Remembering the Rwanda genocide..

Today we visited two genocide memorials. This was something I had been dreading doing, but I also knew it was an important step to understanding the history and culture of Rwanda. This church, historically viewed as a place of "sanctuary", was the site of a 5,000 victim massacre during the genocide. We also visited another church that was the site of a 10,000 victim killing.
The church was first attacked with grenades, as you can see from the hole in the wall, and then the people inside were attacked with guns, machetes, and other crud weapons.
Walking into the church was a shocking experience. This memorial was not a sterilized plaque or stone statute, but the actual remains of the victims. You can see below the skulls of many of the unburied victims, and their clothing also hung around the church. Despite having seen Hotel Rwanda and having read books about the genocide, I was still hit with the reality that this horrific event actually occurred, and that neighbors, friends and co-workers were really capable of viciously destroying one another.
While it is encouraging to see the way that the country has rebuilt itself since the genocide, it is clear that affects remain in the hearts of the people here. Sadness still filled the eyes of those who walked us through the memorials, and the country observes a week of mourning each year.