Healing and Hypnotherapy Volume 4 Issue - 6, 1 December 2019 | Page 12

Marie – A Session in Rwanda
Nobody knew what happened to Marie during the genocide, except that she
had been beaten repeatedly in the head with one of the heavy clubs the Inter-
hamwe militia used for killing when there were no machetes available. She
was beaten so badly that she was considered dead and left behind when
others fled in panic from the church where hundreds of people had taken
refuge. Churches had previously been safe places, but during the genocide
people were slaughtered in churches as well. No place was safe at that time.
When Marie’s brother opened the door 16 years later, he had a welcoming
smile. He removed the shirts he was busy ironing from the table in the small
room and asked us to sit down.
According to tradition you always offer visitors something to drink. “Do you
want a glass of water?” he asked. We had come to see Marie. He told us she
was in bed with one of her many severe headaches since the genocide.
“Perhaps we should come another day when she feels better?” I asked.