For those of you who know me, you know that I LOVE movies. I will go see a movie in the theater multiple times or see a movie I don't even want to see just to have the experience. I love escaping into another world for a couple of hours. It is my hobby. It is a way for me to relax and unwind. I also love reading all about the movie. Researching what the actors have been in previously and looking at the trivia and any other fun facts. In fact, the website IMDB (Internet movie data base) is one of my favorite websites to visit.
Well, a movie that I have seen and researched is "Hotel Rwanda." This movie tells the story about the massive genocide that occurred from April to July of 1994. I had actually gone and seen this movie by myself one afternoon. I guess I didn't know that it was going to be sad, because midway through it I was balling my eyes out. I must have cried so hard or loud that a random lady came and gave me tissues. After I saw the movie I remember thinking how powerful it was, but as time passed, I moved on to another blockbuster.
As I was interviewing for the world race, the girl on the phone asked me why I wanted to go to Rwanda. At that moment I remembered the movie and wanted to see what life would be like in real life. Well, I ended up having to chose another route and Rwanda wasn't on it. I was bummed but knew God was in control. What I did not know was our route got changed and instead of going to Tanzania, we were going to Rwanda!! Isn't God cool?
Now I am here. To prepare, I re watched the movie a couple of times so I could really appreciate the people or the things that I saw. On our second day here, our contact took us to the genocide memorial. Boy. That was emotional!!! I had been to the holocaust museum in DC so I knew it would be similar. What I didn't realize was how much more real it would feel. This only happened 20 years ago. Most people over the age of 20 most likely remember it or have some sort of connection with it. It was overwhelming. Even on the way home, a friend of mine talked to a girl that her dad was killed during the genocide. I began to imagine how many other people had similar stories.
My friend Emma told me that there was another movie about the genocide called "Sometimes in April" and I watched it last night. This movie is actually filmed in Rwanda whereas the other one was filmed in South Africa. Now that I was IN Rwanda, I could really visualize where it all took place. This movie focuses more on what went on outside of the hotel. It is very brutal at parts. It brought things to a whole new level. After turning it off, Pam and I discussed it. Neither of us could fathom how awful it must have been and how a group of people could do such horrific things. As I was going to bed, I said goodnight to all the women that cook for us. I wanted to squeeze them so hard. I felt like I had been in the movie and felt what they must have felt. My heart was breaking for everyone affected by it.
I am so glad there has been restoration in Rwanda. There is hope. People have moved on and are so grateful for their lives. The city is prospering and I am glad. I want there to continue to have new life here. I pray nothing like that will ever happen again.
