From Horror to Hope

By Phyllis DeSmit

Struggling to stay in place as the Land Rover worked its way up a steep slope on a path more ruts than road, passengers were completely quiet. The riders were sobered into silence, having just left the Genocide Museum in Kilgali, Rwanda. Outside the building, the group had walked along mass graves which held the remains of some of the one million victims of the mid-90's massacre. The days of horror left a country with 300,000 orphans, thousands mutilated, 85,000 children the heads of households, and hundreds of thousands missing having fled to neighboring countries. Inside the museum building there were quotes from survivors, such as this from Rose. "When I am in the market in the midst of a large crowd, I always think I might just find my brothers." No wonder there was deep reflective thinking within the car as it pulled to a stop.

The group from Central had arrived at a small compound in a poor section of the capital city. Ducking under the sheet metal gate revealed a scene of welcoming singing and dancing. Those gathered, who had named their community "Let Life Continue," had been waiting for hours to greet their visitors from America. All members of the receiving people were affected by AIDS. Their pastor gave words of greeting and urged the visitors to view craft projects underway. Squeezing into very tight quarters in a small building, the guests viewed women behind sewing machines, holding up garments they had created, women shaving coconut fiber in preparation for making soap, and palm leaves being woven into chains for baskets. The leaders of the community had received training and spiritual mentoring from nationals working with World Relief.

The crafts created within the community are sold and the proceeds pooled for the good of the group. If someone needs money for transportation to a hospital, group assets can be tapped. If someone becomes unable to leave the house, the money can be used to provide food. The group also serves to hold each other accountable for taking daily doses of medicine.

Emerging from the building into the sunny courtyard, the United States visitors were seated on benches to hear testimonies from several of the Rwandans. Jacqueline shared that she had 6 children and had lost her husband to AIDS. "When I learned I was infected, I felt hopeless. I thought I was the only one. It helps to be in a group like this. When we meet, we share ideas and provide special help for each other. The group is like family. Life continues with hope."

Joy in the Lord, so evident in the words and faces of people who had suffered so much through the atrocities of the genocide and the ravages of the AIDS virus, was miraculous. These people, who had once lost all hope in living, were visibly thankful for each day and how they could serve each other. The admission of being an AIDS victim resulted in an amazing freedom to seek and receive help. This openness is rare in most areas of the world. Becoming children of God has allowed this special community to appreciate who they are and express how they feel. In ten stressful years, these Rwandans, victims and those who wielded deadly machete blows, have allowed themselves to forgive and move on.

It was getting late in the day and many members had long distances to walk to return home. The experience ended with words from the Central visitors about how blessed each was to have met such courageous and godly people. Prayer was offered for sustaining relationships with Jesus as each faces whatever life and death bring in coming days. Then singing and dancing and hugging broke out with white and dark arms intertwined. A taste of heaven!