“The power of forgiveness is huge; it is really big, and it can save this world.”
Immaculee Ilibagiza“The power of forgiveness is huge; it is really big, and it can save this world.”
Immaculee Ilibagiza“I said the Lord's Prayer hundreds of times, hoping to forgive the killers who were murdering all around me. It was no use-every time I got to the part asking God to "forgive those who trespass against us," my mouth went dry. I couldn't say the words because I didn't truly embrace the feeling behind them. My inability to forgive caused me even greater pain than the anguish I felt in being separated from my family, and it was worse than the physical torment of being constantly hunted.”
Immaculée Ilibagiza, Led by Faith: Rising from the Ashes of the Rwandan Genocide“The more I prayed, the more aware I became that, in order to receive God's true blessing, my heart had to be ready to receive His love. But how could He enter my heart when it was holding so much anger and hatred?”
Immaculée Ilibagiza, Led by Faith: Rising from the Ashes of the Rwandan Genocide“They can only kill us once.”
Immaculée Ilibagiza, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust“I knew that my heart and mind would always be tempted to feel anger--to find blame and hate. But I resolved that when the negative feelings came upon me, I wouldn't wait for them to grow or fester. I would always turn immediately to the Source of all true power: I would turn to God and let His love and forgiveness protect and save me.”
Immaculée Ilibagiza, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust“The author recognizes the power of the persecuting tribe referring to members of hers consistently as "snakes" or "roaches". This dehumanizing language, she realizes, seeps into the subconscious and makes it easier to forget that fellow humans were created in God's image.”
Immaculée Ilibagiza, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust“Author says her father was so diplomatic that when people came to him for solutions, people not only accepted them, but they believed they thought of them.”
Immaculée Ilibagiza, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust