Tuesday June 18th Time for take off

This morning we will all be gathering in Houston at the airport as we begin our journey to Burundi.  We hope that you will follow us each day and be praying for us as we GO, Minister to some wonderful women and their children, plus explore more ways of how we can become more involved with the men in Burundi.  We will have many packed days for sure but first we have some really long flights to get there.  We depart Houston and fly to Chicago 2 1/2 hours (with 2 1/2 hr layover), then to Brussels Belgium, an 8 hour flight (with 2 hour layover), then on to Bujumbura Burundi 15 hour flight arriving Wednesday night, so you can see we need lots of prayer just in our getting there.  You can pray for our stamina and comfort on the plane for these long hours.  More updates as we progress today and during the week.
We would love to hear from you while we are gone as this is a great encouragement to the team members.  We will pass your love along to Peace, her wonderful staff and the special ladies at the center.
More later.......

Made it to Bujumbura

We have made it to Burundi tonight, with all our bags and everyone tired so we are right on schedule. Now a good night's rest lots of hugs from Peace and Mandy at the airport which really brighten us all up. More tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers for getting us here and all is well.  Looking forward to a great

Thursday – “Hugs, Humility and Hippos”

“I had no hope.”

“I could not smile.”

“I was alone – no one cared.”

“I was helpless with nowhere to go.”

After we drove into the Homecare Center this morning to the sound of joyous singing and being greeting with huge smiles of those throwing flower petals at our feet, these were the beginnings of some of the testimonies shared by the women in the Homecare training/discipleship program.  One by one they stood, each so eager to testify to the power of God in their lives.  The stories followed a similar theme; “I was like this when I came here……”  All conveyed a sense of despair, hopelessness, thinking they were of no value and for whom no one cared.  Until………and that’s where the “but God” stories began.  Again, the testimonies declared a similar refrain of instantly feeling the love of God in this place, experiencing true acceptance, finding “parents”, family, a loving community.  Home!  The smiles testify to the truth of their stories; once they were lost, now they are found.  One of the things they are most thankful for and proud of is being given their own Bible.  They clutched it to their chests as the treasure that God’s Word surely is, yet something we can easily forget.  One of the girls opened hers and began to read from Psalm 25:  “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.  Do not let me be put to shame, do not let my enemies triumph over me.  No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame…..”  Eloquent, especially read by one who could not read or write prior to entering the program ten months ago in their literacy program.  The women all appear healthy due greatly to the nutritious meal they have every day, along with extra food to take home on weekends provided by Homecare.  For most it is their only meal of the day, and for too many, the first time in their lives they have had any sort of regular daily meal.  Hope!  Each one spoke of the hope they have, His hope and promise that gives them life.  Yes, they are grateful to Homecare and their staff who minister to them daily, and to the ministry partners who provide for this ministry, but most of all they are thankful to God Who is THE giver of all good gifts, the ultimate provider.

And thus our time in Burundi begins.  The few testimonies today are just the beginning…..these will continue every day as we continue to sing, dance, embrace each other as Mary and friends use the sewing table as a drum, beating out songs of praise.  We may not understand the words until Peace, the ministry leader, interprets for us, but we instantly understand the spirit – God be praised!

Pictures for today:

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The women are so very proud of what they have learned and are eager to show us what they have made:  quilts, bags, wallets, wall hangings, stuffed giraffes for children, and begin taking measurements for custom made garments for the team members.  Then it’s a flurry of beautiful African designed fabric on display……describe what you’d like and they’ll make it.  It gives them such joy that others appreciate their work enough to want to have some for their own.  It validates them for the truly amazing women they are.

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After a wonderful day at the center, we travel to an outdoor restaurant by Lake Tanyanika, one of the largest lakes in the world noted for hippo sightings.  The first few years we were here we never spotted one; we began to believe it was an urban legend until we saw some.  To our delight, thanks to the eagle eyes of Mandy, the wonderful counselor who works with the women and sweet friend, we feel the car slow down……..some other cars are stopped and have their headlights shining toward something just on the other side of a fence.  Mandy says, “There they are!”  She does a quick U turn; we hop out and there, just beyond the fence where we stood was a large hippopotamus grazing in the grass……..then just a little bit further down, a whole entourage of hippos, including a few little ones, were meandering by the shore, several slipping back into the waters.  But some of the large ones remained on shore, as if to give us onlookers the privilege of watching them for a while.  It was dark, so our cameras couldn’t capture them as clearly as we could like, but here we are…..in Burundi, with new friends (who as someone said feels like we have been here for a while and know one another )……looking at magnificent hippos, eating pizza (Burundi style…good!) and amazed that we are in the Heart of Africa together.

