For the last year I've thought I was 27. I think I dreamed 5 or 6 times throughout the year that it was my birthday and I'd wake up thinking "finally I can honestly say that I am 27 and not forget how old I am... and then I realize it was only a dream."
But now I'm here folks and I don't have to lie anymore. What a relief.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Friday, 6 November 2009
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Car Trouble
Yesterday I was at lunch downtown and went to start the car and the key would not turn! So there Meg and I are... hot and sweating and street kids standing around the car with us continuing to try and turn the key 1,000,000 times in the ignition. Finally, we called Charles... the driver from KCC. Not only did he come, but he arrived with 4 of our top guys from KCC! It was like the ladies in distress with four men racing in a chariot to our rescue. I was laughing really hard. After everyone tried what we had been doing (mind you, I had both normal and the spare keys with me... and neither were working) someone ran off and grabbed a mechanic. So Meg and I are sitting in the back seat with the doors open b/c the windows can't roll down, and the car surrounded by people. Then a mechanic came and did some amazing work of taking out all the panels to removing the entire ignition! Meanwhile an ice cream man appeared across the street! So Meg ran over and bought everyone ice cream. 2 hours later the ignition was out, and some kind of fancy wiring was done so that I could now start the car with a spoon. For the fine price of $20 there will soon be a new ignition... which should be installed sometime today! Oh I love Burundi.
Monday, 26 October 2009
the one in front of you
This weekend I was in the central market with some friends. It's always a busy, over crowded place... and I imagine it's similar to some places Jesus walked. Bujumbura's lame, crippled and diseased are placed there to beg for money and I just want to walk around and pray for everyone. But this time one particular scene caught me. At my feet sat a little girl, probably 7 or 8, but she was hardly a girl... more like a creature. Her arms were amputated and she had one foot. She sat in the dirt with a box by her feet begging for money. As my friends and I walked by I thought "no, not this one..." I had to stop and give her the dignity of a human being. So I bent down and stroked her cheek and told her she was beautiful. I had to touch the one no one else would. And I think that moment will be forever ingrained in my memory. She smiled and for two seconds we were just two people looking at each other. And in that moment I just saw what Jesus saw, a person in need of love. My moment was disturbed by a voice from above saying in English "give her money." Without out thinking I stood up, looked him in the eye and said, "you giver her money and I'll match whatever you put in." Everything in me was thinking "she is Your person too... don't make this the white-man's problem to deal with." Suddenly it was a market show down and everyone stopped to watch. Sure enough he pulled some money out of his wallet and dropped it into her box. So I did the same.
I really think Jesus wants us to be creative in how we give. It's not about tossing money into a box... and then quickly moving on so we can forget about the problems in this world. I think he wants us to love people, and engage with others as humans... and out of that place do what comes next. It might be a meal, it might be a glass of water, or it could just be a hug. Maybe it is giving to an organization you know is doing what you're not able to. But if we separate ourselves too far from our giving it is so easy for the heart to miss what the head just did.
I want to remain spiritually, emotionally, physically, economically, whatever... available to the needs of people. And never be too busy or rush pass an opportunity to love a person in front of me.
I really think Jesus wants us to be creative in how we give. It's not about tossing money into a box... and then quickly moving on so we can forget about the problems in this world. I think he wants us to love people, and engage with others as humans... and out of that place do what comes next. It might be a meal, it might be a glass of water, or it could just be a hug. Maybe it is giving to an organization you know is doing what you're not able to. But if we separate ourselves too far from our giving it is so easy for the heart to miss what the head just did.
I want to remain spiritually, emotionally, physically, economically, whatever... available to the needs of people. And never be too busy or rush pass an opportunity to love a person in front of me.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Stories from the Streets
Last week I went upcountry to visit the YFC orphanage. It has been 2 months since I've left the city, and I was thrilled for the breath of cooler air.
The drive up country is always interesting... and typically dangerous. We usually have one "Thank you Jesus" moment, and this trip was no different. Semi-trucks coming around the corner in the wrong lane, but Freddy is a great driver, so I just sit back and enjoy the scene outside the window.
More than half way into our journey we turned the corner to find a man laying in the middle of the road with his bike tipped over, and a pool of blood gathering around his head. We stopped and I looked back to see if he was moving. Slowly people from the shops along the road gathered to help him and eventually move him out of the middle of the road. Convinced he was dead I prepared myself to go pray for the dead guy. Great news... he wasn't dead yet. Freddy waited until another car came (because bystanders could say we hit him, and then we'd be responsible for the medical bill...), then I jumped out of the car to go pray and help out. Somehow the guy had fallen off his bike, and hit his head so hard it knocked him out. At first everyone said they didn't know him (so they wouldn't have to help...) but after we loaded him into the car and drove him to the nearest clinic, the guys who came with admitted he lived near by. To cut the story short, we got him to the hospital and found out the next day he was okay. Hooray!
Later as we approached the orphanage Freddy quickly recognized a little boy walking along the side of the road. He looked about 3, but when he spoke you could tell he was much older. This little boy's name is Amani.
