"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed..."

2 Corinthians 4:8

There are moments in history when time seems to stop, when life as it was vanishes in a single breath. For me, and for countless others, that moment came in 1994.

I was just a child in Rwanda, i was full of dreams, laughter, and the innocence that comes with not knowing how cruel the world can be. Then, in only 100 days, nearly a million people were slaughtered in the Rwandan Genocide. Neighbours turned on neighbours. Churches became graves. Families were shattered, homes destroyed, and hearts torn beyond recognition.

This book is not just a recollection of horror. It is a testimony of survival, of faith, of a God who held me when all else fell apart. It is about what it means to be human in the face of inhumanity. It is about how light can still shine even in the darkest places.

Both bitterness and stress steal from us in similar ways. They rob us of sleep, leaving our minds restless. They cloud our judgment, causing us to make decisions out of fear or anger rather than wisdom. They harden our hearts, shutting us off from the beauty of forgiveness and the comfort of love. Left unchecked, they shorten our lives, not just in years but in the richness of experience.

It is important, before we learn to overcome bitterness and stress, that we name them clearly and honestly. Many people live with bitterness without admitting it. They tell themselves they are simply “being careful,” “setting boundaries,” or “protecting themselves,” when in reality they are still holding grudges. Likewise, many live with stress but disguise it as ambition, productivity, or responsibility. The truth is, bitterness and stress disguise