We are excited to be able to share glimpses of our experiences with you and hope that you will pray with and for us and those here.  God is here; He is at work.  Lives are being changed, and surely ours is among them.

Tomorrow…..more sharing, praying, praising…….and worship tomorrow night at Life Center Church.  Rob, the young man on our team, will be helping to lead worship.  Tim, mission pastor from Louisiana who is with us, will share.  We can’t wait!

Thank you to all who prayed for our flights here; the schedule went without a hitch!  (other than the Louisiana team having near misses with the flights after missing their first one to Houston…….BUT they made it in time to connect with us and continue on.)Our team is doing great; all are well, excited, soaking everything in.  What a glorious first day in Burundi!!   And as only Peace can say it, Hallelujah!

Friday – Heart of Worship

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Tonight was a late night and we didn’t get a blog written, so this is a brief post and we’ll fill in more tonight.

The spirit of the day was WORSHIP.  In every expression, worship permeated every song, testimony, praise time and the worship service last night.  What a wonderful reminder that all of life is to center on worship, for He is worthy!

Today we will have the special time with the children.  Pray for Connie and Amber as they lead a fun filled time in God’s Word, songs, and all sorts of activities.  Jenna has brought all sorts of fun activities for the children in the daycare as well as those coming today, so today is Kid’s Fun Day!  How they will love it.

We have already had such special moments as when Josephine shared her incredible journey fleeing from her home, Congo, and the road that led her and her family to Lafayette, La.  Trish encouraged the group with the truth of who we are in Jesus, with no condemnation, guilt or shame. 

We’ll catch up more tonight, but we thank you for your prayers and urge you to continue.  We are all well and our hearts are full.

Friday and Saturday--Joy

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 Friday -continued

Hope. Today we saw hope. One of the things we pray for is that those who graduate from the training program will reach out to others in love as they have been loved. Felicity, who graduated last year, is doing just that. Wanting to share His love with those whose lives she understands, she leads a singing/dancing group each Friday with a group of the students.  We had the joy of having them sing and dance for us with such enthusiasm and joy!  

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Tim shared a great message at church about the lies we often believe, based on David and Goliath, a good check point for all of us.  Rob got to lead the congregation of about 800 in praise (and this is just the "youth service" as they call it).  The end of a wonderful day growing closer to our Burundi friends.

Saturday- Joy

We love the attitude of the people here. Mandy's car is making some questionable sounds, to which she replied,"the car is worshiping."  Oh that we had that point of view! 

Amandine, a precious 9 year old who is the daughter of one of the staff, also a graduate of the program, epitomizes joy and the heart of this ministry.  Born out of abuse, miraculously born, she is thriving. She has what her mother and so many did not have-loving care, protection and the knowledge that God loves her and has great plans for her life. She is excelling in school and sees life as opportunity. Peace asked her what she would like to do when she is older. "When I am president of Burundi I will have a home for momma and you."  That's a girl with vision!

After visiting a local market, we prepared for a day with children, those of the women in the program and others who were invited. 

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Connie and Amber led them the story of the prodigal son, helping some of them to act it out. What talent!  Then they made picture frames as their pictures were taken, printed and placed inside. How they love to see themselves!  Jenna brought all sorts of play equipment and unleashed a flurry of activity-bubbles, jump rope, soccer balls..... These kids have boundless energy,  It's such a joy to see all the team members jumping right in with the kids, getting quite the workout.  Rob is a great connector with children. From funny faces to crazy dances, he had quite the following. 

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One of the boys, Robbie, caught everyone's eye. He was skillfully playing the drum as the kids gathered.  His attention was riveted on the story. Amber let him try her camera-not always advisable. But what he captured was nothing short of remarkable!  What a natural "eye."  You realize the incredible potential in these children given the opportunity to grow and learn. We are so thankful that Homecare provides school fees for school aged. Hidden of the women who otherwise would not be able to attend school. Such promise.

The entire day was one of joy!  Every member of the team brings a special gift-China resonates so well with the women , as does Josephine. LaDonna dances, embraces and loves on them with such passion. Trish and Tim have such hearts for the people. Each one has given of themselves fully, and the connections are sweet. Next week there will be special opportunities for all the team members to share in their special way as they teach on childcare, what it means to be a woman of God, understanding the body God gave them, and more. Then a time of celebration at graduation together. It's the body of Christ at work.

Now we prepare for worship tomorrow and the chance to explore and appreciate more of this amazing country. Please continue to pray as we share hearts with the people here in the Heart of Africa.

