WooHoo

Today I bought a green pepper from the market as well as a couple of
bananas. The green pepper is what got me, after paying for it the lady
let out a big 'woohoo'-literally. Inside I was thinking woohoo too,
100FBU for a green pepper score! I guess I paid a bit much, but for me
.10 for a pepper is a steal, I love Burundi.

Teachers

Pray for Hope Academy in Emi-Woro today as Interviews begin for our
teaching staff. Remember we need 7 more teachers, preferably before
school begins in three weeks. We believe God has good things for His
children at His school in Emi-Woro, we're believing He will supply our need!

Catching up

Today I enjoyed a long awaited event: Aroma. My favorite coffee for a
dollar, greeting two of my favorite baristas, who asked where I had been
for the last two months, yes they noticed and cared and even asked after
Rachel. They have expanded their building making it even more beautiful
than before. I feel like I'm viewing Burundi through rose colored
glasses but I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

To Market to Market to buy...

My friend Javier says he likes Burundi 'cause things happen at a slower
pace than other places. I would say I totally agree, today the highlight
and climax of my day was walking to market with Fredian-a gal who helps
keep our apartment looking fabulous. I started the walk down the stairs
when I heard her voice. It's been two and a half months since seeing my
friends so it's been a time for lots of hugs and catching up. I stopped
where she could see me and what followed was priceless- a squeal,
greeting and big hug, not just the Burundian you tap my shoulder, I tap
yours but a full body embrace. I asked her to come with me to market-we
usually buy our eggs nearby (we learned our lesson trying to bring them
home on the bus) and I also needed to see a tailor, which I really
needed her for as I have forgotten all my broken Kirundi and French-so
much for bartering for vegetables :( So we set out, catching up on life.
As we crossed through the church yard I met another friend, or rather a
friends of my mother's. She also gave me a giant hug, no words exchanged
but then that's not really necessary when your just thankful to see one
another. We continued on our way, stopping for eggs, drawing the
attention of plenty of people at the market, and stopped to get some
shirts taken in. I'm so thankful for Fredian, she works with diligence
and is always willing to help, even if that means taking a mzungu to market!

Blessed again

I was overwhelmed with blessings this morning. Seeing friends at church,
friends that welcomed me back and smiled and said they were glad to see
me. Blessed by worship in French and English. Blessed to no longer be a
visitor but feel at home. And blessed by a sermon that asked us to
change our attitude so that we walk in the victory Christ has for us,
walking in the authority He has given us. I kept waiting to hear Bridget
yell out AMEN! It never came but my heart kept saying amen and amen, we
have the victory!

Never too late to apologize

For all these things I complained about, I'm sorry. All the things I
didn't realize were so great and took for granted, again I apologize. It
truly is all about perspective. I never thought I would be happy to be
called Mzungu but yesterday it was as if my entry into East Africa had
been made official, so thank you to the Kenyan gal on the side of the
road who welcomed me back. It really was like coming home today, the
nervous excitement was there. I'm no longer a rookie so I filled out all
the correct visa paperwork and walked right through the airport. It was
all familiar, a little dustier than and hazier than when I left but
still good ol' Buja. We even drove by the lake, how could I forget how
beautiful it is. And then walking into my apartment with my pictures all
up-why didn't I take them with me? Surrounded by familiarity was so
comforting. There are big changes like paved roads and new power sources
but it's still HAU. Somehow all that was not very good before has become
new and exciting again. I would recommend a two month vacation to anyone
feeling down, shake things up, enter a new culture, a new country and
upon return what you thought was kinda plain is instead really beautiful.

