Comments on: Hotel Rwanda http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/ theology. church. culture. life. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:29:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: grace http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-161 grace Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:35:45 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-161 I have just returned from Rwanda. After reading much about it and after watching the movie, I HAD to do something about it. I joined a team with other 6 people and we partnered with the local churches there and Central Africa Deliverance Ministries for 12 days of incredible ministry. We got to stay at the Mille Collines Hotel, and it was quite the experience. One night we had to eat by the pool and the images of people drinking from it to survive was shocking. They really let you know that the hotel is a place of hope, a Haven where nobody died, but it was intense being there. We took the road at night. The same one where all the bodies were. We saw the rives, we got to Butare, whre most of the killing happend. We stayed there for 7 days. We were loved by the people. We were touched by their love for the Lord, for their passion for worship, for their desire to rebuild their country. Rwandese people want their country to be known as a country who loves Jesus and not as a place marred by the genocide. I got to meet survivors, prisoners, widows and orphans. I got tto see all that needs to be done there and I come back with a plea, that we woud not stop praying for them. That we would put actions to our prayers and do more to help them. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I am am glad I got to go and plan to go back next year again, for a longer time. I am a missionary and as I travel, I have seen a lot. I guess I was touched in a different way in Rwanda and I have left a part of my heart there!. If you would like to hear more about it, contct me, please! P.S. Christians greet each other with Imana Shimwe! Praise the Lord! so I greet you the same way! Imana (God) Shimwe ( Be praised! love in Him grace I have just returned from Rwanda. After reading much about it and after watching the movie, I HAD to do something about it. I joined a team with other 6 people and we partnered with the local churches there and Central Africa Deliverance Ministries for 12 days of incredible ministry.
We got to stay at the Mille Collines Hotel, and it was quite the experience. One night we had to eat by the pool and the images of people drinking from it to survive was shocking. They really let you know that the hotel is a place of hope, a Haven where nobody died, but it was intense being there. We took the road at night. The same one where all the bodies were. We saw the rives, we got to Butare, whre most of the killing happend. We stayed there for 7 days. We were loved by the people. We were touched by their love for the Lord, for their passion for worship, for their desire to rebuild their country. Rwandese people want their country to be known as a country who loves Jesus and not as a place marred by the genocide.
I got to meet survivors, prisoners, widows and orphans. I got tto see all that needs to be done there and I come back with a plea, that we woud not stop praying for them. That we would put actions to our prayers and do more to help them.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I am am glad I got to go and plan to go back next year again, for a longer time. I am a missionary and as I travel, I have seen a lot. I guess I was touched in a different way in Rwanda and I have left a part of my heart there!. If you would like to hear more about it, contct me, please!
P.S. Christians greet each other with Imana Shimwe! Praise the Lord!
so I greet you the same way!
Imana (God) Shimwe ( Be praised!
love in Him
grace

]]> By: JP http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-151 JP Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-151 I hear nothing but rave views about this movie, especially from fellow christians. They say if you see one movie this year see Hotel Rwanda vice Passion of the Christ. I hear nothing but rave views about this movie, especially from fellow christians. They say if you see one movie this year see Hotel Rwanda vice Passion of the Christ.

]]> By: Jennifer Arnold http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-152 Jennifer Arnold Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-152 I loved this movie! It was so good and so thought provoking and so sad that this happens all over the place. I loved this movie! It was so good and so thought provoking and so sad that this happens all over the place.

]]> By: Steve McCoy http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-153 Steve McCoy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-153 Very difficult movie to watch. Well made and acted, but depressing and frustrating and maddening. It is very similar to Schindlers List in a variety of ways. One the one hand I feel angry that more wasn't done to stop these events. On the other hand, I'm afraid that we Westerners will respond in a similar way in the future. I think a great question is, What should the church do beyond prayer for events like these? Very difficult movie to watch. Well made and acted, but depressing and frustrating and maddening. It is very similar to Schindlers List in a variety of ways.

One the one hand I feel angry that more wasn’t done to stop these events. On the other hand, I’m afraid that we Westerners will respond in a similar way in the future.

I think a great question is, What should the church do beyond prayer for events like these?

]]> By: rob http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-154 rob Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-154 It is one of the most eye openning movies I have seen in a long time. Everyone needs to see this movie!! If you have time you should look at the documentary on the special features. I can't get the images of those childern's bodies out of my head. Steve I think your question is what I'm dealing with. I think the church should be the loudest voice against these kind of attrocities (sp). We should have people there and people telling their gov't officials to fight for people like the Tutsi or those in the Sudan or Uganda. It is one of the most eye openning movies I have seen in a long time. Everyone needs to see this movie!! If you have time you should look at the documentary on the special features. I can’t get the images of those childern’s bodies out of my head.

Steve I think your question is what I’m dealing with. I think the church should be the loudest voice against these kind of attrocities (sp). We should have people there and people telling their gov’t officials to fight for people like the Tutsi or those in the Sudan or Uganda.

]]> By: Marty Duren http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-155 Marty Duren Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-155 Joe- I just watched this yesterday and had to blog about it myself. The line that stuck in my gut was when the Colonel, who was disgusted with the west, told Paul that in the eyes of the world, "You're not even a n----r; you're an African." On a positive note, Rick Warren's P.E.A.C.E. intitiative is beginning in Rwanda with the assistance of the President, a strong Christian. Maybe it can be a pattern. Joe-
I just watched this yesterday and had to blog about it myself.

