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!