Burundi Stories Part 7 - R&R

Beautiful Beach

Hike in the Mountains

Drummers of Burundi

Hippos (I promise that is what is in the water)

Female Lions and Cubs (off in the background)

Part of every Global Impact trip is Rest and Reflection so that we have time to process everything we are experiencing. Here are some of the things we did during the rest periods of the trip. Burundi is bordered by the longest lake in the world and has beautiful beaches in between two mountain ranges which have some nice trails. On our last night in Burundi, the World Relief staff had a going away party in which they invited the world famous Burundian drummers which was a very neat experience. We were also able to go on a safari during our two day layover in Kenya. Besides the animals above, we also saw a black rhino, a water buffalo, and a cheetah, but they were to far to get any good pictures. Our guide said it was the most animals he has seen in several years.

This will be my last post of stories from the trip, so I just want to take this opportunity to again thank everyone that made this trip possible for me and our team through prayers and financial support. As I have shared through these stories, it had a huge impact on my life and hopefully the life of some of the people we were blessed to meet. If you have never served on a mission trip in a third world nation, I can't encourage you enough to take the step of faith. Your life will never be the same afterwards.

In case you missed any of them, here are all the previous stories:
Always Be Prepared
It Is Possible
You Mean Peace
Joy in the Suffering
Rebuilding the Wall
Hope in Midst of Despair

Burundi Stories Part 6 - Hope in Midst of Despair

Pastor Timothy Looking Out Over Kibera

One of many trash piles among the houses

Why We Went!

After leaving Burundi, we had a two day layover in Nairobi, Kenya. One of the team members had been to Nairobi on a mission trip a few years earlier and was able to connect us with Pastor Timothy who ministers and lives in Kibera, one of the largest slums in the world. He has one of the most powerful testimonies I've ever heard. From one of the worst hoodlums to one of its most influential pastors. His spirit and joy is extremely contagious. This was definitely one of the toughest days of the trip seeing the conditions in which they live. However, when you look at the kids in the last pic, this is why we go!

Burundi Stories Part 5 - Rebuilding the Wall

Rebuilding a Church

Passing the Bricks

Making the Mortar

Dave Delivering the Mortar

James and Danny Carrying Stones Local Style

On our last day of ministry in Burundi, we were able to help rebuild a church in Bubanza. This church was destroyed three times, twice by rebels and once by a storm, yet they continue to rebuild. It reminded James of the story of Nehemiah's call to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. He was able to share that with them at lunch as a blessing to them. They expressed great appreciation that we were literally willing to get our hands dirty with them. It was a great moment of being the Church together.

Burundi Stories Part 4 - Joy in the Suffering

Break Out Sessions

Dave and Layla chatting with January and Milchiade (shout out to Lori for helping me with my brain freeze)

One of the most impactful times when we were in Burundi was spending time with the university students for a day and half of training. We taught on evangelism, discipleship, and leadership. However, we learned just as much if not more from them. Their passion and commitment was amazing. When we asked them what they do for fun or in their spare time, nearly every one of them said something to do with their Christian walk.

Several of the students spent most of the rest of the trip with us as our translators. I really liked that because we actually got to spend time getting to know them on a more personal basis. The last night some of them started to open up some about the atrocities they experienced. Milchiade shared with a couple of us a story about how his parents died in the genocide. He was 10 years old and at school when the rebels raided his town. When he got home from school, he immediately ran to his house to find both of his parents in his house with their heads chopped off.

I just teared up hearing his story, but he had so much joy in his life. So, I asked the obvious question, how did you get through that to where you are now filled with so much joy. He said about 3 months later a friend of his invited him to Church. After a couple visits he wanted the peace and joy of those at the Church and he gave his life to Christ. He then said one of the most incredible statements I've ever heard, I lost my parents but I found my Father and He became my parents and for that, I can't help but have joy in spite of the pain. We saw that from many of the Christians we met. In spite of more pain and trials most of us would ever face in our entire lifetime, they had such peace and joy in knowing Christ alone.

Burundi Stories Part 3 - You Mean Peace

Buying Fantas and Cokes

Whenever we would meet new people, we would try to ask them for their prayer requests. Without fail, on that list always included, peace for Burundi. After 13 years of civil war, that makes total sense.

It really hit home one day for the team. Down the street from where we stayed we started visiting a little shop to buy Fantas. It became almost a daily routine. One day while we were in there, the shop owner, in his broken English said these simple words that meant so much, "You mean peace."

In his own way, he was saying thank you for coming to his country because it showed him that there was peace. He knew that without peace 12 muzungus would not be so freely walking around and buying stuff from his shop and he was truly grateful.

Without peace, they know that their children will never have any opportunities and that their country will remain one of the poorest in the world. This doesn't have to be the case. It is definitely one prayer that is permanently on my list!

Burundi Stories Part 2 - It Is Possible

Me and Sophonie

Please meet Sophonie (pronounced like so-funny, which was very fitting because he was lots of fun). He was one of our main host while we were in Burundi along with Sara. He is one of the most humble men I've ever met in my entire life! It was an absolute honor and privilege to meet and get to know him. In Burundi, his voice is famous b/c he was a broadcaster. He just recently joined the World Relief staff as the Manager of Church Mobilization. I have no doubt he will do great things in that role.

While we were there, when someone would ask him something, nearly every time his response would be, "it is possible." One of the peeps on the team asked him why he always responded in that way to questions, and his response was because with God all things are possible. Very true statement from a very wise man!

Burundi Stories Part 1 - Always Be Prepared

Sharing Devotion at Turame HQ

I'll start with the one that had the biggest impact on me personally.

On the first Tuesday morning (May 15) we all head over to Turame (WR's microfinance division in Burundi) for the Turame/World Relief staff weekly devotion. There were about 40-50 people there including us. As we were quickly learning, every where we went included introductions. We were prepared to say a few words of greetings and thanks, sing a couple of songs, and then sit for the devotion.

Then Christof (Turame branch manager) looks at us saying and now someone from the missions team will bring the message. Instant fear! We had not anticipated doing that. Lori (my co-leader) and I looked at each other with surprise.

I learned a big lesson in faith and trust and the need to always be prepared. The night before I was preparing for a message for the following Sunday. However, all I had was the outline done so far. Figuring that was better than nothing I stood up, turned to the team asking for prayer, and said a quick prayer as I walked to the front.

God totally delivered! I spoke out of Phil 2:1-4 that believers should be united in spirit, purpose and love. I was taking Cyprian's (Rwanda WR staffer we met in USA before leaving) guidance to talk about love and it was definitely God's work through me that delivered the message.

Then after the session was over, one of the local guys came up to me and said, "I have something to tell you that you won't like." My first thought was that I messed up something theologically in the message, or I misquoted something. However, he went on to say, "While you were speaking, God spoke to me saying that you will be an evangelist to Africa and many Africans will come to Christ through your preaching. Sorry to tell you that!"

Obviously I was blown away by that as it was another confirmation that I will be full time in Africa one day. I asked him why he was sorry to tell me that and he said it meant I would be coming back to Africa. I told him if I had a problem with coming to Africa, I wouldn't be there now and that I had absolutely no problem coming back in God's timing. He smiled big and said he looked forward to seeing me next time.