MONDAY

This was a challenging and emotional day for the team, where we gained a deeper insight into the 1994 genocide.

Kigali Memorial Centre

We visited this centre that educated us on the 100 day massacre, taking over 1 000 000 lives and resulting in 85 000 child headed households and 300 000 orphans, some of whom we were able to support and build relationship with during this trip. From the displays, we learnt that the Belgians initially empowered the Tutsis, i.e. the Rwandan minority who were taller, with fairer skin, narrower noses (etc). However later the Rwandan Hutu majority gained control. This led to years of conflict. However in April 1994, the Hutu Rwandan president was shot. The shooter remains unknown. This led to massacres of Tutsis, moderate Hutus, and anyone who tried to help the victims, by the Hutu extremist military, who attempted to eliminate Tutsis. Victims were tortured, raped and mutilated. For me, the most confrontational information learnt here was that though the International community knew, had the power to stop the genocide, and yet took over three months to do so.

Nyamata Genocide Memorial

We also visited two genocide memorials. This centre, like many others across Rwanda, honours the lives of over 10 000 Rwandans killed. This church was a place where many victims sought refuge, thinking it was a safe hideout. But rather, we were told it was an easy target for mass murder, victims being burnt alive, or killed by grenades or by hand.

As we were led throughout the church, we saw piles of clothes once worn by the victims sprawled across the floor. Their blood still stains the floor, walls and ceilings. Their graves surround the site. Shelves of their skulls and bones, some even still with the spears that penetrated through, were displayed.

Seeing all this made the genocide so much more real and close to our hearts. We all reacted in different ways, from anger to hurt, confusion and emptiness. A question that kept running through my mind was - where was our Father God of love, who is supposed to protect His children, in all of this?

However 16 years later I see a nation that is healing. The Rwandan community has learnt to forgive and care for one another. Instead of questioning God and holding onto the immense loss, pain and suffering, I have seen the Rwandans, like the champions from the centre, with hope for the future, singing praises to God. Those responsible for the killings are trialled by courts, must ask the community for forgiveness, and pay penance. Although I may question the justice afforded, I can see that the Rwandans let our God of justice be the ultimate judge, who will one day set things right. I think the whole team has learnt a lot from the forgiveness and trust in God from the Rwandan community, and can really see God’s joy, hope and love in them as a result.

What made the day more difficult was later saying murabeho / goodbye to our friends from the centre of champions. Each of us left them with a message, i.e. that: God will never leave them, even through the valleys, that God would always forgive them..........