3.28.10 1st Sunday at Gitega Orphanage

Hello again to you all, dear friends. It has been about a week since I last wrote – I am glad to be back with you again. I am now in Gitega (2^nd biggest city behind Bujumbura, and in the center of the country) at the YFC Orphanage campus. I’ve been here a week now, and am writing on Sunday evening in my home here. It is a bit more difficult with internet here – sometimes have a very poor connection, and only have electricity from a generator for a couple of hours in the evening. There have been recent technical problems with the generator here, and it has been recently repaired – but is very expensive. So really, the orphanage is so thankful to have it back after lacking for a few weeks. It is certainly an important prayer request – for the generator to continue to be in working order for all here.

Where to start??? Such an exciting week, to finally be here at this place that’s been in my dreams for months now... I am struck at this moment, though, to wait until another night to record happenings. A parable in John has been on my heart all day long – one that I’d like to share with you. John 9:1-3. Continue in chapter 9 for the rest of the story…

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

I have thought about this story all day today, especially in relation to these sweet children here. There is so much joy & laughter in this place – sometimes it is hard to remember that they all have difficult stories to tell too. I have spent some time finding out about these stories today, and had to stop reading after only a few to manage not to entirely break down weeping… all are orphans. Many lost their parent or parents to AIDS, or during the civil war that has come to an end only very recently. It’s hard to believe that these beautiful children have been through incredibly horrific pasts. To see them here and today is truly a testament to God’s healing love and grace. I wonder what they will think one day – “where are my parents? Why did they leave me? Why did they have to die?” Tough questions, that we will likely never be able to answer for them fully in this lifetime… but God, I trust that you have plans for each and every one of these children, that you may help them to know the truth of this parable one day – that you have plans to make the work of your hands evident in their lives through circumstances we do not understand. His ways are mysterious…

“God must break your heart for the work you do.” Well said by my Gitega roommate, friend, and fellow English teacher Abigail. So thankful for her friendship, wisdom, and heart for ministry.

Prayer …

for a broken heart for my work here in Burundi.

for the Gitega orphanage generator.

for the children – may the work of God be displayed in their lives.

Thurs 3.18

hello, folks! another lovely day in Bujumbura here in beautiful Burundi. exciting times today – Abigail arrived safe & sound from the UK today. she flew in on Kenya airlines, an airlines i hear is often running late – by an hour or more. so, it was a great surprise to find our new friend coming outside with her baggage literally, at the same time as our welcome group was walking inside. awesome.

has been a nice day, of welcoming Abigail here. very excited for a friend who will be with me at Gitega teaching in the school! it has been so encouraging to hear her story of how she has come to Burundi, actually. she heard Simon Guillebaud (http://www.greatlakesoutreach.org/) speak in the UK at a huge conference about Burundi, when she was 12 or 13. she told her mom after that, that she would one day live and work in Burundi. so, what an incredible time for her to be arriving for the first time! God, we are thankful for the vision you have given this friend for the country of Burundi! one of the most amazing things for me since coming, has been to hear the stories and testimonies of others who have come to Burundi – & of how God has worked in their lives to bring them here. this is but one of them…

also, quickly – attended the Young Leaders meeting held on Thursday nights. it’s the gathering of university students who lead small groups, to come together for community and worship and teaching. amazing group of people really. great lesson taught on mentorship tonight – as modeled by Elijah (sp) in Kings, and Paul in Timothy. it is a topic i have had play on “repeat” for me over the past few months – like, everywhere I go it seems – it comes up in conversation or other. really a topic growing closer and closer to my heart every day. can you name the top 5 people who have been mentors to you? how about, how your life would have been different without them – these people who have loved you, known you, and spoken truth and encouragement into you life?

… a teacher’s saying to students: “I teach you with this in mind – I want you to be better than me one day.”

only in Burundi…

okay, I have just learned more about the crocodile in Lake Tanganyika – I thought people were only kidding about it before! if interested, check out the movie, “Prime Evil,” all about the croc who is said to have eaten some 400 people in the lake… well, that’s probably an exaggeration (maybe?). but still, apparently this croc is legend around here, and no one knows exactly where he is in the lake now…

Kirundi:

mraktse – thank you!

prayers for…

YFC young leaders – may they have mentors, and hear God speak to them on who they may mentor to also.

continued peace in Burundi as presidential elections near.