Sunday – It’s a Small World After All

It is always amazing to find common connections with people anywhere you go around the world, especially in the Christian community, but it was unexpected to meet a fellow Texan at the market yesterday.  We were waiting as teammates finished their shopping when an American woman approached us, saying she heard us speaking English.  She and her husband had just moved to Bujumbura from Dallas to work with the UN.  During our conversation we discovered that they were believers and anxious to connect here with Christians, so it was a joy to introduce her to Peace and share with her about the ministry and how we were here because of Tirzah’s partnership that helps Homecare minister to women and children.  She was very interested in what we shared, and as she and Peace exchanged information, it was exciting to think of a new friendship forming. 

We knew that a church in the North Houston area worked in a rural area in Burundi and that they would be here about the same time as our team, but it was another one of those “divine connections” to see their team at church today and have their pastor share the message…..more Texans!  It reminds us that we are indeed linked, and it doesn’t take long to find His connection no matter where you are.

Pastor Mark at the Life Center invited both of our teams to come to the front of the church so that the congregation (1,000+) could pray over us.  What a humbling experience!  It’s one of the things we appreciate so much here, the emphasis and commitment to prayer.  How we can learn from them, and why we so enjoy partnering with nationals all over the world, because we are meant to share and learn from one another. 

This afternoon we got to enjoy God’s beauty at Lake Tanganyika.  With the mountainous backdrop, gentle breezes and rolling waves along the sandy shore, it is a picture of peaceful tranquility.  We enjoyed watching the sun set behind the mountains and reflected on God’s creation so freely given for all to enjoy. Young and old, poor and rich, we all have access to His glory expressed through nature, His creativity and power on display.  They all declare Him!

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All the team continues to do well and thoroughly enjoyed the vibrant worship this morning.  What joy and energy!  They truly celebrate Jesus, and we’re thankful that got to experience that together.

Tomorrow China will be sharing sewing techniques and ideas with the sewing co-op and sewing teachers, so pray for her and them as they share ideas.  We will continue to interact with the students about to graduate and hope to meet with some of the recent graduates as well.  Again, sharing, listening, and learning from each other.  As we get to know one another increasingly better, we better appreciate and celebrate the connection we have as His “family.”

Monday – Through Tears and Smiles

The red carpet was rolled out.  Soldiers lined the walkway as the band readied themselves.  At the end of the carpet local drummers in native dress stood by their drums.  A number of official looking men appeared to be scouring the area, and there was an air of great anticipation.  The Burundi president was coming!  We were unaware that there was to be an important delegation meeting at our hotel today to discuss serious land disputes, and from the looks of the people gathering, this was an important group of delegates, important enough to have the president come to open the meeting.  As we began our breakfast in the open-air restaurant right by the carpeted pathway, the band began to herald his arrival.  The soldiers stood at attention as he entered, followed by other apparent dignitaries, and the drums began.  African drummers are amazing, and the Burundi drummers are no exception, not just as musicians, but as athletes.  The drumming is powerful, intricate and unceasing.  Interspersed in the drumming the drummers jump as high as they are tall, many pulling their knees up above their heads as they soar into the air.  It was a wonderful treat to witness their skills and appreciate this special part of their culture.  The president came, shared a greeting and the recessional began as he departed.  Such pomp and circumstance

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As interesting as it was to watch, and as much as we enjoyed getting this glimpse into the local customs, it made me wonder.  The president has an important position of great influence, one to be respected, but yet, he is still just a man.  The question came to mind, what about the arrival of the King of Kings?  We do not know the time of His coming, but am I waiting with great anticipation?  How prepared am I to greet Him when He does come?  Do I long for His coming?  If so much thought goes into greeting a man who will be present for just a short while, what does that mean to us who are awaiting eternity?  It was a thoughtful way to begin the day.

Back at the center we again joined in the ladies in praise and celebration.  Imagine doing this any and every day at work!  It was a joy to have two of the graduates from last year come to visit.  For those who have seen the Burundi video of the stories of three girls, Micheline was one of the three featured, so it was wonderful to see her again and hear what God has been doing in her life.  She gave a summary of her “before” life for the team, tragedy after tragedy, abuse, heartache, despair.  She shared that before joining the sewing program she had no hope or reason to smile….BUT then she came to know Jesus.  At the center she was fed daily on nutritious food and the Word of God; she found Hope.  Now she lives near a marketplace, setting up her sewing machine in front of her home with her four children, and earns enough from orders that she feeds her family and sends her children to school.  “I now have confidence in God that no one can take away,” she shared.  Because of the Word of God, she feels like a woman and mother of power!  When asked what she has learned, she said that God allows struggles, but He is always with you and uses them to make you stronger and wiser.  Considering her past, this is quite a testimony indeed to the restorative power of the Lord.  Life today is so much better, but can still be challenging.  She asked that we pray for her to have more clients so that she doesn’t struggle at times to pay her rent.  What a privilege as a group to pray over her and see her beautiful, infectious smile! 

