Author Description

In A Smile After Tears, Chantal Rutayisire shares her journey as a child growing up in Rwanda. Through her words, the reader sees the beauty of this part of Africa and experiences her close knit family. She recounts the 1994 Genocide that took the lives of more than a million Tutsi Rwandans, which included many of her family members. Without her mom, dad, four of her siblings, and extended family, she grew up feeling like a victim, but God redeemed her to be victorious. Now she is a mother of two, raising her children to love God and stay in His presence. This book is not about sharing pain but how the Lord helped her overcome. Healing is a process, so put in the effort to be healed through forgiveness. Move forward. Don’t remain paralyzed because of trauma or any tough situation. Allow God to guide you through. Invite Him into your circumstances. He will give you A Smile After Tearsas well. Even though Chantal Rutayisire encountered many hardships, God allowed her to graduate from Kigali Independent University, where she completed a four-year degree in International Relations & Social Studies. She has been blessed to be a business owner for over two decades. Also, Chantal speaks four languages: Kinyarwanda, Swahili, French, and English, which have opened many doors. To look at Chantal Rutayisire from a distance, people don’t see all that she’s been through because of her relationship with God and the capacity to forgive. He truly gave her A Smile After Tears.