It was recommended that we read Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza before our trip.Our copies arrived today in the mail. I haven't started reading yet, but I flipped through, looked at some pictures, read the back and an excerpt here and there. Whew! This is going to be a journey. In 5 minutes of perusing, I read how Immaculee's brother was violently killed (just one of many family members she lost), I looked at pictures of a tiny bathroom where the author and seven other women hid for three months, and I saw a picture of her adorable 8 month old cousin who never saw his ninth month of life.
I stopped looking through the book and pondered for a moment, sitting on my kitchen floor. I held more pain than I could imagine in my hand, in that book.
There's a bit of dread in me. Reading this book will allow much heartache to touch me. It's like medicine. I don't want to take it - it's gonna taste bad. But how can I dare to love a people if I don't seek to understand their pain and their joys with them?
The genocide will be an unlikely conversation piece during our time in Rwanda. We've been wisely advised not to ask for details of people's experiences. How painful and intrusive it would be for strangers to show up for a short visit and start probing into deep personal suffering. We may hear bits of stories if they are offered, but we will not seek them out.
Whether we discuss the genocide or not, the history is etched into the hearts of the people we'll meet. To know more of the suffering of the past will prepare us to better love today.
more info about Immaculee here: http://www.lefttotell.com/
~nancy
2 comments:
Nancy (this is Sean F writing),
Have you seen the Nomad Show film "Sara Groves: Just Showed Up For My Own Life"? I think it would be a neat film for you to see before your trip, as well. It is a documentary of about 6 months of the songwriter's life where she compares her experience ministering to Katrina victims to the work that IJM is doing in Rwanda. I think you would be moved to see her experience before or after you go. We have the film on DVD. If you are interested to see it, email Jocie (maybe with your address) and we'll mail it out to you. We're excited for you both and are praying for you!
Here is a trailer for the film: http://www.nomadshow.com/thefilms.html
wow! my principal just talked about this same book, recommending it as well. I definitely want to read it, but yeah, like you said, you know it's going to be tough. That's how I felt when I watched "Hotel Rwanda." Anyway, it is exciting to read/learn about your trip. Will you be at small group this week?
-Karla
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