Following the Petra Institute 25th
celebrations in South Africa, I joined Miriam for training in Burundi. On entering the country I was touched by the
number of children lining the streets, screeching out to passers by – “a land
of children,” I thought.
Bujumbura, by Lake Tanganyika, is hot
but I was delighted to touch the waters of the Lake, my first time ever and a
life-long dream. Within 2 days of
arriving we climbed the hills to a place called Bukeye – much cooler up there –
to train with a group of teachers from 4 Square Churches organised for us by
Harvest Ministries of Burundi. Satan didn’t want us to arrive, though, as we
had a near accident when a mini-bus headed toward us on our side of the road on
the winding road. The truck they were
passing braked suddenly to let it pass us, causing the trailer to lose his
whole back axle. The container on the trailer, now scraping on the tarmac,
careered towards our small car, stopping just 2 feet away. God is a miracle-working God.
Our first contacts in Bukeye were
missionaries from “The Cries of a Child” who helped us with accommodation and
immediately asked if their Mamas could join our connecting course, stating, “we
have been praying for spiritual input into our Mamas.” Within 2 hours, as we started the training, 2
Mamas joined us. The Mamas look after orphans in family-based homes, caring for
8 children each. We are now planning to
return with part of our course on Walking With Wounded Children at the end of
June.
One of Miriam’s prayers is to
gather a team of trainers for Children’s Workers in Burundi. Isaiah, the man who helped organise the
training for Harvest Ministries has already caught the vision. While in Bukeye we were enthralled by a young
lady named Evalyn, from a 4 Square Church in Gitega, some distance from there.
The emotions she expressed in her story-telling were impressive and Miriam
desires to mentor her. Evalyn was unable to complete high school because of
fees. Her mother died some years back and her father remarried causing distress
to Evalyn. She has been through much,
just as many young people here who lost parents in the 1993 civil war.
Miriam has been here for more than
a year, planting an English speaking church with other African, British and
Canadian Missionaries. The church is
doing well and has a vision to uplift the churches of Burundi.
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