Another graduate, Gregonie, also shared her similar story.  Orphaned, having to quit school, married but losing her husband in an accident,  she was left with two children and expecting another.  Someone led her to Homecare, and she went from begging to being a skilled seamstress.  She is now supporting herself and six children.  She said, “ I was bound, and now I’m delivered……Jesus gave me joy, and I know how to pray.”  What a joy to pray over her for God to bless her business and protect her family.

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The center is still interviewing applicants for the new sewing class beginning in July.  One young woman came for an interview today and bravely shared her story with the group.  Her story sounded sadly familiar.  She is an orphan; her parents died when she was in grade three, and she had had to quit school.  One of five children, they often went without food.  Sometimes neighbors would share some food or clothing, but more often they went without.  A friend took her to church, and she learned that she needed to know Jesus.  After she was saved, many in the church would try to provide care for her, but she was still without a stable home.  The older siblings are married now, but she is raising her thirteen year old sister (she is 25).    She has gotten by by gleaning in fields, but when there is nothing to gather, she and her sister don’t eat.  She met a graduate from the center who told her about the program, and she is praying that she can learn a skill that can provide for her and her sister.  We gathered around her to pray.  She fell to her knees, and we prayed, she sobbed.  How touched we were that she would be so courageous to share her heart with strangers, and we hope that our prayers encouraged her.  There are so many like her, afraid, despairing……..this is why Tirzah exists, and why we partner with national ministries like Homecare so that she and others like her, and there are legions, can find love, acceptance, skills, and education……all in the Name and Love of Jesus.

Micheline and Gregonie were much like this girl when they first came to Homecare.  No smiles, guarded, afraid to trust,…… but hopeful.  But through their tears, God has given them much to smile about.  How we are praying that He will bring a smile to this young woman’s face, and that in the future when she cries, they will be tears of joy.

Tuesday – Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

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All the students and some of the past graduates gathered this morning for a special time led by LaDonna about women’s health.  She did an excellent job of explaining the beautiful way God has created us as women with clear, factual information.  Then the questions began.  When we’ve done this in the past, it has been eye opening to hear their questions and realize how little information they have had about the basics of how the body works.  There are so many wives tales and superstitions that instill fear.  It was the same today as the questions began to unfold.  How wonderful to have someone dispel the myths and clarify what is “normal.”  If there was something that needed to be discussed with a doctor, LaDonna urged them to do so.  But we also learned that even with the insurance Homecare provides, many of them are reluctant to go to a doctor.  If they “feel okay” they don’t see the need for it.  As several team members shared about things that were discovered during a routine check up that, because they were found in time, were treated and left no lasting effects, they seemed to begin to get the idea that seeing the doctor wasn’t just for “pain” and there was value in getting regular check ups.

We also learned that since medication is readily available over the counter that would require a prescription in the US, they are often told to get an antibiotic for things that have nothing to do with a bacterial infection.  Your back hurts; get an antibiotic…….We were able to share why taking too many antibiotics, especially unnecessarily, can be damaging and should not be overused.  It was wonderful to dispel some fears that have plagued their minds for a long time. One young woman had a door fall on her when she was young.  She was told that because of that, she would never have children.  The relief was visible as she was told that the probability of that injuring her reproductive organs was slim and did not mean that she would be barren. How freeing truth truly is!

The afternoon was focused on how God has made our hearts.  Since the fall, women have experienced physical pain as in childbirth, but we also experience pain in the heart and spirit.  It was our team’s turn to share their own journeys and how God has ministered to each of them.  It is amazing to see the surprise on their faces as one by one, our women shared their stories, which included some great pain and loss.  The prevalent feeling is that Americans have no such troubles; life is perfect, pain free, so that we could not possibly identify with their pain.  They openly wept as hurts were shared, clapped and rejoiced when they heard how God had met those needs and how He was still working.  There was definitely a heart connection!  Thank you to all of you who prayed specifically for this time of sharing.  It is never easy to share our sorrows, even when we have received much comfort from the Lord.  But a personal testimony is so powerful and brings us together unlike anything else.  There was definitely a spirit of sisterhood created today!

Tomorrow China is leading a session on childcare and basic health/hygiene.  Again, this will be such a helpful time to again, share factual, sound information as well as encourage those who do have children, and those yet to become mothers.  Pray that God will use China in a special way to minister to their needs.

Then we will be preparing for THE DAY, Graduation Day on Thursday.  What a time of celebration this will be!  These women have worked hard, learned so much, grown spiritually, and come to realize their value and worth as daughters of the King.  There is great cause for rejoicing!

Our guys have had meetings with key leaders here, further exploring possible ministry to young men here, which is a huge need.  Please continue to pray for God’s guidance in that area.