Last year Freddy was showing the Jesus film up country somewhere outside Gitega. At the end of the film he felt a tug on his trousers and a little voice saying "Director, Director." Looking down at the tiny boy Freddy said, "who are you?" "I'm Amani" He replied. When Freddy asked where he lived Amani told him he lived on the streets. His parents had divorced and neither wanted to take him. That night Freddy placed him in his sleeping bag, and thus the story of Amani began.
Every time Freddy returned to Gitega, Amani would appear. They'd have a chat, and Freddy would try and help him in whatever way he could. Amani had found himself a place to exist... a little shack along the side of the road leading to the orphanage, where he helped an old man by fetching him water, or gathering enough money to buy a drink. There wasn't any food.
Determined to change the situation, Freddy was eventually able to talk with Amani's mother and found out that her new husband's other children did not want Amani in the house because they were afraid that he would one day want their father's land. The headmaster at the newly constructed school was eventually able to speak with each of the father's kids (who are much older) and convince them that this would not be the case and YFC would look after Amani, as long as he could live at home. Finally they agreed and Amani now has a home... one year after Freddy and Amani met. (I still need to find out what happened to the old man...)
Amani really got to me. This little being, was extremely mature for a 7 year old. He held adult-like conversations and is really loved by the kids in the orphanage. During the songs he closed his eyes and cried out love songs to Jesus while the other kids giggled or joked around. There is a tiny little spirit in him that sparked the heart of God who aligned things to change His situation. I know we're all God's favorites... but Amani is really one of God's favorites.
I know that there are millions others in this world like this.
I know that there are countless stories that turned out different.
But for me it is just a reminder that I can help the person in front of me. As Mother Theresa says... "I can't help everyone, but I can help my neighbor".
Rather than thinking about all the things I can't do... I hope to always be a person who does what I can. To change a situation that is in front of me, and never walk away when more can be done.
The drive up country is always interesting... and typically dangerous. We usually have one "Thank you Jesus" moment, and this trip was no different. Semi-trucks coming around the corner in the wrong lane, but Freddy is a great driver, so I just sit back and enjoy the scene outside the window.
More than half way into our journey we turned the corner to find a man laying in the middle of the road with his bike tipped over, and a pool of blood gathering around his head. We stopped and I looked back to see if he was moving. Slowly people from the shops along the road gathered to help him and eventually move him out of the middle of the road. Convinced he was dead I prepared myself to go pray for the dead guy. Great news... he wasn't dead yet. Freddy waited until another car came (because bystanders could say we hit him, and then we'd be responsible for the medical bill...), then I jumped out of the car to go pray and help out. Somehow the guy had fallen off his bike, and hit his head so hard it knocked him out. At first everyone said they didn't know him (so they wouldn't have to help...) but after we loaded him into the car and drove him to the nearest clinic, the guys who came with admitted he lived near by. To cut the story short, we got him to the hospital and found out the next day he was okay. Hooray!
Later as we approached the orphanage Freddy quickly recognized a little boy walking along the side of the road. He looked about 3, but when he spoke you could tell he was much older. This little boy's name is Amani.
Last year Freddy was showing the Jesus film up country somewhere outside Gitega. At the end of the film he felt a tug on his trousers and a little voice saying "Director, Director." Looking down at the tiny boy Freddy said, "who are you?" "I'm Amani" He replied. When Freddy asked where he lived Amani told him he lived on the streets. His parents had divorced and neither wanted to take him. That night Freddy placed him in his sleeping bag, and thus the story of Amani began.
Every time Freddy returned to Gitega, Amani would appear. They'd have a chat, and Freddy would try and help him in whatever way he could. Amani had found himself a place to exist... a little shack along the side of the road leading to the orphanage, where he helped an old man by fetching him water, or gathering enough money to buy a drink. There wasn't any food.
Determined to change the situation, Freddy was eventually able to talk with Amani's mother and found out that her new husband's other children did not want Amani in the house because they were afraid that he would one day want their father's land. The headmaster at the newly constructed school was eventually able to speak with each of the father's kids (who are much older) and convince them that this would not be the case and YFC would look after Amani, as long as he could live at home. Finally they agreed and Amani now has a home... one year after Freddy and Amani met. (I still need to find out what happened to the old man...)
Amani really got to me. This little being, was extremely mature for a 7 year old. He held adult-like conversations and is really loved by the kids in the orphanage. During the songs he closed his eyes and cried out love songs to Jesus while the other kids giggled or joked around. There is a tiny little spirit in him that sparked the heart of God who aligned things to change His situation. I know we're all God's favorites... but Amani is really one of God's favorites.
I know that there are millions others in this world like this.
I know that there are countless stories that turned out different.
But for me it is just a reminder that I can help the person in front of me. As Mother Theresa says... "I can't help everyone, but I can help my neighbor".
Rather than thinking about all the things I can't do... I hope to always be a person who does what I can. To change a situation that is in front of me, and never walk away when more can be done.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Got Milk?
