This past month we were privileged to take part on a journey with our grandparents, J. Christoph Arnold and his wife Verena Arnold, to Kigali, Rwanda. J. Christoph Arnold was invited to speak at a forgiveness conference there. At this conference, Rwandans were trying to work towards forgiveness in their country to help their people heal the scars of hatred caused by 1994’s genocide. In our grandfather’s speech, he did not only preach forgiveness, but asked forgiveness for our country, America not stepping in to help prevent this horrible genocide from happening. Hearing first hand accounts from the victims of the Rwandan genocide makes us say that never again can we let such mass murder happen.

However, right now reports from the Congo (DRC) are not much better than what happened during 1994 in Rwanda. Right off, the border of Rwanda, Congolese women and children are being raped and shamefully maimed and killed by the thousands. Gangs of soldiers are physically and mentally destroying women and girl's lives forever. This gang rape and murder is an increasing problem in the Congo (DRC). Are we just going to stand aside and let thousands of innocent lives be robbed away in such a cruel and shameful fashion?

During our visit in Africa, we noticed how the young people look to you for help for their country. Somehow we are in desperate need of another MLK, or another Gandhi, someone who could be a peacemaker and a role model to many. Mr. President Obama, we are asking you if you and our country could become peacemakers for the D.R. Congo. We are both very concerned about this war going on. The kingdom is coming and we need to work for it. We would also like to hear what your thoughts are on this topic. What is our country’s responsibility towards this problem?

Sincerely,

Junia Hofer (14)
Marianne Blough (14)

 

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