Today was spent with material shopping for our time in Byumba and surrounding villages in the coming days. We enjoyed watching Patrice haggle and barter with the locals in Gakinjiro over cable for our in-field welding machine. It truly was incredible. We still can't believe that we got 300' of insulated 5/16" cable, a PVC saw and a few other odds and ends for the equivalent of $12.80 U.S. :) Try that at the Home Depot. :)
After shopping we spent the rest of the afternoon at the Nyamata Memorial (this was mind-blowing). For anybody that doesn't know this was a Church in the eastern province where 10,018 souls were killed in the Church and courtyard while thinking they were being giving sanctuary by the priest. Inside the Church on the pews and available floor space is covered by the actual victims clothing. The mausoleum below the Church as well as two built in the back courtyard were full of the victims' bones. This was moving for each of us. As I rounded a corner I saw Patrice almost completely broken down. As I was walking with Patrice trying to console him all I could think to say was "As hard as this is to see, these memorials have to stay open so no-one will ever forget." He just looked at me for a moment then said "I know Yohanna."
Tonight we are going to end our stay in Kigali before going north with dinner at "Des Mille Collinnes" (The Hotel Rwanda). Frank suggested both the memorial today and this stop for dinner tonight and where taking him up on it.
Tomorrow we are off to Byumba....after another trip to MTN to fix the computer again! :)
Johnny (Yohanna)