The weird posting:

I apologize for the funky text in the last posting. I tried to fix it but I was not successful.

Some History of Lake Kivu Region and the Genocide Memorial in Kigali

Rwanda, Burundi and Congo were at one time all connected. Not really a state but definately united. But with colonialsim and then the Berlin Conference of 1884, Rwanda and Burundi wereseperated in the partition. At times people from Rwanda migrated into the Congo and sometimes

they were forced west. In 1959 the first genocidal event occured in Rwanda, from then until 1998 there were many more to follow. With each event of violence, people would migrate into

surrounding countries to escape death and persecution. The Lake Kivu region received not only

those escaping the genocide but in 1994 and 1995 many of the genocidaires (the term used in

Rwanda) migrated into refugee camps after the Rwanda Patriotic Army took over the state of

Rwanda.

The people that committed the genocide (Hutus), then had several destinies, return to

Rwanda, stay in the new state (D.R. Congo, Burundi, or Uganda) or leave to immigrate to another

country. Many people in the Lake Kivu region of D.R. Congo decided to stay in that area,

sometimes because they had family in the area and sometimes to continue to organize and keep

the genocidal violance alive.

The eastern area of D.R. Congo is a place with many of the same ethnic identities found in

Rwanda, Hutu and Tutsi plus many others from the rest of Congo. To perpetuate the violent

conflict is not difficult, and sometimes raids into Rwanda were coordinated. In fact, the area I

visited, Shyira, had violent attacks into 1998.

Knowing this history and the more recent attempt to reconcile Rwanda, I visited the Kigali

Memorial of genocide today. I could not shake the thought of how much violence is still common

in Rwanda's next door neighbor of North and South Kivu in Congo. And the underlying tension in

Rwanda.

I would not say the tension is high or intense, like a spark or crackle, but I would say there

exists the tightening of muscles, as if something happened to the body and relaxation is not yet

possible. The words Tutsi and Hutu are illegal in conversation and in the press.

There are no identity cards, and the president of the state was a man whose family migrated to

Uganda as refugees in the 1960's, and was instumental in the forming of the RPA and its uprising

against the last regime in which the genocide occured. He became president in 2000.

When I entered the memorial today, I had the intention of taking photographs, but as I walked

through the center and read the displays and viewed the photographs and films, I felt that maybe

I should not take any pictures (photos are only allowed outside in the gardens surrounding the

memorial). Then I entered a room full of pictures of people, then another with just children, all

of whom were slaughtered in the genocide.

While in Shyira, I took many photos and distributed the prints to those I photographed.

Because most people do not have access to such pictures of themselves and family members, the

people were excited to receive such precious pictures. So while in the memorial today, I was

struck that so many people gave their precious pictures to be displayed. Often these were the only

photographs they owned of their loved ones. And so I knew I could not take any pictures, the

sacrifice that the people endured was too great. And although it

may seem irrational, I too could not be part of any photography today. It is my way of expressing

my respect.

A Wedding at Shyira

Yesterday I attended a wedding at the Anglican Church here in Shyira. I did not know either the bride or groom but I knew many of the bride's friends here in this community. I was blessed to be allowed to attend and observe such a special day. I could not stop myself from taking as many pictures as possible without calling too much attention to myself. The bride and groom both walked together up to the church through the town along the steep hill. As they walked many of their friends, neighbors, and family members joined the two and the choirs that sang their way up to the church.

After the long walk the bridesmaids and groomsmen patted the couple's brow, fluffed up their clothes, and escorted them into the church. After many songs, dances, and claps from the guests and choirs, the couple was wed in a 2 or 3 hour ceremony. I left after about 2 hours. But it was a beautiful event to watch and I do not think I could thank the people enough for including me.

A note on Rwanda weddings: The couple does not show any joy or happiness, no smiling or laughter. They are to be serious and somewhat sad that they will be leaving their families. However after the pastor announced that they were husband and wife I saw a smile pass between the new married couple. Very sweet!!!

More From Shyira:

Some of you have wondered how I am getting around on this trip in Rwanda. After arriving at the airport at 2 in the morning I took a taxi to the hotel. This was a private taxi, which means only one customer, me. After then switching hotels the next day because the first was not very clean, I then walked around the city a bit. Also the city has motorcycle taxis which are quite inexpensive to get around if you do not need to transport anything. If you do have things to carry and do not want to pay the high cost of a private taxi there is a system, which in some countries is called a minitaxi system. Getting around in this way is in a mini bus (usually a Toyota that has been altered to accommodate an extra few rows of seats). This is very inexpensive and can range from 10 cents to a few dollars (U.S.) depending on the country. There are many people in this type of taxi and they get on and off depending on the destination. To get here to Shyira I took a regular bus to Ruhengeri, which looks like a small coach type bus in the U.S., and then a private truck for the last leg of the ride up the mountain. The people I am in contact up here, American doctors from South Carolina, sent the ride for me, for which I am very grateful.

I hope that this helps to explain transportation here in Rwanda!!

Ruhengeri and Shyira

These are some photos of my trip up north of Kigali to the town of Ruhengeri and then farther on to Shyira Hospital, which was about an hour drive off the road from Ruhengeri. Shyira is on top of one of the many mountains in Rwanda and is northwest of Kigali. I just arrived before dark so I am not too knowledgable of the place or the hospital but so far it looks amazing. Dr. Caleb King and his wife have been kind to welcome me here. I will have more information later. My best to all that are praying for me and keeping me in their thoughts, I can feel it.

A Walk Around Kigali

Hello!! It is later in the day on Monday February 15th for me and I have returned to my hotel to post some photos I took on my walk. Enjoy!!!!

From Kigali, Rwanda

Rwanda is stable, both economically and politically. In fact, as I entered the city of Kigali I could see organized construction, a strong presence of banks, businesses, and people that were very busy. I am sure many people in the world think of Rwanda as a country that experienced a genocide, but that was in 1994. If one thinks of Europe's holocaust in WWII and Germany in 1961, for that matter all of Europe by 1961, there were drastic changes. The same is true for Rwanda. It is a tightly controled state, but one would expect that from a country that has experienced such deep conflicts in its recent past.

One such example of progressive political movement is the representation of women in parliament. Here in Rwanda, it is mandated that 50% of the representitives are female. This puts western states to shame, particularly the U.S. were there are 17 women of 100 senators and 75 females out of 535 total representatives in congress. That is 17% total female representation. Although the US does not mandate, such as Rwanda, it is not an admirable rate of representation in a country were equality and freedom are the ideals.

I will be visiting several areas of the country and hope to give you more reports of life in Rwanda. If you have any questions feel free to post and I will address these as I have time and quick internet connections.

For more information on the country as a whole I recommend the UN and the CIA world factbook websites.

More later, Tina