 |
| Pictured are, from left, sponsors Fern Crossley, Tim Stamps, owner of SuperD Drugs, Drs. Kent and Lynn Kebert and Tina Brumfield. (Aaron Rhoads | Enterprise-Journal) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Story of survival: Rwandan author visit coming up; books available
By Ernest Herndon | Enterprise-Journal
Posted: 01/09/09 - 01:13:11 pm CST
Rwanda holocaust survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza will be here Jan. 18, and copies of her book, “Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust,” are still available locally at a discount, visit organizer Tina Brumfield told the Magnolia munch-a-lunch crowd Thursday.
“We’ve sold 20 cases already,” Brumfield said, noting the books are available for $10 at Hospice Ministries, 1405 Aston Ave., McComb.
Ilibagiza will speak at 2 p.m. Sunday the 18th in the Southwest Mississippi Community College Fine Arts Auditorium. A local mass choir will perform at 1:30.
Choir practice will be held there 6 p.m. Monday, and people are still welcome to join, Brumfield said. Terrance Alexander is directing.
Ilibagiza grew up the daughter of schoolteachers in the beautiful, peaceful tropical country of Rwanda in central Africa, Brumfield said in a book review at the library.
Her father helped establish a non-denominational church in his community and established a coffee cooperative, letting growers use his land with proceeds going toward scholarships for the poor, a community center and a soccer field.
Her mother sewed for the community and tutored children for free.
In elementary school, Ilibagiza was surprised to discover she was a member of the Tutsi tribe, one of two major tribes in the nation, the other being Hutu.
“Her parents had never distinguished between color, tribe, religion — nothing,” Brumfield said.
Ilibagiza was unaware of the historic animosity between the tribes. For centuries the Tutsis had been the ruling class, which was accentuated when Belgians took over and put them in leadership positions.
In a 1959 genocide, some 100,000 Tutsis were killed in an outbreak of political and tribal violence.
Ilibagiza entered a university on a scholarship in the early 1990s, but when the Rwandan president was killed, tribal hostilities boiled over into genocide.
Hundreds of frightened citizens sought refuge in front of Ilibagiza’s parents’ home. Her parents sent her to the home of a Methodist pastor, who hid eight females ranging from age 7 to adult in a tiny bathroom and pushed a wardrobe in front of the door, expecting hostilities to be over in a few days.
The atrocities continued for 91 days, during which time Ilibagiza dropped from 115 to 65 pounds.
“She could hear them singing her name in particular: ‘Immaculee, we are going to kill you; we are going to chop you up,’ ” Brumfield recounted.Ilibagiza, a Catholic, had taken a Bible inside with her and studied it. She especially dwelled on Mark 11:23, where Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that this will happen, it will be done for him.”
“She used it as her armor,” Brumfield said of the verse.
Ilibagiza hated the Hutus, who killed her parents, two brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. But as she prayed, pondered and studied the Bible — especially Luke 23:34, where Jesus on the cross said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” — she was able to conquer her hatred.
“She overcame it, and she said she got this love,” Brumfield said.
“She’s a living example of what the Holy Spirit can do through all of us.”
After the ordeal, in which nearly 1 million people were killed, Ilibagiza went to work for the United Nations, moved to the United States and got married.
Admission to her speech is free. A love offering will be taken to benefit her foundation, which helps Rwandan orphans.
Sponsors of the visit are Mission Pike County, Kebert Eye Clinic, Super D Drugs, McComb Community Relations and Tourism, Hospice Ministries and Brumfield Oil Co.
|
Let us know what you think about this story or topic.
|
Your comment may not
immediately appear on this Web site. We appreciate your patience.
|
|
|
|
|
RSS
