Coming Home

Sarah and I returned home for the first time since the genocide. My house was in ruins and I could not bear the sight of it. I asked all the people in my village to join in saying goodbye to my brother and mother. I saw my brothers dead body and fainted. I could not see my mother’s body. I buried them in what was left of my old house. I went home and that night I had a dream of my family telling me to forgive all the killers. I went to the prison in my village. I wanted to see that man that chopped my brother and mother like they were a piece of meat. Once I saw the man I realized he was the man hunting me while I was in the bathroom. I saw him and all I saw was his shame. Right then and there I forgave him. I felt relieved and my heart was lifted from all pain.


(Ephesians 4:32) 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you

Job Time

After many weeks of trying to get a job at the UN, I was walking home and ran into my old professor. He said that he could take me to the university. I needed to get my diploma, if it was still there. Once at the university, I went to my dorm, there were dead bodies and rubbish everywhere. I could not look for fear of finding my best friend Sarah. I do not know what I would do if I found her dead. When I arrived in my dorm, all of my possessions were gone except my diploma and money. I had thirty dollars in an envelope, finally I was rich. I took a taxi home and went shopping. Now I can look professional when I go to the UN. I found a job from a man named Pierre. I was thrilled. I learned more English and how to type. One day on my way home from work, I ran into my friend Sarah. We cried and told each other’s stories. She asked me to come live with her. I accepted. 

Aloise

In the camp there was a woman named Aloise. She recognized me. She started talking to me and asked me to live with her in Kigali. I did not know who she was so I was scared. But then she told me how she knew my parents. She owed my mom, Rose, a favor. She thought that giving me and my friends a place to live would be repaying my mother. So did I. Later the French men informed me that we were leaving and moving to an indoor camp. But a couple minutes into the drive, we were stopped. The army men said that we had to get off. They were leaving us. I could not believe it. All around us were Interahamwe. I was terrified. I told everybody but two people to stay here in the road and I would find the Tutsi rescue army camp. At the camp was a horrible stink. Behind the church were bodies stacked on each other. There were flies and other animals eating the dead bodies. I could not say much more.

(http://www.globosapiens.net/rwanda-travel/Kigali/Kigali.html)
(GLOBOsapiens.net)
 

The Truth

I took a walk in the French army camp. I ran into two of my old friends. Jean Paul told me about my family. He told me that my mother was chopped up into pieces on the street. My father was shot at and left to die. My brother Vianney was killed with Augustine. They either died from machine guns or grenades. Then the worse news struck me like a bullet. Damascene was dead. My aunt gave me a letter from him. He was telling me to be strong. I did not feel like I was being strong. I was so sad. I could not bear it. The killers chopped off the limbs of my brave brother and then cut open his skull. This bloody death scars my heart. All I know is that my dear brother was a strong and smart man and I loved him.

Freedom At Last

The pastor came into the bathroom to tell us some good news. He found the French soldiers and told them about us. The soldiers said to come to their camp at two or three in to morning. When I heard this I was so happy. I was finally going to get out of here. In the morning the pastor woke us. He told us to wait in his room. Waiting for the pastor to come back, I looked at myself in the mirror. What had been a healthy one hundred and fifteen pound woman, was now a sixty five pound ghost. I looked scary. I could barely stand because for the past three months I have been sitting. The pastor came back, but not alone, with his children. He told them that he had been hiding us here for three months. The children looked confused. They looked us with sadness in their eyes. One girl brought me a jacket and gave me a hug. I felt loved. Now all we had to do was make it to the French camp alive.

Inches From The Enemy

One night the pastor opened the door and invited all of us women to watch a movie. I was so excited. In the middle of the movie, the pastor heard so bad news. Someone saw the women in the house and told the killers. The killers are on their way now. I do not know what to do. I am praying to God. The pastor quickly escorts us to the bathroom. Not a couple minutes later there are many men in the house. Hundreds of killers are screaming and making so much noise. Then next thing I know the men are calling out my name. How did they know I was here? Do they know about the wardrobe? I am sweating and praying. I do not know what to do. I feel pain in my flesh, I want to scream. The men are in the other room next to the bathroom. I can hear them as if they are next to me. But eventually they left and we were saved, at least that is what I saw in my dream. Jesus told me to trust him I will be saved. I trust Jesus. Now I am waiting to be saved.

The French

It has been three months since I have been in the bathroom. I heard on the radio that the French army was coming to stop the war. Others are saying that they are killing the Tutsis. I still believe that the French are here to stop the war. I told the pastor that next time I hear that the French are coming near, I will go with them. I told the pastor that I would rather have them shoot me then be raped and slaughtered by the Hutus. I pray to God that the French will come and rescue me from the evil in this country. I still pray to God everyday.