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Stories of Forgiveness

Forgiveness and the Rwandan Genocide
Jean de Dieu Mihigo
December, 19, 2008

Early in the morning of October of 1997 I saw a contingent of soldiers on a nearby hill. They were rebel soldiers and they were descending near where we lived. The regular army was shooting at the rebel army. The shooting intensified and we had to hide again. I went out to find a safe way for my mother and the others who stayed behind. The battle became worse. I couldn't make it back to the house and my mother and the others had to lock themselves inside. I had hid myself in a banana grove. After about 30 minutes the battle calmed down and within an hour all the soldiers had left.

Then I saw our neighbors getting traditional weapons - spears, machetes, hoes, hammers and nails. They went from house to house. They started with our neighbor house and then I saw them go to my house. They started breaking all the windows. I saw a second contingent arrive that was directed by a student who I had taught in the 10th grade. He was the first one to enter our house after jumping over the wall into the courtyard and letting the others in. They found our guard, his wife and child and my mother. They made them all lie down. They killed the guard and his family with hammers and nails driven through their heads and then they drove a spear down my mother's throat. I hid my face because I wanted to jump up and save them but somebody told me to stay down or I would be killed too. Even breathing became difficult for me. Just a few days before this the same student was at my house and my mother had prepared a meal for us. I remember buying a Coke for him. It was this student who gave the order to kill the four of them. After they finished, they ransacked the house and took what they could. After they left I couldn't move for a long time. I just stayed there crying.

Finally, I returned to teach where I had been teaching before but I was trapped in a dilemma. I knew I would see that student again. I even asked myself if I should leave teaching but then I reminded myself of the Lord's Prayer where it says, "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us." I asked myself, "Is that really possible?" It would be very hard for anyone to forgive someone who has killed your mother. I didn't understand how. My heart told me that it was an obligation. I had to obey what the Lord has asked us to do in the prayer He taught us. I said to myself, "I have to prove that."

I read John A Knight's book entitled All Loves Excelling and realized I had to completely surrender myself to God if my love was not to be just emotion or feeling. I needed to love without fear and actively desire the well being of others. For me it was a sudden reversal. I got rid of my paralyzing prejudices, bitterness and the sadness. They were replaced by love, joy and pardon.

Now I am teaching young people about forgiveness: I teach young ladies who have been violated and now having unwanted babies. They have to forgive those who've hurt them.

Click here to submit your own story of forgiveness.