Rwanda!!!

Well…alot has happened since I last wrote…so this is going to be incredibly scrambled.

I moved. Which has been an incredibly wonderful experience. I love the girls I’m living with, we have so much fun! And I’m alot closer to the kid’s house so Mari and I go down there everyday in the morning and most afternoons. The rest of the day we hang out at the house, watch movies, do puzzles, rest, it’s wonderful.

Wednesday Mari and I went with Fabi to Libby and Honda’s to babysit their little girls, and thursday Mari and I went to their house for lunch! It was so good! We had homemade pizza!

God has provided in such amazing ways. Our big adventure was going to Rwanda this weekend! It was such a great experience! It ended up working perfectly because for some reason they gave me the wrong amount of days for my visa and it actually expired on friday. So we just left the country, Mari, Media and I. Thursday when we went to get tickets for the bus, we couldn’t find any. We assumed we weren’t supposed to go, then somehow we walked past a bus with extra friday tickets and bought them for $10! Very cool. The next morning we got up early and left Bujumbura at 6 am. The whole way to the border, people in the back of the bus sang worship songs in Kirundi. It was wonderful, I love the passion they have for the Lord and worship! We got to the border and while we were in line we were told that a Rwandan visa costs $60. We were planning on it only being $20 so we didn’t have the money for that. But we prayed, and it turned out that a Rwandan visa is free for citizens of the US, Canada, and South Africa! Crazy stuff. Then we got back on the bus and after an hour of driving through beautiful rwandan countryside, we had a flat tire. Mari and I slept while they fixed it. We started going again but after another 30 minutes our bus broke down on the side of the road. So we sat there in some village and entertained some kids with our cameras. Finally a taxi bus drove by which said it would take us to Kigali for $1.50, which was great but it took us 4 hours to get there since we stopped every 5 minutes. So a normally 5 hour trip became a 10 hour one, and we decided to stay in Kigali until today instead of leaving saturday.

Kigali is SO different than Bujumbura. Mari and I kept saying that we felt like we were back in civilization. They had street lights, and stop lights, and big buildings! The pastor of Jabe church’s brother picked us up at the bus station. And we were welcomed with incredible African hospitality! Him and his friend took us to eat dinner and then took us to a guest house for the night. Our whole stay, they paid for everything! It was such a blessing. Yesterday they picked us up and drove us all over the city, it was beautiful. After spending an hour at the bank getting money, we went to the Kigali memorial center for the genocide. Definitely a very hard thing to see. At the center they have 12 mass graves and 285,000 people are buried there. Only 2000 have names, since entire families were wiped out there is no one to claim bodies. The genocide took over 1 million lives and as we drove around it was hard to imagine that only 14 years ago, there was no place to hide and everywhere you went people were being killed. Rwanda has made an amazing comeback, but you can still see the reminants of the war, there are memorials scattered throughout the countryside.  It was definitely a surreal experience.

This morning we woke up, we were supposed to get picked up at 6:30 but our friend didn’t arrive so at 6:40 we decided we needed to hop on taxi motos or we weren’t going to make our bus. So my first experience on a motorcycle was this morning, flying down the hills of Kigali with the sunrising. It was amazing!!! We made it to the bus station just as they were about to sell our tickets to someone else. Praise Jesus! Again! Our driver was a mad man and we made it to Bujumbura in record time, 5 hours! We met another muzungu on our bus, he’s from spain, traveling alone. So we invited him to lunch, and media found him a place to stay. We had a few interesting conversations about catholicism. He said he’d never felt more welcomed somewhere, so I’m praying he saw a little bit of Jesus in us. He’s planning on hanging out with us tomorrow maybe swimming with the CRIB kids.

This week I’ll be saying good bye to the kids, and all my new friends here. I’ll be sad to leave, but happy to be going home, and incredibly thankful that the Lord has brought me here, and taught me so much. Thank you for all your prayers! We serve an amazing and gracious God.

10 days.

Only 10 days left(maybe less, Lord willing)! Then I’ll board a plane and head home. It’s a little bit crazy, it seems that I’ve been here forever and that I just got here, all at once.

So far my parents attempts to find me a flight home earlier haven’t proven very successful. But they’re still calling every day, and we’re praying, even 2 days earlier would make a world of difference as far as getting used to the time change before I head back to school. So prayers that God would make that possible would be wonderful, but either way I know He’ll provide and I’ll be here as long as I’m supposed to be.

