RWANDA’S JOURNEY (from a friend, John Steward)

Choices on the way to peace

How is Rwanda? If you read only the international media or watch the movies still focused on the terrible genocide of 1994, we could be forgiven for imagining that Rwanda wallows in its woeful past, with little to anticipate for the future. But that is not the Rwanda I know today.

Let me tell you about the country today and how wonderful changes are occurring in the lives of some Rwandan people. At the end I will mention a resource offering case studies in forgiveness and justice with stories from Rwanda. The DVD ‘Choices on the way to peace’ might be one practical Christian resource for your church or small group.

Rwanda is an amazing and interesting mixture of the good and the troubling – like any normal society. Growth and development, much of it planned and intentional; a constant building of people and structures. A country with a leadership whose vision wills a new, and transformed Rwanda.

The government of Rwanda is far sighted, making strong decisions providing the groundwork for decentralization, the highest percentage of women parliamentarians of any government in the world, early release of prisoners pending grass roots trials [gacaca], divesting of government vehicles, creating a new constitution, releasing a new flag, making strides in education, building tertiary institutions, promoting human intellectual and spiritual potential, stemming the AIDs onslaught, connecting to the larger world by internet, providing peacekeepers to Dafur, offering 24 hour online visitors visas. In short, Rwanda is aiming to develop its greatest resource – people- and become an African Singapore.

Rwanda is most certainly not on its knees, but is on the move forwards. Its strong government, supported by a loyal military, concerns some who see its firm control. In one decade Rwanda has gone from the most fragile to become the most stable country in the Great Lakes region. It is vigilant about quelling opposition from the remaining rebels in Congo who wish to complete the genocide, and is outspoken against some it its critics who live outside of the country. Its leadership have committed themselves to a life of purpose for a united Rwanda. They also recognise the importance of faith and hope, promoting a clear vision for the future for all Rwandans, while actively wooing exiles to return. Areas of new and impressive housing have mushroomed and some parts of Kigali with simple houses have been razed for business development, new schools and universities. The bustling city is a place where building materials are now in short supply and the price of wood and bricks have multiplied fivefold, as deforestation affects the demand for housing timber and firing of brick kilns. The boom in houses and equipment has led to power shortages and large oil generators have been imported to maintain supply. Even charcoal is hard to get, while oil and lighting fluids are trucked in from Mombasa through Tanzania and Uganda. Every visit I see signs of physical change as I arrive in a more efficient airport, and drive along more neater roads, paved or cobble stoned, choose my bottled water from a growing range of in-country suppliers and take longer to decide which of the lines of tea and coffee I will purchase to fill the spaces in my bag for the trip home. At the guesthouse I use, the quality of service improves incrementally, while the courtesy and friendliness of staff is maintained. Broadband wireless has been installed. The food is always fresh and tasty – from Rwanda’s amazing array of fish and meat, grains, fruit and vegetables and bottled drinks.

How has this happened? There are many reasons – the first is that after 1994 almost a million Rwandans who had been living in exile came back to live, bringing with them their training, skills, experience and money. They brought their own history of suffering and struggle, giving them resilience confronted by daily reminders of why their grandparents left Rwanda in the first place. Their intention to prove their worth and capability has provided much of the energy and dynamism that makes up Kigali today.

A second contributing factor is faith. Rwanda is a country of the Faithful. Over 80 % attend church. It is really something to walk the streets on Sunday morning and hear the patter of feet and quiet voices of people in their best clothes walking to and from their chosen service. Out in the country long lines of people thread their way along the tarmac roads to the gathering of their choice. After the genocide the Catholic church suffered as people reacted to its failure to accept complicity of top leaders in the events leading up to 1994. It also lost 25 % of its priests because they refused to divide their congregation when militia told the hutu to go outside. We are all Rwandan in here was a courageous and costly choice to die as one body, often envied by those who lived through the difficult aftermath. But the Catholic church is rebuilding; many of its bodies such as retreat groups and lay orders survive and have reconfigured.

After 1994 charismatic and Pentecostal groups flooded in from neighboring countries to stake their claim and build new congregations. Concerned individuals went door to door and built local fellowships of people who needed God – the one remaining part of life who could be trusted. Anglicans actively rebuilt their congregations, established new buildings, appointed new bishops, and reached out to people in spiritual and social need. Their work was strengthened by many who returned from exile in Uganda, often offspring of the direct beneficiaries of the east African revival centered on Gahini in 1932. and their archbishop was, to my knowledge, the first Christian leader to publicly apologize for the failure of the churches to speak out in the events leading up to 1994.

Some of the other denominations such a Presbyterian, seventh day Adventists, Baptists and Methodists have survived uncertain moments as various pastors and leaders have been accused of compromise in 1994 and its aftermath. Almost every Christian body has its advocates overseas who have come to visit and identify projects worth supporting. Churches have also responded to the cry for action to support widows, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDs.

