Thursday-Saturday We are finally here......
It’s is SO good to be back in Burundi! We arrived safely in Bujumbura Wednesday
night Burundi time. A slight drizzle in
the air made it a welcome, cooler arrival as we settled into our “home away
from home” where we will be for the next 10 days. Friday morning we went to
Homecare Center, anticipating a joyous reconnection with our dear sisters. We are overlapping a few days with our Tirzah
team from CA and FL, who were already at the center, so we quietly entered during
a time of prayer. But once the prayer
was finished, the jubilant welcome began!!
Singing, dancing, hugging…….yes, we are at Homecare!!
Testimonies began. It
is always so amazing to see that these women cannot help but praise God for His
marvelous work; they can’t refrain from sharing all He has done! We listened, heard their hearts, and joined
in with a response of sheer gratitude.
The anticipation of graduation fills the air. They are SO excited, so
filled with pride of accomplishment. We
couldn’t wait for Friday.
Friday, graduation day, is finally here! It was held at the Anglican center where we
had it last year, and it is a lovely venue for such an occasion. One section filled with the graduates, with
another whole section filled with special guests, friends and encouragers who
came to celebrate with and for them, we joined with the teachers, former
graduates and even some who will be entering into the program in the new
session. Peace opened the program with
prayer and thanksgiving. I had the honor
of sharing a word from Is. 61 that the Lord prompted me to share about our
redemption, renewal and being a new creature, the same portion that Jesus
quoted as the reason He came. There were
several testimonies from students, then a wonderful skit with different
students portraying staff members and dramatizing what it is like for a student
to go through the process of coming to Homecare. They had that down pat! Then dancing, always with interludes of
singing led by precious Mary. The time
came for presenting their diplomas. As
each woman came forward, it was a time of recognition of personal achievement,
but most of all, the going forth of a new found confidence based on who they
are in Jesus, encouraged, equipped and looking forward to all He has for
them. BEAUTIFUL! What a joy and privilege to share this
important moment with them!
Today, Saturday, we went to the Swedish Mission where we
will have the staff retreat starting Monday.
We’ve never seen this place before, so didn’t know what to
anticipate. As we drove through a gate
and followed the road lined by mimosa-like trees, we all gasped at the same
time! Getting out of the car, laid out
before us, was a seeming oasis filled with beautiful trees, flowers, with
butterflies flitting from one bush to another.
A refreshing breeze was flowing off Lake Tanganyika, filled with the
fragrance of plumbego blooms. We all
felt a collective “Ah,” a sensation of
being in an intimate, sacred place. What
a beautiful gift the Lord has provided for this most special group of
women! We toured the facilities and felt
such a confirmation that this was indeed His plan, place, and confidence that His
blessings will flow next week. We are
excited!!
So now we prepare for the upcoming week, look forward to
what is always a highlight of being in Burundi, worshiping at Life Center
Church tomorrow. We are so thankful to
be here, encouraged, expectant, and anticipating amazing things next week.
From what we have gleaned, the CA and FL team has had an
amazing time here. They will head back
to the US tomorrow, and we’re thankful that they have had the opportunity to
connect with this amazing group of women, hear their hearts, and experience
Burundi. An experience they will not
forget!
Thank you for all your prayers for our preparation, travel
here and first wonderful days. Please
pray for next week. It is going to be a
time of deep spiritual exploration, soul searching, as well as a time of rest,
refreshment…….and fun. They will be full
days, so please pray for physical, emotional and spiritual strength for each of
us, that God will prepare all our hearts and minds so that we are ready for all
He has for us. We know it will be
glorious!!
Jo Lynn. Micki, Robyn and Diane
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