The overriding theme today was that God designed us uniquely, beautifully, and in His image.  No matter how we are treated, or what our society may believe, we must trust who He says we are.  The enemy will continue his attacks and accusations, trying to create distrust, but as we recall and trust in His truths, we will truly be set free.

Wednesday – “Let the Little Children”

Today was a wonderful time with China sharing with the women about childcare.  A beautiful thing about the culture is that they truly value children and were eager to learn about better care for them.  China works with teen mothers and has a wealth of wisdom to share from physical care to emotional and spiritual care of children.  She had a rapt audience!  The questions that followed were very thoughtful, and again, revealed the many myths that they have been told and believed about childbirth and caring for children.  How wonderful that China could dispel those myths!  One mother was told that because her baby cried a lot it meant she would have many, many children.  They were surprised to hear that babies have individual personalities from birth, so they couldn’t be expected to be the same.  It was such an encouraging, valuable time that will surely have long term impact.

Our team members had ordered clothing items for the women to sew for them –  individually measured and hand fitted.  Today they were complete and delivered.  It is always such a delight for them to see their custom clothing tried on and modeled!  The smiles and squeals of delight say it all – what affirmation that they are doing a good job and that people are pleased to have things that they have made.

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Final preparations for the graduation day tomorrow filled the rest of the day.  Tomorrow is a BIG DAY! The program is packed; the students are presenting a drama, dance and fashion show, and then the speeches begin.  There will be a number of people sharing.  We pray that it will be a huge encouragement to them as they leave the safe, loving community of Homecare to start a new chapter of their lives with their own businesses.  It’s probably with mixed emotions, excitement of finishing well, but some sadness to not have the daily interaction and continual support of their Homecare “family.”  Over and over again we have heard them say that here they have found “parents,” so it is like leaving the family nest.   Of course they are always welcome at the center, and they love to have former graduates come and spend time when they can, but they will be working and establishing their businesses and not have that daily contact they have enjoyed.

Pray with us for a wonderful day of celebration – celebrating the successful completion of their sewing training and celebrating their emotional and spiritual growth as they have come to know Jesus and understand who they are in Him.  And most of all, we celebrate the Lord, for Who He is, for all He has done, and all that He  will continue to do.  It is such a joy and privilege for all connected with Tirzah and support this ministry, and this team in particular, to be a part of this most special day!

Thursday – “Forget the former things…I am doing a new thing.”

And so began the much awaited graduation day!  The culmination of ten months of hard work learning new skills, learning to read and write, opening up God’s word and soaking in God’s love and truth…….the time has come to spread their wings and fly! 

Peace opened the celebration with prayer and Isaiah 43:18-19.  How appropriate these words are!  “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”  God has certainly done a NEW thing in these women, and now it’s time to celebrate that!

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The students had prepared a drama that followed the journey of two women from their despairing past to the Homecare center.  And how intensely they portrayed it!  Two girls appeared as orphans taken in by a woman to be helpers in her home, only to abuse them and kick them out (which happened to so many of them in reality).  Now on the streets, they cried, fearful and alone.  One of the girls actually cried as she “acted.”  It probably brought back deep wounds of her own life.  Then a woman came by, noticed them, and as they talked, she discovered they were homeless orphans.  Portraying a former graduate, she told the girls there was a place she could take them where they would be loved, taught, and learn about God.  They walked across the floor to the “office” where they were interviewed by “Faith.”  After their stories were verified, they became a part of the sewing class.  “Goretti” began to put them through an orientation about the sewing machine (all acted out with great accuracy, much to the delight of the crowd, especially the students and former graduates present).  Then one girl said she could not read or write, and in came in “Phoebe” who began to teach them to read and write, using the Bible.   Now they could read and write and sew!  Then the “teacher” declared that they were ready to graduate, receive their diploma, their own sewing machine and begin their own business, and they sang out in praise!  This truly summarizes the experience for those who become a part of the Homecare family.  How realistically and passionately they told their story!  As they concluded, all those gathered applauded enthusiastically for their powerful performance.

The students had also prepared a fashion show, modeling clothes that they had personally made.  One by one they entered the room in their custom designed clothes with signs around their neck.  Each sign was like a banner of sorts (much like a pageant contestant) with the name of a fruit of the spirit.  We saw “Miss Love, “Miss Kindness,” “Miss Joy” and so on as they playfully modeled their clothes.  It was a great success!

Then there were a number of messages offered by Josephine, one of the former graduates, and Trish.  Trish shared that the team had a gift for them, a necklace with a cultured pearl.  She explained how a pearl is formed, beginning as a speck of sand which once inside the oyster, causes a wound-like irritation, representing painful experience.  But God designed the oyster to begin covering the speck of sand with a special covering, and layer by layer, the tiny speck becomes a lustrous pearl of great value.  She compared the layers as the layers of God’s love that pours over our lives, our wounds and hurts, turning the pain into beauty.  She urged them to remember that what God does to produce pearls, He is doing in their lives.  They seemed genuinely moved.