The line that stuck in my gut was when the Colonel, who was disgusted with the west, told Paul that in the eyes of the world, “You’re not even a n—-r; you’re an African.”

On a positive note, Rick Warren’s P.E.A.C.E. intitiative is beginning in Rwanda with the assistance of the President, a strong Christian. Maybe it can be a pattern.

]]> By: Joe Thorn http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-156 Joe Thorn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-156 Yeah Marty. Great line man. Sad line. I am still processing my thoughts about Warren's new deal. But so far I am encouraged at the PEACE initiative. Some thoughts will be coming soon on it at the blog here. Yeah Marty. Great line man. Sad line. I am still processing my thoughts about Warren’s new deal. But so far I am encouraged at the PEACE initiative. Some thoughts will be coming soon on it at the blog here.

]]> By: Kiki http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-157 Kiki Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-157 Joe, I'm so glad that you are talking about this movie. Atrocities like this go on in Africa all the time. We need to be earnestly in prayer for them. I grew up as a missionary kid in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and I was born into an environment like this. I saw my first dead body when I was four, and we had to evacuate our mission station to escape terrorists. One of our missionaries was murdered--bayoneted to death 14 times. My dad was on a hit list for two years. Yet the saddest part was the African pastors--their families suffered the most. In these conflicts, Christians are even more of a target. It's so important to be praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Several of our pastor's wives were raped, and their families beaten. One of our deacons had his arms and legs cut off, was thrown into a river and told "let's see if Christians can swim." These kinds of things have occurred throughout Africa: in the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mozambique, and in numerous other countries. But there is hope! Just this week I talked to my Dad, and learned that one of the most heinous terrorists of all has become a Christian (and his whole family) and he now serves as a deacon in one of the churches planted by our seminary students. I also know that many of the terrorists who committed the outrageous Elim massacre have turned to Christ and are serving in ministry. Let's pray that God continues to turn the hearts of these evil men to Him. So many of them are victims as well--in Zimbabwe they were abducted as young children and trained to be killers. I think that practice still goes on throughout Africa. Joe,

I’m so glad that you are talking about this movie. Atrocities like this go on in Africa all the time. We need to be earnestly in prayer for them.

I grew up as a missionary kid in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and I was born into an environment like this. I saw my first dead body when I was four, and we had to evacuate our mission station to escape terrorists. One of our missionaries was murdered–bayoneted to death 14 times. My dad was on a hit list for two years.

Yet the saddest part was the African pastors–their families suffered the most. In these conflicts, Christians are even more of a target. It’s so important to be praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

Several of our pastor’s wives were raped, and their families beaten. One of our deacons had his arms and legs cut off, was thrown into a river and told “let’s see if Christians can swim.”

These kinds of things have occurred throughout Africa: in the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mozambique, and in numerous other countries.

But there is hope! Just this week I talked to my Dad, and learned that one of the most heinous terrorists of all has become a Christian (and his whole family) and he now serves as a deacon in one of the churches planted by our seminary students. I also know that many of the terrorists who committed the outrageous Elim massacre have turned to Christ and are serving in ministry.

Let’s pray that God continues to turn the hearts of these evil men to Him. So many of them are victims as well–in Zimbabwe they were abducted as young children and trained to be killers. I think that practice still goes on throughout Africa.

]]> By: Joe Thorn http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-158 Joe Thorn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-158 Kiki, Thanks for sharing that. That truly demonstrates the power of God working through the Gospel. Your words are a great reminder that God is at work, and that we need to pray for the persecuted as well as the persecutors. Thank you so much for commenting. Kiki,

Thanks for sharing that. That truly demonstrates the power of God working through the Gospel. Your words are a great reminder that God is at work, and that we need to pray for the persecuted as well as the persecutors. Thank you so much for commenting.

]]> By: David Rogers http://www.joethorn.net/2005/04/17/hotel-rwanda/#comment-159 David Rogers Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/?p=58#comment-159 Definitely a good movie, but unfortunately it only tells the beginning of the story. If I remember correctly the movie said over 800,000 people died as a result of this genocide. Unfortunately, in 1995 it spilled over into the DRCongo where the Hutu's who carried out the genocide had fled. Rwanda, DRCongo and as many as five other nations began fighting over the disarming of the Hutu's (amongst many other things). As a result it is estimated that more than 3.5 million people have died from this conflict. Many of these deaths are from hunger and malnutrition since they are forced to flee there homes and have no way of purchasing or gathering food. There have been similar fights with other tribes in the Northeast Congo for years as well. It's a bit depressing but it gives a perspective of how desperately these people need the love of Christ in their lives. It is the only way they will find peace among themselve and peace with God. Anybody up for a missions trip?? Definitely a good movie, but unfortunately it only tells the beginning of the story. If I remember correctly the movie said over 800,000 people died as a result of this genocide. Unfortunately, in 1995 it spilled over into the DRCongo where the Hutu’s who carried out the genocide had fled. Rwanda, DRCongo and as many as five other nations began fighting over the disarming of the Hutu’s (amongst many other things). As a result it is estimated that more than 3.5 million people have died from this conflict. Many of these deaths are from hunger and malnutrition since they are forced to flee there homes and have no way of purchasing or gathering food. There have been similar fights with other tribes in the Northeast Congo for years as well. It’s a bit depressing but it gives a perspective of how desperately these people need the love of Christ in their lives. It is the only way they will find peace among themselve and peace with God. Anybody up for a missions trip??

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