Allen 12-24-13

One weekend, Jen and I traveled to Bujumbura to attend Allen's college graduation.  Allen has been studying psychology.  For his degree, he had to give a thesis presentation.  He got a 92%, which is one of the highest grades on thesis presentations at his university.  Way to go, Alex!



For his graduation, there were of course...Fantas and speeches.

Allen speaking with Gloria interpreting it into English.

Allen speaking with Gloria interpreting it into English.

Allen seated up front in Burundian fashion with his family.

Allen's Bible Study from church sang a song during the celebration.

Allen is Burundian and has become a good friend to us missionaries serving at the school.  He lives in Bujumbura and has spent most of his life in Burundi.  During the civil war in the 1990's, his family lived in the Congo.


Allen travels to Gitega most weeks, and leads worship during chapel.  He speaks English, French and Kirundi well, and interprets during chapel.  Recently, some of the students have been interpreting as well.

The chapel team.

But...more important than his talents with music, language... Allen has one of the biggest hearts for God that I have seen.  I have been blessed to have him as a friend, and will miss him when I return home.

A part from his studies, Allen volunteers with Youth for Christ and helps support his family.  Last week, Allen traveled to Rwanda.  A child fell onto some hot stones or coals used for cooking.  With sponsorship I believe mainly from Greatlakes Outreach, Allen, the child and the child's mother traveled to Rwanda to receive specialized medical treatment for burn victims.  The child will probably need a number of plastic surgeries, and may never be completely healed, but it's a start.  The mother has 8 children, and feels badly about the accident. Please pray for the family during this time.

Activities 12-10-13

One Friday afternoon I was standing outside of the classrooms.  School was over.  I was getting ready to spin jumpropes when when a student came up to me.  He asked, "Do you have cheese?"  I looked at him confused and said, "The food??? No, I don't have cheese."  Then the student drew squares on the ground.  "Oh!  You mean chess!"  So, I opened my large, black duffel bag with activities for students, gave him a chess board and pieces, then wrote his name down in my notebook.

On Friday afternoons, or sometimes during weeks with holidays, I do activities with the kids.  It can get pretty crazy sometimes.  When there's time, I've taught some of them chess and chinese checkers.  Sometimes we also push four tables together and play ping pong.  When the weather is good, they can play badminton.  There's never enough time to finish the 500 piece puzzle that I brought, but maybe someday it will happen.  This past week, they really enjoyed the Popular Science magazine. I get asked questions like, "Is that real?"  or "Can I make that?"

It shouldn't be a surprise that the ping pongs bust, badminton birdies get lost or racquets get broken strings, but it's not bad.  I check equipment and games out to the kids like a library system.  They have done a pretty good job at bringing things back.  After four months, all the decks of cards I've loaned out are beat up, but still complete! I'm hoping that when I'm gone, someone will be willing to take care of things so the students can continue to do the activities. 

The past two weeks, I've let them borrow my tablet.  This is a picture of them watching the movie "The Italian Job."  Although they like it, I should probably change it so they can use the tablet only to help learn English.

Originally, the people that were the most interested in playing chess were the girls.  :)  Sometimes, they will play checkers with the chess pieces.

Playing cards

Puzzle

Church Visit 12-01-13

On one of my trips to the capital city, Bujumbura, I met a man in my cab.  His name was Leonard, and he was a pastor at a church in Gitega.  He's a joyful person, enthusiastic about God, English, and helping his community.

I woke up Sunday morning, and decided to take up Leonard's invitation to go to his church.  Although I typed up worship slides for school chapel late Saturday evening, I decided to go.  I would miss a couple of my favorite worship songs at chapel, but I was confident Hanna and Sam could handle things without me.  

The church was in town and wasn't by school.  So, to get there I caught a ride with the kids from the children's home.  I think if everyone started the day in a packed bus with 37 kids singing worship songs, the world would be probably be a better place.

Back of the bus.

The children's home father dropped me off at the church.  It was near the main road, and thankfully wasn't hard to find.  Leonard ran up to the bus, and escorted me inside.  I told him not to treat me special, anymore than any other guest, but he sat me up front by the main pastor!  I knew that was a possibility.  It's tough being inconspicuous here when you are white.

 

Church sanctuary

The church service was three and a half hours long.  It's typical that church services are longer in Africa.  Leonard interpreted for me sometimes, and other times a man playing the keyboard interpreted for me.  He was an English teacher at a primary school.  There were not a lot of long talks, which was nice.  There was a lot of music!  Different groups in the church lead songs.  Songs were lead by kids, mothers, men, the youth, and the worship team.  I didn't know the songs, but I did know one...they played Rock of Ages in Kirundi. Below is a video of one of the songs.  Leonard is playing the keyboard.