Joy

What is with the unspoken rule that comes with flying in an airplane?
You would never dream of leaving your things unattended anywhere else
but suddenly you walk into this germ capsule and all the rules change,
you leave your laptop and all other belongings stored somewhere above,
not exactly in your line of sight and yet it's all there when you leave.
In fact you can even walk to the bathroom and still no one touches your
stuff. I kinda like it. Yesterday was a long but uneventful jouney. So
many things could have gone wrong but they didn't, just the way I like
it. My baggage came through, the driver was there to meet me, all visas
and paperwork went so smoothly. I can only credit it to your prayers!
This morning I went to the Nigerian Embassy first thing, praying for a
breakthrough, usually it takes three days to process a visa for Nigeria,
I needed it 'now, now' as we say in Nigeria. Thankfully I was backed by
fasting and prayer in Kenya and US and Nigeria, praying that I would be
a good steward of the Lord's finances, that the visa would be issued so
I wouldn't have to cancel a plane ticket, and also so I could return to
the work in Emi-Woro. And it worked! 5 minues later I walked out with
what I felt like was a huge reward but really it was just a sticker in
my passport. The best part was as I 'trekked' -walked-home I felt so
happy. I have been praying and seeking the Lord about this for a month
and perhaps at times I made the decision a little more dramatic and
intense than it really was but the satisfaction of knowing I am just
where the Lord would have me and in a place that I have really come to
love just brought this intense amount of relief and joy! Deep, deep down
joy. Glory be to God! I treated myself to some snacks to break the fast
and as I relished in them on the walk home it was as if the sunny day
and birds were singing just for this time, to rejoice with me.Thank you
for walking with me. Now I am soaking up the changes that Nairobi
offers. It's no bush life here, there are coffee shops and big grocery
stores and even if all I do is look at the clothes it feels like a
little taste of home.Friday I will fly to Bujumbura, with each mile I
get more and more excited. Excited to see friends, to be 'home' for a
short while, to have a time of closure and relaxation- I never thought
I'd be vacationing in Bujumbura but it's all about perspective I guess.
In September I will return to Nigeria! I think what I'm most looking
forward to, apart from being back with the Myers is the reunion with the
boarding students, they don't yet know I'm returning, and I wouldn't
want to brag but I'm pretty sure we'll all be glad to see each other.

The Birds Have Been Talking

As they say in Burundi "The birds have been talking" I guess that's like
"A little birdie told me", now I haven't been told anything new but I
wonder if you have. I wonder if word has gotten around and you've been
let in on the secret. Not that it was intended to be kept secret but
sometimes good news is better saved until the right moment, maybe the
moment when things are definite and set in stone. This is not that
moment. You may have heard I won't be returning to teach at Hope Africa
University, that would be correct. You may have heard I hope to continue
here in Nigeria, that would also be correct. Maybe you also know that on
Wednesday I fly to Nairobi, where I will apply for yet another visa, one
that can't be issued here in Nigeria but will allow me to come back to
Nigeria-you may thing 'hmmm that's odd'- I would agree with you-take it
up with my friends in immigration. You can be praying that the kind
folks at the embassy in Nairobi would grant me my visa so that I can
come back to Hope Academy. I can't say I'm a fan of being stretched by
the Lord, taking it on faith that the necessary paperwork, finances and
logistics will fall into place. Whatever happened to the missionary who
just stayed in one place? I have been back and forth on this decision.
Where is the Lord calling me? Approaching it with a divided heart;
loving the people of Burundi and the life that I began there and yet
drawn to the school here in Emi-Woro, to our boarding students and the
cause for better education. I'm thankful for the season of ministry in
Burundi, for the lessons learned and relationships made, I am also
thankful for the time spent here in Emi-Woro, for the work the Lord is
doing and the ways I can participate. I look forward to this new season
with anticipation. I'm thankful that even though I didn't know, my
church didn't know and my supporters didn't know what this year would
hold they have remained faithful to support me in whatever the Lord
calls me to; Burundi, Nigeria, Malawi or.... Please join me in prayer as
I travel on Wednesday from Nigeria to Kenya and on Thursday as I speak
with Immigration about Visas. All this change brings extra flights,
visas, living expenses, ministry expenses, etc. if you would like to
make a donation you can send checks to Wenatchee Free Methodist Church.

