We met some really nifty people,
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Visited Mt. Hope to see the progress of the dorm rooms
and I got to see Fiston one last time before leaving Burundi.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Your kidding right?
We stayed up country this week. If you've ever been to Africa you know
it's slow, slower than your used to but you adjust, you learn to deal.
It's frustrating that this value of time that has been ingrained in you
since childhood suddenly ceases to exist here. So imagine with me that
your in Africa and you're learning that things are different. Now go
with me to Burundi, a whole new degree of different. Great people with a
whole different set a values, ones we possibly need to emulate but again
the frustration rises when not only is there a difference in
communication African style but now go degrees deeper, Burundian
communication. So I'm dealing, it's been a few weeks in country, I've
had many flashbacks to my time teaching last year, recalling times we
just threw our hands up in the air and hopped on a bus somewhere,
anywhere that didn't require us to decipher what was being said that
wasn't being actually communicated orally. Are we together? Now go with
me upcountry. That's right, to the middle of Burundi, outside the
capital city where the pace is calm, the people are just as friendly and
the weather is degrees cooler. We arrived at our guest house and after
checking in we were asked what we would like to eat for dinner. No menu,
not a very busy place. We were told you can have 'anything' you want. I
had to stop myself from busting up laughing right then. Really anything?
Clam chowder, DQ Bilzzard, Turkey? I tried to bring some clarification
to the request of 'anything' by asking what they usually cooked. They
responded by saying, "well you can have 'anything' you want". I felt
like we were in the middle of Jungle Book, you know that crazy scene
when the birds are talking to one another "What do you want to do? I
don't know what do you want to do? I don't know what do you want to do?"
I practiced self-control and instead of giving them a mini vocabulary
lesson on the meaning of 'anything' I asked for chicken and rice.
Apparently they think Americans like to eat lots and lots, cause every
time we ordered one or two things, six or seven come, and peas, always
peas. So today when we ordered dinner, we were trying our best to be
polite, knowing we could order anything I was going to aim for the sky.
I asked for grilled cheese. Doing a fine explanation, I though, of
bread, cheese, bread, make it hot until the cheese is soft. You know
croque monsieur? No? Okay fine, how about just some hot water and cups,
we'd like to make some hot chocolate? No? Okay fine. What I'd really
like to say is 'think outside the box people, don't tell me you can make
'anything.' But instead I blogged it out and waited for the peas.
it's slow, slower than your used to but you adjust, you learn to deal.
It's frustrating that this value of time that has been ingrained in you
since childhood suddenly ceases to exist here. So imagine with me that
your in Africa and you're learning that things are different. Now go
with me to Burundi, a whole new degree of different. Great people with a
whole different set a values, ones we possibly need to emulate but again
the frustration rises when not only is there a difference in
communication African style but now go degrees deeper, Burundian
communication. So I'm dealing, it's been a few weeks in country, I've
had many flashbacks to my time teaching last year, recalling times we
just threw our hands up in the air and hopped on a bus somewhere,
anywhere that didn't require us to decipher what was being said that
wasn't being actually communicated orally. Are we together? Now go with
me upcountry. That's right, to the middle of Burundi, outside the
capital city where the pace is calm, the people are just as friendly and
the weather is degrees cooler. We arrived at our guest house and after
checking in we were asked what we would like to eat for dinner. No menu,
not a very busy place. We were told you can have 'anything' you want. I
had to stop myself from busting up laughing right then. Really anything?
Clam chowder, DQ Bilzzard, Turkey? I tried to bring some clarification
to the request of 'anything' by asking what they usually cooked. They
responded by saying, "well you can have 'anything' you want". I felt
like we were in the middle of Jungle Book, you know that crazy scene
when the birds are talking to one another "What do you want to do? I
don't know what do you want to do? I don't know what do you want to do?"
I practiced self-control and instead of giving them a mini vocabulary
lesson on the meaning of 'anything' I asked for chicken and rice.
Apparently they think Americans like to eat lots and lots, cause every
time we ordered one or two things, six or seven come, and peas, always
peas. So today when we ordered dinner, we were trying our best to be
polite, knowing we could order anything I was going to aim for the sky.