Rob sang a beautiful song of encouragement about God’s faithfulness, reminding them that He would continue to be faithful to them, and the team sang “Open the Eyes of My Heart” as Connie signed the words.

Before starting to present the diplomas, I shared a few words about the importance of remembering.  Just as God urged His people to remember His great works and miracles, we need to remember His promises and hold fast to what is TRUE.  Moving out into the working world the enemy will no doubt try to stir up doubt, accusations of the past, and fear.  I reminded them of a number of truths about them:  they are redeemed, forgiven, forever free from condemnation…chosen, unique, wonderful and truly women of worth…..because of Jesus!!  Hallelujah!

As one by one the graduates came forward to receive their diplomas, some came singing and dancing.  All came with enormous smiles.  Cameras flashed; everyone clapped, and as each one held their well earned diploma, team members put the pearl necklace around their necks and gave them a special booklet (made by LaDonna) containing God’s truth and encouragement from His Word written in Kurundi.  What lovely gifts!

Then the dancing, singing and rejoicing began!!!  WHAT JOY!  Hugs, smiles, huddling up for pictures……..pure joy.  We brought a printer with us, and John took a photo of each one with their diploma and printed them up for them to take home.  They loved it!  Of course, all the friends who had come for the celebration decided they wanted one, too……he could have done this for hours, and they would not have tired of it!  But at last, the celebration had to draw to a close. 

What a wonderful, wonderful celebration!  We could not be more proud and pleased for them.  How we pray for them as they begin the next chapter of their journey.  Closing words before diploma presentations came from Col. 1: 9-11:  “Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you, asking God to fill you with knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding….we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord….bearing fruit….growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthen with all power according to His glorious might….having great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father.”

As Tim closed us in prayer, all we could say is, “Amen…..and Amen!!!  Thank you, Jesus!!”

Friday – Mountain Splendor

Today was an extraordinary treat.  For the first time, we had the opportunity to go outside Bujumbura and experience the rural area of Mantana, Peace’s home place.  We climbed aboard a small bus to begin our journey.  As we ventured out past the edge of town, a new view of Burundi began to unfold.  The higher we went, the more lush the landscape.  The constant haze hovering over the city was swept away, and we could see clear skies.  Very soon, and delightfully, the temperature noticeably began to drop.  We hadn’t been gone long when we began to notice an odd flapping sound coming from a rear tire.  We had planned to stop at a small hotel along the way for a pit stop, and we managed to get to that point to examine the source of the noise.  Sure enough, the tire was shredded on the edge, so the group hopped out so the tire changing could begin.  As we went up the short walkway to the little hotel, literally in the middle of nowhere, we entered a most unexpected oasis.  Under the canopy of towering avocado trees the well manicured garden exploded with the gorgeous colors of massive hydrangeas, dazzling fuchsia plants, roses, and six foot high geraniums.  Incredible and totally unexpected!  We had planned for a short break here, but we were not disappointed to have to spend a little more time for the tire.  However…..it seemed that the jack didn’t work.  Since there is no “Triple A,” Mandy called out to a boy curious about our situation and told him to go into the village down the road to get help – and off he goes.  Before long, someone arrived with the needed jack, the tire was changed, and again, we are off.  Invigorated by the ever cooler, crisper air, we didn’t expect to hear the thudding sound again, and definitely not so soon. This time, we had to pull to on the side of the road with no village near by.  Mandy and Peace pulled out their phones and went immediately into action.  We all got out and began to soak in the beautiful farmland as the men observed that again, we had a blown tire.  Upon a closer look, there was a piece of metal underneath that was hitting the tire, causing the shredding rather than just bad tires.  Now we have no spare (which wouldn’t have been useful anyway) and on the side of the road.  Phoebe hails down a truck and is on a mission to the next village.  No one was panicked; none of us felt ill at ease, but rather enjoyed the opportunity to watch cows come down a path, marvel at the dug out irrigation system for the crops below and just enjoy the clean air and skies.  Before long we spotted another bus coming up the road; Phoebe had successfully hired another small bus to take us on to Mantana!  We packed up, reloaded (even more cozy since we now had a young man continuing the journey with us plus the new driver).  Yes, we lost time with both stops, but honestly, it didn’t matter.  Getting to enjoy the valley vistas of brilliantly green terraced tea farms and scores of eucalyptus trees more than made up for any inconvenience.  Once again, we experience God’s faithfulness and provision!

