Evasio

The Augustine United Church in Osborne village hosted a two part lecture series on the "Responsibility to Protect". Part one was the Christian considerations for peacekeeping and peacemaking; exploring Christian traditions of just war and pacifism in light of the united nations responsbility to protect.

I missed that part.

But I made it to part II: Christian Responses to Stories of Genocides & Massacres with:

Waldemar Janzen, refugee from Soviet oppression.

Evasio Murenzi, survivor of early Rwandan massacre.

Marceline Ndayumvire, survivor of Burundi genocide.

Henny Paritzky, Holocaust survivor.

There wasn't a speaker who didn't squeeze some "hmmmmmm's", or "huhhhh's" out of me.

But the one that stands out in my mind is a young man who survived the massacre in Rwanda.

You may remember me mentioning a book by Evangeline Iilibagiza called "Left to Tell"- which was her unbelievable account of survival in that Rwandan genocide. So, coupled with what I remembered from her story, I found Evasio's to be profound and remarkable.

His earliest memories; at the age of five; are of witnessing men setting fire to houses in his village. He was excited and intriqued at this "bad boy" behavior and wanted to join in.

The memories that followed were of people killing neighbours. Machetes. Guns. Death. Flames.

I find it remarkable that anyone could emerge from those scenes in their formative years and be whole, even in the slightest of ways. That he could be upright, law-abiding, peace-loving. That he could have escaped severe mental illness, and sociopathic behaviors.

This is a great mystery.

So, then, this bag is dedicated to Evasio- and all survivors. And to the people they left behind.

The bag measures 8" x 10".

Pockets number four- as photographed.

(and by the time I got back here to add some words; I see that the auction has begun.)

Auction concludes this evening at 9:30 pm, central standard time; November 23.