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.