Valerie Biel is the author of the award-winning Circle of Nine young adult series. Her latest book is Beyond the Cemetery Gate. You can find out more about Valerie on her website, www.valeriebiel.com.
Bless you, Val, your husband, and Yves for bringing some solace to our violent world by your charitable work that takes you to places and people scarred by human depravity. Your story is heartbreaking. Comparatively, my problems are minuscule and petty, and my life is soft and luxurious. Such a journey would sear and transform anyone with a heart and soul and push the brave, like you three, to create good from tragedy. Thank you for the work you do!
Yes, these kinds of stories sure make us look at our 'regular' problems with a different lense. We've learned so much from our travels and meeting people like Yves.
Thank you for venturing out and exploring in Rwanda. A human's capacity for violence against another human can astound us and we can only hope that the love we feel for each other can be just as astounding. Great post.
Thank you for this post. Yves sounds like one of those people who overcomes incredible adversity and reaches a higher plane by his caring humanity. He is a role model for all of us. And thank you for all the work you do and the willingness to tackle the hard subjects.
Thanks, Colleen! It truly was an honor to meet him--his willingness to share such a tough story was at first surprising, but truly an important message to understand.
Thanks you for sharing this touching, and quite sobering story, Val. I know that sounds like us vs them, but I side with humanity, kindness and love. We can only hope that there are more people like Yves in this world.
"He tells us that the ethnic identity between Hutus and Tutsis is no longer emphasized in Rwanda." This quote gives me such great hope for all divisions among people. What a powerful piece. Thank you for sharing it and I'm amazed at the kind of good work that comes from suffering. Blessings on your organization, too.
There are so many thoughts running through my mind, and they lead in many directions. I'll just say that the world is lucky to have people like Yves, and you, and your husband.
Wow. It is so inspiring that he rose from the slaughter of his family to make something good. I also saw the movie Hotel Rwanda and read the book. I'm so sorry they aren't accurate. In San Diego, Tarik Khamisa's son was killed by a gang member and Tarik started a foundation to help end the violence among the youth. Not only that, he befriended and helped the boy who had shot his son. Some people are more deserving of sainthood than I will ever be.
I forgave the man who murdered my daughter because I understood what happened. Genocide, though...not so sure I could. I hope never to be put to that kind of test.
Bless you, Val, your husband, and Yves for bringing some solace to our violent world by your charitable work that takes you to places and people scarred by human depravity. Your story is heartbreaking. Comparatively, my problems are minuscule and petty, and my life is soft and luxurious. Such a journey would sear and transform anyone with a heart and soul and push the brave, like you three, to create good from tragedy. Thank you for the work you do!
Yes, these kinds of stories sure make us look at our 'regular' problems with a different lense. We've learned so much from our travels and meeting people like Yves.
"He was spared for a reason." May he be an example of kindness, love, and forgiveness.
Indeed, he was spared for a reason -- such an inspiration!
Thank you for venturing out and exploring in Rwanda. A human's capacity for violence against another human can astound us and we can only hope that the love we feel for each other can be just as astounding. Great post.
Thanks, Laurie! I agree -- and I do think that our capacity for love and kindness exceeds the evil in the world!
Thank you for this post. Yves sounds like one of those people who overcomes incredible adversity and reaches a higher plane by his caring humanity. He is a role model for all of us. And thank you for all the work you do and the willingness to tackle the hard subjects.
Thanks, Colleen! It truly was an honor to meet him--his willingness to share such a tough story was at first surprising, but truly an important message to understand.
Thanks you for sharing this touching, and quite sobering story, Val. I know that sounds like us vs them, but I side with humanity, kindness and love. We can only hope that there are more people like Yves in this world.
Amen to that -- and truly, we meet so many amazing people who are doing good work everywhere we travel. It does restore your faith in humanity!
"He tells us that the ethnic identity between Hutus and Tutsis is no longer emphasized in Rwanda." This quote gives me such great hope for all divisions among people. What a powerful piece. Thank you for sharing it and I'm amazed at the kind of good work that comes from suffering. Blessings on your organization, too.
Yes, there was a whole article that I found on that -- the shift in their ethnic identity focus. Here's the link: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2024/apr/16/we-do-not-call-ourselves-tutsi-or-hutu-the-new-rwandans-three-decades-after-the-genocide-in-pictures
There are so many thoughts running through my mind, and they lead in many directions. I'll just say that the world is lucky to have people like Yves, and you, and your husband.
We meet so many amazing people--it restores my faith in humanity over and over again!
Heartbreaking and inspiring. Thank you, Val.
Glad to share this . . . I truly couldn't stop thinking about Yves and what he went through after meeting him and hearing his story.
That would give me nightmares for months.
Wow. It is so inspiring that he rose from the slaughter of his family to make something good. I also saw the movie Hotel Rwanda and read the book. I'm so sorry they aren't accurate. In San Diego, Tarik Khamisa's son was killed by a gang member and Tarik started a foundation to help end the violence among the youth. Not only that, he befriended and helped the boy who had shot his son. Some people are more deserving of sainthood than I will ever be.
It's amazing -- the capacity for forgiveness. I'm not sure I could show that much grace.
I forgave the man who murdered my daughter because I understood what happened. Genocide, though...not so sure I could. I hope never to be put to that kind of test.
I am impressed you were able to do that … I am sure it was not easy.
I didn't think about it. It's just how it was. Maybe it would have been different had he not killed himself, too.