Thursday I was in the clinic again and I got to draw blood for the first time. It definitely wasn’t a professional job, but I was able to do it. He then taught me how to change iv fluids, administer medication, and chart it all. It was very clear that I was inexperienced and had tons of people watching me, but somehow I figured it out and it was so exciting to learn new stuff! I went on another walk with Marie, Mercy and Baraka, and then spent the evening at their house, eating and playing cards.

Friday, I didn’t feel very good and was exhausted, I was having alot of sinus issues. So I skipped the clinic and slept in(although sleeping in these days has been 8am, if I’m lucky, normally I wake up on my own before 6:30) That afternoon Fabi, Esther, Medi, Marie, and I went to the market. I bought more fabric, and stood around while they shopped for other things. I was a bit miserable, cause my head hurt, but I survived

We went to the beach yesterday, my host family and I, after a morning of reading, and doing a puzzle with their kids. It was an amazing day. I still wasn’t feeling up to par, but i couldn’t have been happier. The weather was warm but breezy, and the beach was gorgeous. The water was cool, so we all put our toes in for a while, then proceeded to play soccer or “football” on the beach. It was alot of fun. And by some miracle I scored 2 of our 4 goals, and now they think I’m really good at football…haha. After we were exhausted from running around in the sand we found a table, and ordered fantas and brochet(a kind of bbq) There was a wedding reception going on in the cabana so we walked up and got to watch the burundian drummers and some rwandese dancers, very very cool. The sunset was breathtaking, and we took family pictures on the beach. We were all wearing our burundi shirts that I gave them. We came home drank tea and went to bed.

This morning was another glorious day at Jabe, I love worship there. We came home and rested most of the afternoon, then Esther and I walked to Libby’s to get more books, and pick up fabi. I’ve read 3, almost 4, books since I’ve been here!! Esther and I have become experts at the 2.5 mile walk, and can now make it in about 35 minutes Fabi came over and I set her up on facebook, she’s really excited

On the walk back there were some kids begging for money, they followed us a while, speaking in kirundi and sticking their little hands out. I couldn’t stand it so I gave them all I had left in my camera case 1,000francs which is a little less than a dollar. They smiled huge and said thank you very much!!! in french. As we walked off they were squealing with delight, jumping up and down, and hugging eachother. It was pretty clear that they had never gotten that much money before. It made me smile, being able to bless them. But at the same time it made me want to cry. Here were these beautiful children, dressed in dirty, torn clothes, living on the streets. Rejoicing over a dollar. A dollar! And I wish I had had more to give them, really, I wish I could take them home, pray for them, hug them, love them, feed them, and give them new clothes. I’m planning on carrying more cash from now on.

It’s moments like those, where God has shown me the smallest fraction of His heart. Broken for a lost, dying, and impovershed(in more ways than one) world. It’s enough to bring me to my knees, that’s for sure. It’s enough to make me never want to complain about being hungry, thirsty, or tired. It’s enough to make me rejoice and be glad that as hopeless as the situation seems. I know the truth, that there is an everlasting hope. Not just for those kids, but for people all over the world, living in a world of poverty, abuse, darkness. The Batwa kids sang a song about when the King comes He’s going to clothe them in the finest robes, place crowns on their heads and put shoes on their feet. And I can’t wait for the day, when I’ll get to stand in heaven with all those kids, the poorest of the poor on this earth, become the richest, sons and daughters of the King of Kings, for eternity.

All that to say. God’s teaching me alot. I’ve grown in ways that I don’t think I may ever understand. And I still have 10 more days!

Tonight is my last night with Elogue, Aline and their kids. I move in with Marie, Mercy and Media tomorrow. So tonight, I’m making them grilled cheese, or at least attempting to on their outdoor charcoal…stove? I told them about grilled cheese earlier last week and they were completely taken by the idea and haven’t left me alone about it. So yes, that’ll be interesting and exciting. I hope it turns out, eeek…

The next 10 days(maybe minus some) will be spent with the CRIB kids, swimming, dancing, playing, and loving them as much as the Lord allows me to.

I hope all of you are doing well, and I’m looking forward to seeing y’all in person and hearing about your summers! You’re prayers are definitely being answered, thank you!!

You are my supply

Well hello there, it’s been a while. I’m gonna try to recap the last 4ish days…

Saturday: sat around the house, and then in the evening went to one of Aline’s sister’s houses for a cousin’s birthday party. We ate homemade donuts, peanuts, cake, and drank fanta, very yummy.