Teachers

Be praying for Hope Academy here in Emi-Woro, we are in need of 7 new
teachers! That is half our teaching staff, we are sure the Lord can
provide we just need to ask. Would you join us as we ask for teachers
that love children and teachers that want to pass on good education. We
have 10 days before interviews begin, pray that the applications would
be flowing in. Photo from Yesterday: Hurerra and Baby Phyllis

Teachers

Be praying for Hope Academy here in Emi-Woro, we are in need of 7 new
teachers! That is half our teaching staff, we are sure the Lord can
provide we just need to ask. Would you join us as we ask for teachers
that love children and teachers that want to pass on good education. We
have 10 days before interviews begin, pray that the applications would
be flowing in. Photo from Yesterday: Hurerra and Baby Phyllis

Type Away

Priscilla, a secondary student, a great help to us here at the mission
and our FM pastor's daughter was watching me type away on the computer
last week and asked if she could try. After playing around for awhile
she asked if she could come each day and practice. I thought "now that
is a great idea". So after her second lesson today she can keep her eyes
off her hands, keep her fingers on home row and type 6 WPM. Way better
than I was after my second lesson!

Call Me

Okay Friends, it works, I promise and it's such a blessing. If you want to chat here's how. Install Skype if you have not already.
You have to open a Skype account then use your Credit or Debit card to put money on it. It is about 25 cents a minute to call me on my cell phone in Nigeria :)
On the bottom of the left hand column in the Skype screen select call phones.
Enter the number 234807971584 in the phone to dial. Under the number pad is a save button for the next time you call me!
When I get back to Burundi you will have to use a different number that I can give you. But for now this is our best way to stay in touch :) Miss you!

Expecting to be a blessing

We walked to the village today, expecting to be a blessing. To greet, to
visit, to take advantage of a great cloud cover that offered us a not so
hot and not rainy afternoon. But what we got instead was a chance to be
blessed. We were happy to see friends along the way as we set out for a
regular Sunday afternoon. At our first stop we talked with Aishat (the
team from WFMC may remember her as the mama who helped with our
laundry), she gave us the grand tour of her compound, showing us all the
lovely trees, and greens she has growing. God is so creative, each green
(they somehow look very similar to me) has its own purpose, to ward off
mosquitos, to make soup taste better, to bring down a fever or to help
with digestion; all of it created for our good. She even let us sample
some limes she had growing from her citrus tree. As we continued along
we saw some members of our church and children from our school. It was
good to see familiar faces as they've been away on school holiday for a
couple of weeks now. They kept coming, more and more friends as we
walked down the road, people calling us out by name, greeting us, so
friendly. What we didn't expect is the generosity. The boys and I have
been dreaming about Costco lately, you know the Sample Ladies who make
your Saturday extra special. Our mouth waters each time we think about
it. Today the Lord gave us our very own version of Costco. We first got
to sample limes at the citrus tree, then we were offered a gift of corn
and ground nuts, our friend Halima later bought us a bag of groundnuts
and then someone gave us some sweeties. Bridget looked at me and said
"Didn't you think it would have been us to give them something?" But
today when we expected to give the blessing we received it instead. A
lesson on God's provision in greens, in generosity of others, in
friendship, in community.
Photo: Some of our very hard working friends in Emi-Woro.

Esther

Africa called
She went for the first time, it grew in her heart
All of her children, so many children
Now Esther has 2.4 million children
She writes us and asks us to pray for them all
She's compelled, she's compelled by what she's seen
And she tells us, she tells us do anything you can
to help, oh please help, there's so much to do
And I'm just Esther
She visits her homeland, she fights with her words
She comes to the courts of the kings of the earth
Who don't understand their inherited power
To answer her question
Now Esther has 2.4 million children
She writes us and asks us to pray for them all
She's compelled, she's compelled by what she's seen
And she tells us, she tells us do anything you can
to help, oh please help, there's so much to do
And I'm just Esther
Sara Groves

Thursday

We don't usually drive THRU the market but after 30 min stuck in Traffic
we were willing to take the detour.
We don't usually drive 3 hours, have a flat tire along the way, spend an
hour at our location and then turn around and drive 3 hours back but
today we did.
We don't usually get to visit our boarding students on summer vacation
but we got to spend time with Lawal, Isiaka, and Aisha today.
I don't usually get to talk with a good friend from America but first
she woke me up to chat at 2am and then kindly called back at 7am, a much
happier hour.
I usually experience great, immeasurable amounts of God's goodness,
mercy, provision and grace and today was usual!