I have been welcomed into the Burundian life for a week now, and I find it astounding how much a person can learn in such a short period of time. Many of the things I am learning I “knew” before I came, but there is a much deeper understanding and truer knowledge that comes when you share life with people who struggle daily to overcome poverty, disease and the aftermath of war. I am beginning to comprehend what living a life of faith and hope might look like. The Burundians I have met choose to live in this way, praising God for the miracles they see occurring everyday. Miracles like a working vehicle to travel for ministry, three new cows to provide milk for the orphanage, food on the table everyday and vision for the future of God’s people in Burundi.
My first day in this country I was welcomed by my new Burundian family into a life very different than the one I had been living just the day before. I was taken to my new home near the center of Bujumbura, the capital city that is home to 1 million people. The city is crowded, but where I am staying it is quiet with tropical green surrounding my home, including an avocado tree in the backyard. After it rains, the mountains can be seen in the distance, a deep blue-gray that invites me to come and climb. I inquired about hiking, but the rebels have had camps in the mountains during the war, and while the war is over, my family has advised me to exercise caution for the meantime. I suppose hiking can wait. After dropping off my things I was taken to a crocodile and snake farm, where I gained both courage and wisdom: courage in the art of overcoming fear, and wisdom as I declined an invitation to grab the tail of one particularly large crocodile. I firmly believe some risks are just not necessary. While getting to know the crocs, I met Simon Guillebaud, a missionary from the UK that has been in Burundi for almost 8 years. He has been a great blessing to these people during his time here and I think he will also be a blessing to me while I navigate this new African culture as a Westerner.
In the evening, there was a welcome/farewell party for my arrival and the departure of four South African volunteers. It was complete with a concert of traditional Burundian drummers. How cool!! They wore traditional robes in their national colors: green red and white, and they performed with these huge drums balanced on their heads! When Burundian boys are young, they learn this tradition of drumming, and it is performed at most special occasions in Burundian culture. During the performance, my host father, Freddy informed me that the drumming was a way Burundians can share themselves completely, welcoming me to be one of their people. What a tremendous honor. I have never felt so welcomed anywhere.
This week has been a time to get to know my new family, the staff at YFC, and this new city and culture I am attempting to blend into. Blending in has been one of the more difficult tasks. On a three day trip to Gitega, the town where YFC is building an orphanage, I heard shouts of “Muzungu!”, or “white person!” everywhere we went. Gitega does not get as many muzungus as Bujumbura, so I stand out like a sore thumb. My attempts to blend in include learning three languages. I have spent extra morning and evening hours reading through my old French books and studying the Kirundi and Swahili that my family has graciously been teaching me. I am learning every moment of everyday. This new life is like one giant classroom for me! My family speaks English quite well which has been a great blessing to me in this time of transition.
Freddy and Josee are my host father and mother, and are also the founders of Youth For Christ- Burundi. Freddy is a pastor that was trained at the Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa and has a heart for God’s people in the heart of Africa. He was drawn to the vision of Youth For Christ to reach the youth of Africa, to raise up leaders who will love and serve and create a more hopeful future for this continent. I could not have asked for a better family to live with these next five months. They have welcomed me in and made me a partner in their lives and their work. With each new day I learn more about their culture, their values, their humor and their joy in the Lord. Thank you for everyone who prayed for my family here! God is listening.
This past Monday, I traveled with Freddy and another YFC volunteer to Gitega where YFC has begun to build an orphanage campus. Gitega is breathtaking, and the orphanage is being built on beautiful farming land on the hillside, nestled in the middle of a mountain range. The country is beautiful, but the poverty is deep. There are many orphans in this country. These children have lost their parents to war and to AIDS and there is a great need to care for this generation that could carry so much hope, if we allow them to. So far, two buildings have gone up and there are 8 orphans living with their “Aunt” Felicite. In my next post I will tell you the story of some of these orphans. Seeing the heart that Freddy and YFC has for this orphanage, I am reassured that God has not forgotten his children in Africa. The vision for the land in Gitega is to build 13 more homes for the orphans, as well as a primary school and health clinic to serve the orphans and the surrounding community. The vision is big, but we serve a God that cannot be contained, and Freddy has great faith that God will provide where there is need. There is great need here, so we pray and expect God to move in a great way.
Family and friends at home: I cannot thank you enough for enabling me to take this journey to the heart of Africa, closer to the heart of God. I am not on this journey alone because you, God’s people, have partnered with me. Let us be in prayer together for Burundi. There is much pain and much hope. I believe we can be the hands of hope if we open our hearts.
I am finding my place, my purpose, my path here in Burundi. Please continue to pray for me as my journey is just beginning!
With Peace and Grace,
Christine Merle