Sunday: we went to Jabe for church again, since it was a communion day it was pretty much 3 hours of worship, so refreshing, and wonderful, I could have stayed there all day. An older english lady was sitting by me, and the pastor was talking and he said something about God being our providers and told us to tell our neighbors that God was our provider. She told me, and then she said “are you living in that?” I nodded, and turned back to the pastor but then I thought about it, and really thought about it. I wasn’t living in that at all. I was desperate to go home, and feeling really lonely. But that question stuck with me, and I really prayed through it. He is my supply and He is ALWAYS enough, and this week has definitely been evidence of that.

Monday: was supposed to be my first day in the hospital. On the way to the clinic, Aline and Eloge dropped me off at the Canada team’s house to say goodbye. We hung out, took pictures, and then they spent time prayingfor me, which was definitely what I needed. The Lord is such an amazing provider. I ended up going to the airport with them to see them off. It was bittersweet, and I was so blessed to get to meet them, and spend time with them. Afterwards, I went to the kid’s house, where I met Marie for the first time. She is so so sweet, such a peaceful spirit. I liked her immediately. We got to talk a little bit later at swimming, she’s very easy to talk to.  She’s 21, originally from South Africa, and she goes to univeristy in Montreal, majoring in kinesiology. Anyways, we get along great, and I can already tell we’re gonna be friends. We went back to the kids house, spent the night playing games and doing puzzles(!!) in fabi’s room, which I loved. And I got to talk to my mom on the phone, which was wonderful.

Tuesday: It was my first day in the hospital, I followed a nurse named Jackson around and watched him do ivs, draw blood, and administer meds. It was my first real encounter with AIDS patients. Definitely a hard thing to see, one man probably in his 50s, probably weighed 70 pounds, if that. Another woman in earlier stages, had very swollen feet with sores all over them, her two little boys sat at the edge of her bed and did her laundry. In hospitals here, the family is in charge of everything besides the direct medical care. It’s really interesting. If a patient comes on their own without family, they won’t eat, get clean clothes or sheets. So many times young children will come with a parent or relative to the hospital to care for them, since the adults can’t afford to miss work. It’s such a different world. We went to the kids house in the afternoon, and I got to see Belize for the first time in over a week, it was very very good to see her. Marie invited me to go on a walk with her and mercy(she’s from kenya, she teaches at the primary school, and lives in the teacher’s house that marie is staying in now, and I’ll move into next week.) and mercy’s 3 1/2 week old baby, Baraka. It was lovely, they are so fun and we had a great time talking. Plus Baraka is precious, and I loved getting to hold him, he just slept in my arms as we walked, and we kept getting alot of funny looks since I was carrying a black baby.  When we got back to the house, Meddia(she’s a teacher who lives there too) came home, and we all ate tea together. Then it was back to the kids house for cinema night. We ate pizza and fanta for dinner cause it was joshua’s birthday! It was really good!

Today: Another day at the clinic, today was much slower, and I did alot of sitting around, which can get a little frustrating cause I want to be doing stuff, but the Lord is teaching me patience. I did get to see alot of new things though, like putting in a catheter, removing an episiotomy, and giving intravenous injections, all of which were interesting to watch, and I know it will be helpful when I start clinicals. Then Jackson helped me practice taking blood pressure, and I think I’m getting the hang of it, which is also good, since I’ll need it for clinicals. I had alot of fun with their kids today, sitting in mine and esther’s room. I gave them shirts, candy and peanut butter crackers, we listened to music, and I taught them to make bracelets out of starburst wrappers. Surprisingly enough the boys were much more excited about making bracelets than Esther was, so we left them to do that and went swimming. After stopping by libby’s for new books we walked home. Now I’m eating homemade yogurt.

Jesus is so good, and has given me an incredible amount of joy. After alot of homesickness this weekend, the Lord has really come and carried me. I’m learning alot from Him, and joy and patience have been such gifts from Him the past few days. I had a sweet moment with a little girl named Rebecca the other day. I was sitting and praying for Ollie, and Rebecca came and sat down with us. After Ollie ran off, I was singing it is well with my soul, and Rebecca asked me to teach it to her. Of course, my offbeat, incomplete version doesn’t do the real one justice, I taught her what I knew and she sang with me. Then I got to tell her what that song meant, and she seemed to really understand and listen. It was really wonderful, and I thank the Lord for those small moments, and I’m praying He is planting seeds. God’s also teaching me not to plan my life, and to live in the moment, taking everyday and moment as a blessing.

