Loving People

The mission of Burundi Hope is to “Love God, love people, share the gospel, and bring hope to the people of Burundi.” This week, the team followed this vision. In every program, meeting, and fellowship opportunity, the gospel was shared; people were encouraged and credit was given to the Lord making it clear that it is only because of Him that we are serving in Burundi. The team shared with the program directors the impact of “Leading Like Jesus” and we listened to their praises of healthy students and the challenges stemming from the fuel shortages and the ever-rising cost of goods in this country.

We were encouraged by the joy in the faces of the students as they shared programs highlighting their talents and abilities rather than the daily challenges. The Mason family joined us this week visiting the schools. The students were very inquisitive about Jimmy joining their family and very excited that he would be going back with them to America. The Masons left on Friday for Kenya to complete the final process for Jimmy’s adoption and will head for home on Wednesday. Pray for the long flight home with a 3-year-old!

I love teaching the women in Burundi but this trip Debbie has been doing most of the teaching and it has blessed me to see how the women have been encouraged by her teachings and the two churches we visited this week. Her teachings on Priscilla and Aquilla showed how women can have a servant’s heart wherever they go and discipling fellow Christians keeps us accountable.

One of the churches we visited was Gatumba. It is the area where flooding was the worst and many families are being relocated to a different province. Over 1000 families are being temporarily housed in a tent city atop of a mountain overlooking the city. The women of Gatumba are still diligently serving in the church leaning on one another and the promises of the scriptures to overcome the ever-present obstacles.

Debbie and Obed also team taught on a message from Paul from 1 Corinthians writing to the church to remind them they are to have unity as Christ followers. While we were at Ephphatha the students had a request. It had been many days and there was no sugar for their porridge. In their world, it is an unthinkable way to eat porridge with no sugar! The cost of sugar has doubled even since I left in May. Of course, that was my assignment… to find and deliver!

Our week would not be complete without opportunities for meals together and travels in the car with much traffic and bad roads. Fortunately, the mosquito population is not out of control in my house and I have not seen many ants. Instead it is the invasion of the mango flies. The noisy Ibis have made their presence known early every morning. Power has been on and off for brief periods and up until now water has been available.

Thank you for prayers! Debbie leaves on Monday. Pray for her journey home. I leave next Monday and will have a full week.

God bless!

Susan May, Burundi Hope Project Missionary