July Newsletter

The Hirondelle News Agency reports that the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) sentenced on Tuesday the former Rwandan Governor of Kigali, Tharcisse Renzaho, 65, to a life sentence, for inciting and participating in the killings of ethnic Tutsis during the 1994 genocide.
The three-bench presiding Norwegian Judge, Erik Mose, concluded that the accused was guilty of crimes committed in Rwanda.
In an approximately half-an-hour judgment before a packed gallery, Judge Mose said that the accused played a crucial role in the annihilation of more than 100 ethnic Tutsis who had sought refuge at the Sainte Famille Church.
“It is undisputed that, on 17th June, shortly after the Rwandan Patriotic Front had evacuated some Tutsi refugees from the Saint Paul Pastoral Centre, the interahamwe attacked and killed refugees at the Saint Famille Church,” he said, adding that evidence demonstrated that Renzaho played an important part in connection with the commencement and cessation of the operation which led to over 100 Tutsi refugees being killed.
“He [Renzaho] was involved in the removal of the bodies,” stated the Judge. The Judge also pointed to the roadblocks which were erected with the sole purpose of identifying the Tutsis to be killed.
“Around 10 April, he convened a meeting that included local officials, such as mayors and councilors and explained that the Inkontanyi or inyenzi had shot down the President’s plane. He instructed those present to erect roadblocks for the purposes of fighting the enemy, referred to Tutsis as accomplices,” he said, noting that at this time Renzaho was aware that Tutsi civilians were being targeted and killed based on their ethnicity.
“Their actions contributed to the slaughter of those identified as Tutsis. Renzaho reiterated his support for these roadblocks,” he underlined.
The Chamber also stated that the accused incited sexual violence by encouraging rapes of girls and young Tutsi women. “The Chamber finds that Renzaho was aware of rapes taking place in his prefecture…he made remarks encouraging the sexual abuse of women,” the judge ruled, as the bemused accused, clad in a smart blue suit, heard the judgement from the docket.
The defence said it will appeal the ruling. “We’re going to appeal…my client is a Christian he did not think rape can take place in his own town,” said Francois Cantier, lead counsel of the accused, adding that they would also challenge other counts in which the accused was convicted.
This is the third judgment delivered for this year.
The ICTR has so far convicted 40 persons and acquitted six. Trials are underway in eleven cases, involving 24 accused persons.
Posted: 17 Jul 2009 06:34 PM PDT on "The Men Who Killed Me" website.

Dear Friends . . .
In 1994 an estimated 800,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsi men, women and children were exterminated by the Hutu people group of Rwanda. A whole people group nearly wiped off the face of the earth during a 100 day period in the African nation of Rwanda. The men were beaten, humiliated and slaughtered in front of their families while the women and children were raped, beaten and left to die by their friends and neighbors. Complete satanic possession and domination took over the lives of the Hutu men and women who carried out these attacks.
In 100 days men such as Tharcisse Renzaho organized mass groupings and killings of Tutsi in Rwanda . . . and the world was unaware what was going on. Those who were aware . . . they chose to "ignore" the situation. Just imagine if a genocide were to take place in North America . . . would the world "ignore" the situation? Imagine if the most powerful nation in the world, the United States of America, hit extreme poverty . . . would the world "ignore" the situation? Imagine if the government of America completely turned on their people for their own benefit and gain . . . would the world "ignore" the situation?
This is happening in Africa . . . and the world continues to ignore their situation . . .
Since our return from Africa in November 2008, our hearts continue to ache for those affected by civil war and genocide. Our hearts ache for those who've lost loved ones to the affects of war and genocide. To drive the point home I would like to share something with you I came across while reading different books based on the Rwandan genocide . . .
A majority of the women who were killed were raped and left to die . . . not once but multiple times by multiple men in the span of an hour or two. Thousands of women died because they were raped to death. Those who were pregnant at the time experienced the same treatment . . . and then their babies were removed and destroyed just to make sure their was no sign of life. This is not normal human behavior nor was it an act of God. God never left Rwanda . . . Rwanda left God.
Over the last couple of months in our newsletters I've share with you what is on our hearts as individuals as we journey towards Africa. We continue to ache for those who have been affected by genocide and the thousands of children who have been abducted to serve as child soldiers or to work in the sex slave trade.
As the Lord continues to prepare us for the field, we ask that you keep us in your prayers. Laura and I are currently taking the "Perspectives" course online. This course will help us align our lives with God's global purposes. This course will give us a better understanding of the world Christian movement. When the Lord called us into missions we knew we were stepping out of our comfort zone. For me (Joel), taking an online course is stepping out of my comfort zone!!!!!
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement as we continue in our journey. You have been a blessing to us and we cherish your friendship. Until next month . . .
Blessings