I am writing this last blog in our final days in Burundi.
For those who have not heard, due to political instability in Burundi, I will
be returning to Canada with the children on Jan 19. Charles will remain in Gitega
until the end of our mission term, June 8, 2015. We will continue to post blogs
through this time. Please pray for our family:
1 . For
a safe final trip to Bujumbura
2 . For
no sickness to develop over the next few days. At the airport we have to each
have our temperatures taken and fill out a health questionnaire before we can
proceed to leave the country
3 . For
Charles as he will be separated from his family for 4 ½ months.
4 . Pray
for a quick and healthy transition for the children back into Canada
5 . Pray
for our family as we make decisions about the future for all of us
6 . Pray
for the government and the country of Burundi.
I will do a quick recap since our last blog. At the end of
November, and start of December, we dealt with lots of sickness. Elijah and I
both had typhoid fever and the other children had intermittent fevers of unknown origin. The
treatment for sickness is far from stellar in Burundi. They test for malaria
and typhoid, if those tests come back negative, then they tell you that you
have a blood infection and give a strong antibiotic.
In mid-December, Charles lead another “Love in Action” with
the students of GIA. This outreach event was done in one of the outskirt areas
of Gitega. We invited children and women with babies into a compound area. The
GIA students played games with the kids and lead some energetic singing. A
couple of students shared about God’s love and then a meal of beans and rice
was served.
One of the GIA students was so overwhelmed with needs of the
people that she had to step away to cry a bit. It is good when we see the students
affected in such a way. God is working in their hearts. After the food, we gave
each child a piece of clothing and the mothers a pair of shoes. They were so
happy for the gits they received; it was an amazing afternoon.
After the “love in action”, we did an evaluation with the
GIA students. It was tough at first to get them to see past the obvious….critical
thinking is not part of the education system here. As time went on, they
started to look deeper and evaluate the processes and events. It was good to
see the GIA students exhibit true leadership.
Charles continues to be the chaplain of the school and
teaching his classes. In one of the church services before Christmas, two of
the grade 10 students were sharing the message. In their sermon, one of the
students called Charles up to the front and publicly thanked him for the
positive influence in his life. Dick’s life is forever changed because Charles
has discipled him and encouraged him to be more Christ-like. Ministry is about changing lives and
influencing others for Christ.
I unofficially completed my time as nurse at GIA at
Christmas time, however, I have continued with a few small projects. My last
teaching time will be the day before we leave Burundi. Please pray for a
medical person to come to GIA to replace me, and continue the work that was
started. A missionary friend of ours challenged us to leave a legacy….in
whatever we do, do it with a purpose and leave a legacy. No matter what you do
in life, don’t live just day to day to get by. Do something with your life….do
something to help others….make each day
count. I can say that through education,
I was able to help take GIA from epidemic levels of malaria and typhoid, to
having a full semester of not one case of either disease. Pray that this change
towards health continues.
Before the kids and I left, we wanted to do something as a
family. We took a road trip to Rwanda and visited missionary friends, as well
as visited Akagera National Park. We had a great time visiting our missionary
friends in Kigali for a few days…our kids play very well together so it was a
great time. Visiting Akagera was fascinating and very relaxing. We took part of
two days to drive through the game park…we saw many antelope, water buffalo,
zebras, one giraffe, wild boars, many kinds of birds, hippos and many monkeys
and baboons. The hotel where we stayed had monkeys and baboons walking around
the grounds and at times they would come right up to the hotel. We were told to
keep the door to our patio closed as baboons come up there…sure enough, within
a day, we had a baboon up on our patio looking in our room! Overall, it was a great trip and we returned refreshed.
Today, we are finalizing our packing…weighing suitcases and figuring
out what we can leave, and what we should take back. Needless to say, most of
our clothes we wear here will not work in Canada right now. So thankful for my
parents who are helping us to prepare for the Canadian winter we are getting
ready to encounter! The kids are very excited to be able to play in the snow…I
am not sure how long this energy will last but I welcome their desire to see
snow again.
Our financial needs will continue as Charles remains in
Burundi with the volunteer work. We also will be having the kids see a councillor
who specializes in helping missionary kids transition back to Canada, as well
as dealing with traumatic experiences. I will be working once and awhile but
for now, Joshua is very clingy and until he adjusts, my availability to work
will be limited. We covet your prayers during this time.
God bless,
Darla Balenga
