The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya Emmanuel of Kibeho Paperback – Illustrated, November 28, 2012

"Tell this one truth to all those to whom you speak to in my name: Believe in me, and in whatever you do in life, do it with faith and love." (Jesus speaking to Segatashya)(Kindle Loc. 859-862)Simply put, The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho, by Immaculée Ilibagiza, is an amazing story. It is clear that Ilibagiza is a Catholic of great faith, and her book is a first-person recollection of her lifelong spiritual quest to meet an illiterate peasant boy from a remote region of Rwanda who purportedly met Jesus Christ and had many discussions with him. The story is filled with danger and tragedy, interspersed with powerful inspirational messages. I would imagine that anyone reading this book, and aware of the 1994 Rwandan genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus, would experience an incredible wash of emotions - I know I did.As a young girl in Rwanda, Ilibagiza heard the story of Segatashya and the other visionaries of Kibeho from the local clergy and from her Father. These teenagers were receiving visits from both Jesus and Mary, and sharing their messages to tens of thousands of pilgrims who wanted to hear what they had to say. Enamored of Segatashya in particular, Ilibagiza wanted to make the long distance travel on foot to see and hear the boy, but at age 12, her father told her she was too young and would not take her on the long and arduous trip to a distant village. Her Father reported his experience of visiting Kibeho and the palpable feeling of Divine presence."How often in life can you find a place where thousands upon thousands of people are pressed together in one little area for days on end with very little food or water without any bickering or fighting? In Kibeho I scarcely heard a single word spoken in anger ... there is just no other place like it, not in Rwanda, not anywhere!" Dad gushed. "The loving presence of the Virgin Mary and the peace of her son have undoubtedly transformed Kibeho into a place unlike any I've seen in all my travels. The loving presence of God was felt everywhere!" (Loc. 669-673)Emmanuel Segatashya was a pagan farm boy with no schooling and no religious education. He was raised a "dirt-poor" peasant, and had hardly left his farm before his visitation and subsequent agreement with Jesus to tell his messages. The very first message that Segatashya clearly understood was a request. "And then the voice addressed me a third time, saying, `You there, child, if you are given a message to deliver to the world, will you deliver it?'" (Loc. 1069-1070). Very astutely, Segatashya said he would, if Jesus would grant him with the knowledge to speak intelligently to those who listened to him and especially if any had questions. (I personally think this is a VERY wise request.) It was clearly granted, as this young man who could not read and had never seen a Bible was quoting scripture and verse perfectly, advising clergy and laity alike.He was instructed to walk 30 miles from his farm to Kibeho where the other visionaries were sharing their messages from Mother Mary. Over the course of the next year he continued to be in nearly constant communication with Jesus and sometimes Mary. He shared many messages of love, faith, and focus, but also was also given a much darker foreboding of end times that foreshadowed the Rwandan genocide and his own death."Segatashya: A couple of weeks ago [during a vision on September 1, 1982] Jesus showed me people burning in a fire and wild animals that were tearing each other apart and devouring each other. Then he showed me people hacking each other to bits with machetes. Jesus didn't give me any specific explanation about what those terrifying images meant or when those things might happen. But you can all understand what he wanted to show me: it is how people are feeling toward one another, that more and more they hate one another and want to harm each other. Jesus wants all that to change. The only way for the world to change is through his love and forgiveness." (Loc. 1697-1702)Years later in 1992, as a college student at the National University of Rwanda, Ilibagiza learned by chance that Segatashya worked on campus at the university chapel and library as a handyman. She went out of her mind searching for him for years, and now there he was, at the same school she was attending. They became friends and he was able to answer many of the questions she had for years. Sadly, less than two years later, Rwanda's prophesied destruction took the lives and property of nearly a million people, including Segatashya, and nearly all of the recordings of the Visionaries of Kibeho were lost.Segatashya's visions have not yet been officially declared genuine by the Catholic Church, but three of the earliest Kibeho Visionaries were confirmed as Divinely Inspired by the Vatican. Continuing her work long after his death, Ilibagiza interviewed people who talked with Segatashya and examined him while he was in spiritual communication, and reviewed his messages in detail. None of these people have any doubt that he was genuine and his message was directly from Jesus. Her book, The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho, is the compilation of her life-time support of Segatashya and his messages. As with many of these experiences and revelations, there are those that are inclined to believe and those that don't. In my way of thinking, it doesn't really matter what you say, or what you do, or what faith your follow - all that matters is what you hold in your heart while doing it. As Segatashya said, quoting Jesus:"No one is forced to believe in God, but still, God lives in every person's heart ... just follow your heart to God's love. Those who live in love will hear God's voice, because God's voice is a voice of love." (Loc. 861-863)

