Rwanda, Part 1

Hello!  I started this post from Rwanda, and now that I am home, I'm continuing to reflect.  It was been eye opening and amazing to take in the sights and witness the many ways that God is moving in this country through Serge and his wife Espy, the founders of Rwanda Children.  He has only been back in his homeland since January, but is already invaluable in so many life changing projects in the community.  As a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Serge turned to running to earn a scholarship to Abilene Christian University on the track and cross country teams.  There he met Esperance, who trained in Abilene be a nurse.  Together as full time students, they started providing health insurance (which is only $5 per year for each child) while working part time.   Then he decided his calling after his masters was to return to the area where he grew up to change the community, and promote healing where Hutu neighbors killed their Tutsi tribe neighbors in an effort to cleanse the area of the Tutsi tribe.    

He has a great team of Rwandans around him in country.  If you’re not familiar with the organization, I would encourage you to visit their website at www.RwandaChildren.org  At the very basic level, they exist to help the very vulnerable kids in the Bugesera district (the hardest hit by he genocide) by helping provide medical care, food, schooling, and hope in Jesus’ name.  Our group came to attend the opening ceremonies of the initial five houses for children, and a medical clinic and community center.  Serge is calling the new building complex the Hunter Hanner Community of Hope.  It is very humbling and an incredible honor.  Here is a youtube video of that how this all came about in Serge's words.  God has woven this all together in a way that only He could.  You can also read previous posts from my blog here and here.   

Day 1-Peace and Reconciliation Race

All the beautiful professional photographs are the work of Hoyoung Lee of SOHOSTORY (sohostory.com) who traveled with us.
The non-edited ones are via our iPhones:)

After 26 hours of travel and a good night's rest in our hotel, bright and early Sunday morning we got to participate in an International Peace and Reconciliation race sponsored and organized by Rwanda Children.  It drew runners from Burundi, Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania, and athletes representing Rwanda in the Olympics.  Serge is pretty much a big deal in the running world in east central Africa!  As we set out walking down the main road, runners of all ages zoomed by.  Our race route went right by the Momma Karen’s house where 9 kids are already under the care of a Rwanda Children house mom Denise, then headed we headed up the hill for several miles(just a little longer so says Vann;) to the finish line at the HHCOH.  As we walked up the road, children waved and followed.  It was a very festive occasion.   

Erinn, JV, mom, me, Melissa, Jana--all the women except Michelle at the starting area-

Beginning of the route down the main road to Kigali

headed up the hill to the finish line

The scene that greeted us was unbelievable.  There was a huge crowd of thousands on hand to welcome the racers.  Our group of Americans took a tour of the buildings that are almost finished, saw the Rwanda Children ranch with goats, and watched Espy administer paperwork for HIV tests at the clinic on the grounds.  I will talk a little more about all the Hunter Hanner Community of Hope a little later in the week after Thursday’s dedication ceremony.  The DJ was playing music and we enjoyed watching kids of all ages dance.  There was a water bottling plant there who donated clean water in cups and bottles to all on hand.  Everyone was walking around with sugarcane to eat and spending their time laughing with friends.  Many of the children were there without their parents, and we were in awe of how well behaved they were.  They were very quick to listen and obey any adults.  Everyone was having a great time.  

We were a good long while after this guy:)

Trying sugarcane

The vice mayor of the district (there are 13 districts in all the country) was on hand and was one of the speakers who encouraged the children to participate in sports as a way to improve themselves.  The English tutor translated for us as the President of the Rwanda Athletic Federation spoke to them about working hard in school and in athletics to keep out of trouble, and to have a better future.  Serge also encouraged the crowd to focus on their studies, and presented the winners of all the different races with Rwandans Francs, cell phones, and certificates of achievement.  Two bikes were presented to the first and second place winners of the bike race.

Serge inspires the winners and the crowd gathered

By this time we had walked more than 8 miles, been up since before 6 am, and then sat down under the sun for more than an hour for the awards presentations.  Our group were all fading fast out in the heat, after all our travel.  We went back to our hotel for lunch prepared by our cooks and all took very needed naps until dinner.  Mom and I headed to the airport with our driver and our leader Vann to get Michelle.  After we had her safely we could all take a deep breath.  There were many people praying for her journey after she missed her connecting flight from Haiti.  It's not everyone who would travel across three continents alone!  

Day one was focused on fellowship, worship, peace, and reconciliation.  It was so wonderful to see Serge in the element of his people, and how they hold him up in such high regard.  The government officials as well as all the people of the area view him as a leader—Umutware—in Kinyarwanda.  There was a lot of work that went into organizing the race, the dedication ceremony, and various government meetings in addition to having a group here from the states.  Serge is a very busy man and making an impact on the kingdom of God here in Rwanda!  Pray for wisdom for Serge and Espy for God’s will for their community.

