Home Again!

My time in Burundi went so quickly! The days were full from early morning well into the evening. The time is short and maximizing every minute is crucial. Even with the best human intentions things never go as planned. The Lord knows when you need to stop and take a breather. Unfortunately the breather came in the form of a mild case of food poisoning which sidelined me for several days. Since it was near the end of the trip my quick recovery was met with reorganizing the priorities. Thankfully the BHP team is well versed in going to plan B, C and D.

The second half of the trip was full of opportunities to share the Gospel through teaching His Word and showing the love of Jesus. Burundi Hope ministers to many women who are widows; have husbands with no stable income; or absent husbands. These same women are serving in their churches and community and every opportunity that we have to teach them life application based on the scriptures can bring them hope, joy and peace. I was privelaged to join the Women of Hope teaching teams in a week long focused teaching in 17 different churches in the city of Bujumbura and 3 churches in the rural mountains of Burundi. The message of hope. God uses imperfect people to complete His perfect plan was shared with 675 women. The story, Rahab. Telling her story and sharing where she falls in the lineage of Christ enouraged the women to know and understand that the love of Jesus is for everyone. The Women of Hope teams are already schedule to teach to 16 other churhces the last week in February. Though I will not be with them we are staying connected via technology as they continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Burundi Hope was also intentional in recognizing the workers at the schools who are working long days and nights at the schools, effectively becoming parents to the students of over 200 boarding students between the two schools. We shared gifts of sugar, shirts and chocolate. All are equally appreciated. We laughed and shared our “Unknown” talents of song, dance and humorous monologues. In moments of gratitude we were told that they have never had the opportunity to gather together in this way of fellowship before. It is a way of breaking through cultural barriers.

Leaving Burundi is always full of mixed emotions. Needing to go home to my US family but also missing those I have come to call my “Buju” family. Pray for the team and those we work with and for the BHP team in the US as we share awareness of the needs of those precious people!

God Bless!

Susan May, Co-FOunder and Missionary

Burundi Hope Project

Some of the women who attended the Women of Hope seminars on Rahab: An imperfect Woman used by God to fulfill His perfect plan.

These dorm parents, cooks and other workers were full of smiles on their “Appreciation Day!” Many thanks to one of our business partners in the US who donated shirts! We now have “Team Endurance: Burundi!”