The genocide in Rwanda was one of the most horrific tragedies ever carried out. Between April and June 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the span of 100 days. Junior Regis Ngaboyisonga was only six years old when he lived through the genocide, but he said the genocide was not what defined him. Petit Jean editor Nicole Sullenger sat down with Ngaboyisonga, and instead of finding a victim of war, she found a joyful, selfless student with a focus on Christ that took most people a lifetime to discover. N: What can you remember about growing up in Rwanda? R: The story I have, it's during genocide. I was six years old, but I can remember some memories. [I could] see people around, dead people, you know, the way it smelled, the fear. We were just going from my house, we wentto hotel Rwanda. It was called Hotel des Mille Col lines. We've been there for, I think, three weeks. And we could spend three days and just eat something that was not enough.We were packed up into a tiny room, you know. And I remember my mom, she used to go see different people, see if they could give food to my brothers. It was really hard but I'm so thankful because God helped us to go through it. I remember we could just drink water from the swimming pool, we didn't have enough. And there was anotherfamily that came and joined us, in this tiny room, in a size like this [Editor's note: We were sitting in an office that was less than 50 square feet]. And the family, they came and there were maybe ten, and we were just packed up. I remember it was so tough to sleep. But God helped us and we moved from the hotel and we went to another village that was safer.We went there and spend another two months trying to get something to eat, trying to get something to survive. We were scared and everyone was dead. My mom used to do everything for us. And my parents, they had already lost their parents, but I'm thankful because my mom, she was not killed over the genocide, even my dad.That's why genocide didn't really affect my life, but my cousins they are really affected; they lost almost everybody. Sometimes when I think about genocide I feel like it's one of the scariest memories I had, horrible memories. N: Were you in the hotel when they tried to kill everyone? R: Yeah, they used to throw bombs in it. We barely survived, that's what I can say. We barely survived, it was so hard. But the U.N. [United Nations] was there and they came and they tried to help people out and rescue some people that were still alive, so we got lucky. So I'm so thankful, that's why I'm here. I could have died, you know. N: How did you get to Harding? R: At Harding there are, I think, 11 students from Rwanda. It's a program where they come and select a student, the top student. 76 people I had to do a national exam and after the exam, they pick the top student. We compete based on our English skills because they need to make sure this guy, once he gets to the U.S., he gets acquainted quickly. I got picked out and that's why I came here. N: What are your plans after graduation? R: Rwanda is a small country and they are investing in education. I came here just to get a solid education, then I need to return home. I'm graduating in spring 2012, then I need to finish my graduate school and go back. My major is computer science.We just need it back home we need people who are good at computers. We need people who can be more creative. N: How have you seen God working through your life? R: I love Jesus, so much. My life is based on Jesus, without Jesus there is no way I can live. I now understand the meaning of salvation, I understand why Jesus came. Jesus knew that we needed something, that we are mtssing something. My mum was a Christian. She prayed for us, she prayed for my father and she prayed for her children. I used to go to church because my mom had me, but in 2005 that's when I had my conviction, my personal decision. I was trying to get the answer for: the meaning of life. I would go through the Bible and read, that's when I saw that Jesus is life. When you give Jesus your life, He changes it, you know. He starts his job transforming your mind, and then you have eternal life. After I received Christ, He changed everything. My life started changing day after day. So that's why it's so real. Everything is based on Jesus. Let God Iive your Iife through the Holy Spirit. I have a daily reading and I have to pray before I go to class. I wake up early to pray and I praise God.That's how I live. And every time I don't pray or read the Bible, I feel like I'm missing something.You know the scripture from Philippians 4:12, where Paul says Ican do everything through Jesus who strengthens me. It shows how Paul is depending on God in everything. So that is what I'm shooting for. Having an intimate [relationship] and depending on God fully. N: In your life, what makes you happy? R: Something that makes me happy is to live at peace with everybody. I like to socialize with people and be friends with people. I really like to encourage people. Anytime I'm just living at peace with everybody it makes me so happy. Sometime it's hard; people are different and you have different personalities so it's hard to make sure you can please everybody. But I try my best to accept everybody the way they are, the way they seem, regardless of his negative sides. It helps me to be humble to everybody and any time I feel like I didn't hurt anybody, JUSt trying to serve people, it makes me happy. Joy that is based on God, not based on your performance or circumstances or anything else, that's what makes me happy • Nicole Sophia Sullenger
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