Stop and Consider

"If I left now, after only three days, I would have had enough experiences to make this trip worthwhile.  I want to explain it all to my family, but I just don't know where to begin!"  (Joel, at breakfast on his fourth morning in Burundi)
 
"I don't think I can pick a highlight-- there's just so much variety-- I've loved it all."  (Karleen, when asked to pick a highlight of the last three weeks)
 
Even after growing up in African and living here in Burundi for three years, we still struggle to put our experiences here into words.  So I thought this time I'd just share some snapshots and list some moments from the last few weeks (all since my last little note) and maybe you can start to imagine it…

 

   Micah celebrating feeling better.

  Having Discovery Preschool teachers over for a meal and a first aid class taught by Karleen.
 
    Joel teaching a cooking lesson at the Discovery Preschool.

  Karleen teaching first aid to the kids. (This is what happens when you sneeze without covering your mouth...)

 
  Giving end of year "exams" at the Discovery Preschool.
 
   Watching the Burundi drummers practice at Bujumbura's little zoo,

 

   and then having the leopard tear a hole in my skirt on the way out.  

 
 Jesse preaching at an open air evangelistic meeting.
 
Responding to an emergency call from one of the preschool teachers whose only child was very sick.   Picking their little family up as they walked through town towards the mission clinic at 11pm. (Sorry no picture . . .)
 
  Shade-tree mechanics (hopefully not SHADY tree mechanics!!) are working on the car, which is supposed to be ready for a long trip in 2 weeks! 
 
Teaching a prenatal class with Karleen-- trying my hand at translating (sorry, no picture . . .). 
 
  Feeling very disappointed when we found out that plans for a Canadian teacher to come and help at the Discovery School next year fell through-- any other volunteers?  If you can speak English, love cute kids like these, and are brave enough to come to Africa, you are qualified!  
 
  Going on a trip with the film team to show evangelistic films at a struggling assembly in the northwest--

   Here we were just beginining to set up.  Over 1500 people saw the films and 35 came to know the Lord as a result! 

  On the way home we stopped to attend a meeting at a different assembly-- Jesse got a chance to preach.

 and we were also there to watch as 34 new believers were baptized!!!

  Dealing with the aftermath of the film trip -- since the assembly was so small we had to take along food for the team-- 12 of us in all.  Thankfully we had lots of help!

Praying God will provide the money needed for car repairs, for retreats for various ministry teams, and a new property to house an assembly camp and retreat center-- we have found a possible location with three houses already built but in need of repair and are prayerfully inquiring about whether the owner would be willing to sell, and if so for how much. 

 

   (The pictures show two of the houses and the area of the country they are located in).

Hope you can see the pictures well and enjoy glimpsing some of the many facets of God's work here!  As I think of all God is doing all over the world, Job 37 comes to mind:  God thunders wonderously with His voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend (vs. 5)...STOP AND CONSIDER THE WONDROUS WORKS OF GOD (vs.14b-- the Discovery School's theme verse). 
Praise Him!  Joy