In 1994, Immaculée Ilbagiza was a college student who was caught up in the three-month slaughter of more than one million Tutsis (an ethnic group from the African Great Lakes region) in Rwanda. She was a Tutsi who survived by hiding in the bathroom of her Hutu pastor’s bathroom—with seven other women in a three-by-four-foot bathroom for 91 days. They had to be quiet at all times, could not speak to one another, and could not lie down to sleep.
During this time, she discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of death and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God. She emerged from the hideout with a love so strong that she was able seek out and forgive her family’s killers.
This summer, the Seekers class invites you to read Left to Tell. In this amazing book, Immaculée shares her story and how she maintained awareness of God being with her during this time. This fall, we will listen to a video of her speaking about how her relationship with God enables her to now speak about forgiveness toward the murders.
Carnegie Library has copies available to borrow. Ask them to send one to your local branch.