Month: November 2018

15 DAYS

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Getting Settled

I’ve been in Burundi now for 15 days.  I praise our Everlasting Father for the two families on the ground in Bujumbura for providing me guidance and assistance to get settled. They were hard at work before I landed to secure an “apartment” where I could stay.  I’m blessed to have a space where I can retreat and be comfortable.  The apartment came fully furnished along with pots and pans, silverware, dishes, knives, and some kitchen appliances.  For me to already have some of these major items is very helpful; I don’t have to worry about setting up an entire kitchen and I can add items as I need.

Up to this point I spend most of my time with my teammates (Hiebert and Schulz families).  They have been my guides at the onset.  We’ve shared meals, visited friends, visited the school and clinic in Muramvya, attended a cultural celebration event at one of the churches, run errands in the city (the traffic “rules” are startling), opened a bank account, and set-up my cell phone.  With their help I’ve looked at several options to continue language learning.  I recently met with a French conversation partner and we will look to form a regular schedule.  He is from Burundi and I am hopeful to learn culture and history from him as well as language.

My second floor apartment
Courtyard view from apartment veranda
Living room and kitchen area of my apartment
School in Muramvya
School picture day

Health

I’ve still got a lingering wispy cough from my flu bug in Europe.  Otherwise, I feel great!!  I’m sleeping peacefully and have energy for the day.  The climate has been temperate with rain showers every other day.  My apartment is breezy which keeps me cool on clear, sunny, warm days.

Breakfast; yogurt with fresh fruit, bread with honey, and coffee

Spiritual Posture

Two themes have been my focus since I landed; a positive attitude and childlike wonder.

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT) says, “let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” As I try to understand my new surroundings with many, many foreign things I want to be positive in how I respond. I want to avoid negative thoughts and words about how things are done (or not done) here in Burundi.  Things may move slower or less efficient (in my eyes) and I simply want to embrace this way of life.  It doesn’t matter if we do it differently in North America; that’s not where I’m at.  I am mindful of my words and actions and want to look for how God is involved in EVERYthing.

The Gospels overlap several stories of Jesus’ teachings regarding children.  His lessons of humility speak to me here as I daily surrender my independence, knowledge, and pride.  I continuously remind myself, “I’m learning how to walk.  I’m starting over.”  I am truly like a child; I don’t speak well, I don’t know how things work, and I don’t know where things are located.  It is frustrating when I feel like I should be ‘doing something’ but I can’t connect the dots for how to ‘do something.’  I then step back and let God teach me.  I listen for how He might be inviting me to get involved.

MOVING

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Where I’ve Been

I am finished with language immersion in France.  I finished two months of classes at the language school and I feel like I can manage simple French conversation.  I have a good base and I hope to continue with language study in Burundi.  General conversation is still fast but I can pull out some words and in most cases get a basic understanding of what is being said.  God blessed me with a knowledgable and supportive host family.  I am forever grateful to them for their patience, hospitality, acceptance, and for cutting me off from English on Day 5 (whoa!).  I pray someday we can meet and I can hold up my end of the French conversation and we can laugh again like we did in that house.

A day trip to Paris to visit friends. Can you believe this view?? What an apartment!!
(anybody know how to edit the Scaffolding Tower out of this pic–dang)
Ma famille française! Parfait!

After France, I spent 5 days in Estoril, Portugal for a retreat with my organization.  It was a great time to connect with others out in the field.  I got to catch up with some of my colleagues from training in the fall of 2017.  I enjoyed spending time with the families from Burundi and I look forward to joining them.  I was also encouraged to see multiple connectors to my home church.  It was a good feeling to see our congregation in support of mission work and to see familiar faces from home.

Portugal just flat showing off here.
Portugal

From there I traveled to western Germany to visit dear friends from my early days in Wichita.  We explored the region with a few day trips and experienced local cuisine and landmarks.  We laughed at the odds of us reuniting again in Europe all these years later.  Who would have believed it??

Looking to fit in.
Brussels day trip
Of course we had the waffles! With Nutella and bananas please.

After that I traveled by train through Germany and Switzerland.  I wish I could tell you stories of all the people I met and the things I saw, but along the way I caught the flu bug which forced me to retreat and recharge.  I never thought I’d get sick BEFORE I got to Africa.  I’m not sure what God has in this but I’ve had to slow down and rest.

Zurich, Switzerland
I highly recommend the Halls cough drops. “A pep talk in every drop.” Where the Oelzes at???

Where I’m Going

I’ve got a plane ticket out of Geneva, Switzerland to Bujumbura, Burundi (that’s another one-way ticket) on November 12.  The families there have been working hard to ensure I have a smooth transition.  They already secured a furnished apartment for me with a 6-month lease.  It is comforting to know I have a place to settle into once I get there.  I’ll then search for options to further language learning, find a vehicle, and get to know the area.

And then I’ll be living in Africa (pffffftttt)…