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 From April to July 1994 the people of Rwanda suffered the most horrible of human tragedies, a genocide which claimed the lives of approximately one million people. Every area of Rwandan society was impacted by the genocide. Men, women and children were brutally murdered; women were violently raped and sexually tortured, children were forced to watch their parents killed in the most horrific of ways. Hundreds of thousands of Rwandese were forced to flee – going into hiding or trying to escape to a safe haven – leaving behind their homes or their families in the ensuing chaos. During the 100 days of the genocide, countless numbers of Rwanda’s citizens were forced to witness the most horrific treatment a human could suffer. Thousands of Rwanda's citizens participated in the killings – some forced by threats of death, most led by hatred and bitterness that they harbored in their hearts. Understandably Rwanda's survivors are desperately in need of restoration and healing. But while we often only think of the victims as the ones in need of restoration, Rwanda's killers are also in desperate need of restoration – of having repentance and renewal come into their lives. It changes a person to participate in something so violent and brutal as the death of another human being. Rwanda's genocide has left this tiny nation in need of great healing and restoration: of reconciling perpetrators and survivors, of caring for orphans and widows and rape victims left behind, of providing opportunities for all of Rwanda's 8+ million citizens to find a way out of the devastation and poverty that impacts this nation.
 While the world tends to define Rwanda only by the genocide of 1994, a new vision of this nation is needed – for something new is taking place. Rwanda's people are rebuilding their shattered lives and finding hope for a bright new future. Thousands of victims are finding the courage and strength to face another day – to move on and not believe that their lives are over because of what they have suffered. Some of these courageous survivors are even finding it in their hearts to forgive and reconcile with their perpetrators – with those who killed their family members or inflicted pain upon them. And as amazing as it is to find such a wounded people carrying on, it is just as amazing to find that many of those who did the wounding are finding a way out of their shameful pasts. Thousands of perpetrators are coming to a place of deep regret and repentance for the horror they inflicted on their victims and their families and finding it in their hearts to come to them seeking reconciliation and restitution. Rwanda is truly beginning to heal and be restored! It is an amazing thing to witness a nation that was so completely torn apart being restored but that is exactly what is taking place in this tiny nation. And not only is Rwanda healing her own people but they are also reaching out to other nations that have been torn apart by ethnic conflict and strife to teach them what Rwanda is learning about forgiveness, repentance and restoration...nations like Sudan, Sierra Leone, Cote D'Ivoire, and Ireland.
 The world has much to learn from Rwanda. They are helping us to learn what it means to live with courage and character and hope – teaching us how to survive the very worst that man can do. But Rwanda needs our help as well – help to continue to rebuild and restore her people, help to transform their poverty into provision. That's where you come in. You can help restore Rwanda. Through your donations, through your purchase of one woman's basket, through your prayers and tangible help you can care for this nation that has suffered so greatly. Rwanda Partners invites you to join us in coming alongside Rwanda's people to help to change their lives, and in doing so to change our own lives as well.
Won't you help us care for Rwanda today?
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