in hell or another planet. I learned also about how the world stood by and watched. It broke my heart. In the room full of pictures of the victims I wrote this poem.
“Over 1,000,000 People”
You knew their names
You knew their hopes
You knew their dreams
You knew their pains
You knew their fears
You knew their fate
The loved ones they would leave
You knew that love would conquer hate
You knew that hope would still come
You knew that love would win
Lord let these lessons not be in vain.
May the World learn from this pain.
We are all people, every nation and every tongue.
Let not hate decide us not even one.
My heart was breaking in the children’s memorial room. I sat and cried across from an image of a little boy who looked like a mirror image of one of my favorites from baby class. I cried and prayed for God to forgive us, to forgive the world. I wrote this poem.
“Life Will Never Be the Same”
Hope for a future
Hope through the pain
Forgiveness is coming
Like the falling rain
Hope for a future
Hope through the pain
Hope for the children
Those who remain
Hope for a future
Hope through the pain
We will never forget
Those who were slain
Hope for the future
Hope through the pain
God will forgive us
Life will never be the same
The memorial, however, was not a dark place. It was not filled with hate or anger. It a place of healing and remembrance. For Rwandans have learned an old secret , “true forgiveness, brings peace.” As a country they have overcome and they stand united. They are all Rwandans. There is remorse and pain but they learned that hatred only brings death, the true victory comes with reconciliation. For the future of their country and their hope is that Rwanda will be an example to the world of what forgiveness means and that God will bless their nation.
My heart was encouraged as I watch good win. This dark thing happened and ignoring it won’t go away but letting the light in and working towards healing has brought a bright future to this beautiful place.