Its been a good day in the YFC offices, putting the finishing touches on a little project with Shegz while i’m here – to turn a collection of books into a real library, organized and catalogued and all. it has been so interesting going through the many books, to find many from the US, and many in English, and many very familiar! i see through these books, that YFC Burundi has and still has many faithful friends from my part of the world – that have come, and been changed here.

Speaking of books, was thrilled to have a conversation on my beloved topic of counseling yesterday with a 1^st year psychology student at the university – Alex. psychology is very new in Burundi. it seems to me from our conversation, that the movement has come about in large part due to the problems that have come from years of conflict and war that have taken such a toll on people here. looking forward to more conversations with this student with a passion and call to minister to hurting people in this way… and can’t stop thinking of how i may manage to have some counseling books from home, come here, so that he may have them…

ah, it has been a wonderful evening. i had the privilege to be a part of a “welcome dinner” to a newly engaged couple at the YFC offices. lovely emelyne was a volunteer with YFC for some time, and today she works as the office receptionist, as well as helps with so many of the other affairs at the office – like youth leadership and the drama team. i was of course not sure what to expect out of such a dinner held for emelyne and her fiancé – a welcome to him, and honoring of them both.

we had dinner – of rice, peas and carrots, potatoes, meat and sauce, and a fruit salad for dessert, citrus fanta too! after dinner, was even better. it was a time of many toasts, introductions, blessings, and prayer. all given in Kirundi, but thankfully – my friend Oled translated most for me – thank you! the couple shared a bit of their story – their meeting at church, and his courtship of her – truly, a courtship. it is so interesting to find that here in Burundi, much traditional culture still lives. there is little of what we know as “dating” here, but rather – a more formal courtship, progresses to engagement, progresses to marriage. it is a topic I’m hoping to learn more on soon – i am truly intrigued. i believe these people may know something that many in my home country has forgotten, about love and relationships and marriage…

it was such a beautiful time, beautiful new couple, beautiful gathering of family together. it is an honor to have been part of the evening too. very much joy and laughter in the air tonight, and much to praise God for.

excited to welcome Abigail who is coming from the UK, today – thursday – who will be one of my 2 fellow teachers at Gitega!

in Kirundi:

amohorro – “peace,” used to greet someone.

only in Burundi…

i mentioned the citrus fanta – people are crazy about it here! not orange fanta or coke; there is NO diet coke (that I have found – yes friends, i am fasting, and surviving happily!); also no sprite – but citrus fanta, this is carbonated drink of choice here. where else, but Burundi…

prayers for…

emelyne & fiancé – their relationship and upcoming marriage – may all be the “business of God,” as one friend here said so well this evening.

abigail’s safe arrival, and for her warm welcome and transition.

yfc – possibility of acquiring additional land so that a secondary school may be built in Gitega. since Burundi is so small, land can be very difficult to come by – so we pray for God’s continued provision of yfc’s needs.

More pics...

I will give them an undivided heart & put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone & give them a heart of flesh.” ezek. 11:1

It is the verse that has been alive and on my mind for days now, both before I left the States and for days since I arrived in Burundi on March 10^th. I have come to understand and to know that there is always a purpose behind these kinds of things. Perhaps, Lord, you wish to speak to me on this subject during my time in Burundi? Perhaps even, take up some difficult work as well - taking my stone and replacing it with something more malleable in your hands…

It is Tuesday evening in Burundi, as I sit in my bedroom with some quiet time to write. I have never had a blog before, and have never been so sure that I would like one really. I do love to write and to keep a journal, but the idea of turning something like a personal journal into public online reading has always seemed quite strange to me! So why am I here now, you ask? Well, first - Will. He got this started for me completely! Second, I am still not sure how this will go, but if for no other reason – it is serving as a way for me to journal and keep a record of my time here. Other than that: it is my confident hope and prayer that God will be able to use this mode of communication for the good of His Kingdom, in whatever small way that may become. I thank any of you, friends, family, and friends-to-be, for taking the time to stop by and catch a glimpse into my life and work in Burundi over the next weeks’ time… know I am thankful for your ever-present love and care.

Couple Pics from Heather

First Blog (not by Heather)