I move in with Marie, Mercy, and Meddia on monday. And then I’m praying about and my parents are looking into me coming home a few days early so I can have a few days to recuperate and readjust before moving back to school.  I am feeling alot of peace about it, and I think that will probably end up happening, if I can get my ticket changed.

Sorry this entry was crazy long, and probably didn’t make much sense. I will try to make the next one shorter, thanks for hanging in there, and reading it!

Chewin on sugar cane

Yesterday, we went upcountry to visit the Batwa people, the pygmies, and some of the poorest people in Burundi.

We left at 8 am and took off up the mountain, about an hour of the ride is on a paved road and then after that it’s dirt(which is red here, very different!) Driving on these roads is a crazy experience, they’re really bumpy and dust is constantly being kicked up, filling the car with a film of redish dust on everything. But it’s so beautiful, everywhere. There are rolling hills covered in green grass, crops, and tall trees.

After driving for two hours we finally arrived at their village. All of the girls had to go to the bathroom, so Aline took us back behind some huts to show us their “toilet”. haha, it really wasn’t as bad as we expected but, it was just a hole in the ground under a little makeshift shelter of tree branches, which was only 3 feet tall. Needless to say it was an experience.

They showed us the pots that they make as their main source of income, the beautiful, large, handmade clay jars sell for 20 cents! Aline said that is one of the main reasons they are so poor. Their trade makes them virtually nothing.

We stood on the hillside surrounded by beautiful, dirt covered children who wore some of the most tatered and dirty clothing I’ve ever seen. We sang worship songs with them, in english, Fabi translated, then they sang for us. It was wonderful. Then we did a skit of the good samaritan, and shared about Jesus. Next, they pulled out soccer balls, and the older kids played soccer, I was amazed that they didn’t lose the ball since they were pretty much playing on the side of a mountain! The chief came over and their men did the traditional dance for us to welcome us, it was really cool. We then gave out balloons to the kids, which was utter chaos, so when it came time to distribute candy we had learned our lesson and we got them into lines by age. They loved the lollipops but alot of the kids spit out the sour candy Aline talked to the women about the importance of handwashing, and giving their children baths. Most of the kids, haven’t been bathed since they were born! We handed out bars of soap to all of the women. Some of the canadian team had also brought baby blankets which we gave to moms with new babies. The simplicity of their needs was amazing, soap and blankets.

We spent the rest of the time, sharing with the highschool students and being shown around the village. ARM is helping them to build houses, the villagers supply the bricks(which the highschoolers have been hired to make this summer in exchange for 2 pairs of shoes) and the ministry supplies the doors, windows and roofs(which cost $500 per house). The conditions they live in is hard to imagine, but God’s grace is definitely there and it was amazing to hear them worship.

We left around 2:30 and stopped on the side of the road to each sandwiches, it was a gorgeous setting for a picnic, nearby villagers stood at a distance and watched us eat.

We got back around 5pm, exhausted, we took showers, and spent the rest of the night sitting around, eating cake(it was Aline’s birthday), and greeeting the many visitors we had. Their grandparents are here, so Esther spent the night in my room.

Today is another lazy day, I slept in which really means sleeping until like 9:30, and have done nothing but spend time with Jesus, and read. It’s only 12 though so I’m hoping life picks up a little bit.

The canada team leaves on monday, I’ll definitely miss having them around, I’ve greatly enjoyed their fellowship, and one of the girls, Pearl, who’s 19, and I, hit it off really well and have had alot of fun together, the few times I’ve gotten to spend with them. So it’ll be sad to see them go.

Marie, comes tomorrow afternoon, and now I’m stuck deciding what to do with the rest of my 2 1/2 weeks. Pastor Ray wanted me to move in with her and the other two kenyan ladies living in the teacher’s house, so I would have someone to hang out with. But Aline has told me I’m welcome to stay here as long as I’d like. So, I’m working on making that decision. I think I might spend the next week here and move there on the 11th before Aline and Euloge head to China. I’m really not sure, so pray for wisdom in that, and for that friendship with Marie. It would be great to have a good friend here, I’m really starting to miss having friends my age around.

I’m really trying to fight off and pray through homesickness, days like today seem to bring it on alot. Last night, I got to talk to my dad, yay! He tore his Achilles tendon and has to have surgery next tuesday, so if you guys could pray for him, that would be wonderful. The daughter and nurse in me is having a hard time not wanting to be home for that.

