During our lifetime, we may face difficult times, and we may have to struggle to find answers and solutions. However, my own experience has shown me that when a situation is particularly challenging, and when it’s difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, divine solicitude always manifests itself in the middle of our problems, bringing complete resolution.

On June 28, 2006, I was arrested and imprisoned with a group of colleagues. Our arrest was linked to a theft of goods from the company we were working for. I worked night-shift security there so that I could go to school during the day.

The political, social, and security situation in Burundi was not good, since our country was just coming out of more than a decade of civil war. In my heart, I had absolutely no hope for my future, which is the reason why I had committed that dishonest act. Finding myself in prison, I started thinking that I was cursed. I felt very stressed and discouraged at the idea that I was going to spend five years or more in prison. As the weeks went by, my confinement became particularly painful.

In September 2006, several of my classmates came to visit me. Among them was a friend who brought me a copy of the French edition of The Herald of Christian Science, Le Héraut de la Science Chrétienne. She was not a Christian Scientist herself, but she had read the magazine and thought that it could be helpful to me.

I started reading it. It was the first time that I had ever heard about Christian Science. The testimonies of healing were particularly interesting. After I asked her, my friend was able to obtain other issues of the magazine, and had them delivered to me. I felt that the teachings I was finding in those magazines were giving me the support I needed, encouraging me to become a better individual, and opening new horizons for me.

In prison, one has a lot of time to think and pray, and that's just what I did. I realized clearly that one doesn't gain anything by doing wrong, and that only good, just actions give happiness.

Among the essential points, the authors of the articles and testimonies were saying that they had been able to solve their problems thanks to a better understanding of God. The first issue of Le Héraut that I read was dated July/August 2005, and featured an interesting article by Geoffrey Barratt about the power of oneness. I noted this sentence: “Our coexistence with God as Soul means we have access to joy and individuality which can’t be lost or threatened.”

So, I applied myself to understand God better, and contacted a Christian Science practitioner. I had access to a cell phone while I was in prison, so I asked him to pray for me by sending him a text message. His response was immediate: “God will never forsake you, and neither will I.” I immediately felt a sense of peace, and I continued to pray with the idea that I was always united with God, even if I was still distressed off and on. In prison, one has a lot of time to think and pray, and that’s just what I did. I realized clearly that one doesn’t gain anything by doing wrong, and that only good, just actions give happiness.

On December 31 of that same year, the President of our country addressed the nation as usual, talking about different issues. During his speech, he said that he was going to ask the Minister of Justice to free all detainees that had not been brought to trial during the period of time allocated by the law. Thanks to this amnesty, I benefited from an unexpected release from prison. As you can imagine, I was filled with joy when I was freed on January 1, 2007, because I saw God’s promise fulfilled in front of my eyes that He would never forsake me.

Since my release, I’ve gone back to school. I finished technical school, specialized in IT Management, and learned to speak English. In our family, no one had ever finished even a secondary school education, so I had the joy of being the first one! After obtaining my diploma, I found work in less than a year, even if I was not highly qualified. I am presently employed at a local bank. I am completely reformed, and I know that I will never again commit any dishonest acts. And naturally, I continue to study Christian Science, which has transformed my life. Le Héraut, as well as the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings, are my daily companions. I do not feel cursed any longer, but blessed by God: I am a new man. 

All my gratitude goes to God, and I am also very grateful to the practitioner who stood by me in prayer, helping me to grow spiritually—to better understand God and to grasp the perfect, spiritual nature of His children, and the relation that unites them to God forever.