Posted in Uncategorized on Jan 31st, 2012
Before he even made his way to the top of the mountain he felt the ground shaking and he heard the drumming. When Claude stepped on the Matara road he saw the dancing had already begun, everyone in their best attire and singing with such full-throttled joy. No one was waiting for him, [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jan 25th, 2012
The Batwa people are known for their pots – it is a skill set and trade unique to their tribe. This was the way Batwa made a small income generations ago, making pots that others used for cooking and carrying. But now the markets are flooded with cheap plastic containers and other varieties [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 25th, 2011
Yesterday there was a Christmas Party in Matara! All the Community of Faith / Communities of Hope staff traveled to Matara to celebrate together with the families there the good news of Jesus coming and bringing peace.
Fanta was flowing, donuts for children of every age, drumming, dancing, speeches, singing and praying included everyone, guest [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 8th, 2011
The women pushed in close for the picture with their ink-stained fingers, clutching their blue cards. Smiles were hard to contain – and why should they even try? This was a day to celebrate because the tide was beginning to turn for the Batwa of Bubanza. As of today no one could [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Nov 9th, 2011
When we came to Bubanza in early October and peeked into the classroom, there were 16 students. In a community with more than a thousand school-age children, there was one classroom, one teacher, 16 students. The structure itself was poor. The room was just that – a room with no desks, scant [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 25th, 2011
The trees arrived to Bubanza! The saplings were all unloaded… looking like a verdant swath of green on the parched landscape. Some friends were on-hand and ready to help plant the trees. But it was the children who swarmed in with great interest and energy. They took trees and paraded through [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 18th, 2011
The students at the Batwa Education Project have a new address! They returned from summer break and moved into their new home just in time to prepare for the beginning of another school year. This home is in a neighborhood close to their schools and while a bit smaller, fits the students nicely.
It [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 7th, 2011
This week life for this little girl is going to start changing. It might be slow and almost invisible at first. But starting this week, friends have come to stand with her, her family and her community. These friends, Burundians and Texans alike, will become familiar faces to her over the years [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 5th, 2011
Smiles from the children of Matara to brighten your day!
His smile is contagious – I just can’t help but smile right back!
Another sweet smile… with Iribuka peeking out with those big eyes!
Hope the smiles from Matara have brightened your day. Remember that God’s goodness is present with our Batwa families as it is with [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 30th, 2011
Miguel traveled from Costa Rica to Burundi to meet up with Claude and see first-hand the communities in Burundi. Claude also invited him to come and share his expertise in appropriate technologies, to see if there are things that he has learned over the years in Mexico that can have some traction in an [...]