Thank you guys for your prayers, they mean alot! God is meeting me, and I’m praying for continued growth in the next 2 1/2 weeks here. I’m praying that I’m able to savor them and not try to count down the days till I come home.

Oh and yesterday the kids taught me the art of chewing sugar cane, good stuff it grows in their backyard.

Until next time,

Mel

Mwirwe :)

Good evening lovely friends!

God is so good. These last few days, have been very restful. I get up at 6:45 to go to the clinic with Dr. Eloge, get back around 1 for lunch, then I have the rest of the day to myself, sitting around, reading, watching tv, and spending time with their kids. God is definitely teaching me to enjoy the down time He’s giving me, especially since next semester is going to be so crazy. I’m not used to just being able to sit around and definitely didn’t expect to come to Africa and be able to, so it’s been a little tough. But I’ve almost read a whole book in 5 days, and I’m getting to know their kids alot better which is great.

The clinic is an experience. I’m in the lab this week, mostly just watching. I get to work the blood counting machine at the end of the morning, which is pretty cool. But besides that I’ve just been watching, it’s so different than hospitals at home, that’s for sure, sanitation is completely different, and the supplies are so limited. The first day Eloge showed me around, then I watched as they preached in all of the wards, they preach twice a week, and every time they do, a few people accept Jesus, pretty awesome. They have a pediatric ward, a very small maternity ward, and an adult ward. When you get admitted to the hospital here, it is the job of your family to look after you, feed you, clothe you, etc. The job of the nurses is to draw blood, administer medications, start ivs, that kind of thing. Anyways, I’ve been in the lab, and almost got to draw blood for the first time today, but unfortunately, the woman’s veins were really hard to find so he did it instead. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll also get to do a malaria test on someone, so that should be cool. The rest of the time I sit there, talk to people, listen to music, and today I worked on my kirundi, the lab guys are always making fun of me for being totally clueless as to what they’re saying. So I’m working on it. Oh, and every day they send someone to buy soda and get me a bottled coke(so much better than coke in America!) yesterday I got two and burundian donuts! Its fun.

Monday Esther and I walked the 45 minutes to kinindo to see the kids. And today we got dropped off at the CRIB house, went swimming with the wednesday swim group, and then went back to celebrate Abigail’s birthday(Libby and Honda’s little 4 year old girl) It was so good to see the kids again, I was greeted with alot of “MELISSA!!” hugs and smiles. Unfortunately, Belize was upcountry so I didn’t get to see her. But I was glad to be around them again, I’ve missed the madness.

The Lord showers me with blessings every day, and amazes me constantly by His goodness and provision. Last week I was disappointed to learn that I’d be moving here and now, I can’t imagine being somewhere else. I love this family. Esther is totally my buddy, and we spend most days reading or messing with her little brothers who are always causing us some sort of problem. They’re faith in Jesus astounds me and I love getting to pray with them and do family devotions at the end of the day.

Also, I’ve been praying that I might be able to go upcountry with the Canada team this week. They’re going to work in the Batwa’s village. They mentioned last week that we might be able to go, but it was unlikely, so I didn’t get my hopes up but kept praying that there might be a way for us to go.  And this afternoon, I found out that they were able to get a car for us to go! I’m so excited! Fabi, Esther, and Aline are coming too! So early friday morning we pile in a car and drive 3 hours up to their village stay the night and come back on saturday. I’m not really sure what we’re doing, but something like making bricks for houses and playing with kids, I can’t wait. I’m prepared to take lots of mosquito repellant!!!!

I’m learning alot. I can’t believe I’ve only been here for 2 weeks, it feels like forever. Every once and a while, I feel myself getting homesick, just wanting to get on a plane and spend the rest of my summer with my friends and family. But everytime, Jesus gently reminds me that it was Him who brought me here, and this is where I’m supposed to be, and homesickness evaporates as I remember that my home is in Him.

Miss you guys. Everyone’s always asking SO many questions about what Texas is like, I wish I could bring them all back home with me. Thank you for your prayers, God’s definitely answering them in more ways than I could have imagined.

Well I hope to write when I get back from my upcountry adventure!

Mwiriwe(good evening)

yesterday I saw a hippo…

so I think I’m gonna get to use the internet more now that I’m staying here so that means I should be getting the chance to update more! yay!

