I’ve chosen to tell you of Louise and Emmanuel, who we met this week. As we approached the group under the spreading branches of a thorn tree, I noticed a vivacious woman with a striking face, full of liveliness. We introduced ourselves to the 16 members of Ukuri Kuganze [meaning truth will triumph].

“ Can someone share how, from such diverse backgrounds you came to bond together?” Three hands went up – I chose the confident looking young man on my left. He told how he had killed, maimed and attacked people in 1994. After some years he had been helped by a healing workshop but was not ready to tell the truth or apologise.

Emmanuel pointed to the woman whose children he killed, seated three places to his left. It was while he spoke that I noticed again the vivacious woman nearby – I saw that her right hand was missing. Then Emmanuel gestured to this same woman and said ‘ I did that to her’. Her name is Louise.

Emmauel shifted places and sat next to Louise as she took up the conversation: “I was in the crowd of 5000 seeking sanctuary in the church of Ntarama when the army was bussed from the north-west at the end of April, 1994 to begin the slaughter. Their attack gave courage to the locals who had gathered for some days to taunt and threaten. The locals finished off most of us, including my children but I escaped into the fields. Later I hid in the marshes but they found me and they hacked my body and severed my hand. I was left unconscious, but I survived.

For years I had no idea who was responsible. I went to a healing workshop and joined UK where ex-prisoners, widows, survivors, returnees and relatives of prisoners unite as one. We were building a house for a survivor one day when Emmanuel came and kneeled down before me, crying out ‘ Louise, please forgive me, please forgive me’. I had no idea what he was asking – his blubbering made no sense – I was focused on the working we were doing. I told him to go home, calm down and come back and tell me tomorrow.

Next day Emmanuel returned and explained ‘ I am the one who attacked you and left you for dead. I can keep my secret no longer’. I was moved and forgave him – he was already making restitution for others by the work we were doing building houses for those made homeless in the genocide.”

Dave [our camera man/producer] took E & L onto the grass near by, and they re-enacted his confession and apology. We then invited anyone who desired to come with us to film the Ntarama church. Both L & E chose to come. As we neared the church compound I noticed Louise grimace and hesitate. She started to turn back – then she joined us. After a short time in the church she asked to speak to camera – “ Over there is where I ran and hid in that banana plantation. Later I ran to the marshes and hid for a month. It was there that the local youth came to get me and I lost my hand. I just saw the clothes of my children in the church” [ their clothes had lain on the floor where they fell, untouched for almost 10 years, but now they have been hung around the walls].

Tears began to come to her eyes and my heart began to falter as she explained: “I have not been here for over 13 years, this is the first time I have been back in this awful place since it happened.” We walked out to the car; Dave thanked her for her courage. I watched in awe as Louise and Emmanuel, seated opposite her, conversed as friends.

Next morning we visited one of the houses that UK is building for surviving victims. There was Louise seated in the shade keeping track, while Emmanuel sweated it out in the midmorning sun, pushing wet clay in between the mud and straw bricks.

We gathered this story not by design – some would say by accident. I believe it was the guiding hand of God who heard your prayers and led Dave to suggest the question which opened the space for this story to be told: ask them if they’ve got a story of how they bonded together.
No wonder Louise is radiant – she lives again, no wonder Emmanuel is thoughtful, determined and quiet, he has escaped crushing shame and judgement, by telling the truth; he has been set free from the guilt and can now offer grace through small acts of restitution where once he caused only pain.

Our hearts are still soft, with many questions – but strong with one clear answer: confession, repentance and forgiveness still overcome estrangement and conflict. And it was given to us to film this holy moment. We have their story to tell. It is a solemn trust.