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happening, this verse and many others like it began to unfold<br />
before my eyes. When the intentions of our hearts are fully<br />
exposed, some of the issues that flow out of it are inconceivable.<br />
Hatred, disunity and malice, all in one package, directed from<br />
one human being to another is hard to fathom. That time in our<br />
lives was characterized by fear and uncertainty. We did not<br />
know what the future held but continued to be optimistic that<br />
there would be a silver lining on this dark cloud that had<br />
engulfed us.<br />
The daggers had been drawn. The fight was on. The contrast<br />
between Patrick’s family and mine was glaring. I grew up in a<br />
fairly loving home where everyone was welcome. Strangers<br />
would stop by for medical consultations with my father and<br />
some would share a meal with us and continue their journey<br />
thereafter. My father’s house was a safe haven for everyone. The<br />
idea that a son would be ostracized on account of loving a<br />
woman of his choice was disheartening to me. Now that Patrick<br />
had decided to marry me, would they accept me in their home?<br />
How was I going to raise our children in such a hostile<br />
environment? Was I ready to explain these unpleasant<br />
circumstances to them? The vibes I was getting from Patrick’s<br />
larger family were mostly unfriendly and divisive. No one in their<br />
right mind would want to stay in such an environment, would<br />
they? However, my love for Patrick was deeper than the<br />
prevailing aggressive circumstances. Our bond grew stronger<br />
than the hatred and ethnic rivalry. The question for me then was<br />
- would our love stand the test of that fiery furnace?<br />
As the days turned into months, Patrick stuck to his guns. He<br />
was not letting me go, irrespective of what his family said or did.<br />
The hotter the fire blazed, the stronger his resolve to stick it out<br />
with me became. When his folks saw that nothing was going to<br />
deter him from living with me even before the formal marriage,<br />
they relented. They realized that he had made his bed and he<br />
was willing to sleep in it. Back in Rwanda, a family meeting was<br />
called in which they agreed to start plans for our wedding. Now<br />
here was the irony; instead of jubilating and dancing for joy at<br />
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