Director of the Montana CCR project, Michael Yakawich, welcome participants to the October meeting.
October 21, 2025 – Billings, Montana — In a quiet room filled with diverse voices and open hearts, the Montana Cross-Community Reconciliation (CCR) project held its latest monthly gathering, continuing its mission of healing and unity through dialogue. Since 2019, the project has brought together Montanans of different cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds to foster understanding and build lasting bridges across communities.
This month’s gathering featured a poignant and deeply personal story from Isaac Olungura, whose testimony brought a powerful new dimension to the ongoing conversation about reconciliation.
From Uganda to Montana: A Story of Pain, Forgiveness, and Faith
Isaac Olungura and his mother in Uganda.
“My name is Isaac Olungura,” he began before a room of attentive listeners. “I wanted to share my story of my life and include my own thoughts on reconciliation.” What followed was not just a retelling of life events, but a moving meditation on what it means to forgive, to heal, and to rise above.
Born in Entebbe, Uganda, Isaac described a childhood marked by resilience. One of seven siblings, he grew up without running water, often walking 5–6 miles daily after school just to fetch water. His mother, a police officer, raised the family largely on her own after his father left when Isaac was very young.
Making difficult choices—often only managing one meal a day—Isaac’s mother prioritized saving for her children’s education (which was not free). She moved the family from Entebbe to Kampala and later Jinja for her job. “We were not rich,” Isaac said, quoting his mother, “but we were not poor.”
Africa changed significantly in the 21st century, welcoming immigrants and new businesses, importing and exporting. Isaac, a musician at the time, had the chance to travel to America as part of a band in 2009. He would perform in Billings, Montana, and choose to stay, making it his new home.
A Journey Toward Forgiveness
Isaac’s story turned deeply reflective as he spoke about reconciling with his estranged father. After years of silence and following a moment of prompting from his parent-figures in America (who proudly sat by him during his sharing), Isaac reached out and found his father in a hospital. They spoke—one final time—before his father passed away.
That experience became a foundation for Isaac’s personal three-part philosophy of reconciliation:
“I cannot change people. I can only change how I feel about others. I can change how I act or speak. I have the power.”
“I cannot do evil for evil. But you can overcome evil with good.”
“Life is like a mirror… a ball… it bounces back with the same energy you give it.”
Isaac shared that his ability to forgive came not from forgetting past wrongs, but from an inner choice to live differently—to choose love and understanding over bitterness and revenge.
“I love God,” he said simply. “God loves my Dad. I love my Dad.”
“I Woke Up in the Morgue”
The most astonishing moment came when Isaac revealed a life-altering event from his childhood. At age 12, he was struck by a car and mistakenly declared dead. After five days in the morgue, he miraculously woke up.
“That changed my life amazingly,” he said. “From that moment, I valued life and wanted to make my life as best as possible.”
Isaac (left) sits with fellow CCR participants at the October meeting.
A Message That Resonates
Isaac’s story moved attendees of the October meeting. For many, it served as both inspiration and a challenge to examine their own relationships, consider their own capacity for forgiveness, and reflect on the broader work of reconciliation in their own communities.
The Montana Cross-Community Reconciliation Project, supported by Global Peace Foundation, continues to serve as a vital platform for such conversations. Each month, its gatherings offer a space not just to speak, but to listen—deeply, respectfully, and across lines of difference.
As the evening concluded, the group reflected together on Isaac’s final message: We may not be able to change others, but we can change ourselves. It’s a simple statement, but one with the power to transform hearts and communities alike.
Learn more about the Cross-Community Reconciliation project
