People started killing each other in the quarters. Archbishop Ruhuna told me that I'd better go to rescue some families that were trapped in these neighbourhoods because they would be killed otherwise. This was the truth. They killing had already started. I tried to find out where these people lived. I went to their homes. I was able to take them away from there but it wasn't easy. The situation was very tense. I would take them to the archdiocese of Gitega. I helped some of them to flee as refugees to neighbouring countries. In one parish there were blind children that I brought to safety in Bukirasazi.

There were many others that I went to save in other areas. I went to take them and bring him here in the Archdiocese. I was lucky because none of them was killed in front of me. I was able to pass through all roadblocks. They let me continue on my way without problem. Sometimes I had to ask for a permission from the commandant. Sometimes I used to lie and say that I have a pregnant woman in my car and insisted that she needed to see a doctor urgently. The soldiers would let me through. I didn't know anything about the people I saved, apart from Evariste who came back to live here. I sometimes see some others who come to thank me. Even today.

All I've done isn't from my own strength but God helped me, and I could save many persons.

Q: Why did you choose to save people of the other ethnic group?
Maman Nestor: I view all people the same. They've been created in the image of God. Every person has the right to live. I can't discriminate between people. All are children of God. That's why I can't say I'm going to save one and let the other one die. What I know and support is that every human being needs to live. If you have the opportunity to save someone's life, just do it.

Q: What can drive people to kill others because of their ethnicity?
Maman Nestor: A person who hates others so much that he feels like killing them, is animated by a satanic force. I say such a person is a beast.