First, God has blessed Rwanda and the people who live here.
We traveled to the Akagera National Park and saw one of the most beautiful parts of God’s creation. The hills and lakes and savannah were beautiful. The wildlife, from the wart hogs to cape buffalo to the giraffes and elephants, God made this place an incredible and wonderful land. “The land of a thousand hills” is only part of the story.
Secondly, the people here are courageous and faithful. We have visited two genocide memorials, one in Kigali and the other at the location of a church massacre in Nyamata, where over 10,000 people were slaughtered. Both of these places are extremely moving as you learn about the national horror that took place in 1994. I had a chance to speak with a few people who have suffered a great deal as a result of the genocide. Each one expressed their faith in God and their willingness to forgive.
Rachel lost 8 out of her 10 family members. Only she and her brother survived. But she said that she could not hold onto to bitterness. As a Christian, she must be willing to forgive. She said, “after all, Jesus forgave me.”
I am so glad that God is healing this nation and its people. And I believe that as people of faith continue to put their trust in Him that great things are going to happen. I am excited about our study of Nehemiah beginning tomorrow and only hope and pray that I help them to continue their growth in Christ.