Richard

Richard is a friend of Immaculee’s. They go way back to school days. He is a big heavy lidded man. Dreadlocks. Control. Brilliant mind. Barely making ends meet. Wants to make a documentary about Rwanda and the genocide but seems to be hung up. His story is every bit as compelling as Immaculee’s. He doesn’t like to be in the spotlight. He has a poet friend who has published some of his letters/poetry which sort of account on a surface level his experiences and tragedy and loss. I saw a little of this on the internet the other day. He was wounded, left for dead, watched as his brother was killed (others too I think). He chooses to stay here at least for a while. He understands the needs here and, in his way, is helping his country to come back from despair. I have the same kind of respect for him that I do for Immaculee. Not because of the terrible things that have happened to him but because he has come out on the other side whole.

9:30 AM

As I was writing Richard came up. He thought we were going to Kibeho (ki bay ho) this morning and he was going to film. Plans changed so we had breakfast together. I know more of his story now. He has worked for organizations which helped commute death row inmates’ sentences to life in prison. He was an investigator who looked into the young lives of prisoners for reasons why they might have “gone bad” as he put it. He doesn't know if he can stay. Too hard. Too many sad memories and too much guilt.
He spoke about the best ways to help Rwanda. He isn’t for aid per se but rather helping people to stand up on their own. He’s OK with us being here. If nothing else, we can share our experiences with others. He would like for people to come to Rwanda. For the world to see this place differently. It looks like he’ll be with us as we go to visit the Sonrise School as an interpreter. I think it is also a way to give him some business. Immaculee sort of booked his time for these two weeks. It will be good to have him there with us. I see him more as a teacher than an interpreter. We shall see.