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.