https://app.box.com/s/rdil6paa5lsx6sroworw 

A while later we arrived in Mantana.  We drove up to the old Anglican church where Peace’s father pastored and was her childhood church home.  This morning we visited with Simon Guillebaud, missionary and friend of Peace we met years ago.  His great grandparents were missionaries in Burundi, translating some of the first portions of scripture into Kirundi.  He, too, had served in this church and died here.  He is buried in front of the church.  His headstone is a tribute to his faithful service and love for Burundi, and his picture still hangs in the entryway of this lovely church.  Across the way was Peace’s primary school, and as we walked the well worn path that Peace walked for so many years and those before and after, we walked down a bit to where her house once stood.  Now there is a Bible institute where her home was with a small dormitory to house students.  What a tribute to her father’s heart and ministry!

All too soon it was time to head back.  It has been a glorious day!  You will have to see the pictures of this incredibly beautiful countryside to appreciate what we saw.  I feel that we got to experience “true Burundi” today in its rare beauty.  The temperature change was striking as we neared Bujumbura, along with the returning haze.  We can see why Peace and others treasure there country roots, and why so many long to return there. 

We are so very thankful that Peace shared this with us today, despite the travel challenges.  Nothing could detract from the stunning beauty of God’s creation here as today we journeyed deeper into the heart of Africa.

Saturday – United Hearts

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Today was our last day at Homecare.  We wanted to have a special time to show appreciation to the staff who serve so tirelessly, so we set aside time just to share with them. It was a glorious way to end our time with them as we go to church tomorrow and prepare to fly out later in the day.  Peace and her husband, Emmanuel, invited us to their home tonight for dinner, which was wonderful, but it’s late as we return to the hotel.  So we will fill in details tomorrow before we leave.  

Suffice it to say, there is nothing like joining together with brothers and sisters in Christ.  His Spirit binds us as no other, and we are truly grateful that He has allowed us to connect with and love one another because of His love toward us.

More tomorrow…….

Saturday – Continued…………..

Sorry to be tardy in getting back to the blog.  We didn’t have internet time before leaving for the airport to head home, so we’re just now unlagged enough to get back to it.

We had planned for Saturday to be a very special time to spend just with the staff.   Since the graduates were no longer at the center and the new session has not begun, this was a great time “just for them.”  We started out by pampering them a bit, giving hand/arm massages and manicures.  Just the sort of “girl activities” all women enjoy!  Then we gave them some small gift bags of toiletries, along with personal notes that the team had written to each of the staff workers.  We wanted to give them individual attention to thank them for all their hard work, faithful ministering, offered selflessly each day to build into the lives of the women at the center.  We are so very thankful for the “team” Peace has to accomplish the ministry!  They are a close unit, family, committed to prayer and work together in harmony.  We were all impressed by the cohesiveness of the group.  It is also a joy to see two of the former graduates now “on staff” as helpers for the sewing classes as well as being a part of the co-op that operates out of the center.  This is exactly what you want to see, graduates giving back through the ministry that brought them new life!

https://app.box.com/s/uoaofx1mp6sxfkk2bt4w 

We wanted to close with a special time of prayer.  The Scripture says, “blessed are the feet that bring Good News.”  Their feet certainly bring Good News, so we began to anoint their feet with oil and pray over them.  Each team member knelt down before one of the staff, holding her feet and praying fervently for them, their personal needs, ministry and all those they minister to.  It was an intensely personal time, sharing hearts, hugs, tears and smiles.  We all felt terribly blessed!!

The evening at Peace and Emmanuel’s home was lovely.  They have beautiful garden, and we had dinner out on the lawn, enjoying the pleasant night air and great company.  Peace’s sister, Jennifer, and her husband, Leonard, have just moved back to Burundi after spending 11 years in South Africa.  We gleaned a lot from visiting with them, along with Emmanuel and other local guests, as they gave us more insight into the current situations in Burundi, challenges, hopes for improvement, development, etc.  It helps us to pray specifically with greater understanding.

Sunday would be our last day in Burundi, our last time to worship at Life Center.  No better way to spend our last hours before departure than worshiping with our wonderful friends!

Sunday – He Is Worthy of All Praise!

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Last day in Burundi; last chance to worship with our dear friends at Life Center, and we certainly did worship!  Praise and worship went on for a mere two hours; standard.  Worship here is CELEBRATION!  Joyful worship, praising God for Who He is and all His attributes, with great thanksgiving!