Oh yes I do! So my neighbors have this cow. No, it's not at the house but somewhere else... and once a day milk is magically delivered to their house. Alison and I decided that we wanted to have fresh milk and learn how to be Martha Stewart Africa, so we are paying for a liter of milk every other day. When the milk is delivered to the neighbors, someone dips out a 1 liter ladle that looks like a tin Nalgene bottle with a stick on the end... and then pass it through the fence and give it to our house guard. (This just cracks me up because all I see is an arm sticking through the fence with holding out milk) The guard then knocks on our door, we open up, pour out the milk, wash the container then give it back. Now the domestication comes in...
We have to boil the milk for 5 minutes in a big pot and be careful to not let it boil over. Then pour it into a smaller container and let it cool. Then it goes in the fridge. The next day we take it out, and pull back all the cream that rose to the top, as we pour it through a filter to catch the extra bits of cream. Milk is now ready... but there is more!
Alison just learned how to make butter, yogurt, and ice cream! Hooray! So butter we collect the cream for a few days, then mix it with a hand blender until it turns into butter and add a little salt. Yogurt requires a little starter yogurt from the shop and I haven't worked out how to do it yet, but Alison knows so I'm happy. And ice cream... well that's my family's business so if my parents ever get sick of CO, I'll have them move here and open up a shop!
We have to boil the milk for 5 minutes in a big pot and be careful to not let it boil over. Then pour it into a smaller container and let it cool. Then it goes in the fridge. The next day we take it out, and pull back all the cream that rose to the top, as we pour it through a filter to catch the extra bits of cream. Milk is now ready... but there is more!
Alison just learned how to make butter, yogurt, and ice cream! Hooray! So butter we collect the cream for a few days, then mix it with a hand blender until it turns into butter and add a little salt. Yogurt requires a little starter yogurt from the shop and I haven't worked out how to do it yet, but Alison knows so I'm happy. And ice cream... well that's my family's business so if my parents ever get sick of CO, I'll have them move here and open up a shop!
Monday, 14 September 2009
Counting the Cost
I'm pretty relational. My family and friends mean the world to me. So while I am doing great stuff... tra la la ing around the world... and living my dream smack in the middle of Africa... there is still a cost.
This came back to mind last week when I was meeting with the YFC guys. We were reflecting on what it costs us to follow the Lord. Most of the time I quite easily press on and do not have to think about the voids... but there are moments when it comes flooding back.
My cost is being 2 days journey from my family, and a ridiculous scattering of my closest friends who are considerably spread across four countries.
I'm not complaining, just surveying the cost.
Last night I phoned my great aunt who is dying in a hospital in central Texas. Another funeral I will not be able to attend. So I'm somewhat processing what I'm missing and who I'm not there for.
But I would be so wrong if I were not here. It's just that everything has a cost and for me relationships are priceless. One of those things in life that when the Lord says 'lay down your life and follow me' I have to be obedient and intentionally position myself so that I can truthfully say "I'll follow Him no matter the cost." It is one thing to say... but another thing to live.
And there is a cost.
I choose to invest who I am where I am... give fully and freely of everything I have... so this means that whenever it is time to go, I have to lay down my relationships once again and count the cost.
It takes a while to establish relationships. I do not really have a community in Burundi yet or a place of belonging. It will take time.
Meanwhile, I press on. I enjoy the skype chats, emails from friends, and sprinkling of letters. Community will come and I'm glad God made us relational for a reason. It means we're not meant to live our lives in a vacuum or withhold who we are from others. It is a reminder that we're created in His image and that if I'm relational... He most certainly is. It encourages me to be intentional about my relationship with my Father... and intentional about my relationships with others.
This came back to mind last week when I was meeting with the YFC guys. We were reflecting on what it costs us to follow the Lord. Most of the time I quite easily press on and do not have to think about the voids... but there are moments when it comes flooding back.
My cost is being 2 days journey from my family, and a ridiculous scattering of my closest friends who are considerably spread across four countries.
I'm not complaining, just surveying the cost.
Last night I phoned my great aunt who is dying in a hospital in central Texas. Another funeral I will not be able to attend. So I'm somewhat processing what I'm missing and who I'm not there for.
But I would be so wrong if I were not here. It's just that everything has a cost and for me relationships are priceless. One of those things in life that when the Lord says 'lay down your life and follow me' I have to be obedient and intentionally position myself so that I can truthfully say "I'll follow Him no matter the cost." It is one thing to say... but another thing to live.
And there is a cost.
I choose to invest who I am where I am... give fully and freely of everything I have... so this means that whenever it is time to go, I have to lay down my relationships once again and count the cost.
It takes a while to establish relationships. I do not really have a community in Burundi yet or a place of belonging. It will take time.
Meanwhile, I press on. I enjoy the skype chats, emails from friends, and sprinkling of letters. Community will come and I'm glad God made us relational for a reason. It means we're not meant to live our lives in a vacuum or withhold who we are from others. It is a reminder that we're created in His image and that if I'm relational... He most certainly is. It encourages me to be intentional about my relationship with my Father... and intentional about my relationships with others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)