Beautifully Broken – William Mwizerwa’s Story (aPP 18)

This account is based on one man’s true story – William Mwizerwa with his wife Ebralie and daughter Aimee. The pain of my story would not be complete without sharing the stories of three other families whose stories are intertwined with ours. 

The Families Involved:

• William and Ebralie Mwizerwa and Aimee
• Martir, William’s cousin who killed his mother, Hutu but raised a Tutsi
• Randy and Darla Hartley and Andrea who sponsored Umuhoza 
• Mugensi and Keza and their daughter Umuhoza (Hutu)

Kigali, Rwanda (1994)

During the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsis, tribal Hutu militia killed more than 1,00,000 minority Tutsi and moderate Hutu people in 100 days. Armed militia were going door to door shooting people in Kigali who were not on the side of the extremists or who were Tutsi. William received a call from a colleague at the Rwandan National Coffee Company (RNCC) compound who advised him to get his family to the coffee compound which was walled and had guards. A man in his position was likely to be killed because he would be perceived to be on the side of the conservatives by working for a State Company. The Mwizerwas got in their car to head to the coffee company but they were stopped by armed militia and dragged from their car. As they were being held at gun point, a grenade exploded close to them so the militia fled, allowing the Mwizerwa family to continue to the RNCC compound. 

William and his family followed the river to get to the coffee compound. When they arrived at the RNCC they found all the people murdered.  “We must go to my mother’s house. We will be safe there in Murambi.”

Murambi, Rwanda

Martir (Hutu) –William’s cousin was recruited by the militia leader who knew him. They came to his home insisting he join them. “If you were not with us, we consider you to be against us. War is breaking out and you are hiding behind your woman and your little hut.” The militia found some Tutsi down by the river and brought them to the house to kill them. Martir told him to leave them alone. It seemed they would but the leader beheaded four Tutsi saying “We don’t waste bullets on Tutsi or moderates.”  Martir agreed to join them. 

When the Mwizerwas got to William’s mother’s house they found it had been taken over by militia and Mugensi appeared, Umuhoza’s father, a Hutu. Mugensi threatened William, who said, “But we are all Hutu. Kill me but spare my family.” Mugensi saw the face of his daughter Umuhoza in William’s daughter. Seeing a truck load of militia coming along the road with the militia leader, he said, “You must go now.”

Kenya Refugee Center

Many Tutsi and moderate Hutu fled Rwanda for Tanzania and Kenya. William and his family fled across the border to Kenya and were living in the Refugee camp in Kenya for ten years. (2005)

Nashville, Tennessee (2005)

Randy Hartley had tickets for a Toby Mac concert and took his teenage daughter and her friend for her fifteenth birthday. Toby Mac announced “God loves people. One of the ways we can love people is by giving to those who can’t repay us. Under your seat you will find the picture of a child whom you can help by sponsoring.“

Under Andrea’s seat was Umuhoza’s Child Sponsorship Card:

Andrea and Umuhoza began writing to each other

• Andrea wrote daily to Umuhoza initially and in her first letter sent her a photo of herself with her horse.
• Umuhoza sent back her first letter and told Andrea she had a goat provided by the Sponsoring Programme.

• Umuhoza: Mother, why is Father in prison?
• Keza: Because he was with the militia.
• Umuhoza: Why did he want to be with the militia and not with us?
• Keza: Your father did not want to be with them. But it was the only way he could protect us from the danger of the evil men. You have to understand that.”
• Umuhoza: Did he love me?
• Keza: Of course he did. More than anything. There was a time when we thought we couldn’t have children. We were about to lose faith and then God blessed us with you. Let’s pray and believe that we will see him again. 

• Andrea: Dad can we go to Africa?
• Randy: Yes some day we will go on an adventure to Africa. But it’s dangerous there.
• Darla: Speaking of dangerous the girls want to go to the park to watch the fireworks.

At the fireworks in the park, Andrea was raped by a stranger in the public toilets.

Kenya Refugee Center (2005)

A colleague from the RNCC told William he could qualify for a special refugee programme in America. The plan was for William to go first and then when he had citizenship, his wife and daughter could join him.

Nashville, Tennessee (2005)

William was assigned to Randy’s church.

Andrea kept her shame of being raped to herself and was rebelling against God and her parents. They could not get through to her.  Andrea started throwing Umuhoza’s letter in the rubbish bin. After some time of rebellion Andrea picked up her photo with her father as a young child Dad and hurled it to the floor and broke it. Noticing the broken Daddy’s Little Girl frame she saw a letter from Umuhoza in the bin and read it. 

• Guard: Prisoner Mugensi cannot see you today. “No visitors.”
• Umuhoza: I must see him. He left when I was a baby. Please  I must see him.
• Guard: I am sorry. You can’t.

Keza and Umuhoza saw Mugensi through the bars at the back of the prison on their way out.

Kenya Refugee Center

Ebrali and Aimee’s visa was denied on the assumption that her husband had a new life in America now and he had forgotten her.

• Immigration Official: Where is your marriage certificate?
• Ebralie: We lost everything in the war.
• Official: So why has he not given you a permanent address in America?
• Ebralie: Because he is staying in a church.
• Official: The rules are very clear – no job, no permanent residence, no visa.

Nashville

• William: My time on earth is a loan from God. My mother is lost. It was a miracle how we escaped death several times. I intend to spend the rest of my days repaying that loan. 
• Randy: What can I do to help.
• William: Many other refugees are struggling. High rents low paying jobs. I heard one of your church members owns an apartment building that is under-utilized. I see it is the perfect place to put the refugees.
• Randy: That place is very broken down.
• William: Randy, God sees beauty in the broken. There are many refugees who want to be part of something. No clay has ever become a beautiful pot without work.
• Randy: I believe you have something here William. Let’s set it up.   

