The southernmost headwaters of the Nile flow from a spring on Mt. Kikizi in Burundi (https://www.britannica.com/place/Kagera-River#ref1). There is a small pyramid near the site, marking the continental divide. Water that flows down the eastern side feeds the Nile, and water that flows down the western side goes into the Congo River and eventually to the Atlantic. Over our 19 years in Burundi, we have enjoyed taking visitors to see the site to enjoy the breathtaking vista.
As we move into 2025, the country of Burundi, Discovery School, and the group of 176 Emmanuel Churches that we work with all seem to be figuratively standing beside that little pyramid facing watershed moments. Much prayer is needed.
Burundi is in the midst of a long-standing and severe fuel shortage, which has had major ripple effects including skyrocketing food prices and reduced availability of goods and services. Many families are struggling even to put one good meal a day on the table. Add to this the war in neighboring Congo, which at any moment could spill over into Burundi, and the tension is palpable. Please pray for peace and for relief.
Discovery School, the Christian school for Burundian children that we founded in 2008 and where Joy is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, has been struggling with this transportation issue. Over 40%
of the more than 1550 students ride the bus to school. Each night there is an announcement of whether the buses will run or not the next day depending on whether we have been able to get fuel.
Pray that even though many students are missing lessons on a regular basis, the teachers will be able to communicate the essentials needed for them to pass required examinations. We praise the Lord for the amazing dedication of the teachers who keep coming to work despite the reduced availability of public transport. Pray that the Lord will send godly Burundian teachers to fill upcoming needs in Physics, Bible, and English.
In the midst of this, the Emmanuel Church leaders were asked to consider opening a new branch of Discovery School near Gitega, Burundi's second-largest city, to meet a significant need for a high-quality, English-based Christian primary school. After prayerfully considering the move, they asked us to go ahead. The Emmanuel Churches are currently planting a church in Gitega, and our hope is that the two new works would go hand in hand. Ground was broken just a month ago on the new site, which actually ended up being close enough to one side of Gitega that students from Rutana, another large city, should also be able to attend. Pray with us for the building process. Pray that this new primary school will soon be self-sustaining financially like its counterpart in Bujumbura and continue for many years evangelizing students and their families, building the capacity for Biblical literacy, and training students up in a Biblical worldview—in short, graduating students who are Rooted in Christ and Ready for Tomorrow (the DS vision statement).
The opening of a new branch is both exciting and challenging… but most pressing on our hearts is that all the Emmanuel Church projects including Discovery School are under threat because of an unjust challenge to the churches' by-laws. Please pray for truth and justice to prevail, and that the Lord will keep godly, wise people in critical leadership positions.
We are thankful we serve the King of the floods! He spoke to the waters and "they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them" (Psalm 104: 8). He knows exactly on which side of the continental divide the waters belong, and He is in control!
Thank you for standing with us through your prayers.
In Him,
Jesse, Joy, Zach, Micah, and Elliot
