I have been meaning to sit and write this blog post for a minute. Rwanda has been so enchanting. We arrived on Friday evening. We were greeted after almost 24 hours of traveling by Aimable who met us at the gate and was so gracious and escorted us through immigration.
Aimable, Sue and Mary
He delivered us to the capable hands of Herbert who has been wonderful. Each day has been something so totally different. I am not even sure I can even capture Rwanda and it's spirit or it's heart in this blog. I will do my best. We stayed in the Serena Hotel which is right next to the Hotel Rwanda hotel. It was a short stay. It was not without its bumps. A few hours after arriving I realized in my fatigue I forget to claim my tripod from baggage claim. I proceeded to wake up Herbert panicked that I would not be able to use my rented lens in my Africa adventure. Herbert was awesome. He worried for me. He called Aimable for his help as well and concluded that at almost midnight he was probably sleeping. He assured me going back to the airport was a bad idea and we would find it in the morning.
The next morning he had to pick us up to go find my lens because it was the last Saturday of the month which is a cleaning day for Rwanda. From 9-12 on the last Saturday of the month everyone in the country must clean the streets. We were pulled over at least 15 times to inquire why we weren't cleaning. After it is over they have community meetings to address the members who do not help with the cleaning. Then the community addresses those members by shaming them. Rwanda is clean. No trash. We found Aimable and my tripod at the airport and were on our way to our next destination.
Herbert
Along the way I learned about Herbert and his history. He was 13 in 1994. His father fled because he was a Hutu and he did not want to be forced to kill his Tutsi wife and children. Then when they thought women and children were safe their family friends killed his mother who was pregnant and his sister. Herbert fled with his brother to the Congo. They found their father again in 2001. It has been hard listening to his story of the genocide but amazing to hear the stories of healing and forgiveness. In 2002 he heard the testimony of who participated in the killing of his mom and learned it was his best friend's dad and then learned where the bodies were buried. He has told us the forgiveness the country is trying to achieve.
We stayed two nights at the Nyungwe National Park to do a Chimpanzee Trek and we also did a Canopy Hike.
There is just so much to say I could go on for pages about Rwanda. It has touched my heart. Hearing Herbert's story. Hearing the story of how this country has overcome such hate and found a place of forgiveness is overwhelming. We drive down the road and the children see a car and stop and they wave and they yell Muzungu. They smile. They run to our car wanting to speak English to us. They are kind with their bright smiles. I will write more...I just wanted to get a post up. Tomorrow we go on our first trek to see the Gorillas. Here are some pictures of the children waving at us...
Love is the answer!