Then Apollinaire, the incredible worship leader, introduced their newest member to the family, their little recently born son, number 3, his wife and mother-in-law.  It was to be a baby dedication, but Apollinaire first started sharing his admiration and thankfulness for his lovely wife.  His tribute to her went on for some time, and then he started singing to her…….with her joining in with him.  (Found out that this was the song they sang to one another at their wedding!).  It was a sweet, poignant moment.  As he talked about the precious gift of marriage and how blessed he was, Pastor Mark felt the Lord prompting him not to share the message he had prepared, but rather to have a time of prayer for marriages and families.  He knew of many marriages that were hurting, some on the verge of divorce, some that were good, but wished to be better.  He asked all married couples to come to the front of the church for prayer.  Since their congregation is 1,000+, this meant a lot of people.  As he began to pray, he called out to God for healing in marriages, families, united homes.  He prayed for strained relationships, repentance and forgiveness, mutual respect and support, looking to Jesus as the center of their lives and families.  This was no “quick little prayer.”  It was a call to examination and commitment, and it was obvious that there were many couples “doing business” with the Lord in this prayerful moment.  There was also prayer for those not yet married and desiring to be, that God would bring His person into their life, along with comfort for widows and all those alone.  It was a powerful, piercing time that visibly affected everyone in the congregation.  We admired Pastor Mark for being sensitive to God’s leading to focus on what He wanted to happen in this service rather than insisting on delivering his “prepared message.”  It was a truly memorable time and obviously Spirit led.

Back to the hotel, lunch, and then the job of packing up loads of dirty laundry, mixed with all the lovely items we had purchased from the Homecare ladies and other remembrances purchased during our time.  Bags bulging, passports in hand, we head to the airport to await our flight.  A big prayer item for this trip was for ALL the flights to go as scheduled (there have ben some real challenges on this route at times with cancellations, etc.).  God blessed us with each flight going as planned; thank you, Jesus!  After sharing our last goodbye hugs and thanks with Peace, Phoebe and Mandy, we checked in and waited to board.  At last, we rolled down the runway and began the long journey home.

We would have a brief stop in Nairobi for passengers to get off and new ones to board, then off to Brussels.  From there to Chicago, and then on to Houston (Jenna left us in Chicago to go straight into Austin, so we bid her farewell there).  Long, long legs, little rest, but we’re heading home!  Finally, successful return to good old Texas!  Our Lafayette portion of the team would go on to Lafayette from here.  The rest of us, tired but happy, gathered our bags and headed to our homes.  Unfortunately, there were delays for the La. Group, and they didn’t get home until much later that night, but they did at last arrive safely home.

Reflections:

In the materials we discuss at the end of our teams, we talk about how to process the mission trip experience, some things to expect when you get back home, how to begin to process what God had done personally in each of our lives and how He stretches and challenges us through the experience.  We have some good thought questions that we ask all team members to ponder; not short answer questions or fill in the blank, but really thought questions.  How did we see God at work?  What did we learn about ourselves, those we visited, cultures, views on suffering and poverty…….not “fluff stuff.”  These we leave for continuing prayer and consideration.  They help to unpack the mission experience once you are home unpacking your bags.

God has layers of purposes in inviting us to join Him on mission.  We’ll be discovering the impact of that for years, but one thing we know.  We are different as a result!  We see things with a new lens; we view the world and our own surroundings differently, and that is a good thing.

One suggestion in preparing for how you will share your mission experience with others is to choose 3 descriptions words/phrases to describe your experience.  More than just “great, wonderful, awesome.”  Something that gives insight to the experience.

I’ve been pondering my 3 words.  What comes to mind are these:

·      Encouraging – to hear the “before and after” testimonies of the women and how God has worked in their lives through their training and seeing how well recent graduates continue to be doing.

·      Surprising – to see the stunning beauty of the rural countryside in contrast to the dusty, bustling capital city that does not enjoy the lush green of tea fields, flowers, and trees that fill the countryside. We’d never had the chance to see and enjoy the rare beauty to be found outside the city, and it was divine.

·      Personally impacting – Each testimony heard spoke to me and to all of us, whether coming from one of the women, leaders, or one of our own team.  The personal prayers, time of prayer for marriages and families…..all these touched hearts and souls in deeply personal ways.  Our relationships with the “family” at Homecare grow deeper.  It is truly a very personal experience.

And that’s why Tirzah exists, to join together those who have God’s heart for women, children, families, and the major challenges they face here and all over the world and together, to follow God’s lead in addressing them.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to join hands with You and amazing believers, like Peace, to serve together to bring about your purposes.  It is a joy, a privilege, and we are forever grateful!

He is inviting us all to take part, and we would love to have you join hands with us and everyone in the Tirzah network so that, as His Body, we can do what He has called us to do, to go into all the world, making disciples, sharing His love and hope, building one another up in His love, so that when we are in eternity together with Jesus, we can together say, “Holy, Holy, Holy…..Worthy is the Lamb!!  Hallelujah!”