Africa: Mon--Kirundo to Bujumbura

February 19, 2007

Today we traveled from Kirundo, in Northern Burundi to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi and Doug and Deanna’s home. En-route we stopped in Mutaho. This is the small village that last year’s team visited. This is also the place where many are suffering from malnutrition.

It was heart-breaking to see the conditions. Many of the children were missing school because of sickness. It was obvious that even those that were present were suffering. We had purchased some biscuits to distribute during our visit, and they have planned another distribution at the end of February. This distribution will provide many families with food for a month and seeds for planting. Some families will be receiving hoes as well.

There is such a sense of helplessness. It seems to be an impossible situation, with so many interconnected issues. The lack of food, the deforestation, the malnutrition, the lack of education and the economic challenges are all interwoven into a complex set of issues. Where should relief work begin, how can we as a part of the body of Christ, with so many resources, help those who are suffering? What is God’s call on our lives, and what is God calling us to do?

These are questions that we will need to continue to wrestle with, trusting God to lead us and give us wisdom. It is so helpful to have Doug and Deanna on site, to guide and to make us aware of situations that we can get involved in. Let’s continue to be open to God’s leading as He calls us to use the resources He has entrusted to us in order to help others in need.