Yesterday was lovely and very relaxing. I slept until 1030 which was wonderful. Then I got up and we all went to the tailor’s. That was a new and exciting experience, Aline bought fabric and got the boys shirts made and is getting an african outfit made for me and Ester. So that’s very cool! Alot of yesterday I spent reading, and sitting around the house playing Sorry with the kids. Later in the afternoon we walked a few miles to the lake, where we saw a hippo! It was actually kind of far away but it was still pretty exciting When we got back Eloge’s sister and her sons had come to visit so we walked to the shop and bought Fantas and Cokes for everyone. I love that they drink bottled sodas here, they’re so much better! The rest of the night was just reading and watching tv with the kids.

I get stared at here ALOT, and everywhere I go people say or sometimes shout ‘muzungo’ which means white person. It’s definitely weird getting used to being the minority in an extreme way.

Today we went to church, worship there is amazing, and I wish I could capture it for all of you to see. Today alot of people ran up front and started dancing, it was awesome. I don’t even understand the songs, but I love worshipping with them and God is very present there. After church though we drove out to a  really nice hotel(there were alot of muzungos there :P) on the lake for lunch with pastor Ray and his wife Mary Ann(they’re from canada and have a 4 year old son they adopted named boss, he definitely lives up to his name ) , the pastor of Jabe church and his wife and children, and pastor Ray’s friend Nile from Ireland. After a really tasty lunch we went and walked on the beach, it is soo pretty and the weather is wonderful. This evening we’re just hanging out, we seem to do that alot and I’m definitely adjusting to having so much chill time.

Tomorrow is my first day working at the clinic and I’m pretty excited and nervous about that. Eloge said he’ll probably put me in the lab tomorrow but I should get to work in all of the units they have, pediatric, maternity, and surgery :)  Kinda weird that my first day as a nurse will be in Africa. But I know that it will be an amazing experience. So hopefully I can write about that tomorrow.

I thought I’d leave you with some little tidbits about Burundi, little random stuff that I’m learning as I live here:

-Driving here is CRAZY. There are no rules, everyone just does as they please, and there aren’t even really lanes in the streets. If someone’s going to slow you just drive around them, and the horn is used just to let all the people walking and on bikes know that they need to get out of the way, cause you’re not slowing down. There aren’t stop lights, and all the stop signs that are there, are ignored. But some how, miraculously traffic moves smoothly and I haven’t seen a wreck yet.

-They don’t have any kind of garbage service here so most homes just pile it out back and every once and a while they burn their trash, so the air always smells kinda crazy in certain places, and the air is smoky fairly often.

-They eat three meals here: Breakfast, Lunch, and Tea. Lunch is a large, hot meal, and tea is a small normally cold meal such as bread, fruit, peanuts, and tea. And rice and beans is eaten at least once a day, sometimes twice. But otherwise the food is great, beef, potatoes, french fries, and vegetables.

-The police are everywhere in their blue uniforms, tall black boots, and berets and they all carry rifles, it’s interesting to see so many guys with guns everywhere, even at church.

-All of the houses, at least in kibenga, and kinindo, the nicer quarters, have tall stone and brick walls around them, some with barbed wire and broken glass around the top to keep out thieves. When I told them that we didnt have walls or even gates, they were surprised and wanted to know how we kept the thieves out. It’s quite a different world here.

I’m becoming a pro at mosquito nets, and my sarong has been a lifesaver at nights to keep the mosquitos off my legs, since they dont have any form of insulation or A/C.

Well I think that’s all for now, I’ll hopefully write about the clinic later this week

God is good, and I’m daily learning by His grace.

Oh, and Marie, the girl from Canada that I’ll be moving in with comes on Sunday. I’m already praying for that friendship, so prayers for that would be marvelous. Thanks friends!

mosquitos everywhere!!!

No not really but I do have very mosquito bitten legs

Alot has changed this week and after alot of back and forth, I unexpectedly moved into Dr aline and Eloge’s house last night. I was a little apprehensive because I had gotten comfortable where I was. But I knew God was faithful and trusted Him to provide wherever I am. And He definitely has! I already love the family I am staying with, they have older children Ester, 13, Elysee, 12, David, 9, and Joshua, 8. They are such a wonderful faithfilled family and being in their house is peaceful. Praise Jesus!

Tonight we went to a graduation of their cousin. 22 kids graduated which is actually alot for a highschool, since very few people actually are able to pass and graduate here. I told Ester that Id graduated with over 600 people and she had a very hard time believing me. Then we went to the celebration at her house which basically consists of alot of sitting around drinking soda and listening to people give speeches. But I had fun with the kids trying to keep ourselves occupied.

