View in a web browser Dear Friends and Family,                                                                Nov. 10, 2018 Ever had to move?  I have moved house eleven different times, and that's not counting moving in and out of high school and college dorm rooms each semester. Each time, I relied on other people to help me carry the heavy bits.  I've also been on the other end-- our offer to help a new couple move into their first South Carolina home resulted in a wonderful, lasting friendship. All this has been on my mind since some amazing folks from Cincinnati are driving a U-Haul full of donations for Discovery School down to Florida this week to put onto the container that will be heading over the ocean to Burundi in January.  Such a gift!  The time, the cost, the effort... I'm sure they announced the project and other people pitched in to help load the trailer, as well, and they probably did it in broad daylight.   Daylight might seem like the obvious choice to you, but Burundians see it another way--  they usually move in the dark to preserve their privacy. Obviously, they don't call U-haul.  Instead, they rent a squat pickup , have furniture put on the back of a bicycle, or simply carry things on their heads.  Even though they try to move in secret, the truth remains-- they still have to ask for help.  None of us can carry massive burdens over long distances alone!  Perseverance ... No matter where we live and work, there are things that are hard to carry... things we need other people to help us with. In fact, we chose "Practicing Perseverance" as this year's Discovery School theme, as a continuation of the good work begun under last year's theme of "Reaching for Excellence."  Already, it has proved more apt than we had anticipated as the beginning of this school year has already required an ample dose of perseverance. We are thankful for a solid Burundian team, you all, and some new short term missionaries to face the challenges alongside us.      What do you mean?  What challenges?   Over the summer, while we were on our whirlwind 8-week trip around the US, our Burundian administrative director bought some chairs for the school, not knowing that they were stolen. When he realized the chairs were stolen property, he turned them in to the police himself, and helped to identify the rightful owners.  However, this is a poor country, and the owners saw an opportunity.  They claimed damages of twice as many chairs as he had really purchased.  Since the man who actually stole the chairs could not be found, our director was jailed for two nights and then the school had to pay for all of the fictitious "lost" chairs as well as losing money on the stolen chairs that were returned...  As this amounted to hundreds of chairs, it was a very expensive loss, and the director was also quite traumatized. (Pic of director Lucien and his wife). As a result, several things fell through the cracks, and the building contractor went into debt with many suppliers while continuing construction on rooms not needed until next year instead of finishing this year's rooms.  Lucien suddenly noticed this just before we got back and took an interdepartmental loan to finish what was needed for this year, though even that was too little, too late.  So, instead of returning to finished rooms ready to go, we returned to a bit of chaos and a large debt. Four of this year's six new rooms still do not have doors or windows, and we weren't able to finish painting the hallway or the stairwell. (First and second pics of children & teachers near unfinished rooms at recess; Third pic unfinished multipurpose room).   Three months later, the consequences of this problem continue to hamper operations. Needing money for debt repayment means that there are no longer funds available to enrich lessons with extra materials.  Students are experiencing fewer science experiments, we don't allow edible math manipulatives anymore, we can't make special costumes for the Christmas choir, and all field trips have been cancelled, among other things. Thankfully, daily learning is still taking place for 1200 students, and teacher morale is good.  We would appreciate prayers for justice (an arrest warrant has been issued for the real thief, if he can be found), prayers for comfort for the director, and extra provision for the school to make up this loss.   Speaking of loss, we are still keenly feeling the gap left by two families of close friends that moved away from Burundi this summer and floundering a bit to find our way in the new reality of life on the ground here. In addition to this, with the addition of a third campus (HOORAY!) and the realization that, for a variety of reasons, we need to submit all documents to apply for international accreditation by March 1 of this year (we were originally planning on next year), Jesse and I have found ourselves in over our heads with administrative tasks. Tracking receipts for grant reports, making sure the info on the school website stays up-to-date, creating brochures and letterhead, responding to all correspondence in a timely fashion, etc…, etc...   Playground & preschool rooms @ Campus 2- Kanyosha      We need someone to come alongside us who has mad organizational skills (and some computer skills, too). It would be ideal to have someone relocate here, but the job could also be done by someone who made periodic visits to get the lay of the land and then kept up with things via computer from abroad.  Let us know if you would like to know more specifics.   Preschool @ Campus 3- Kindindo Encouragement on the journey Thankfully, God has provided wonderful people to help in other areas already.  Joy N. has taken the load of the special education program, and Emma is overseeing the primary school Christmas play as well as teaching grade 5 and helping with teacher coaching.  Scott and Jolene have arrived to help teach English to the teachers. Also, Dr. Lou R. from SC has graciously offered to help proofread documents and share his expertise as we work through the accreditation process.  I am so relieved to have someone to give us advice! The fact that God ordained our meeting with Lou and his wife even before we knew we needed accreditation this year is a wonderful reminder that He goes before us and is preparing the way. (Pic @ right is Zach helping Emma hold a snake; Pic below is Joy N. with us @ local cafe).     Pray with us for His continued provision of finances, friends, and practical assistance as needed.  Meanwhile, pray for us, Emma, Joy N., Scott, Jolene, and the Discovery School staff, that we "will not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" the way that the guy in the lower tunnel did! Thank YOU for persevering in your prayers for us! In Him Jesse, Joy, Zach, Micah, and Elliot Johnson Mailing address: Discovery School Burundi, 7 Ave. Bukiriro, Bujumbura, Burundi US Address c/o Joy Johnson 2890 Huckleberry Hill Dr., Fort Mill, SC, 29715, US Unsubscribe from future emails.