Friday pictures from Burundi

Praising God today

                                                            Mandy's baby 4 months

                                   Some of the successful women in our micro loan program

                                                              Peace with Mandy's baby

                                                                   Dessert at the beach

                                                                        Life on the road

Our welcome at the sewing center on Tuesday in Burundi

Thursday in Pictures

Here are few more pictures from Thursday in Burundi

Thursday in Burundi was filled with lots of great opportunities.

We started off this morning at 7:20 a.m. hearing from Everest a young man who has a ministry using cows.  Yes that is correct milk cows not beef, to reach many in the countryside and help families in these areas.  He gave us some great idea

Later we went back to the sewing center to introduce Emily and Jane to the new class of ladies. It was nice but not near as much fun as the greeting that we men received on Tuesday.  Oh well what can I say, our team rocks, pretty simple.  Our team later met with Emily to share with her what we had learned the first few days and we appreciated her wisdom from her 12 years of living in Africa.  During this same time Jane was interviewing several widows in our program for her new book.

After a great lunch we returned to KCC to meet with 4 of the young men that had some ideas on what they would like to pursue.  They have some pretty good ideas and we had some questions that Desire is going draft up and return to us.  It was a good time hearing their hearts to start a business.

We had dinner on the lake tonight at Kiboko Grill.  Just as we arrived we got to witness 3 rather large hippos swimming by about 50 yards from where we were having dinner, pretty cool (sorry Diane).  We had a special treat as Peace’s husband Immanuel joined us for dinner, which was a nice surprise.  He looks good.  We had a great pizza dinner and some other special things.  Dennis and Manuel got to rehearse with the worship team tonight for the Friday night service. Maybe 1,000 will show up.  Dennis said he was blown away with the worship and this was just practice.  Craig will be sharing as well tomorrow night

We are back home now and ready for bed, as we have another business schedule tomorrow.  Please pray for our special time with the ladies in our micro-loan program.  We know that things in the smaller markets have changed a great deal since the big market fire 4 weeks ago.  There are so many people setting up shop on the street, many on the curbs.  Some of the smaller out door shops neat KCC have probably grown 2-3 times in size with lots of activity.  It looks very chaotic and tomorrow we might find the same situation.

Some of our new kids in the day care center, about 5 each day........cute.

Thanks for your prayers.  John H is not feeling well tonight but stayed in to rest please pray for his recovery.

Wednesday in Burundi

Wednesday started out in a great way this morning as we had a chance to meet with Pastor Marc and Apollinaire Worship leader at Peace’s church.  We spent a couple of hours listening to them share about their church, the culture of men in Burundi, and many other issues.  Each time with visit with our friends we come a little closer to understand the lives of the Burundians.

We had a nice lunch set up by Phoebe, Peace’s sister here at the Anglican Church and that was a nice change.  Several of the guys are saying that they are not losing weight, sorry ladies I cannot control what they eat. 

After a short rest back at the rooms we went to visit Apollinaire and his new music school and hear his heart on training people in music but also his dream to help others in learning new skills so that they can get better jobs so that they can provide for their families and make Burundi a better country for everyone.  Several people were outside singing in a circle and I asked him if these were students and he told me no they were from other churches coming together to sing in a special event.  We got to meet some of the other students in learning keyboard and guitar.

We can back to KCC for dinner and welcomed Emily President of Tirzah and her guest Jane Crane from San Diego.  Jane is here finishing a book she is writing on Widows in Africa, can’t wait to read this one.  Burundi is her last stop out of 7 countries, I guess she left the best for last.  She will be interviewing several of our special widows over the next few days.

So tomorrow we have decided to go back with Emily and Jane and participate with their welcome from the ladies. I know you are all jealous, but hey we still have openings for our team in June if you want to experience this special occasion.

On Thursday afternoon we will be meeting with Desire again with 4-5 of the guys that he wants us to meet with and talk about helping the boys and hear from them what they would to do.

Everyone is doing well, tired, long emotional days…yes very moving days for sure.

Thanks for praying.  The guys send their love back to everyone.

John C

What a Welcome

After a good nights rest and breakfast at KCC we headed over to the HomeCare Center to be greeted by the wonderful sound of music and singing as we drove into the center.  As we departed our cars the singing and dancing was everywhere as the ladies came to us with baskets of flower pedals and tossing them on us and our pathway, what a joy for each of us to experience this ceremony.  As we went into the sewing area there were about 50 ladies crowded into the small area singing and dancing as loudly as expected.  This went on for quite sometime which was a real joy to us guys.  During the next period of time the ladies greeted us, sharing how excited they were to have us come see them.  Many offered prayers and thanks for our safe arrival and time to come and be with them.  Peace asked a couple of the ladies to share their stories of what the sewing program had meant to them……only a couple…. no it went on as so many wanted to share the joy they have experienced as they have had a chance to be loved on and shown how much the Lord loves them just as they are.  Many talked about being able to learn a new skill that will help them feed their children now, send them to school and provide a place for them to live.  What a joy.

We then had a chance to meet with Pastor Albin and Desire who both shared about their ministries working with young men who live on the streets.  They both gave us some ideas that they are looking at as far as some possible directions for the boys.  They shared a bit if what they boys have gone through and they struggles that they encounter not having families, education or a ways of providing for themselves.

After a great lunch at a new restaurant in town we headed back to meet with some more boys and men of various ages.  At first there were about 10 men who showed up but about 15 minutes another van dropped off more, until we had about 45 men sitting and standing listening and sharing each of their stories.  Most were in their 20’s.  They had a chance to share what they would like to do and what opportunities they would like to see.  We listened and tried to take it all in.  We still have lots of questions and need to understand more.  Pray with us.

At dinner we had the opportunity to listen to Simon G who runs the Kings Conference Center where we stay.  He shared his story starting with his great grandparents being missionaries in this part of Central Africa back in the early 20’s and his journey up till now.  He also shared about Burundi and gave us some good insight into the country we are visiting.

Thursday we will be meeting with Pastor Marc and Apollinaire the Worship Leader at Life Church where Peace attends and we will go on Sunday.  At this meeting we are hoping to hear from the leadership on their men’s ministry and maybe where their men could help with the young men we men with yesterday.  Later in the afternoon we will head over to Apollinaire’s music school and see that new program.

Thanks for your prayers as more forward.  We miss you all and appreciate your prayers.

Monday night in Bujumbura

We are safely in Burundi and all checked in to KCC for the week.  Peace, Mandy and Kristine met us at the airport with big smiles and hugs.  What a joy to always be back here and our wonderful sisters.

Everyone is doing ok and ready to start Tuesday morning at the sewing center meeting the ladies and then with a couple of the boys, then after lunch we will be spending more time with the boys, so it will be very busy day for us.

Hoping to have pictures tomorrow and the internet working in our rooms.

Love from all the guys.
John