Day 2—Genocide Memorials and Hospital visits

In order to more fully understand present day Rwanda, our group needed to learn about the genocide of 1994.  Our day started out at the National Genocide Museum in the capital city of Kigali, where we stayed.  We were painfully unaware of the terrible suffering and atrocities as Americans, and it was a very emotional and sobering day for us as we realized the evil that swept the country just 22 years ago.  The Museum was very thorough as it walked us through the history of Rwanda from the tribes to European colonies to the events leading up to the genocide.  We were all ashamed at our ignorance for something that occurred in our lifetime.  I would encourage you to spend some time reading about the genocide.  Serge has written a book about his experience, available on Amazon, My Day to Die.  It is a powerful story of extraordinary struggles of an 8 year old boy’s survival in the face of extreme suffering.   

Serge’s mom was killed in front of him before the genocide.  He lived with his grandmother after her death.  His family was Tutsi, the minority.  The tribe in power, the Hutu, had been spreading propoganda and a message of discrimination for many years.  The Hutu had moved large numbers of Tsutsi to the Bugisera district outside Kigali.  They lived in small villages all over the countryside, making a living by farming their plots of land for corn and bananas and tenting to their herds of goats and cows.  

There had been a lot of behind the scenes plotting leading up to the genocide, and many opportunities missed to stop it by the international community.  The Presidents of Rwanda and the neighboring country Burundi were assassinated when their airplane was shot down by a missile landing in Kigali airport.  Within the hour roadblocks were set up in the capital city, special teams of armed militia killed members of a predetermined list, and calls over the radio incited the Hutu to turn on their neighbors if they were Tsutsi to eliminate them.  This began 100 days of genocide in which 800,000-1,000,000 Tutsi were killed.

Serge's church stands as a memorial to never forget the genocide.  The grenade holes in the wall and bullet holes in the roof are preserved from the attacks.

As violence spread to his village, Ntarama, Serge along with his grandmother, took refuge in his church because they thought it would be safe.  Close to 10,000 people were on the church property.  They were mostly women and children, with a few men armed with machetes and clubs.  Hutus attacked with grenades and machine guns.  Serge was standing next to his grandmother as she took the brunt of a grenade and was killed in front of him.  Serge was able to escape the church grounds with bullets flying everywhere, but was one of very few survivors.  I stood in the church next to Erinn as Serge shared with our group how he looked into the eyes of his trusted Godfather, who then shot at him.  I pictured the own betrayal my 8 year old would feel if a beloved adult pulled the trigger of a gun pointed at him.  After escaping the church, Serge spent the next 3 months hiding in the bamboo bush in the river filled with bodies as Hutu hunting parties systematically searched for Tutsi from 9 to 5 every day.  There were very few remaining with the RPF finally was able to put a stop to the killing.  When he had unlimited options of what do with his life, Serge and Espy chose to return to his hometown to minister to those who murdered his family and friends.  If that's not the love of Christ, I don't know what is.     

Serge was pointing out where he and his grandmother were standing when the Hutu attacked

We went down inside the walkway underground that houses remains of some of Tutsi who lost their lives.  It is lined floor to ceiling with shelves of skulls.  Thousands rest here, and other memorials around the country.

Rwanda spends 100 days each year dedicated to genocide remembrance.  We were in the middle of that period during our trip.  There were banners hung on lots of buildings and flowers on monuments.  Their government has says the only way to prevent another genocide is through education.  There was not much justice--some men had to serve prison time if they would not admit participation--but mostly the men returned home to their villages.  Rwandan today no longer publicly identify with a tribe.  They are all Rwandans.  As outsiders looking in, the forgiveness and spirit of reconciliation of the people is nothing short of amazing.  When I look at the little grudges I've held over the years, I am ashamed.  While impossible to forget what they've lost, instead they are motivated to have a better future.  Our group was emotionally overwhelmed at the end of the day, but so inspired by the people of the country and the future they are building.  Today they are a peaceful country, with so much pride in their country and government.      

Our translators read us captions on the flowers.  It said "We weren't ready to say goodbye yet"

Support group for mothers of children with disabilities

Also on this day of our trip, we visited the Nyamata hospital.  This is the hospital that kids in the Hunter Hanner Community of Hope would visit if needed.  We went in the pediatric ward.  In each open room would have been beds for at least 9 children.  Most of them were receiving IV treatment for things such as Malaria and Pneumonia.  Their moms and siblings would be with them in the bed.  We met a mom with twin infants, one of which was on oxygen and very sick.  She told us through and interpreter that she didn't have health insurance for her kids.  It's $5 a year and one of the ways that the Gasore foundation is changing the community.  Currently, there are 2,000 village children provided health insurance through Rwanda Children.  Serge says there is great need for funds for more coverage.  $5 insurance changes the trajectory of kids over there.  In addition to the hospital, we visited a center for disabled kids.  Serge had given a speech earlier that morning to the families of the disabled children and helped them form support groups.   Often these children are hidden and in the past have been a source of embarrassment to the family.  They didn't know that there were others in their same situation.  Serge is working to help the families know they're not alone, and helping them get together to talk about their struggles.  We were touched by the brave families and dedicated clinic workers that are breaking cultural stereotypes and caring for their disabled children.  

