I actually read a whole book...

That's right, from cover to cover. And It only took me about an hour yesterday morning...and three straight hours last night. What can I say? It was an absolutely incredible book and a very, very good read. It's challenged my faith in ways I don't think it's ever been challenged. And just to cure your curiosity, the book is called "Left to Tell" written by Immaculee Ilibagiza. It's her real life account of surviving the Rwandan genocide in early 1994. One million Rwandans perished at the hands of their own friends and neighbors because of tribal jealousy/hatred. I have never been able to read a book like that where it's kept my interest and focus on the story the whole time. What this woman goes through and all the stories of others she encounters is heart breaking. This woman suffered through 3 months in a tiny concealed bathroom with seven other women cramped in there. She heard exactly what happened to her brother when he was brutally murdered and saw the evil and hatred burning out of the murderer's own eyes. The most amazing part of this story is how her faith in God stays so unbelievably strong through this whole ordeal. I can only imagine what my own faith would be like after enduring all that. It was amazing to see all the ways God answered her prayers, how he blinded the enemy when she was right in front of them and all that happened. Incredible! I just wanted to cry with Joy and sorrow at the same time reading this book. There's one part in the book I'm going to type for all of you to read because it is so beautiful and amazing. It might be long, but bear with me, it's worth the read!!

"I arrived at the prison late in the afternoon and was greeted by Semana, the new burgomaster of Kibuye. Semana had been a teacher before the genocide, as well as a colleague and good friend of my dad's - he was like an uncle to me. Four of his six children had been killed in the slaughter, and I told him he must have faith that his little ones were with God.
'I can see how much the world has change; the children now comfort the parents,' he replied sadly.
As burgomaster, Semana was a powerful politician in charge of arresting and detaining the killers who had terrorized our area. He'd interrogated hundreds of Interahamwe [the organization of people killing the Rwandans] and knew better than anyone which killers had murdered whom and he knew why I'd come to see him.
'Do you want to meet the leader of the gang that killed your mother and Damascene?'
'Yes sir, I do.'
I watched through Semana's office window as he crossed the courtyard to the prison cell and then returned, shoving the disheveled, limping old man in front of him. I jumped up with a start as they approached, recognizing the man instantly. His name was Felicien, and he was a successful Hutu [the tribe that was killing the other tribe, the Tutsi's] businessman whose children I'd played with in primary school. He'd been a tall, handsome man who always wore expensive suits and had impeccable manners. I shivered, remembering that it had been his voice I'd heard calling out my name when the killers searched for me at the Pastor's. Felicien had hunted me.
Semana pushed Felicien into the office, and he stumbled onto his knees. When he looked up from the floor and saw that I was the one who was waiting for him, the color drained from his face. He quickly shifted his gaze and stared at the floor.
'Stand up Killer!' Semana shouted. 'Stand up and explain to this girl why her family is dead. Explain to her why you murdered her mother and butchered her brother. Get up, I said! Get up and tell her!'
Semana screamed even louder, but the battered man remained hunched and kneeling, too embarrassed to stand and face me.
His dirty clothing hung from his emaciated frame in tatters. His skin was sallow, bruised and broken; and his eyes were filmed and crusted. His once handsome face was hidden behind a filthy, matted beard; and his bare feet were covered in open, running sores.
I wept at the sight of his suffering. Felicien had let the devil enter his heard, and the evil had ruined his life like a cancer in his soul. He was now the victim of his victims, destined to live in torment and regret. I was overwhelmed with pity for the man.
'He looted your parent's home and robbed your family's plantation, Immaculee. We found your dad's farm machinery at his house, didn't we?' Semana yelled at Felicien. ' After he killed Rose and Damascene, he kept looking for you...he wanted you dead so he could take over your property. Didn't you pig?' Semana shouted again.
I flinched, letting out an involuntary gasp. Semana looked at me, stunned by my reaction and confused by the tears streaming down my face. He grabbed Felicien by the shirt collar and hauled him to his feet. 'What do you have to say to her? What do you have to say to Immaculee?'
Felicien was sobbing. I could feel his shame. He looked up at me for only a moment, but our eyes met. I reached out, touched his hands lightly, and quietly said what I'd come to say.
'I forgive you.'
My heart eased immediately, and I saw the tension release in Felicien's shoulders before Semana pushed him out the door and into the courtyard. Two soldiers yanked Felicien up by his armpits and dragged him back to his cell. When Semana returned he was furious.
'What was that all about Immaculee? That was the man who murdered your family. I brought him to you to question...to spit on if you wanted to. But you forgave him! How could you do that? Why did you forgive him?'
I answered him with the truth: 'Forgiveness is all I have to offer.' "

Those are the last two pages of the book, but how wonderful. What an incredible message and lesson to learn. I can't imagine what I would be like in this situation. But God completely sustained Immaculee and kept her faith strong through this whole ordeal. God is amazing! Praise God for who he is and his incredible love!