I firmly believe in the material of which Immaculee Ilibagiza has supplied us with in this book. It brought me to the highest of high, at the book's conclusion. It's elating as many people only believe of Jesus and Mother Mary appearing as apparitions in the Bible (in biblical times). But now we find that not to be true. They are also appearing in our lifetime, as well as in many lifetimes to come after ours. All I can say is whatever message they had/have for us...I strongly believe in their words and will always try to act upon them accordingly, to reach Heaven's destination one fine day. That is my opinion and I do so hope with all the materials brought forth by the author and with her living in the region of these happenings, you might feel similar to as I do, by the book's end. This author has so much information that has been documented, and she has seen this connection take place for herself (having lived in the region in Rwanda), as well as having a chance to speak to this young uneducated boy who had no other way of an education, than that of what Jesus gifted him with. It's remarkable and a miracle.I have read another book titled "MEETINGS WITH MARY: VISIONS OF THE BLESSED MOTHER", authored by Janice T. Connell. I was told to begin reading in that book on Page 130, and so on. You will find other young girl connections with Mary. Please notice the time and region of the world of her apparitions, when something dire in the immediate future happens, turning another region of the world into a massive man-made hell on earth. Then, go to the beginning of the book and read it. That is how I read the book and it worked out quite well, for me.I for one chose to believe in this book. How can you not with all the materials which we have been supplied with. To be totally honest, this book did not jolt me out of my chair in the beginning chapters, probably because I knew these happenings had existed after I had just recently read a similar book by the same author titled, OUR LADY OF KIBEHO. I recently Reviewed this book.And the author had written another book titled, LEFT TO TELL, that I had read a long while ago and it is in my home library. I regret the fact that I had never reviewed it so that other people could read my review of that book as it is so enthralling and just so unbelieveable! It's a book (autobiography) about humanity that you would never want to pass up because it has to do with modern day history, a history in which she and her entire family played a part in. That book was also a New York Times Bestseller, and I chose to take it out again last night and re-read it. Today I am drinking in every word (even though it is one of the most horrific genocides that the world has ever come to know), so that I can give you the best review I possibly can. The genocide in Rwanda just happened...in the 1990's. That was yesterday! Again, I will get back to you on "LEFT TO TELL", in Review when I finish.After reading through all the material the author provided in THE BOY WHO MET JESUS, I know for sure of one thing...I want (as I always have wanted) to leave here for the kingdom of heaven any time that I am summoned. You will find in the book where Mother Mary shows Segatashya what a quick look of heaven is like! Yea, he was quite impressed!I absolutely recommend this book to open the hearts of all who read it, no matter your religion because 'peace' and 'love' molds all religions, not just Christians.Jesus introduces Segatashya of an unknown Holocaust to come in Rwanda, because peace and love are not ascertained. It is not Jesus who commands this genocide but He warns of bloodshed if 'peace' and 'love' for mankind is not reached. And due to prejudicial views by the Country's leader, thus was the result of a small country's masacure in Central Africa.More So, the well covered material and documentations in the book bring you to the beauty of what is 'spiritual enlightenment'.This book is an excellent reality of our happenings in the real world at large.

Such a good book! The message is clear and direct and to the point! If you haven't accepted Jesus and your lord and savior,i encourage you too. He is the truth, the light, the way! God bless this young boy for listening!

Such an incredible book. I laughed, I cried, I gasped out loud. Yes, half of the book is about its author and “only” half is directly from transcripts and second or third hand conversations with Segatashya, but this enriched the story for me and did not detract. I’m glad I followed the spontaneous compulsion to buy this book, and I read it in only a handful of days, as it naturally separates itself into 3 or 4 major sections. I would highly recommend to all. And as a returning Catholic, it helped answer some things for me that I never understood in all my life - like why we pray to Mary and what our relationship with her can be, what God really wants from us, and how we can be human and live human lives and deal with anger and boundaries and horrors and sadness while still living in a way that pleases God - with words and insights straight from the source, told through the humorous, loving, and very wonderfully human lenses of Segatashya and Immaculée.

Wow, what a book. This pagan boy met Jesus and conversed with the lord in simplicity and love. It makes his message come alive in your heart. The love of God is real and forever. What a grace to read this book!