Immaculee Ilibagiza's story is one of terror, loss and faith. Immaculee had a happy childhood. She was raised in a close knit Roman Catholic family on the beautiful shores of Lake Kivu. Immaculee's parents, Rose and Leonard, were loving. There were four children in the family, of which Immaculee was the only daughter. As a child she experienced much joy and was especially close to her brother Damascene. Immaculee felt loved by her family, friends and community. She moved freely through her village, Mataba, and had many friendships. Immaculee was also blessed with intelligence. Her intelligence was fostered by her parents, who, as teachers, believed strongly in the importance of education. She excelled scholastically and earned an excellent education. She studied locally at her mother's school during her elementary years. Later, she attended boarding school for her high school education and finally at the National University in Butare.

Her idyllic life was shattered in 1990 when on her holiday visit home Immaculee came face to face with the increasing hostility amongst the three tribes of Rwanda. These tribes, the Hutus, Tutsis and Twa, had historically poor relations. In 1990 the animosity climaxed in a bloody war as the Hutus hunted and killed nearly a million Tutsis. The 1990 Rwandan Holocaust forced her to spend over three months in hiding. As a Tutsi, she was among the hunted. The conditions Immaculee and her companions endured during their time in hiding were harsh. She spent her time in forced silence and feared for her life. She was confined to a small bathroom barely large enough for one person, yet it was filled with eight women. However difficult the physical conditions may have been, the mental anguish was worse. While they were hiding, the women could hear and, to a limited extent, see what was occurring outside of their hiding place. They witnessed the murders of many Tutsi people at the hands of extremist Hutus.

The horror surrounding Immaculee motivated her to search within herself. While in hiding she focused on her faith and building her relationship with God. She prayed for many hours each day and experienced religious visions. Immaculee and her companions eventually left their hiding place and moved through multiple military camps before finding freedom. Immaculee attributes her hope and survival to her relationship with God. It would be a reasonable reaction to express fear, anger, or even hatred. Yet Immaculee chose a different path. Some would say that Immaculee did the unthinkable. Through a renewed and deepened faith she managed to forgive the killers who ravaged her village and create a legacy of courage for others to follow.