Eric Irivuzumugabe - My Father, Maker of the Trees: How I Survived the Rwandan Genocide

In Loving Memory

This book is dedicated to all my family members who lost their lives during the 1994 genocide, though the list is greater than the seventy names here.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew 18:2122

Honoring you in Jesus Christ,

Eric

1. Senyamakweshi Nazri

2. Nyirasoni Flicite

3. Mutegwamaso Drocelle

4. Muvubyi Emmanuel

5. Nyiramajigija Verediane

6. Kanakuze Mediatrice

7. Umutesi Shushu

8. Muhongayire

9. Murindwa

10. Dusabumuremyi Cyriaque

11. Mwenzikazi Vestine

12. Mukandirima Drocelle

13. Mujawamariya

14. Mujawayezu

15. Rebero

16. Munganyinka

17. Nyirakobwa

18. Sehaya Npomucnne

19. Mukarugema Caritas

20. Christine

21. Rujayana

22. Mukanyonga Boudensianne

23. Ryogori Xavier

24. Rurangangabo Jean Paul

25. Kizayire Helena

26. Shyaka

27. Seromba Nol

28. Nkusi Emmanuel

29. Munyaneza

30. Musengimana

31. Mukunzi

32. Gikudiro Senkunda

33. Rwiyamirira Augustin

34. Musanabera Verena

35. Gikudiro Rwiyamirira

36. Dukunde

37. Ruhumuriza

38. Sekidende

39. Ruhigura

40. Ntagungira

41. Rutuku

42. Remera

43. Higiro

44. Kamanzi Charles

45. Venantie

46. Mukankusi

47. Gakecuru

48. Agns

49. Bushayija Thoneste

50. Munyeshuri Samuel

51. Nyirakanyana Esprance

52. Frre Jean Baptiste

53. Mukamurenzi Patricien

54. Mukamuganga Marie Jeanne

55. Dusabimana Claudine

56. Ruzindana Leonard

57. Kayitare Augustin

58. Kayitare Daniel

59. Kamandwa Jean

60. Rurangirwa Ephrem

61. Oliva Jolie

62. Vuguziga Mado

63. Shumbusho Figil

64. Iyakaremye

65. Kanyonga Concesca

66. Uwibambe

67. Rafiki

68. Muhashyi Daniel

69. Gacakiranyi Caravel

70. Mudaheranwa Joseph

2009 by Eric Irivuzumugabe

Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2010

Ebook corrections 04.28.2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-0474-5

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked KJV is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture marked Message is taken from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked NLT is taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Contents

I wish to thank my family members who survived the period of genocide in 1994, including my brothers Mugabo Egide and Murinzi Daniel. They have always been close to me and given their moral support. They encouraged me when I was discouraged in the course of searching for the relevant stories to put in the book, and they even gave me their love. The other members still in my family are my uncles Rudakubana Innocent, Nyombayire Jean Marie Vianney, and Ruyombyana Canisius, and my aunts are Mukamana Esperance and Mu-kandori Cecile.

I thank also my dear pastors in Restoration Church, including Pastor Ndagijimana Joshua Masasu, Pastor Mukwiza Simon, Pastor Jean Bosco Habimana, Pastor Ruhimbya Aaron, and Pastor Ntizimira Do, who all together played an important role in shaping my life, each one being like a father to me. They helped me both spiritually and physically by accepting me as a son, and this acceptance built my hope in God, which resulted in my trusting in the Word of God as revealed to me, so I could become a blessing to many people, especially orphans.

I thank my family in Wisconsin, Joie and Douglas and their whole family, who always showed me love and care as my parents, brothers, and sisters. I also thank Gerri and Greg Kier for the help they offered while I was in Colorado during the process of writing this book.

I would like to thank other people who worked hard to make this book a success: sister Tracey, for doing a lot of writing; Mark, for working as an agent; and Baker Publishing Group for publishing this book. I appreciate the great work and commitment and all the necessary contributions these people made for this book project. We could not have communicated without our interpreters: Aime Ndayitabi, Gakuba Fiston, and Gasana Parfait.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Humura Ministries leaders and members Murekatete Vestine, Nkurunziza Godfrey, Tushabe Jane, Ngabonziza Maurice, and others for the work they contributed in the process of producing this book, which is a big achievement for the ministry.

Eric Irivuzumugabe

I owe a great debt of gratitude to my supportive and loving husband, Noel, who serves our marriage with teamwork. I could not possibly have completed this project without his encouragement and support. I also wish to thank my beautiful son, Jack Brennan, who graced our lives three years ago. His easygoing disposition makes it all the more possible to keep persevering through each book project.

I also wish to acknowledge my parents, Adolph and Sybil Diaz. Their prayer support and care for Jack during this project made it achievable for me to meet my deadline. And even more than that, their faith continues to inspire me and helps me to keep pressing on toward the real prize. Throughout my whole life, theyve been the best of cheerleaders.

Im grateful to my brother, Kevin, who accompanied me to Rwanda and served the vision of this book as well. He always gives me his thoughtful critique, and God has gifted him deeply with so many creative abilities that I continue to discoverhe is a true Renaissance man.

To my amazement, God always faithfully provides for me a close friend who shares a special affinity with what Im working on. Joy Schwarting, a dear friend in Christ, showed me support in every way possible for this book, though she juggles work and church activities and lovingly serves her husband, Steve, and their two precious boys, Sam and Jakey. She was there for me especially during crunch time.

Im amazed at the way God introduced me to Joie and Douglas Pirkey, and I have been blessed to witness the depth of their commitment to the Rwandan people. This book would not have been possible without their faith and crazy love for God.

Finally I want to thank the stellar team at Baker Books, more specifically Chad Allen for his vision for Erics story and his perseverance with me in shaping the manuscript. Im also grateful for my agent, Mark Sweeney, and his wife, Janet, as they have supported me with great professionalism through the project. Without the support team I have mentioned, I doubt I would even have a page written.

And Im grateful for Eric, as he had to trust at so many levels with so many cultural puzzles to figure out along the way. Eric, God will use your courage to trust in mighty ways.