Sarah and Godfrey at the Junior World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa

The day following the tragic loss of Godfrey Gahemba, I started from Gisenyi on the 2.5 hr bike ride to Musanzi. My only strength available to me was the energy I was receiving from the relayed messages Sarah was sending me via sms. The messages were from all around the world from people that had heard about our tragic loss, people that either knew the team or had only read about it and had embraced us. With each telltale French siren ringtone alerting me to an incoming sms I knew there was another heartfelt note attached to a prayer lifting me and the team up. It was the sustaining force that kept me going through those beautiful hillsides of this country that has adopted me.

In Musanzi I met up with Nyandwi and Innocent, who had been Godfrey’s roommate and friend for two months in South Africa. We had a 1.5 hr bus ride ahead of us to Kigali. My thoughts were of the looming emotional impact of the event we were going to, I could have filled a river with the tears flowing onto that bus floor. I could utter no words but those of sadness and grief over the loss that had filled every cell of my body. I did not know how I was going to have the strength to handle the event so close to my heart.

Innocent and Godfrey at the Junior World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa

In Kigali we were met by Abdul, our driver in the Tour of Rwanda, who had came to love (as all do) Team Rwanda on the 10 days he had been with us and we started on our 1 hr drive to Rwamagana. The whole ceremony (which was the entire town and surrounding villages), was waiting for us as we arrived and what unfolded over the next 5 hrs was the most emotionally impacting event I have ever experienced.

Godfrey’s admirers follow the funeral procession to the grave site

Godfrey touched people; half the people present looked under 15. He had been a quiet, timid orphan kid that had incredible charisma and love that just pervaded his whole being that everybody could see and feel. He was the source of hope for so many, a child who had lost all but his grandmother and yet survived to emerge into a hero, an example to all of what is possible, a testimony to the power of love that can break down all the obstacles of life. I was in awe at the effect this young man had on so many people. The mayor told me that Godfrey’s following was immense; you could not help but love him. Rwamagana was a cycling town; Godfrey went from Adrien’s protégé to a member of Team Rwanda, sent to South Africa for two months and then represented Rwanda in the Junior World Championships in Cape Town. He continued to finish 3rd overall in the Tour of Rwanda and top “young” finisher, all in the span of 6 months. He had been given a chance and he had taken that chance to attain something that was astounding to everyone.

Godfrey’s grandmother mourns his loss

The Team buries one of their own

As I watched the young men of the team with shovels in their hands bury this bright star who had been a brother and friend, I could feel the pain and grief each face reflected. I could feel the prayers of everyone lifting us all up during this sad moment, one that would never be effaced from my mind.

As I left Adrien and the town of Rwamagana I was emotionally drained but encouraged. I had just witnessed the impact Team Rwanda had on a whole community. I had never fully felt the depth that the team has on so many people. It is a source of hope and pride that we cannot even fathom. Godfrey’s life was short but it was full, he died with a family that he had never imagined possible, he died filled with love from so many and the reality that he was going somewhere in his life, he had a future and a hope that would forever be his. This kid I had nicknamed “Cho”, which was French argot for “little one”, who I had given a birth date on his passport as April 8 (all identification was lost in the genocide),

Team Rwanda at Godfrey’s Funeral

Beautiful music filled the church celebrating the life of Godfrey

April signifying the rain that fills the earth germinating the flowers to spring forth in spring and 8th signifying the first day after creation week, a new beginning, a new life. Team Rwanda is so enabling its shocking; I still cannot fathom how a bike team can be so transforming. At times I wish I could be less emotional or affected by all these events of life within Team Rwanda but then I fear that I would miss the full impact resonating through this body of mine. To feel what these young men feel, to be part of their lives and to see what hope it has given them is a privilege and gift that I will never forget.

Thank you to every person who has prayed for Godfrey, for me, for Adrien, and for Team Rwanda. Your prayers have been felt and are what sustain us as a team. May Godfrey live in eternal happiness; we pray that God has a special bike for him to ride in Heaven.

If you would like to make a donation to the Team in Godfrey’s honor please contact teamrwandalogistics@gmail.com or teamrwandacoach@gmail.com.