I asked for grilled cheese. Doing a fine explanation, I though, of
bread, cheese, bread, make it hot until the cheese is soft. You know
croque monsieur? No? Okay fine, how about just some hot water and cups,
we'd like to make some hot chocolate? No? Okay fine. What I'd really
like to say is 'think outside the box people, don't tell me you can make
'anything.' But instead I blogged it out and waited for the peas.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Remember
We've been doing a lot of remembering recently. Hearing widows share
their past is difficult because it leads them to a place of pain and
grief, to vivid images and to memories. Remembering isn't easy. But
hearing how their lives were in comparison to how they are now, because
of Christ, is powerful. Hearing again and again how great the
transformation has been. We've been listening to widows cry as they
speak about life before. Before someone extended a hand of grace, before
they experienced what it meant to be transformed and loved no matter
what, before....Many of those who are brought to tears speak about war
breaking out in their country, their husband dying, and being left with
six children. Instead of finding support she finds herself the victim of
her in-laws as they claim her possessions as their own, destroy her
home, raping her and then leaving her diseased. This is the moment where
remembering makes you sick. Where all you can do is pass the kleenex.
Then comes my favorite part, the part where she talks about how God is
using the body of Christ to heal her wounds. How she is beginning to
understand only Christ can make her whole. Where she finds her value and
identity in Him. That though she may have AIDS and will still be alone
while having to feed six children she has hope. Christ has redeemed her
and restored her, His love has claimed her. She still lives in an unjust
world but now she has a home, her children go to school, she can afford
to buy clothes and eat food, better food (not just beans and potatoes).
She has been transformed by the work of the Lord, through the body of
Christ, through Sister Connection. Somewhere in the middle of
remembering the pain was replaced with hope. It's beautiful really to
see how God chooses to use pain to show his power and glory, he could
leave her there diseased and broken but he didn't-He saw her, He
remembered her.
www.sisterconnection.org
their past is difficult because it leads them to a place of pain and
grief, to vivid images and to memories. Remembering isn't easy. But
hearing how their lives were in comparison to how they are now, because
of Christ, is powerful. Hearing again and again how great the
transformation has been. We've been listening to widows cry as they
speak about life before. Before someone extended a hand of grace, before
they experienced what it meant to be transformed and loved no matter
what, before....Many of those who are brought to tears speak about war
breaking out in their country, their husband dying, and being left with
six children. Instead of finding support she finds herself the victim of
her in-laws as they claim her possessions as their own, destroy her
home, raping her and then leaving her diseased. This is the moment where
remembering makes you sick. Where all you can do is pass the kleenex.
Then comes my favorite part, the part where she talks about how God is
using the body of Christ to heal her wounds. How she is beginning to
understand only Christ can make her whole. Where she finds her value and
identity in Him. That though she may have AIDS and will still be alone
while having to feed six children she has hope. Christ has redeemed her
and restored her, His love has claimed her. She still lives in an unjust
world but now she has a home, her children go to school, she can afford
to buy clothes and eat food, better food (not just beans and potatoes).
She has been transformed by the work of the Lord, through the body of
Christ, through Sister Connection. Somewhere in the middle of
remembering the pain was replaced with hope. It's beautiful really to
see how God chooses to use pain to show his power and glory, he could
leave her there diseased and broken but he didn't-He saw her, He
remembered her.
www.sisterconnection.org
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Dinner for two
I can tell they disapprove, it's evident by their facial expressions. We
order something and they throw their hands up in the air, as if ordering
a crepe and an omelet is some kind of offense. We leave a little
something on our plates and they squish their noses up, this I already
feel bad for, I know its wasteful but if you make me eat all that you
served me I'm gonna keel over. When I don't order vegetables, just rice
and chicken, they ask a prompting question 'no vegetables?', making sure
to throw in the fact that adding veggies would be no extra charge. It's
quite humorous. They probably don't know I practice self control in not
ordering a coke for dinner. For a culture that is non confrontational
they sure aren't shy about letting us know how their feeling about our
meal orders. At least we know they care.
order something and they throw their hands up in the air, as if ordering
a crepe and an omelet is some kind of offense. We leave a little
something on our plates and they squish their noses up, this I already
feel bad for, I know its wasteful but if you make me eat all that you
served me I'm gonna keel over. When I don't order vegetables, just rice
and chicken, they ask a prompting question 'no vegetables?', making sure
to throw in the fact that adding veggies would be no extra charge. It's
quite humorous. They probably don't know I practice self control in not
ordering a coke for dinner. For a culture that is non confrontational
they sure aren't shy about letting us know how their feeling about our
meal orders. At least we know they care.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Anytime from now
When I say I'll be back to the States in three weeks I'm serious this time. I hope you haven't boxed me in with the flaky friends, you know the ones you can't invite to the party 'cause you never know when they'll show. This time I'm fairly certain I'm coming! The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Please, I beg
As we walked through the market today, well passed by it really, on our
way to meet some friends we were met by some children begging in the
midst of the crowd. It's painful really that sometimes it's so normal we
forget, like me forgetting to remind Michelle to expect it. I should
have know she too has had her share of begging children experiences but
even though we both weren't surprised that doesn't make it easier. What
about the least of these? I wish I could make it better, I wish I had an
answer that would feed their belly and move them out of this situation.
