Remembering Rwanda

This week commemorates the nearly million lives lost in the genocide that tore the nation of Rwanda apart. This African country experienced a brutal bloodbath that started on April 7, 1994.  Two major tribes, Hutus and Tutsis, had recurring struggles of power dating back to the 1960s.  Tensions mounted and the Hutu run government decided to cleanse the country of the Tutsis. It ordered all Hutus to massacre their friends, their neighbors and even family members who were pro – Tutsi. You may remember the acclaimed film, Hotel Rwanda that shined some light on the atrocities against innocent victims.

Rwanda is thousands of miles away from America and the genocide didn’t impact my life much back then. Years later, this horrible event shook me when I read a book about the genocide.  A survivor, Immaculee Iligabiza, hid for three months in a tiny bathroom along with 7 other women. She recounts the experience in her first book, Left to Tell. I remember weeping with her throughout her story.    

For 100 days, terrorism attacked this beautiful country and over 800,000 lives were lost.  Hutu who loved their Tutsi friends and neighbors extinguished that love and mutilated them without a thought. The Hutu people snubbed out the lives of fellow countrymen without mercy. 

It is inexplicable that a nation could rise up and turn on its own countrymen.  In our country, the tragedies of Sandy Hook, Chardon and other school shootings offer a miniscule glimpse of innocents being slaughtered without a thought.  These senseless tragedies leave me longing and praying for simple love, justice, respect and dignity for all.

Although the Tutsis made desperate attempts to save themselves, it was impossible to escape the vengeance of the killers.  Desperate parents hid their children, hoping that their little ones would be miraculously spared. Three of those children did escape the savage machetes of the Hutu and spent their post genocide childhood in an orphanage in Rwanda.

Through the efforts of an organization called Orphan’s Prayer, these young survivors arrived in Ohio last year and now enjoy a home life and new families. Two girls live with a family that grew to 6. And one boy became a son to a childless couple in their 50s. 

The past year has challenged the young Rwandans to embrace enormous cultural change and a language barrier in exchange for unconditional love and security.  Their once bowed heads are lifted high and joy is their sweet song. 

The bold move of the American families changed them too.  They said “yes” – a simple word that changed a life, a family, and an entire community. The generous courage of a few families enabled many in the community to participate in the lives of these former orphans and be part of the change that is love.

The presence of these young people changed my life too. Knowing them is a blessing. Offering my love to them is nothing compared to the ocean of love that they have washed over me.  I thank our local families for sharing these precious lives with me. I thank our young Rwandans for being courageous and taking a chance on love. It’s truly a beautiful thing!
I pray for my new friends, for their loss and for the healing of their nation.