Immaculee Ilibagiza is a hero for all of us. She is living proof that love overcomes evil.
She not only survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She went through unimaginable suffering and then committed herself to live differently. She did this by projecting hope, peace and forgiveness towards the people who initiated the slaughter of over one million people.
In her best-selling book, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust (2006) she describes the ordeal of staying safe when the killers came to her house. All her family members were slaughtered by Hutu men. Only she was left alive and she was taken to the home of a friendly Hutu pastor. He protected her by pushing her and seven other women into the small bathroom of his house. The bathroom was concealed behind a clothes closet.
For 91 days, the terror continued. Non stop. People being dragged out of their houses. Chopped and cut open. Immaculee and the others stayed in the bathroom. At one point, a large group of men burst into the pastor's home, having been told that too much food was going into that house for only the pastor's family. Standing at the bathroom door, he said, "Of course, you know that I would never be so stupid as to hide people in there. But if you want to look, you can." God's hovering angels kept Immaculee safe that day, and each day afterwards.
Eventually, things became safe enough for the women to leave their three foot by four foot prison and she was accepted to go as a refugee to New York city. Before being even able to speak English, the conviction came upon her that she needed to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Raised in a Roman Catholic home, she knew Jesus said, "Love your enemies."
Her second book, Led by Faith: Rising from the Ashes of the Rwandan Holocaust (2008) deals with reconciliation which became the theme of her life.She talks about taking a relationship audit. Anger and bitterness corrode the soul. Forgiveness restores and brings back life. Compassion for the killers' families and orphans left in Rwanda after the tragedy became her life's calling.
Within three months of being in the USA, millions of people learned about her amazing rescue. Her book shot to the top of the Best Seller's List. People continue to be touched by a woman who dared to be a faithful witness in the presence of evil. Perhaps after hearing her story, you also will pray her prayers: "Lord, increase my capacity to love."
She not only survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She went through unimaginable suffering and then committed herself to live differently. She did this by projecting hope, peace and forgiveness towards the people who initiated the slaughter of over one million people.
In her best-selling book, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust (2006) she describes the ordeal of staying safe when the killers came to her house. All her family members were slaughtered by Hutu men. Only she was left alive and she was taken to the home of a friendly Hutu pastor. He protected her by pushing her and seven other women into the small bathroom of his house. The bathroom was concealed behind a clothes closet.
For 91 days, the terror continued. Non stop. People being dragged out of their houses. Chopped and cut open. Immaculee and the others stayed in the bathroom. At one point, a large group of men burst into the pastor's home, having been told that too much food was going into that house for only the pastor's family. Standing at the bathroom door, he said, "Of course, you know that I would never be so stupid as to hide people in there. But if you want to look, you can." God's hovering angels kept Immaculee safe that day, and each day afterwards.
Eventually, things became safe enough for the women to leave their three foot by four foot prison and she was accepted to go as a refugee to New York city. Before being even able to speak English, the conviction came upon her that she needed to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Raised in a Roman Catholic home, she knew Jesus said, "Love your enemies."
Her second book, Led by Faith: Rising from the Ashes of the Rwandan Holocaust (2008) deals with reconciliation which became the theme of her life.She talks about taking a relationship audit. Anger and bitterness corrode the soul. Forgiveness restores and brings back life. Compassion for the killers' families and orphans left in Rwanda after the tragedy became her life's calling.
Within three months of being in the USA, millions of people learned about her amazing rescue. Her book shot to the top of the Best Seller's List. People continue to be touched by a woman who dared to be a faithful witness in the presence of evil. Perhaps after hearing her story, you also will pray her prayers: "Lord, increase my capacity to love."
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