therapy room at the center for mentally disabled children

Day 2 for our group was very overwhelming.  We went to 3 different genocide museums, including the church where Serge escaped but many did not.  He pointed out the grenade holes in the walls, the bullet holes in the ceiling, the spot where his grandmother was killed, and the road where he ran for his 7 year old life.  We climbed down into mass graves, lined with skulls and bones of genocide victims.  The trauma we witnessed was indescribable.  The skulls with bullet holes, fractures, and missing pieces spoke for themselves.  It was hard to fathom, but even harder to grasp the forgiveness and resolve it's taken to move forward as a society.  

Day 3-  Water well, Sanitation supplies, and Cyugaro Primary School

Tuesday was another busy day.  First thing we went to the village water well.  The government is working on clean water for all the people, but they're not there yet.  A pipeline runs down the road, but it's not always on in the village.  The current home hosing 9 kids, Mama Karen house, has a cistern outside.  When there's water, it's available to anyone in the surrounding community.  When it's dry, they must walk to the well for water that isn't clean.  Children carrying 5 gallons water cans and men on bicycles followed our bus down the valley to the well.  Someone was below ground handing up full buckets of water.  The ground was muddy, and animals were grazing nearby.  I've never seen anything like it.  Some boys/young men made a living by pushing bicycles with over 250 pounds of water up the miles of steep hills miles and miles away to deliver.  It's mind blowing what access to clean water for everyone would mean for the area.  Serge hopes to raise funds for a clean well and cistern on the grounds of the Hunter Hanner Community of Hope.  This would allow kids to focus on going to school instead of spending their whole morning fetching water for their family.

The village water well

Someone crawls below the rebar, fills water containers, then hands them up 

Walking home, baby on her back

After we saw the well, we split into two groups.  Serge, Espy, and most of the group went to the Twa village to hand out sanitation supplies.  The village is the poorest of the poor in Rwanda.  The government relocated the people from the bush, and they are uneducated and many don't work.  The kids are malnourished and dirty.  Espy was there cutting hair (all school aged kids in Rwanda have buzzed heads) and we gave out buckets, detergent, soap, toothpaste, and lotion.  Serge has a plan to move a Twa family each month into one of the homes in the community of hope.  He wants to teach them more nutritious ways to prepare meals, demonstrate better hygiene, and provide some practical education.  His prayer is that they can return and teach their family and neighbors, and that slowly he can spread the love of Jesus to them by meeting their immediate needs.    

Espy cutting hair

"mommy" with her bucket of supplies

Our official photographer for the trip, Hoyoung, brought along a polarid printer.  This woman had never seen her photograph before.  Beautiful moment.

I went with two other teachers on our trip, Melissa and Erinn, to visit the primary school.  This is the school that Serge attended and it housed kids P1-P6.  There was one teacher to about 50-60 kids in the room.  Rows of benches held 5 or 6 kids seated right next to each other.  The only supplies most of them had were a pen and a thin notebook.  There were a few posters on the wall.  You could have heard a pin drop.  The teacher would speak quietly and the entire room immediately obeyed.  We had tears in our eyes as each class greeted us in English phrased they had memorized, the alphabet, and some songs they had prepared.  Later that afternoon, our entire group came back to the school to deliver supplies that Erinn, Melissa, and other educators had collected.  Most of our big suitcases flying over were full of school supplies.  We gave a few quick tutorials on how to use a some of the materials they were unfamiliar with, but our teacher hearts longed to do more.  Hopefully, next visit we can spend more time with the teachers.  They asked for us to put on a workshop.  The community center will be perfect for that down the road!  The posters that Melissa brought the previous summer were all put to good use.  They wanted materials for advanced physics, detailed geography, and materials for geometry and algebra.  Visiting the school was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  Education is highly valued in Rwanda, and the teachers do what they can with the resources they have.  It is a privilege to go to school, and some families can't afford the $1/quarter fee, the school uniform, or the pen and notebook to take notes.  The environment was night and day difference from schools here in the states.    

P6 students

They sang and danced for us.  We had just missed algebra lessons and geography.

Teachers just left their classrooms to meet our group outside and choose materials.  We never heard a peep from their classes.  

Already planning for what we can bring next time!

Village life in Rwanda has many challenges we don't have here in the states.  That is quite an understatement.  Day 3 was designed to help us get a better picture of conditions that the children we are serving live in daily.  Access to clean water will make an unbelievable difference.  All these kids deserve the chance to go to school, not just the ones that their families can afford to send them.  I love how the mission of Rwanda Children is to provide housing, food, family, school, and hope in the name of Jesus is being lived out in practical ways!  Your prayers and donations would be most appreciated to further this calling!  Stay tuned for part 2 of our trip hopefully on the blog soon!