Just tried to upload some photos for you - but the connection always breaks before it's finished. We'll try again soon!
Today we slept in - I think we're almost recovered from jetlag!
Late breakfast, and then a guest arrived. Sibomana is a friend of Jano and Chrissie - he's our age and it was fascinating to talk to him about his studies at university and his life, past and present.
Together, Jano, Chrissie, Mugabo, Sibomana, Joy and I piled into the car to visit the Genocide Memorial. Joy and I were the only ones to walk through. The others have been there enough, and live with the pain of the past every day.
The hardest part for me was the room that memorialized the many other genocides of the world - Namibia, Cambodia, Poland... it hurt that I couldn't contain this horror to one place and time. It happens over and over again, and is happening now in parts of the world too.
There is a battle in me - I want to ask questions and hear stories. And every person here has lost so much: family, belongings, trust, security. Each one has a different story. But each one remembers. But to ask, to take pictures, to dig into the deep pains of a stranger - can it be done with respect and love? Should it be done at all?
I want to know so that I can understand and empathize. But I will never understand it all, and I really can't empathize with the pain. So I will just love today. Small times of listening and allowing dignity and seeing people beyond victims of a tragedy that is curious to me. And maybe that is enough. I will hear stories of the war, I'm sure, while I'm here. But I'll let them come to me.
Jano took us on a bumpy tour through parts of Kigali today. It was fun to see beyond our part of the hill, and nice to bring smiles to children's faces as they saw Joy and me in the car. "Muzungu!" they cry! "White person!" I imagine that could be wearing after a while, but today it was fun to be a spot of excitement in the children's day.
Off to bed! Church and more Kigali tour tomorrow.
Thanks to those who are leaving comments! It's great to hear from each of you and encouraging that you care enough to read what we write. :)
~nancy
5 comments:
Hey Nancy,
I hope church tomorrow is so much fun. It's a joy to read your heart in these blogs. Can't wait to see some pictures. Incidentally, my word verification word in order to leave a comment is zifpoo and I wonder if that is a kinyarwandan word of any sort. Much love,
Gabriel
Oh, believe me, Joy and Nancy - we're reading!! And printing out reams of your posts so I can take them down to Mom to read. Joy, she read every word (as did I, of course) of your "trials and adventures" in getting out of the States and into Rowanda. And every day she asks "Any more news from Rwanda?" I know she's praying for you constantly - as we all are.
I'm sorry I didn't leave a message before. I guess I figured you would be too busy to check them. But please! Keep the news coming. You are both there for a very special purpose. I can't wait to see what great good our God brings out of your love and concern.
We love you!
Jan (and "Grandma") (:
Oh, believe me, Joy and Nancy - we're reading!! And printing out reams of your posts so I can take them down to Mom to read. Joy, she read every word (as did I, of course) of your "trials and adventures" in getting out of the States and into Rowanda. And every day she asks "Any more news from Rwanda?" I know she's praying for you constantly - as we all are.
I'm sorry I didn't leave a message before. I guess I figured you would be too busy to check them. But please! Keep the news coming. You are both there for a very special purpose. I can't wait to see what great good our God brings out of your love and concern.
We love you!
Jan (and "Grandma") (:
Praying for you guys!
Thanks Nancy--great to hear about your day being the Muzungu!!!
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