Forgiving the Unforgivable: Peacebuilding in Rwanda

How do you invite a mother to recall the massacre of her family? For a moment, I sat looking at Mary, Innocent, and Athanase with a frozen expression. Finally, I asked Mary the question uppermost on my mind, "How could you forgive these men who killed your brother, sister, husband, and children?"

Mary took a long breath, as if reviewing the last 12 years. Then she responded, "It was very difficult to forgive. I had almost gone crazy."

Meet Rwandans from the fourth chapter of Solidarity Will Transform the World — "Forgiving the Unforgivable: Peacebuilding in Rwanda." They are perpetrators and survivors of Rwanda's 1994 genocide who now together build peace through reconciliation ministries that challenge the limits we might artificially impose on Christian forgiveness.

Song: "Twaracumuye (We Have Sinned)"

by Modeste Nkomezamihigo

Modeste Nkomezamhigo has recorded an album of songs about Rwanda's 1994 genocide and the church-led reconciliation process. Listen to his song "Twaracumuye (We Have Sinned)"

verse 1. In that forest, we looked up and down, left and right, to make sure no one saw us, and we sinned. Another time in a house, windows and doors closed, we sinned.

Refrain
We sinned and saddened the Lord
We've sinned. Forgive me I forgive you
I will not sin again
I will never sin again.
Go and repent; I will go and repent.

verse 2. In recreational activities, we took advantage of darkness, we sinned and hid. We lied to many people and about many things. Because we were not caught, we assumed no one knew, but our Creator saw us.

verse 3. What we did was not good — think about it. We want to ensure that no one sees us.

verse 4. We gained nothing; we only relate by sin and we lie that we are friends.