I was born in Ruhengeri, a small shopping center in northern Rwanda, into a large family with several wives and many siblings. My mother, the fourth wife, was the only Protestant in our predominantly Catholic and African Traditional Religion community, which informed my worldview about the world we live in to this day. I spent my formative years with her, as my father worked away from home and returned only on weekends. My early life was filled with dreams and promises in a Rwanda of boundless opportunities in the 1980s. However, everything changed on January 23, 1991, in the dimly lit hours of a night forever etched in my people’s history. It marked the genesis of my life as a Rwandan refugee and forever changed both my people and me when the Tutsi rebels led by General Paul Kagame invaded our villages.

This journey would take me far from my cherished home village, nestled at the serene foothills of the Virunga Volcanic Sierra, where the majestic Karisimbi, Visoke, and Muhabura mountains stood as silent sentinels. My hometown was Ruhengeri, located in the northern expanse of Rwanda, a place I held dear to my heart. However, fate would soon propel me on a tumultuous odyssey, leading me to a distant and somber place known as Kibeho Catholic Parish, situated in the southern reaches of Rwanda. It was in this very location, on the grim night of April 22, that the newly-formed Rwandan army, led by General Paul Kagame, unleashed an indiscriminate massacre upon us, akin to swatting flies. Those of us who miraculously survived this onslaught, like myself, found ourselves in an unfamiliar and distant land—Burundi. From Burundi, my journey continued into the sprawling expanse of Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we sought refuge and tried to rebuild our lives amidst the turmoil. But the hand of tragedy would strike once more as General Kagame’s forces descended upon us, sending some unfortunate souls into the unforgiving abyss of Nyiragongo’s fiery magma, a fate too gruesome to bear. For those, like myself, who managed to escape the fiery inferno, a deadly journey of no return awaited. This odyssey took me through the dense, unforgiving terrain of the Ituri jungle, where danger lurked around every corner, and onward to the formidable expanse of the mighty River Congo. Eventually, I found myself on the distant shores of Congo Brazzaville, a place that would offer only a fragile haven in the face of the ongoing storm. Yet, as the wheel of fate relentlessly turned, it would not be long before I found myself returning to the very heart of Rwanda, a place where a nightmarish torture chamber threatened to snuff out my life. In that bleak chamber, where death’s cold grip beckoned, the mortuary briefly welcomed me. But in a twist of God’s providence, I cheated the jaws of death and emerged from that abyss, forever marked by the indomitable faith that had guided me through these harrowing trials.

In the darkest hours of 1997, as General Kagame’s brutality claimed the lives of my parents and relatives, it seemed as though hope had been extinguished. Yet, as the book of Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” In a divine orchestration, God had other plans for me. A miraculous rescue from the turmoil of Rwanda would soon unfold, catapulting me into the midst of an unimaginable existence in a foreign land—Kenya. In the year 2001, I found myself on the unforgiving streets of Nairobi, a homeless refugee struggling to navigate life’s harshest realities. But, once again, the heavens intervened. Divine guidance paved the way for my enrollment at Daystar University, followed by a remarkable opportunity for employment at the Office of the President of Kenya. As if scripted by destiny, my journey continued to the land of the free, the United States, and later to the vibrant city of Sydney, Australia. This series of events, marked by divine intervention, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Upon entering Daystar University, a profound sense of stability took root within me. The fear that had relentlessly shadowed me, under the oppressive cloud of Kagame’s system that hungered for my very life, began to wane. It was then that I realized God had faithfully honored His promise, a whispered vow from the darkest chambers of Rwanda, assuring me that He would lead me to foreign shores, bless me, and pave a path to prosperity. As I contemplated the divine intervention that had woven the threads of good Samaritans into my life, I felt a compelling urge not to remain silent. In response, I founded the ANEHOPE Ministry, a living testament to the enduring grace and boundless love of God, an endeavor dedicated to paying forward the blessings I had received.

“My story is a testimony intricately woven with threads of sorrow, anguish, darkness, moments of happiness, miraculous interventions, and the unwavering love of God, all of which illuminate the resilience of the human spirit. As you embark on this journey through the pages of my book, you will come to understand why I chose the title that encompasses it all—‘Refused To Die: A Refugee’s Diary of Abyss, Death, and Apocalyptic Miraculous Survival.’ Within these pages, you will discover that even in the face of abyssal challenges, the specter of death, and apocalyptic chaos, the indomitable human spirit endures. As my narrative unfolds, you will not only grasp the significance of this title but also find within it a profound conviction—God exists, a faith that has been my anchor throughout this incredible odyssey. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for accompanying me on this journey and for staying with me until the final page,” because it has been a Long Walk.

By

Dr. William A. Twayigize