I wish they didn't have to beg me. It was sad and frustrating and leaves
us feeling somehow helpless.
way to meet some friends we were met by some children begging in the
midst of the crowd. It's painful really that sometimes it's so normal we
forget, like me forgetting to remind Michelle to expect it. I should
have know she too has had her share of begging children experiences but
even though we both weren't surprised that doesn't make it easier. What
about the least of these? I wish I could make it better, I wish I had an
answer that would feed their belly and move them out of this situation.
I wish they didn't have to beg me. It was sad and frustrating and leaves
us feeling somehow helpless.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Burundi Update
Back in Burundi, feels good to be back. But I think the thing I was
trying to avoid has actually happened. I was trying to avoid going home,
feeling like I still wanted to stay and after a month of praying about
this next transition I believe the Lord has prepared me to return to the
states, well mostly prepared me :) I still have some weeks left in
Burundi and am looking forward to those weeks ahead but knowing its at
the end of the trip and not the beginning makes it strangely different.
I feel ready for something different. I wonder what it will feel like to
unpack and know I'm not leaving the country in just a few months. I'm
thankful today for my friends who really understand the motivation to
follow the spirit from one place to the next and who appreciate the
difficulty it is to leave each place.
trying to avoid has actually happened. I was trying to avoid going home,
feeling like I still wanted to stay and after a month of praying about
this next transition I believe the Lord has prepared me to return to the
states, well mostly prepared me :) I still have some weeks left in
Burundi and am looking forward to those weeks ahead but knowing its at
the end of the trip and not the beginning makes it strangely different.
I feel ready for something different. I wonder what it will feel like to
unpack and know I'm not leaving the country in just a few months. I'm
thankful today for my friends who really understand the motivation to
follow the spirit from one place to the next and who appreciate the
difficulty it is to leave each place.
Thank you for praying for my friends in Nigeria, they arrived this last
weekend and are thankful to be back.
Thank you for praying for Rachel she is now safe in the states and loves it!
Thank you for your prayers for my last week of classes. It was sad to
leave my students but we will see each other again. They did a great job
and all transitioned from English to Bible Classes.
Pray for our time of ministry here these next few weeks, working with
Burundian staff, visiting widows from across the country and being
sensitive to what the Lord is calling us to.
I appreciate you!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Graduation Party
Some students repeat the English class up to 4 times so it is no small
thing that after one month these ones are ready to move on. When I asked
how they felt they said, "madame, we were so surprised." I love it! They
are going to be great pastors for the church in Malawi.
Graduation Party
students have to repeat English up to 4 times so this is no small thing.
They gave me a nervous laugh and said "oh madame, we were surprised". I
love it! They are going to make great pastors as they lead the church in
Malawi.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
On to the next
Today is a day of lasts. My last morning in chapel, my last test for the
English students, my last time to celebrate at the party, and my last
time with the Willsons as a family of four (they are adopting a child
tomorrow). It's been a really great module. A small class size allowed
me to teach to specific needs and see a great amount of progress in my
students. It's been good once again to hear from our students who are
continually growing as they move forward in ministry. And of course it's
been lovely to be with my friends the Willsons, to be part of their
family, to serve alongside them and learn from them. Tonight I will say
goodbye to Malawi and hello to Burundi. The 4th of February is a special
day. Last year I arrived in Burundi on the 4th to begin a year of
ministry in Africa and now on my one year anniversary I will again
arrive in Burundi to close a season of ministry in Africa. Kinda cool
right? And I didn't even plan it that way :)
English students, my last time to celebrate at the party, and my last
time with the Willsons as a family of four (they are adopting a child
tomorrow). It's been a really great module. A small class size allowed
me to teach to specific needs and see a great amount of progress in my
students. It's been good once again to hear from our students who are
continually growing as they move forward in ministry. And of course it's
been lovely to be with my friends the Willsons, to be part of their
family, to serve alongside them and learn from them. Tonight I will say
goodbye to Malawi and hello to Burundi. The 4th of February is a special
day. Last year I arrived in Burundi on the 4th to begin a year of
ministry in Africa and now on my one year anniversary I will again
arrive in Burundi to close a season of ministry in Africa. Kinda cool
right? And I didn't even plan it that way :)
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