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Rwanda

From right to left Sam Nayebare, our tour guide for Rwanda, local village leader, Janet, the victim that had her family murdered by the man sitting to the far left in the photo, translator and local guide for the day, and Tashia, the perpetrator who killed the family of Janet, the lady seated center with the orange shawl.

Tashia, killed all her family. He explained what happened when the Hutu's murdered, raped and wiped out families during this horrible time in history. He was sentenced to prison and served time. His own family disowned him and he is alone now. He asked for forgiveness from Janet. Today he helps her when she asks for help. You could have heard a pin drop when each of them spoke. Many are in the villages because of Prison Fellowship Rwanda – an Anglican organization working with the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. The NGO supplies the materials that the victims and perpetrators use to build their homes.

Janet spoke of the family she lost that was taken from her by Tashia. She lost everything. She was forced to flee for her life from Tashia and other Hutus who were out to kill any Tutsi they encountered. She has forgiven him. I told her personally, through the translator, that she has a bigger heart than I have. I would not be able to forgive him for what he did. Her journey towards reconciliation began in 2005 when Prison Fellowship Rwanda sought to unite and reconcile Rwandans. The program started after the government released perpetrators who admitted to their crimes in the semi-traditional Gacaca, Grass, courts.

These ladies are listening intently as Janet in the privious photo is telling the story of her survival. She hid in a toilet for 1 1/2 months. She was 16 alone. Her parents had also been killed. She was on the streets for 2 months hiding. At one point she had fled into a church but was forced to flee when the local priest said the Hutus were coming. She said she can forgive but she cannot forget.

Rwanda has pushed forward with programs aimed at healing wounds and bridging divisions: Hutus and Tutsis now participate in mandatory community service programmes each month; School children are taught to identify as “Rwandan” rather than along ethnic lines; and, perhaps more surprisingly, hundreds of Hutu and Tutsi families now live side by side in “reconciliation villages” which they have built together and work together to maintain.

After the meeting and dialogue of the slaughter of families, reconciliation and new hopes for Rwanda there was music and dancing for a few minutes. Of course I had to jump in on that too.

A few light moments of friendship and fun after an hour of very heavy discussions.

One more ceremonial dance for our pleasure to enjoy.

Checking out the visitors

“I still miss my family members every day, but they will never come back. My neighbors are my family now.”

After the fun and dance a few more serious moments. We had purchased, the day before in a market in Kigali, clothing items for the children of the village and presented the items to the families of the village.

I went walked around and took photos of many villagers sharing the photos with them. Wish you could have seen the big similes from them when I shared the photos with them.

These are some of the photos.

Good friends sharing a moment of fun.

Sharing some laughter with local children

A Mother with her children

A proud Father with his young son

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