Last week was just alot of time with the kids, holiday club in the morning and hanging out in the garden, playing and resting during the afternoons. I now can successfully match all 47 faces with names, yay! I love them all. I’m growing particularly fond of a little boy named Ollie he is 10, and a huge troublemaker, they think he might have some form of autism or another mental disorder. But he really is sweet and will listen as long as you are gentle with him, he’s my buddy Belize is also constantly at my side she’s 11 and such a joy, we have alot of fun together!

This week I experienced the market for the first time, it was crazy! There are just tons and tons of small alleyways with vendors lined up where you can buy stuff. If you show any interest at all they will pretty much follow you around trying to sell you stuff, there are people everywhere, and nothing is priced, its all about bargaining. On thursday I successfully bought fabric though, which was exciting, I think I might get a dress made or something. They have beautiful fabric here and it’s so cheap! So if you want some let me know One thing that was hard about the market was that people will leave their children on the floor with boxes to beg for money, it was so rough to see. Some of them were clearly sick and malnourished and it was so hard to walk by them and not pick them up and take them home with me.

Next week I get to be at the clinic with Dr Eloge which will be great! I can’t wait, he says I’m going to learn alot, and I’m excited! Also, I’m praying that next weekend we can find an extra car so I can go with Dr aline and the canada team upcountry for 3 days. We would be spending time with the Batwa people, who are the pygmies, some of the poorest people in the country. I would love to get to do that so be praying for that opportunity.

Well it’s probably bed time, thank you for your prayers! God is definitely answering them! I’m learning so much about the Lord daily and sometimes I feel like Im gaining more than Im giving. I cant believe my journey here is just beginning and I’m anticipating to grow alot. God has definitely brought me to a place to know Him more deeply, everynight I get to read my bible and journal, and it’s just me and Jesus, no phone, no connection to anyone else, just Him. Its wonderful.

Oh and to top today off, I got to eat ice cream!!!!!!

Yambu :)

 

Hi friends

Ive been in Burundi for 5 days now. Im gonna try to keep this short but recaping the past week might make it a little long.

I left DC on monday evening and began traveling for what felt like forever. Going on my own was such a scary concept but I was confident that the Lord would provide and he definitely did, in so many more ways than I could imagine. Throughout my two day trip from DC to Rome to Addis Ababa to Bujumbura I never ended up being alone. God provided people for me to sit with, talk to; and eat with. One girl; emma was from burundi and ended up staying with me until I was picked up at the airport

Annick and Evariste are my hosts this week. They are so sweet and I a, enjoying getting to know them and their children; Dan David, Benia, Elsa marie, and Mike. They live in the same compound as the CRIB kids these are orphans rescued during the war. There are 47 of them ages 6 to 16; they all speak english, and I spend alot of time in the courtyard with them. And I think I almost have all of their names down, yay! I wish I could tell you all about all of them they are wonderful, and crazy. I can hardly go anywhere without at least one of them wrapped around me.

There is a team from Canada here as well so I spent thursday and friday mornings helping them run a holiday club for the CRIB kids. It has been such a blessing having them around as well. Most days I will just hang out here with the kids and eat with Evariste and Annick. These are 2 parts of culture that I am having to adjust to; life here is very chill, we do alot of sitting around, Im learning to enjoy that. Also in their house the children eat in another room than the parents so that is very interesting for me especially since their parents will normally speak kirundi and I dont know what theyre talking about. Im getting used to cold showers and finding that theyre actually refreshing before bed, and Im enjoying having a mosquito net at night. I was sleeping through the night after only 2 days, praise Jesus! The food is great! They have house staff here, which they call guards, someone cooks, cleans,  does laundry, takes care of the children, and watches over the compound, thats taken some getting used to. Evariste is always insisting that I eat more he wants me to gain weight so that when I go home they dont think that there isnt food here

Some other friends Ive made are Fabiola and Libby. Fabi lives here, she is 22, and was a CRIB kid, its nice to have some one my age around, we have fun. Libby is from england but shes lived here for 12 years, and is married to a burundian man named honda.  Weve had some wonderful times talking she is so sweet and easy to talk to. Meeting her has been a huge blessing. Yesterday her and Honda invited me to go upcountry for a picnic with their 2 precious daughters Abigail and Bethany and their little guy Josiah. We had alot of fun, its gorgeous here We took candy or as they call it bon bons to give to the children we found. There were some kids tending to the cows and goats, making sure they didnt run off while grazing, near us. And they were delighted to get some candy. Unfortunately some drunk man came along and got mad at us so after honda talked with him a bit we just left.

