Hi everyone sorry this so late. We had 4 at our last meeting and even though we were a small group we still managed to have a wonderful discussion led by Pam.
"Left to Tell" is a book that is written by Immaculee Ilibagiza who survived the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. For a few of us, we were not aware of the genocide that killed about 1 million people within a 3 month time span. Therefor the book was such a shock and learning experience.
The Tutsis and Hutus of the African country of Rwanda have had a bloody past and in essence this genocide was "pay back" to the Tutsis from the Hutus. Through propaganda radio, military force, hate and fear they brutally attacked and killed as many Tutsis as they could seek in attempt to eliminate them from Rwanda. Family, friends, neighbors, and the educated turned against each other. Immaculee was "spared" with 8? other Tutsis women by Pastor Murinzi who put them up in his bathroom! For three months they were not allowed out, were fed minimum amounts, did not bathe, were covered with lice among other critters, and needed to flush the only toilet around the other toilet use of the rest of the home. Their news was limited to what they could hear from their small bathroom window and what the pastor would dare to share. For the most part they heard discussions of betrayal and brutality. Time stretched on and on for them with nothing to keep them occupied. Talking was prohibited. They couldn't move around and took turns to stretch out. Many times they feared discovery. Immaculee spent her time praying.Praying for survival, lost lives, release from the brutality,strength to carry on, and ultimately forgiveness to those that murdered her family and friends.
She was raised Catholic and had been surrounded by prayer her entire life. BUT this praying was different for it was a cry out while desperately afraid and angry. She spent hours a day and night lost in her world of prayer. It was described as "feverish".She would lose consciousness. As a result, her faith led to hope which gave her the power of courage to survive and ultimately to FORGIVE those that butchered her family,friends and way of life. In turn, she promised God that she would always have her faith with him and would share it with the world. She believed that she was the living proof of prayer and positive thinking which "really are almost the same thing." She felt she was"spared" not saved so she could serve the purpose of spreading her story throughout the world. She was pious not self righteous, for she was, is, aware of her gift of life and didn't feel it was"owed "to her and not others due to her prayers. All the survivors shared in the misery of the war, but she felt others lost so much more than her...for they lost their faith and in "doing so, they'd also lost hope". She lives today with her family on the East coast and speaks around the world to share her story. She doesn't take her life for granted.
Part of our discussion were the parallels of this story and the story written by Viktor Frankl, "Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning". Both are stories of inspiration and how having hope gives you a sense of purpose, courage to continue on even when the odds are against you. We gave the book a 4 not because it was brilliantly written but for the history lesson, message of courage and inspiration AND easy reading!
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