“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
Matthew 5:43-44 ESV
Our third day here in Rwanda my team and I went to the genocide memorial. Here are some of the stories and facts from the genocide in 1994 (even these are watered down):
Videos of people being hacked to death by machetes. Piles and buildings filled with the dead. Last known pictures of children, accompanied by a quote of their last known words and cause of death (often by bludgeoning). Some churches offered refuge to the Tutsis, while others participated in the mass killings and hatred spurred on by the Hutus. Men known to have HIV or AIDS were sent to rape Tutsi women to prevent a new Tutsi generation being born. Friends killing friends, neighbors killing neighbors, children participating in the killings… Over 1 million people were killed.
Having this as a part of their history, I will admit I did not expect Rwanda to be what it is today. In all honesty I didn’t know what to expect while coming here. Maybe it would be unsafe? Dirty? Torn apart by its past? But today Rwanda and it’s people have a different story to tell, and I realized my expectations were poorly formed.
Being here it is difficult to believe the Rwandan genocide was almost 25 years ago. It was impossible to hold back tears as I went through those exhibits. But being here for one month I’ve seen how much hope and potential is here in this little country.
Today Rwanda is one of the cleanest countries in the world. It is an extremely safe country. Kigali, the capital city, is quickly becoming the technology capital of Africa. Many young and innovative minds are helping to shape the capital city. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa, and many investors are flocking to Kigali because of its potentia. I’d say if you’ve ever wanted to start your own business, then Kigali would be the place to be.
The people themselves have taken their past and developed a firm foundation for a bright future. Today their focus is on unity and raising up a strong new generation of leaders who will impact the world. Rwanda is a shining example of the power of forgiveness and restored hope.
Daniel, one of my good friends here, was 4 when it happened. Today he works at the genocide memorial. At our first dinner together his ability to share the hard times of his past but also join in laughter displayed a lot of strength. “It is not easy, to forgive,” he said.
Ivan, one of our hosts spoke of public professions of both guilt and forgiveness throughout the nation of Rwanda. Over the years these have happened both in small villages as well as on a national scale. People would gather in town meetings and come forth confessing to their neighbors that they killed their mom or dad or children. Others would come forward to forgive those who had killed their families. Many of the people knew they had to live together, and they knew that the way forward was not revenge. Some of them even redeveloped friendships…
Hearing these things caused me to look inward at my own heart. How many petty things do I get hung up on when I cannot see the bigger picture? I realize that I am not someone who is always quick to forgive, and I realize how that negatively impacts my future. Are there people you haven’t forgiven in your life? Believe there are some relationships beyond repair or reconciliation? Don’t believe that lie. Forgiveness is powerful and Jesus has the power to reconcile anything. But it may never look like the way we want it to, it involves sacrifice of our feelings, and all the meanwhile it sets us free.
The way these people live in forgiveness and have chosen it daily in order to live in unity helped me realize the inward strength forgiveness truly takes. It’s a lesson I believe we can all learn from, especially us from the United States. I also realized the poor way my thoughts were formed about this country: from a lack of experience and knowledge, making a judgement based on its past. I’d encourage everyone to not make judgements based on the past or what they’ve heard, whether its with people or countries, instead get out there and experience it all for yourself and let the Lord form your thoughts.
Things are not perfect here in Rwanda, but there are many lessons I’ve learned from this beautiful country and it’s beautiful people. My time here and the friends I have made has been special: it was the first country I was worried about entering, and now it is the first country that I have cried about leaving.
