The day I arrived in Rwanda I was tired. But a different kind of tired – I was weary.
First, of course, I was weary from the travelling. It was partly the climax of all the build-up – the list making, the anticipation, and the emotions of leaving. Then the long hours of sitting on planes, in the airport – never my favourite activityy – and dozing, but not really sleeping. So by the time we arrived at our guest house in Kigali, Rwanda at 3 am (after almost 24 hours of travelling) I was too tired to be excited. The weariness had set in….
But the second was a different kind of weariness. A heavy kind. An emotional kind. Because, after al, we are in Rwanda. Rwanda. The country of the genocide.
Our first activity here was a visit to the Genocide Memorial Museum. We, of course, had to begin there. The genocide of 2004 flavours, shapes and aeffects every part of life here. There is no person, no family, no community, no institution that is not impacted today by that atrocity. Both victims and perpetrators.
18 years later, work is still being done. Not work that will make it all go away. They have chosen not to forget what happened. Instead they have very intentionally chosen to learn from it and to continue to move forward.
But – enough said. No words I could write at this point could even get close to summarizing what I learned at the museum and the many thoughts that are still twirling in my head. And it just isn’t fair to the situation to think I can explain the genocide, its causes and its impact in three short paragraphs!
That being said, my brain is weary and heavy but also hopeful. The Rwandans are teaching me – and all of us – about the importantce of moving forward. The concept of resiliency now has a whole new meaning. Forgiveness and mercy also – but I’ll save those for another day. For right now, I need my rest….
Until the next time,
Cathy
