Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 30th, 2010
Ubuntu is a Xhosa word that represents an African concept – we are persons through other persons. I am who I am because you are who you are, and our interactions contribute (or detract) from the other. My quality of life is enriched when you are healthy, when you are employed and your [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 20th, 2010
“No one died this year,” is how Francois described the goodness of the first full year in Matara. Every other year, the calendar is marked by deaths. Everyone cannot make the year since food is scarce, water a multi-mile walk away and money hard to make when your village is without resource and [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 14th, 2010
This morning, we went to Matara one last time for this trip. It was a work day. We spent the morning in 3 teams… planting indigenous trees in their tree nursery, planting cabbage, and making fireless cookers.
However, I must start with Iribuka. Iribuka was the first baby born on the Batwa land [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 13th, 2010
This morning, our group split into two groups and went to two different churches here in Bujumbura.
Next, Kelley cooked lunch for us and served us at her house. After lunch, we were sitting outside on their porch, and in the distance, we heard drumming. Before we knew it, a group of men came [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 13th, 2010
God was smiling today. What a difference today has made in the Batwa tribe for generations to come. How special that the Batwa children witnessed the commitments of their parents. What HOPE for their future – now that “they are written down,” as Franscois – their elected tribe leader – so gracefully [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 12th, 2010
Today, we visited the village of Matara. It has changed so much since last year! LIFE everywhere you look! In the harvest, in the water, in the faces and eyes of the beautiful Batwa. Ten couples were also preparing for their marriage to take place tomorrow! We will be joining [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 11th, 2010
After a brief Kirundi lesson this morning we visited the Batwa at Bubanza. We were greeted with singing and dancing!!
We spent the evening at the student house, finished the day off with a little Indian food and are now resting up for a day in Matara tomorrow!
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 10th, 2010
The group from COF made it safe and sound to Burundi and miraculously their luggage did too!!
Tomorrow we’ll be having some Kirundi lessons before we head off to Bubanza and the student house. You can check this site for more updates soon!
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 5th, 2010
“I have always felt that it is impossible to engage properly with a place or a person without engaging with all of the stories of that place and that person. The consequence of the single story is this: it robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 1st, 2010
God created – land, trees, streams and soil. He took great pleasure in the activity of creating and with each new marvel; He declared it ‘good!’ I think we often forget that God took great pride in His handiwork and, more to the point, He still does!
We read John 3:16, well, really we [...]