//Humanity Needs Mercy from a Savior//
“There will be no humanity without forgiveness. There will be no forgiveness without justice. But justice will be impossible without humanity”
-yolande mukagasana
This is one of the powerful quotes that hung on the walls of the Genocide memorial in Kigali, Rwanda.
The names of those who passed during the Genocide.
H U M A N I T Y : The collective human race.
Rwanda recently experienced a catastrophic event in the form of manslaughter. The scars left from the 1994 Genocide are there on the nationals’ faces and in their stories, the mountain sides, city streets, and school yards. All humanity was affected and the impact spread across other East African countries as refugees fled Rwanda. In the midst of this tragedy, the West was silent. Brother killing brother. Afterwards, there were reconciliation meetings. The country came together to confess and begin the road of forgiveness.
While there, I faced the stark reality that this almost happened in my lifetime and the nationals of my country did almost nothing. I am not trying to make a political post but this impacted my time in Rwanda. Being white, from the USA and a Christian means something to Rwandans. There were times throughout the month I sat outside a petty shop entering into solidarity with another human being; asking forgiveness for what the church and the west did to their families. To pray for reconciliation over that land, for Christ to radically heal and transform that individual.
My Friend Manuel
F O R G I V E N E S S
All month, the Lord constantly taught me about His complete forgiveness. When we first arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, the Lord connected us with an incredible couple from Alabama. The day they came to pick us up they were robbed. A significant amount of money and technology was taken in addition to violating their home. Through watching these strangers that quickly became family cope with this loss, I learned about the significance of forgiveness. And through conversations with locals I learned about the power of forgiveness. And to think God’s forgiveness is all the greater and powerful.
Children growing up in government housing created for Genocide survivors.
J U S T I C E
We deserve justice. I deserve justice for the wrongs I have committed against humanity; against some of you. Sure, I have never “taken someone’s life.” But I have harbored hate in my heart, been impatient, lied and the list goes on. After visiting the Genocide memorial, I experienced great sadness in my heart for all humanity and through the wave of grief, anger and questions followed. Our team took a day to process. During that day, the Lord reminded me that He is the one right judge and mercy triumphs over judgement. Mercy heals and is a part of reconciliation in our world. I am thankful for the Lord’s mercy in my life and the strength He gives to extend this to others. Seeing my Rwandan brothers and sisters extend mercy and forgiveness to each other despite the punishment that seemed justified is a small picture of Christ’s gift to humanity.
“For judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement.”
James 2:14
I am still $1,000 short of being fully funded! If you want to be a part of this journey scroll up and click the DONATE page. Also, if the Lord is pressing on your heart to contribute to a specific need on the field you can contact my mom Shellie Kale-Burden. Thank you for all your prayers and support!
