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

As I read the book "My Father, Maker of the Trees" my mind travelled down many emotional paths. The longer path and the one making the most profound impact on me was the embarrassment path. How did this happen as we Americans, more pointedly American Christians sat by passively as genocide played out in Rwanda. As I think further about 1994 I wonder what we have done since the horrific events occurred. Embarrassment is my only response. We sit in our churches and make such small things seem so large while our brothers and sisters were being slaughtered by the thousands. I've decided as a pastor this can no longer be an embarrassment, it must be a call to do something. Rwanda's hope is in the hands of God. When the people turn to Him, genocide will in fact be something we can honestly say WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN! Our church for one, will simplify and mobilize ourselves to respond to the needs of Humura and the millions of people in need in Rwanda... and other places where God leads us to lend a hand. My thanks to Tracey Lawrence for enduring the agony of experiencing genocide through the eyes and words of a truly amazing young man, who not only is a survivor, but an overcomer of genocide. I'm so thankful for the book because it has helped me to see that hope can be given as a gift from God for all who seek it. Eric, I'm sorry for mine and the people I have led for 15 years who have made budgets, building programs, trips to Amusement Parks and music styles more important than helping our brothers and sisters in need. "My Father, Maker of the Trees" has lifted scales from my eyes. We are so consumer and market driven in our churches today that we've forgotten why we exist! Thanks Tracey for the gift of this book!

I was a little hesitant to read a story about the genocide, not wanting to hear the details of the murder of so many people in Rwanda, but this book was well worth the read. It covers Eric's story of watching so many of his friends and family murdered, and how he spent days hiding in the trees to escape death himself. His story of survival is a miracle in itself, but what happens afterward is a true testament to the power of God to change lives and bring hope. Eric takes this horrific experience and moves beyond it to live a life that inspires and encourages others. I especially love the story of Joie, to see how God laid the burden of the Rwanda people on the heart of this American woman and brought her together with Eric to support his efforts to love and care for the people of Rwanda. This book left me with hope and a renewed amazement of the power of God to bring good out of the most horrible of events.

ALPHONSINE'S STORY Alphonsine Uwurukundo had 3 years and a half, during the genocide. During that time some people picked her up from the streets among the dead bodies with her young sister who had one year. They were taken to an orphanage, a time came when the orphanage stopped working, because of lack of resources. Some families took them, but she was separated from her sister because they were two different families. While she was with that family, they were able to send her to school but again time came when she separated with the family that she was staying with. They separated when she had reached senior three (9th grade), and her education came to and end. From that time she started going through a difficult life up to now. She is one of those that gave testimony during this years orphans conference. When she gave us her testimony, other orphans tried to find what they can do for her. They decided to give some money to buy her clothes, they gave over sixty thousand francs (i.e. over 100USD). But up to now she is still homeless! Despite all this she still wants to continue with her studies, and even though she is an orphan facing lots of difficulties in her life, when you talk with her you find her speaking with hope and you end up believing that she will achieve her dreams. ROGER"S STORY Roger is a young man, with a great testimony, and has a lot of faith. During the genocide, his family was killed, and he himself was hacked by machetes, and was left for dead. He spent a long time among the dead bodies and it reached a time where his body started to rot. When the RPF came, they found him as one who was dead, they tried to treat him, and later on he became well. Even though he has scars all over his body, to the point that its really scary to imagine what happened to him when you look at the scars. And up to now what hurts him the most is the death of his sister and her baby. During the genocide, before they got to kill him, the killers first ran after his sister who was holding her baby. She came to a hole and then entered the hole, after entering the killers found her there and killed her a very horrible death with the baby. They never struck her with the machetes but they covered the hole she was in with her baby, with stones and then filled it with sand. When you speak with Roger, you find in him great hope, but never to forget his sisters death. JANVIER'S STORY Janvier is an orphan of the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. During the genocide he was 5 years old. He comes from a family of twelve children and he is the only remaining child of the twelve. His parents and the other eleven children all died during the Genocide. After the genocide he lived without having any one who cared for him, and eventually ended up on the streets. One time when he was with other street children, there was a lady who had gone shopping and gave some of the things she was carrying , and that she would pay h

The world needs the encouragement of Eric's story. The greatest thing about it is that the circumstance of genocide produced everything genocide is not: a heart reborn, wisdom, healing forgiveness, and the love of God.

An unbelieavable story of the horrors of the Rwandan Holocaust and this young man's survival and faith. Could not put this story down and read it cover to end in 2hrs. It's a must read - and at times seems surreal that this could have happened in the world in 1994.