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 [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 25th, 2010
Yesterday’s election, the first round of five, went off without a hitch. There was record turn out, with long lines everywhere brimming with people eager to participate in the selection of leaders directly for the first time in 17 years. This morning we awoke to the news that one political party, the party [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 20th, 2010
Wangari Maathai is a Kenyan biologist, environmentalist, activist and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Price. In her most recent work, The Challenge for Africa, she writes:
“The exercise of good leadership would end government violations of human rights and restrictions on freedoms such as the right to move, assemble, access information, and organize. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 17th, 2010
Another friend visited Matara this week. Brian was with Mark, Sarah, David and Sydneyanne on that first visit to Bubanza to meet some of our Batwa friends. He shared in the sights, sounds and sadness of the living conditions in that roadside village. And he dreamed with Claude, Mark, David and [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Feb 24th, 2010
There is a new addition to Matara…
a baby girl named Irankunda. Her name means ‘God loves me’ and the chosen name reflects her parents’ knowledge that their daughter is cherished by God, being born into a good place and at a good time in their lives. This family is feeling God’s love, [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Feb 8th, 2010
Well, it is a long overdue update, I realize. But I am happy to report that life is happening at a good pace and there is a routine developing in Matara. Life is a wonderful type of ‘new normal’ – including kids walking to school every morning, some going to the river to [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 10th, 2009
It has been awhile since I’ve posted a story or photos. So I guess it is time for a quick update!
Matara
Things are going well in Matara these days. The crops are planted and, under the soil recently watered with rain, growing. Now Claude, our agricultural engineer, is making plans for the first [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 14th, 2009
Matara was bustling with activity this week as children donned new uniforms and transformed into students. A short walk from the village and they will be sitting in their new classrooms ready to learn.
Primary students and secondary students, boys and girls – all eager and a bit nervous to begin a new school year. [...]