Today I ventured out to the shops by myself….without
my protective husband! It was a bit of freedom to be able to go to a local shop,
where we have made friends with the East Indian owners, and to feel safe the
entire time. The one thing that has really struck me over the past 2 weeks is
the fascination with white skin….”Muzungu” as we are eloquently called. Any Caucasian
person who has travelled to any Swahili African nation will recognize this
term. When I am with Charles, yes, I hear Muzungu but mostly from children. Today,
it was more the adult males who were calling me. You need to understand….we
have gone for walks as a family many times down this same path. These are people
who have seen me many times before…why is it they are still so fascinated with
me as a Muzungu? People being long distances away, yet yelling "Muzungu".
I understand that with colonialism, there came a
hierarchy of skin color and the native Burundians placed white people on a
higher level. But generations after colonialism, there is an infinite sadness
in me that many
of the native Burundians still do not see that we are the same. I am no different than they. It burns within me for ALL Nations to recognize we all have the same mandate from God:
Whether we are African, Asian, Greek, Philipino,
Caucasian or whatever background we are, we are all the same in God’s eyes. So
why is it that man has created such a hierarchy of insignificant differences?
It is because we have let Satan use it to divide us, to prevent us from uniting
together for the good of the cross. I want to challenge all Christians back
home to evaluate your heart to see, do we really accept and love everyone, no
matter what their background? For my
African friends…as ambassadors of Christ, do you really love those from other tribes and other African countries? How often do you show love
and compassion to those outside your tribe? Yes, we may all pray differently,
act differently and talk differently but God created it all and it is not for
us to decide who is superior or inferior. How many of the African churches have
formed together with other nation churches for events, or church services? For
my Caucasian friends and family, do you really embrace and love other cultures?
When you meet an African newcomer to church, do YOU welcome them and invite
them into your home? Or do you direct them to the closest African person you
know? My challenge to all is to search the heart of God and go out of your
comfort zone to reach out to someone of another culture.
A second part to the Muzungu sega……the children.
Everywhere we go, children are calling Muzungu, Muzungu, or they run up to me
or the kids, touch our skin, giggle and run away; but where did they learn this
from? Children learn from their parents and other adults. We have a
responsibility as parents to teach our children and bring them up in a manner
that is pleasing to the Lord. Part of this responsibility is to help our
children know their value in God and as a person…..to know that they are
valuable jewels that cannot be replaced. The pace of life here in Burundi is
much slower than in Canada….MUCH slower! It is easier here to have the time to
invest into my children…take them for a walk, lay beside them in bed and talk
to them. I still have to be intentional about it but the opportunities are
there….especially when the power goes out!! Lately, when it rains, we lose our
power for a period of time…(thank you to Carol Lessmeister for suggesting we
bring headlamps as they have come in very handy and the kids love to use them
when there is no power). There is not much else to do but talk and usually, go
to bed. 
I am also intrigued by the girls at Gitega
International Academy …..most of them seem shy. When taking pictures, many turn
away from the camera and when they smile, they hide their beautiful smiles with
their hand. I am looking forward to getting to know the students more and
understanding their knowledge of who they are in Christ. I hope to influence these
girls to become confident, ambassadors of Christ who understand their value as
a person. To know that their smile is a beautiful thing that does not need to
be covered up.
I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.”
Donations can be made for the "Burundi mission" at
http://www.yfced.com/index.php/donate/how-to-donate
http://www.thebridgesofhope.com/index.php?p=Donate
of the native Burundians still do not see that we are the same. I am no different than they. It burns within me for ALL Nations to recognize we all have the same mandate from God:
“For by
one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether
slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13
Whether we are African, Asian, Greek, Philipino,
Caucasian or whatever background we are, we are all the same in God’s eyes. So
why is it that man has created such a hierarchy of insignificant differences?
It is because we have let Satan use it to divide us, to prevent us from uniting
together for the good of the cross. I want to challenge all Christians back
home to evaluate your heart to see, do we really accept and love everyone, no
matter what their background? For my
African friends…as ambassadors of Christ, do you really love those from other tribes and other African countries? How often do you show love
and compassion to those outside your tribe? Yes, we may all pray differently,
act differently and talk differently but God created it all and it is not for
us to decide who is superior or inferior. How many of the African churches have
formed together with other nation churches for events, or church services? For
my Caucasian friends and family, do you really embrace and love other cultures?
When you meet an African newcomer to church, do YOU welcome them and invite
them into your home? Or do you direct them to the closest African person you
know? My challenge to all is to search the heart of God and go out of your
comfort zone to reach out to someone of another culture.
A second part to the Muzungu sega……the children.
Everywhere we go, children are calling Muzungu, Muzungu, or they run up to me
or the kids, touch our skin, giggle and run away; but where did they learn this
from? Children learn from their parents and other adults. We have a
responsibility as parents to teach our children and bring them up in a manner
that is pleasing to the Lord. Part of this responsibility is to help our
children know their value in God and as a person…..to know that they are
valuable jewels that cannot be replaced. The pace of life here in Burundi is
much slower than in Canada….MUCH slower! It is easier here to have the time to
invest into my children…take them for a walk, lay beside them in bed and talk
to them. I still have to be intentional about it but the opportunities are
there….especially when the power goes out!! Lately, when it rains, we lose our
power for a period of time…(thank you to Carol Lessmeister for suggesting we
bring headlamps as they have come in very handy and the kids love to use them
when there is no power). There is not much else to do but talk and usually, go
to bed. 
I am also intrigued by the girls at Gitega
International Academy …..most of them seem shy. When taking pictures, many turn
away from the camera and when they smile, they hide their beautiful smiles with
their hand. I am looking forward to getting to know the students more and
understanding their knowledge of who they are in Christ. I hope to influence these
girls to become confident, ambassadors of Christ who understand their value as
a person. To know that their smile is a beautiful thing that does not need to
be covered up.
I want to close with thoughts from Psalm 139:13-14
“For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s
womb.I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.”
Donations can be made for the "Burundi mission" at
http://www.yfced.com/index.php/donate/how-to-donate
http://www.thebridgesofhope.com/index.php?p=Donate
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