Survival, Loss, and Faith in the Face of Genocide

How large is your capacity for forgiveness? Author and motivational speaker Immaculée Ilibagiza grew up in a small village in Rwanda, Africa. With her loving parents and three brothers, Immaculée excelled in school and eventually went on to study electrical and mechanical engineering at the National University of Rwanda. However, her life took a dramatic turn in 1994. 

On April 6 of that year, the assassination of the Rwandan President ignited months of massacres targeting Tutsi tribe members across the country. To protect his daughter from rape and murder, Immaculée's father instructed her to seek refuge at a local pastor's house. There, she hid with seven other women in a cramped 3 x 4-foot bathroom for the next 91 days. Amidst the genocide raging outside, Immaculée battled anger and resentment, which threatened to consume her mind, body, and spirit. It was in this desperate state that she turned to prayer, clutching a set of rosary beads her father had given her. Through prayer and faith, she found the strength to resist hate, even using this dark time to teach herself English using only a Bible and a dictionary. 

Emerging from her hiding place after 91 days, Immaculée faced a harrowing reality—her entire family, except for one brother studying abroad, had been brutally murdered. She also discovered the massacre of nearly one million extended family members, friends, neighbors, and fellow Rwandans. Despite unimaginable suffering, Immaculée shocked the world by forgiving the man who had killed her mother and brother. 

Immaculée Ilibagiza's story offers profound insights and actionable steps to strengthen emotional resilience, release burdens through forgiveness, and contribute to a greater shift in collective consciousness. To share Immaculée's message of healing and forgiveness, Sage and Tony Robbins are honored to present this powerful moment from a private event with their Platinum Partners in Mexico. Please enjoy! 

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBOu2rE8Ljg&t=986s

SHOW NOTES:

[00:38] Tony’s Intro

[03:05] Disclaimer

[04:27] Lessons learned from the Genocide

[05:28] How the Genocide started

[07:18] Propaganda used to spread hatred

[09:00] Our Lady of Fatima’s warning

[10:00] Moment the killings started

[11:20] Last memory of her father

[13:45] Final message her father shared

[15:25] How life changed in just 3 days

[16:00] Hiding in a 3x4 space with 7 other women

[19:50] Learning to listen to the voice within

[21:45] The moment Immaculée met God

[24:50] Embrace hope/receive a sign

[26:05] A miracle happens

[28:22] Turning to the Bible for answers

[31:31] Not being ready to forgive

[31:55] The worst thing about anger

[35:50] A prayer from the heart can change you

[37:30] Learning to forgive through God

[42:24] Moment the anger went away

[44:11] Discovering that her family was among those killed

[45:55] Life's a gift and there are no guarantees

[46:56] Incredible examples of Immaculée’s prayers being answered

[50:27] Story behind her book being published

[53:52] Meeting the man who killed her family and forgiving him

[55:42] Immaculée’s message of hope

Tony Robbins is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. For more than four and a half decades, millions of people have enjoyed the warmth, humor, and dynamic presentation of Mr. Robbins' corporate and personal development events. As the nation's #1 life and business strategist, he's called upon to consult and coach some of the world's finest athletes, entertainers, Fortune 500 CEOs, and even presidents of nations.