The lessons I learned through the genocide were invaluable.
I learned that forgiveness is possible in every situation. I used to think that forgiveness was not possible toward someone who tried to kill you, until I begged God for it.
I learned that God was real. When you can’t, he can.
Whatever our Lord tells us, He’s right. The gift of love. The genocide happened because we failed to love one another.
I can’t change other people, but at least I can change myself.
Genocide started in 1994. I was at university. God had prepared us.
I was privileged to meet my parents. When the genocide started and people came, I knew that people loved my parents. Parents used to bring their children to my dad for him to spank them for them. My father never spanked a child in anger. He sat down, explained how what they’d done was wrong and what would be right.
Be thankful for the people you have in your life because you don’t know how long they will be there.
My dad said if it’s a small group that wants to kill us, we will defeat them. If it’s the government, we will die. Yet lets take this opportunity to get ready.
Not everyone in the other tribe was doing evil. It was really the government. There were many good people who were scared to do good.
I went and hid with a neighbor from the other tribe. He hid me in a 3×4 bathroom. He hid 9 women in that bathroom.
When you’re complaining, it can get worse.
Looking back does not help.
I had become just like them. I was angry. I would be sweating based on my anger. My heart was racing because of my anger.
They gave an order to search every home. I heard a voice saying ask God to help you. He is Almighty! I turned to God and asked Him not to allow them to find us.
They searched roof, ceiling, suitcases. They got to door of bathroom and then left. God heard me from the bathroom.
I asked this man for a Bible. I was reading to understand.
Love is so much stronger than the fear of what could happen.
I began to pray the rosary. I felt peace. When I got to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive our trespassers.” I felt like I was lying.
How could I forgive? I began to skip that part of the prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer is not man-made. It’s Jesus’ words. If I were you, I wouldn’t edit His prayer.
For the first time, I knew the meaning of surrender. If you say so, I’ll do it. Help me to do it. I don’t know how to, but if you help me, I can.
It can happen at any time. However long you live is a gift.
The goal of each day was to live, to take each day with excitement, to do something beautiful that you think God would be proud of.
The greatest gift was that I could go to God about anything.
I didn’t know how I would write a book. My English wasn’t good. When I finished it two weeks later, it became a New York Times best seller. Before I even knew what that meant.
Please if you are going through anything, remember there is always hope. Hold onto God. He is Almighty! Don’t be afraid.
We all have something to forgive. If I can forgive, anyone can forgive. Dare to go there. Let it go!