Rwanda
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The Kwizera family came to the US as refugees in September 2000 after experiencing persecution in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide.  For several months Alphonse & Didacienne hid in the bush with their young son, William to avoid attack.  They ate whatever was available to them. Didacienne often cried because she had nothing to feed William, though he begged her for something to eat. During their time in hiding Didacienne was expecting, but the stress of the situation and the lack of nourishment caused her to loose the baby.  Eventually the family met some Christian aid workers who helped them escape to Zambia where their second son, Fabrice was born.

The Kwizeras lived as refugees in Zambia near Alphonse’s mother and brother and sister, but Zambia was not an option for a permanent home.  The refugee resettlement process brought Alphonse & Didacienne and their children to the US in 2000, but it would be four long years before William and Fabrice saw their Grandma and Aunt and Uncle again.

On September 11^th 2003, Didacienne gave birth to their only daughter, (and the only American citizen of the family so far) Sandrine Peace Ishimwe (blessing of God.)  Nearly a year later in August of 2004, the family was finally reunited.  TRAF was there at the airport with Sandrine and her family to greet Grandma Felecite, Aunt Jeannette, and Uncle Jean Claude, and was able to pay for their airplane tickets to ease the family’s financial burden.