Twisted Ironies of Life in Africa

Kids playing in the gutter

            As we drive to GIA, I study the communities, the homes and the families that we pass by. It is easy to get fixed in my thoughts and not even notice what is right before me. Many families live in partially built brick or mud houses. Many of the children play in the streets and in the gutters when they are not helping bring water for the household or working in the fields. I have seen kids that look like they are 3-4 years old carrying water on their heads and following closely behind their mother or older siblings. When one looks at the torn, and ripped brown and dirty clothes of these kids…not even a pair of flip flops on their feet! I have to admit, it is embarrassing that my kids have at least 2 kinds of flip flops each PLUS one or two pairs of running shoes.

kids with mother working the fields

Man repairing shoes

In Burundi, many people make a living from repairing shoes! On many street corners there is a little tent with sticks set up and a man sitting under it surrounded by shoes. He works many hours just to repair the worn footwear. Even at GIA, for the rich kids of Burundian society, a man is brought in once a week to repair shoes! There is a balance to find between being too “frugal” or being too “wasteful”. God encourages us to be wise with our money and to give to Him what is His first.

Savana

Micah

 

Elijah teaching Joshua

             It is good that my kids are taken care of, but how often do we as Canadians over do what our kids truly need. I know I have bought shoes for my kids before just because they wanted them….did they need the new shoes? NO. But I wanted them to feel loved. How ironic….have we as a society build our relationships on “things”? If I buy my kids such and such they will know that I love them….if I do this, then I can get “x, y, and z” accomplished. I have to admit, it is difficult to change some of this internal thinking. I have gotten so used to being “busy” that I have lost the ability to just relax and play with my kids. A reminder for me: "Let your character be free from the LOVE of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"  (Hebrews 13:5)

Eric, our gatekeeper, with the kids

            A little closer to home….Eric, our guard and gatekeeper. He plays with our kids almost every day at our house. Eric goes home to visit his family once a month now for about three days. Here is a man, he has seven children under the age of 13…the youngest being 10 months old. This man knows my children better than his own kids. There is kind of a twisted irony about working away from home in this country. A man has to leave his own family in order to provide for them but in turn, he works for another family and he invests in those kids.  I wonder how do the Burundian children survive with only seeing their father for 3 days every 1-3 months.

Darla's office

            For a more personal note. Life has been busy here in Gitega. GIA is in full swing and the year started off with 50+ kids sick with the cold/flu! Gitega has a much cooler climate than Bujumbura and area, which is where many of the kids come from. When the students arrive, many get sick due to the climate change. Thankfully I have been able to handle most of the students at GIA and not have to send them to the clinic. Other than that, I have had a few emergencies….a broken wrist, a gash that needed stitches, and a girl that collapsed. It is good to have some of these things happen to keep my nursing skills up a bit.

Charles office

            Charles has been busy with teaching his classes, preparing Sunday chapels and starting preparation work for Love in Action events. We have learned that we need to have permits to be able to do some of the events that we would like to do. Pray for the planning of these events and that the local government will work with us and not use this as a time to get a “Fanta” (aka bribe).

 The kids seem to be getting settled into school but they are really starting to miss Canada. School here goes from 7:30am-1:00pm with one 15 min break. They return (Tues/Thurs) to school from 3-5pm. On Mon/Wed/Fri the 3 older kids go to a homework club from 3-5pm. Savana and Elijah remember the breaks they had in Canada so they are greatly missing those times. Please pray for the kids that they would see this as a short time in their lives to help make a difference and to impact others for Christ. My kids miss snow so much that they found some white rocks and were crushing them to make snow!

            I celebrated my 40^th birthday last week. The kids built me a rock birthday cake at the school and gave me gifts of rocks. I was then “surprised” with having a houseful of people over for supper. It was not too much of a surprise as Charles had bought a live goat the day before and it lived in our backyard for the day….this tipped me off to something happening. Most of the night we had electricity but part way through, our electricity went out so we spent the time by candlelight and flashlights. Overall, it was a great evening with some great friends.

 

            Prayer items:

1.      Pray for our kids that they can handle being away from Canada for a few more months.

2.      Pray for wisdom for Charles and I to know how to help the kids get settled

3.      Pray for Charles to be able to effectively teach his classes and build relationships with students

4.      Pray for GIA as there have been some significant changes in the leadership and some positions still need to be filled

5.      Pray for the houseparents that work with all the GIA students….for wisdom to know how to set boundaries and wisdom to give out punishments that are appropriate.


Thank you to all who are walking this journey with our family! May God bless you all....especially since the snow is coming :) You can also follow us on facebook at "Balenga  Mission to Burundi".....I post more frequent updates on that page.

                 Charles & Darla, 
                          Savana, Elijah, Micah, Joshua

If you would like to donate to our mission, you can donate through the Youth for Christ Edmonton website or Bridges of Hope website earmarked "burundi mission".

 

http://www.yfced.com/index.php/donate/how-to-donate
http://www.thebridgesofhope.com/index.php?p=Donate

PS
   Avocado anyone?