William to Ebralie: We opened the new refugee center today – Legacy Mission Village. God has shown me our legacy is built from the pain and struggles we endure.

Kenya Refugee Center

• Here is my proof. [All William’s letters and photos]
• He has a job and a home, in fact it’s a whole village.

Nashville

• Randy: We are pleased to welcome the entire Mwizerwa family to America.
•               William I have to go. I’m sorry. Andrea ran away from home.

•  William: Thank you God for keeping us together. Bless all those who sacrificed to allow us to be blessed. Thank you for Legacy Mission Village. Thank you for reminding us that not even a sparrow falls without you knowing.

• Randy: God where is Andrea? Keep her safe. Bring her home.

Darla found Umuhoza’s latest letter to Andrea.

Randy: God, Why would she go half a world away for help? Why didn’t she tell us? Where did we lose her? I provided for her but I didn’t protect her. Why God? I thought I put it all in Your hands. I thought You were going to protect her.  Why is my family falling apart. Where are you? Can You hear me? Are You even listening?

Andrea’s boyfriend tried to force a kiss on her and she snapped. The police came upon them and found drugs. Her boyfriend said the drugs were hers.

William got to talk with the boyfriend sitting outside the court and told him. “Your life is not where you’ve come from but what you do with the days before you.” He subsequently confessed before the judge that he had bought the drugs, not Andrea.

Andrea: I’d like to help out here at Legacy Mission Village.

• William: The kids are taking to her. I have never seen them warm up to a new volunteer so fast. She has been broken. They sense her spirit and they connect to her pain.
• Aimee: Pain?  What pain could she possibly have? She has everything.
• William: Aimee, Speak gently of others. You don’t know the path they have travelled.
• Aimee: I do not think her path has been more difficult than ours.
• William: Because you see no tears does not mean the person has not cried.

Randy found Umuhoza’s new letter in the car abandoned by Andrea. 

• Randy: I have an idea. Remember I told you Andrea has been writing to a girl in Rwanda. She is the only one Andrea has opened up to. What if they were to meet?
• William: What, bring Umuhoza to America?
• Randy: No take Andrea to Rwanda.
• William: This is a most drastic plan Randy. Rwanda is very different from America.
• Randy: So what you are saying is that we would need a guide? William, who better than you?
• William: Just thought of going back is overwhelming.

• Andrea: Dad I love these kids.
• Randy: Do you still write to Umuhoza?
• Andrea: No I haven’t written her for some time.
• Randy: Maybe talking to her would be easier than writing to her. I think it is time to make good on that promise I made to you.

Randy handed Andrea the new letter found in the car.

Kigali, Rwanda

Aimee and Andrea shared their stories in full with each other. Andrea then opened up and told her parents what happened THAT night.  

Murambi

Andrea met Umuhoza and William met Mugensi The Hartley family went with the Mwizerwas to Umuhoza’s house to celebrate her fifteenth birthday and give her the dress Andrea bought for her. Mugensi thanked Randy for helping his family when he couldn’t. Then Randy introduced William to Umuhoza’s father whom he recognised as the Hutu man who threatened to kill the Mwizerwas at his mum’s in Murambi. Mugensi asked William how he recognised him?William said, How could I forget? You are the one who helped us escape when we came to my mother’s house.

William’s aunt was a Hutu and his mother was raised Tutsi. Genocide had divided the family. William had arranged to go to his aunts place to meet her and find out what happened to his mother. He told Mugensi, “I have not seen her since the war began. I can’t wait to see her expression when she opens the door.”

Before William arrived at his aunt’s place, Martir, his cousin arrived. His mother was shocked and Martir said, “Are you expecting someone else?”

• Aunt: Your cousin William is coming today.
• Martir: If William is back it can only mean one thing. He must know what happened and has come for revenge. I won’t let him take your life.

(Martir killed William’s Tutsi mother.) Then William knocked at the door. Martir waited behind the curtain to kill William.

• William: I only want to know what happened to my mum.
• Aunt: I went to your mother’s place to help her. My son Martir was waiting and killed her with a machete. I have been troubled that my own son took your mother’s life. If you have come for revenge I am prepared for the consequences.
• William: It is said an eye for an eye, but if we all live by this idea we will all become blind.  I lay down this machete as I lay down the right for revenge.  Holding on to the past will only destroy what lies before us. What I can do is forgive.

William then washed his aunt’s feet.

• Aunt: I don’t know how you have found it in your heart to forgive me and my son.
• William: Forgiveness is the only way I know how to let go.  William said, “I returned to Rwanda to pick up the pieces of our broken lives. But the God who loves us put the pieces together in an even more beautiful way; a way we could never have imagined. ”

Epilogue:

• William and Ebralie Mwizerwa continue to work tirelessly in the Legacy Mission Village in Nashville, Tennessee where they have helped thousands of refugees.
• Randy and Darla Hartley are great friends with the Mwizerwa family and are active in supporting the work of the Legacy Mission Village. Together they have made many mission trips to Rwanda. On each trip they always visit the Umuhoza’s family.
• Andrea Hartley worked for the Legacy Mission Village and made several trips to Africa. She now lives in Kenya working with a mission company.
• Umuhoza completed school because of the sponsorship through the Hartley family. She now attends College in Kigali, Rwanda through sponsorship from Legacy Mission Village.
• Aimee Mwizerwa worked with her family at Legacy Mission Village for over 10 years. Now she lives with her husband in St Louis where she leads an agency serving refugees.

Available on Shine on Demand Beautifully Broken