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.