Mourning in Rwanda

Two days ago in Rwanda, the government called on the people of Rwanda to mourn. It has been 12 years from April 7th that the genocide began in the lush country in Africa. The green ivy climbs the eucalyptus trees, the early morning fog rises into the mountains, the dew on the thick grass covers each blade, the flowers burst with every color in the rainbow and the blood runs under it all.

Hidden in mass graves across the countryside lie the bodies of a million people. No bones have ever been identified. You must assume that if no one has come back home by now, they were slaughtered by an old hoe or machete. Perhaps you never know the truth of your father's demise. But certainly, with the missing, there is a certainty of something awful. You can only imagine the worst case scenario and your mind reels with what you witnessed in secret while you hid in the bushes, waiting for them to find you next.

There is great mourning over this small country now. The hospital is filled with people in great physical pain and no other symptoms. The pain is grief. It is palpable. There is a loss there of exceeding proportion and no one can bring back the innocence of life before hell came to earth in 1994.

My heart is broken as one particular man comes into mind. We spoke today with Travis who is the Director of GFR in Rwanda. He is also the spiritual director as well. He has been developing a deep connection with Cyprien who is our accountant and small business developer. Cyprien lost everyone in his family. That word "lost" seems so inappropriate here. 200 of his nearest family, cousins, aunts, grandparents, friends and school mates were "stolen" from him. He managed to survive by escaping the country in an exodus. There he met his now-wife Claudette. They have started over together. However, he has never
shed a tear over any of this tragedy. He has been in shock for many years. 12 of them. Yesterday, as Travis talked with him, he broke down sobbing and finally released some of the pain he has been holding inside. He told his new white friend through his pouring tears, "I didn't know that a white man could ever cry over my loss and care for me. I saw all of the white men leaving us with their dogs when the war began. We were being abandoned."

I shed tears for him tonight, wishing I could hold him in my arms. We left... we all left them. And now I have an opportunity to show him we will stay! If you knew Cyprien, as some of us do... you would know how deeply loving he is. There is never a time he is not laughing or smiling. He is dear to me... and how much more important is he to Christ? I never want to leave these people - God help me never leave them. Cyprien wrote his testimony for us to put on our website. As soon as we are able, we will post it. I know you will be inspired!

If you are looking for more inspiration, there is a new book I highly recommend regarding finding God and forgiveness through the pain of the genocide by Immaculee Ilibagiza called Left to Tell. During this week of mourning, take the time to familiarize yourself with the holocaust in Rwanda in honor of the 1 million children, mothers, fathers and friends that are now gone.