Miracle in Rwanda

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Bob Simon tells the story of Immaculee Ilibagiza, a Tutsi woman who survived Rwanda's genocide by the Hutus in 1994.

Miracle in Rwanda is a play telling the story of Immaculee Ilibagiza that is currently on tour.

Leslie Lewis Sword brilliantly transforms herself into a host of characters to tell the incredible story of Rwandan Genocide Survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza, a real life messenger of hope.

Performer and writer Sword traveled to Rwanda with Immaculée to develop this unique piece of theater. In fact, this return of Immaculée to Rwanda was the subject of a SIXTY MINUTES feature, bringing international attention to the story of MIRACLE IN RWANDA.

Immaculée visits the bathroom she found refuge in 12 years earlier.
Immaculée's family was brutally murdered during the three-month slaughter that began in April 1994. Miraculously, Immaculée managed to survive. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently and cramped together in an undiscovered extra bathroom in a local pastor's home.

Immaculée's terror escalated as hundreds of machete-wielding killers searched the house repeatedly for her without success, determined to find and butcher her. Ultimately, Immaculée moves beyond intense fear and rage, to find a deeper connection to God than she ever thought possible.

Crafted by Leslie Lewis Sword and co-creator Edward Vilga, with an uplifting message of forgiveness and compassion, MIRACLE IN RWANDA chronicles these dramatic events through the interior life of Immaculée. The message is one of personal empowerment, of overcoming all obstacles through the power of faith, and ultimately finding peace of mind amidst unbelievable hardship. Often called "our generation's Anne Frank"—yet one who thankfully survived—the true miracle of Immaculée's story is her ability to forgive.

After premiering at TheatreZone in Naples, Florida’s, a triumphant NYC Soho run of MIRACLE IN RWANDA inspired a world tour that has spanned a dozen cities and five continents.

You can read more about Immaculée Ilibagiza and her story here. Her powerful story of faith and miracles are the focus of Our Lady of Kibeho: Mary speaks to the World from the Heart of Africa.