Dear Friends and Family,
For quite some time now, I've been stymied about how to write a newsletter that can even begin to put into words the many, many, many things going on here in Burundi. So, since a picture is worth a thousand words, I finally decided I'd give you a tour of… wait for it…
JOHNSON'S 
RT GALLERY
*all drawings courtesy of Discovery School
Christmas pARTies
Our Discovery School Christmas program was a success, from the scripture verses memorized, to the songs sung, to the pageant, to the traditional dances, to the Christmas goodies we distributed...
We praise God for this chance to reach out and share the gospel with the families of our students. More than 700 parents were in attendance.
We had Christmas parties at home, too. Some friends came over to make gingerbread houses... Yum!
stART of the Discovery School expansion project
Two new preschool classrooms are in progress behind the current preschool building. They will have half walls on the front so that they will be open and airy despite being so close to another building.
We have also started the first step in a huge long-term project-- the first two classrooms of a proposed 21 room three story building are going up. We praise God for his provision thus far.
The picture above is architect's rendering of what the new building will look like (in 5-7 years hopefully?) Pray for ongoing provision for the school as it seeks to expand to meet the needs of our students! They love their school and we love them! This is what the second graders think Discovery School looks like...
pARTnering with local believers
An organization called Accounting for International Development has sent out a volunteer to help train Ismael (the Discovery School accountant), and Aloys (the deaf & blind schools accountant) in Quick Books. Jesse will help facilitate the training and will also go through the training—though accounting is not his thing. Getting all the accounting into internationally acceptable form is a daunting task but a very important one for demonstrating financial transparency and accountability. This will be a major time commitment for Jesse over the next three months. Here are Ismael and Jesse working in the Discovery School office...
Another of Jesse's primary responsibilities is serving on the executive committee that oversees the assemblies' joint social outreach, Bible training, and evangelism initiatives. This leadership role has been both challenging and rewarding. The committee prayerfully makes important decisions regarding the future direction of these ministries, oversees their day to day administration, and troubleshoots as needed. These ministries include the Kigobe Health Center, the community –based rehabilitation program for the disabled, the Schools for the Deaf and Blind, the Timothy Bible School, the Emmaus Correspondence School, and the Discovery School. Please pray for continued wisdom for Jesse and the six other Burundian men that serve together in this capacity.
The Bible School committee will meet this month to plan the upcoming February session. Pray that God clearly guides and that Jesse will have the strength and energy to chair this committee in addition to everything else on his plate.
Things fall apART
The needs remain great, but our God is able! We have had some major storms this rainy season and two church buildings were completely destroyed last month. Apparently the walls collapsed in high winds with rain, and the trusses and roofing are all twisted up. Thankfully no one was injured or killed as it happened in the evening when the building was empty. The folks at Maramvya are quite discouraged as it took them over 5 years to build and they only completed it about 6 months ago. Jesse went to see the damage there and to pray with the believers, who have already started rebuilding.
The Lord continues to prosper His work despite the difficulties: One Sunday in December Jesse spoke at a different rural assembly that had been inaccessible by road for over 15 years (near the beginning of the war). This area was severely affected during the war. There was even a massacre of over 400 civilians killed in one day right in that area back in 2002. Our vehicle was the first to drive to the assembly in 15 years since the road reopened recently. He was pleased to find a thriving assembly, with over 300 people, not including the active Sunday School with 140 children. Jesse had had the privilege of teaching one of the elders (Mr. Renovat) from this assembly, when he was a student at the Timothy Bible school, so it was great to see where he is serving the Lord. It was a good reminder that the Lord is at work even when we don't know about it or see it.
sweetheARTs
Zach has been healthy for three weeks straight, and has put back two of the pounds that he lost around Thanksgiving. Here he is playing at the pool with Uncle Stevie.
Zach wasn't the only one who enjoyed having Jesse's parents and brother Steven here with us for Christmas and New Year's. Here's Micah with Grandma.
Micah is enjoying studying reptiles in school. Yesterday he helped Zach think of the French word Zach needed for his homework! It's hard to believe how quickly kids learn new languages.
Elliot is being two—completely cute especially with his talking (I need you to pway wif me NOW, Zachawiyah! Or "let's sing joy down in my heart. Now wonderfwul luv of my bwessed redeemwer!) and also testing his limits at every turn.
The next adventure in the works is driving to Rwanda for a few days in February for dental work. Pray they are all brave enough to open their mouths!
pART of a team
We are thrilled that God is beginning to answer our prayers to bring other missionaries to help us in the work here.
Some have already arrived! Jesse's brother Danny and his family moved here four months ago and are planning to spend at least two years with us. Danny is focusing on animal husbandry, agricultural projects, and Bible teaching.
Some are in the preparation phase! Pray for Sonja and Jeremy Bassett, who are planning to move here long term starting in January 2014. Jeremy is an all-around handy man who loves teaching the Bible, and Sonja has training as an office manager and is interested in discipling young ladies. Another young lady named Amy, a teacher (with experience!!) is considering joining our team for the 2013-2014 school year.
Some are here short term! Meghan and Rachel from Boulevard Bible Chapel arrived two weeks ago and will stay for three months. Meghan is teaching second grade at Discovery School, and Rachel is teaching art and helping start a speech therapy program. Praise the Lord for His provision! Below are a second grader's rendition of Meghan teaching and a pic of the girls together. Rachel is on the right.
"take heART. I have overcome the world!"
As we seek to serve the Lord, in all the exciting and exhausting things going on, it is easy to get overwhelmed, and we know that many of you feel the same way with everything that is happening in your lives. "Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted…" We are so thankful for the promise that "they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:30-31
Thanking the Lord for you,
Jesse, Joy, Zach, Micah, and Elliot Johnson
To see more pictures of the Discovery School building and Christmas program go to: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Discovery-School-Burundi/285766348117336