Today we went to Jabe church, its huge, about 6000 members they meet outside under a tent, worship was great and they had a translator by us throughout the service. Later on were going to see the kids at their other orphanage in the city.

Next week I go to live with doctors Euloge and Aline, to help in the clinic. I found out that I will only be staying there for 1 week then they will be going to China to help with earthquake relief. So I will move into another house with a girl that is coming from Canada for all of August. Another unexpected blessing, cause I will have someone to hang out with and I will have alot of freedom about what I get to spend my time doing.

God is so present and daily I am seeing His provision in friendships and the children I get to spend time with. Burundi is beautiful and although this trip has been a little rough sometimes I am so excited to get to be used by Him here.

Okay that was all over the place, sorry! Thank you for your prayers and Ill update again as soon as I can!

mel

Heading to Burundi

Well, I’m off in less than 24 hours. 

The last 3 days have been spent in kind of a staging area, here in Virginia/DC with my oldest sister, Jen. My other big sister, Brit, came down from NY and surprised me and has been with us the last two days. We’ve had alot of fun together, they’re wonderful. :) 

Today my flight leaves at 8:40 pm. I fly to Ethiopia and have a 14 hour layover overnight in Addis Ababa, then I leave the next morning for Bujumbura, Burundi. I’ll get there in the afternoon, and my first host family, Evarist and Annick are picking me up, then I have no idea. At some point this week we’re taking the orphans they care for swimming, which I am very very excited about. So I’m thinking this week will be alot of hanging out and taking care of kids, which I love. But for the most part this week is a mystery.

The Lord is definitely working on my heart, I’m still pretty anxious about this trip, but I know that He’s my provider and sustainer, and in Him there is no fear or doubt. I’m planning on getting some good time in the Word and in prayer on the long plane ride over there. 

I’m not sure when I’ll be able to update next so I’ll leave you guys with a few prayer requests:

-Good time of preparation as I travel and get to spend alot of alone time with Jesus, and that I would be able to sleep on the plane and in Ethiopia

-God’s grace for my body as I enter a new climate, eat new food, and adjust to the time change(it’s 8 hours later than Texas time).

-Quick connections with Annick and Evarist, their children and the CRIB kids(these are the orphans, Children Rescued In Burundi)

-Picking up the language, the people I’m staying with speak english but most of the other people I’ll be working with speak Kirundi. 

-That the Lord would begin the process of growing, challenging, stretching, and rebuilding in me. 

-That I would be able to be a blessing to those around me, and that I would bring glory to Christ in my thoughts, speech and actions. 

Thanks for your prayers and support, God has tremendously blessed me.

I’m humbled by His grace in allowing me to go.

I’ll update as soon as I can.

Love for love’s sake.

I love revelation moments with the Lord. When He reminds you of a truth, so profoundly simple, but so incredibly earth-shaking, all at once. It’s those times when you’re just sitting there, not expecting anything, and He decides to speak. I treasure these moments. And I was privileged to have one today. 

I was driving home, spending some time praying, and listening to music. There was a worship song on, that had the line “I love you…” in it. And right then Jesus and I had a quick exchange:

“I love you.”

“You love me?”

“I love you.”

“But how?”

“I love you.”

“But how can you love me, I’m so…”

“I love you.”

Jesus could have spoken a million truths about who He’s created me to be and why He loves me. But ultimately the three words He spoke repeatedly over me were far more comforting, and reassuring.

He loves me simply because He does. It’s not because I don’t mess up, or even deserve it in the least.

It’s like this: I’m not a parent, but I’ve heard countless parents talk about the overwhelming amount of love you experience when you have a child. But think about it, why? It really doesn’t make sense. It’s a baby, it can’t even smile yet, all it can do is cry, eat, sleep, and poop. What’s there to love? It keeps them up all night, and gives them nothing in return. But somehow from the moment these parents look at their child and have a indescribable love. The love that baby, simply because it’s their child. 

The King of the universe loves me, just because I’m His child.

What an elementary fundamental of faith. An elementary fundamental that I needed to be reminded of. I’ve been reading through the bible with a new vengeance lately, wanting to dig deep and understand the Character of God on a different level than I have before. But through all this wrestling with scripture and trying to understand all these theological ideas that have completely tangled up my head, I forgot the solid truth that Jesus loves me. As I struggled with all of these ideas of theology, I forgot the simplest and most astounding of all. 

 

I love you.

 

Three short words, that I desperately needed to hear and understand in a greater way from my Savior today.