2004 My First Trip to Rwanda - Journal Excerpt

One of my most memorable experiences was on the last day of our trip, Friday, as we left.

Once again, early in the morning we boarded the bus to head to one of our final stops in Kigali.  We headed outside of the city towards a church where 10,000 people were slaughtered in only 2 days.  The church has been made into a Genocide Memorial and had an effect on me that I will never forget.  Aphrodice, a WorldVision staff member, accompanied us on the site visit – and shared the story of this particular genocide occurrence with us.  As we entered the church the caretaker began to tell us the story.  People from the outlining areas and villages fled to this area for safety – in particular the church.  For 2 days they hid in this tiny church and the priests home next door hoping to avoid the atrocity that would soon befall them.  After 2 days the military and militia came to the church and barricaded them inside, then murdered them with grenades, gunfire and machetes.  In these 2 days 10,000 people were mercilessly tortured and murdered – and their bones, skulls and even still clothing now lie to rest inside this church.  Additionally, over time another 10,000 bodies were found and collected from the countryside and now rest in the catacombs of this tiny little church.  Below in the basements cases and holding rooms had been created to hold the remains of these poor souls.  While in a room on our left, upon entering the church, laid a pile of bones, skills and clothing from 250 people.

As we walked around the church, the grounds and listened to the stories of what these people endured – I couldn’t help but be in total disbelief.  How could this happen – and moreover I lifted my eyes to God and asked – how could you let this happen, here, to these people, in your house.  The knowledge that God was not to blame for this rang in my head and heart, but I was overcome with complete and utter emotion.  I stood outside and peered through the metal gates into the sanctuary where the sun shone through a stained glass window onto the blood soaked fabric that still lay upon the alter.  How fragile and out of control we can become as humans.  As I walked back to the bus I had a difficult time gaining composure – and unfathomably, Aphrodice reached out his hand to my shoulder to comfort me.  All I could think is that I should be comforting him – as he feels the pain of this everyday and even brought us here to tell the story.  That moment as poignant for me – summing up so much of how I felt throughout the trip.  That these wonderful, amazing, spirit-filled and faithful people reached out to me everyday that I was there.  After all their pain, the freshness of their memories and the torment of their life experience – God has literally touched me with each reach of their hands, each smile and every ounce of compassion and acceptance that they have offered up to me.  How amazing.  Truly amazing – Our God can, does, has and continues to OVERCOME.  He is victorious – and we could never survive without Him.