Kwibuka 21 - Learn with us

April 7, 1994 is the day that the Genocide against the Tutsis began in Rwanda, and each year on this date, the country takes a day to remember and reflect. For the past five years, we have mourned with Rwanda on this day - from afar. Today, we have the privilege and heartache of personal experience in this city and country where so many died and people still suffer as a result. We look out our windows onto roads and hills that were once stained with blood. We have friends who survived it. We know missionaries who had to evacuate and then returned. We have co-workers to mourn with. We have memorials to visit. 

But, our small experience is not enough. We have the responsibility to keep learning and we invite you to join us. Do you remember 1994? Ben and I were in high school and really had no idea what was happening. What did you hear on the news? Tribal warfare? Just another problem in Africa? Nothing? 

We ask you to take some time this month to learn about the Genocide in Rwanda, and the role the world played in ignoring it - causing exponentially more deaths. Below are some recommended films and books you can check out. It is important to remember that none of these tell the whole story, and that everything has a bias or the potential for inaccuracy. But each of these resources are an important reminder that this happened. And, unless you are a random under-21-year-old reader of our blog, it happened while you were living and breathing on this same planet.

FILMS

• Hotel Rwanda
• Sometimes in April
• Kinyarwanda

BOOKS

• Rwanda, Inc.
• A Thousand Hills
• Left to Tell
• I'm Not Leaving 
• We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families

WEBSITES

• Kwibuka  (this site has a more extensive list of reources).
• PBS timeline of the genocide

What an important week to celebrate that Jesus conquered death!

*Kwibuka means "remember"