Escaping CHOGM...Visit to Rwanda

CHOGM stands for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings. The Queen of England, 5,000 delegates, and 30,000 other people were expected to invade Kampala on November 23-25. Mass preparations have been done to welcome everyone: new hotels, road improvements, etc. These meetings happen once every 2 years in different locations. Uganda is making the most of her opportunity. Because of this, all is chaos! Last Thursday and Friday were declared national holidays. The streets of downtown were shut down. Some residents were told either to plan on staying inside for the entire time meetings are going on or to leave, because no one is coming in or out once things begin. Traffic, which is normally a nightmare, was going to become even more unbearable.

So, I escaped. Catharine, Megan, Holly, and I went down to Rwanda for a week in order to avoid the mess. We stayed with some missionary friends who live down here: the Bennetts. The trip from Kampala, Uganda to Kigali, Rwanda takes roughly 10 hours or so. We split it up by making several stops along the way.

Our first stop? The Equator!!! Yes, I can now say I have been to the equator. I have stood in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere at the same time!



Crossing the border was an interesting experience. There was no warning that the border was approaching, we just kind of came upon it. There wasn’t even a sign once we got there; just a bunch of people, parked cars, some guards, and a gate across the road. Getting through the border took several steps: Ugandan immigration to get our exit stamps on our passports, Catharine had to prove ownership of the car, Rwandan immigration to get an entry stamp, and another building to buy insurance for the car. Luckily we made it through relatively quickly and with no problems.

Rwanda is a beautifully complex country. Kigali is a bustling, growing city. The countryside is full of green, rolling hills with farms in the valleys. The people are friendly and welcoming. Yet, the genocide of 1994 still greatly impacts the country, though they are trying to heal, move on, and leave it all behind. Genocide memorials are everywhere…in nearly every place a huge massacre occurred. I was able to go to two of these memorials: the main one in Kigali and a small one at a church in a town called Nyamata. Both were sobering and deeply impacting. The memorial in Kigali gave an overview of the history of Rwanda and the events that led to the genocide. There were pictures of those killed, clothing and other possessions, skulls and bones, and mass graves where many are buried.












Mass graves where the remains of many are buried.




At the church, 5,000 people were slaughtered: men, women, and children. Many things have not been altered: the doors that were wrenched open, the holes in the ceiling from bullets and grenades, broken windows, bloodstains on the altar and walls. It was hard to be in a place where so many lives were brutally taken. Even now I can’t comprehend the evil, the pain, the horror, and the devastation of the genocide. Entire families were wiped out. People are still discovering the remains of those who were murdered. Rwandans wear purple as a memorial. They also proclaim, “Never again,” as a kind of theme. I continue to pray for their healing, reconciliation, and restoration.

On a lighter note, I greatly enjoyed my time in Rwanda. I celebrated Thanksgiving while I was there (with turkey, pumpkin pie, and everything). The friends we were staying with hosted the meal and invited over many other missionaries who live in the area. The house was packed with people and food. Even though I was far from family it was neat to see God provide other friends with whom I could fellowship and celebrate.

I was also able to travel out west to a beautiful lake, Lake Kivu, and spend a couple of days relaxing and hanging out. The town where we were staying is located by an active volcano. I was able to see the steam rising from the volcano during the day and see the glow of it at night!
















Holly, Me, Catharine, and Megan enjoying the beach at Lake Kivu








And, now that it is after Thanksgiving, I have been singing Christmas songs and watching Christmas movies. I have to admit, though, it is strange to be singing, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” while it is eighty degrees outside. I might have to change it to, “I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas” or something…