In 2006 a local newspaper editorial identified the three most important international supporters of Rwanda as Bill Clinton, Rick Warren and Darlene Zschech. Clinton, whose failure to act decisively in 1994 was monumental, regained much ground in the eyes of Rwandans when he landed at Kigali airport in 1998 and apologized for his country’s failure to act. Since then he has visited several times and the Clinton foundation has provided major support in agriculture, water and the fight against AIDs. Rick Warren has run several major and unifying conferences for pastors, and has developed close contact with high government officials. The Power of Purpose has been translated into Kinyarwanda, and warren believes that Rwanda will be one of the first countries to benefit from his PEACE plan.

Darlene Zschech represents HOPE Rwanda – a movement of many concerned churches who combined to make a major focus for 100 days of ministry in 2006. Covering medical, literacy, education, housing, youth and spiritual focus thousands were touched. A growing numbers of churches in Kigali sing the songs of Hillsong.

Joyce Meyer impacted many through her ministry to the prisoners and nationwide – her story of change from difficult circumstances touched many who had suffered. Similarly the 5 visits of Michael Lapsley from Capetown, with his visible scars and his powerful message ‘I was a victim, then a survivor and now, by God’s grace, a victor’ is meaningful to many Rwandans.

Education is proceeding apace, people accused of involvement in 1994 are being brought to trial, the energy to move forward is palpable. Is there anything stopping the progress?

Apart from the obvious danger of materialism and the re-emergence of genocidal mentalities, two great risks still come from inside people– denial and revenge. Denial is where both parties in a conflict do nothing, and carry on with life as if nothing happened. For the last few years I have been suggesting that about 65% of Rwandans are in this state. The challenge of denial is that one’s life energy is directed inwards and focused on keeping things stable and safe – this can be useful in unstable circumstances, but not helpful in restoring and maintaining healthy relationships. The pain and hurt when it is held within a person will sooner or later burst out in unhealthy acts aimed either at revenge, or aggression to an innocent party. Both responses continue the cycle of abuse, as the victim now victimizes others. The energy held within the victim while they were in denial now spills over into action aimed at gaining a sense of power – I too can make you suffer.

Revenge is where the victim aims to make the perpetrator suffer in kind and feel a similar [or greater] hurt that they previously felt. I estimate that 15% of Rwandans are in this position; however this was recently challenged by one knowledgable Rwandan who sees that acts of revenge are growing and may be up to 35%. This is truly frightening in a country where so many outward appearances suggest that all is well.

One major factor which may possibly be contributing to this is the grassroots justice process called gacaca [‘on the grass’]. Named after the traditional conflict resolution process where elders seated parties in conflict under a tree and heard their stories and advocated resolution, the government adapted the process to bring tens of thousands accused to trial. Every week hundreds of communities have gathered under the guidance of local leaders to give evidence against accused who have been held in prison for 12-14 years. Many prisoners have confessed their acts in detail as part of this truth-telling process, but it has often been traumatising for the audience. This ‘knowing’ may have shifted the energy from passive [denial] to active [revenge or abuse]. After years of uncertainty people have learned the details of how their loved ones died, and hundreds of bodies have been located [ and reburied].

Neither those in denial or those in revenge can move forwards until they participate in a process of healing their pain – by telling their story, and affirming their truth, in a confidential group situation. Only then can they reach a level of freedom where they can forgive themselves and others or, in the case of perpetrators, express regret, apologise and offer some form of recompense for their actions.

These are some of the issues which are discussed in the DVD Choices on the way to peace. The reflections on healing and forgiveness as a basis for Christian life which I offer are based on stories from Rwanda and my reflections on related passages of scripture. The material is in a form suitable for small group use, with questions which would keep a group occupied for 6 sessions.

In 2008 I hope to develop a DVD for secular audiences, aimed at high school students. God is doing amazing work in Rwanda and the world needs to hear it.

Dr John H Steward

Cranbourne, Australia

August 2007

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Choices on the way to peace DVD

•A fresh, faith-based look at the issues of repentance, restitution, forgiveness and reconciliation

•Takes the teaching of Jesus seriously

•Powerful DVD with stories of courageous Rwandans who have forgiven others for their atrocities

•Presented by an experienced leader of small group learning

•A resource for small groups with questions and scriptures for discussion

•The three sections can be covered in 6 sessions

•Handouts and additional materials are included

•Invites practical, personal application of ideas

•Amazing value $25 [ including pack and post]

•Some comments from reviewers: I identified easily with the practical, wise approach to forgiveness presented in this DVD – Brian Gallagher, MSC

I will certainly be teaching my children a new way of looking at forgiveness – a concerned mother

Simple and accessible, visually very beautiful presentation which moves and challenges – Eileen Glass, founder of L’Arche Australia

I highly recommend this resource as a stimulating guide for discussion, reflection, prayer and social action – Trish Watts, singer-songwriter

•For further information or purchase see http://www.rwandanstories.org