restoration (reflections from Akagera National Park)

A POST BY: CHELSEA

My family loves the natural world, and as we get to know Rwanda, it’s been life-giving to explore that here. In January we had the opportunity to spend time at Akagera National Park, a blend of protected woodland, savannah, and wetland that has held national park status since 1934.

Akagera has not had a smooth journey, however. Sixty years after its founding, the park was abandoned when the devastating genocide of 1994 took place. Later, returning refugees spilled back into the country. They needed land for themselves and their livestock, and options were sparse. As a result, Akagera became home to many returnees (and 30,000+ cattle). Things deteriorated rapidly on the land. Human/wildlife conflict wiped out the lion population, and overgrazing threatened ecological health. In 1997 the size of the park was slashed significantly. Two-thirds of the land was reallocated to refugees to meet their settlement needs; the remaining third retained park status.

Now, over 20 years later, we’re so grateful for the restoration that many people have labored to bring to Akagera. Instead of leaving it as a wasteland, stakeholders have sought to restore ecological health by dealing carefully with invasive plants, combatting poaching, and re-introducing species like lion and rhinos.

Something within this narrative is very reflective of our creative and gracious God, I think. Instead of abandoning us in our spiritual poverty, God seeks to restore us, to bring us to full health again. We mimic him when we act likewise toward his creation, and we are reminded of his desire to restore us when we see restoration of the earth.

When our family visited Akagera, I marveled at the beauty that has been retained and restored in this place — at the abundance of animal life and the vitality of the land. Indeed, the place brought a sense of personal restoration and refreshment for me. We know multiple missionaries for whom the park is a special place to pause, breathe deeply, and behold beauty. Health begets health, and we, too, hope to return!

Below are a few of my favorite shots from our time at Akagera. We are still re-living the moments of seeing many of these — and more! — awesome creatures and landscapes. (Evie’s favorites were the baboons, although she also likes to entertain us with her zebra noises.) Enjoy!