tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579679700674266272024-03-13T21:45:48.914+02:00Paul and Rebecca Mosley in BurundiPaul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.comBlogger290125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-54627622302354398902014-08-07T18:52:00.000+02:002014-09-07T09:42:06.650+02:00#290 The Final Chapter -- Debriefing and Re-Entry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Grandpas and Cousin Gabriel meeting us at the airport in Baltimore. Other pictures are from our time in Europe.</i><br />
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Although I was hoping to reach 300, it is quite astounding for me to see the body of written work I have created in nearly weekly installments about the
events of the past 6 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I treated
the task as a ‘spiritual discipline,’ a public journal to allow others to share
in the experience of a North American Christian family working and living
in a small Francophone African country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am thankful for the grace to have been able to complete it from
beginning to end.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While there is much that I was not able to say in a public
forum -- indeed some of our most difficult struggles are left unmentioned -- I do
feel pleased that I was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>able to
create some narrative unity in the experience we had there, including some of
the true highlights and challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Not surprisingly, the reflections chronicle changes in me more than anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The zeal for
going out and doing something like this is not the same impulse that makes
creating life and community as an ex-pat. a sustainable reality.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As far as value, the blog did serve as a useful distraction if
nothing else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even during hard times, on a bad
day, I could take some small solace in being able to retell our woes on the
blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In more practical ways, quite a few people who were moving to Burundi found the blog and even became friends; a few others made connections to our partners and started to support projects. All of these were unexpected positive
outcomes.</div>
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I hope in the future, it can become meaningful for our
children to read when they are older and want to understand who we were as
parents, and a family when they were young.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I admit, I have found myself frequently re-reading old
entries to remember not only the event, but the creative<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>re-telling of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I read two books on the way home, one was Wallace Stegner’s
<i>Angle of Repose</i>, the other was Yann Martel’s <i>Life of Pi</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are in no way similar, but both do deal
with the theme of ‘re-telling’ events to bring out or perhaps create meaning,
understanding, hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I do not
consider myself a writer in any serious way, I do feel the deep joy
of ‘telling’ our story and somehow enobling the ordinary, raising it, modestly,
to the level of myth or legend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
there is an honest, and a dishonest way of doing this, and I hope I did this
with integrity, not confusing story-telling with lying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To put on the final chapter:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have completed our two week break between departure and re-entry
which we spent in several places in Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The primary reason for stopping there was to participate in an official
debriefing, run by an organization called <a href="https://www.lerucher.org/" target="_blank">Le Rucher</a>, which prepares
missionaries and long-term workers for return back to their home
countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although they specialize in
trauma and crisis situations (ex: hostage-taking or death of a team member) they also do
general counseling for missionaries returning after a long absence to one’s home culture, a process which has complications of its own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Our European soujourn began in Zurich where we spent a
night at the home of a friend of Rebecca from grade school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caroline and her family welcomed us to spend
a night there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The condominium was the beautiful perfection of Danish modern
décor. In fact, I finally truly understood the real appeal of IKEA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every square inch of the place was
white except the blond wood floors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
the piano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beds were covered
with a single duvet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very simple, yet elegant. The 4 floor walk up gave us a nice view out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The neighborhood was quaint and the public
transportation was incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We left at noon the next day to travel by train to Stuttgart,
Germany where we spent 4 days with Tanja and Stefan Hoffman and their three
boys Silas, Nils, and Luis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were
some fellow missionaries who were in Burundi for 5 of the six years we were
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nils was one of Oren’s classmates during the entire time. Their family had returned home to Germany last summer and we really missed them. It was really nice to see them again, and to talk about the realities of re-entry that they have already experienced -- a bit of peer counseling, maybe. </div>
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We did some outings and hikes in the area
around where they live. They live in a
village outside of Stuttgart in which every tree is a fruit tree—plum, apple,
peach, cherry. You could just walk
around and pick a fruit to munch on the way.
We visited a castle in part of the old city.</div>
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For Rebecca and I, a highlight was being able to swim in a
fabulous pool every morning while their kids were in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an incredible public pool facility
a short walk from their house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had 5
pools and several water slides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of
the pools was a 50 meter lap pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
water was so shimmering clear -- you could see from one corner to the far corner! -- and the people swam in such an orderly way that
it was almost intimidating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
being used to swimming in an opaque pool in Burundi where people swim
somewhat haphazardly, this was too good to be true. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We were able to swim 3 of the days we were there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren loved the water slides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David found the water too cold much of the
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The water was not cold but the
air is much cooler and drier than Burundi.)</div>
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We left them on Sunday and headed by train to Geneva for our
debriefing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The location of the debriefing
was in a small town (Cessy) just outside Geneva across the border in
France.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone from the center picked
us up at the airport train station and took us there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The accommodations at the Le Rucher center were comfortable,
on a large property in the countryside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a view of the Alps and Mt. Blanc right in front of us (although mostly hidden by clouds).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food was also very provincial including
many cheeses and other dairy products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My favorite was a gigantic bowl of crème fraiche that was brought out
for us to share every morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was one other family there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were German with 3 kids coming back from
6 years in Afghanistan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The debriefing
was for our two families,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and there were 5 debriefing counselors that worked with us through the week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a very interesting and helpful process, particularly
since it was geared to every member of the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We usually began together in the morning with
some singing, then the adults and kids were separated and the kids did their
own debriefing session with 2 counselors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The adults would meet as a group briefly and were given an assignment to work
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we would get several hours each
of individual counseling sessions with one of the counselors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Y6C45siJ-c/U-NdhxerpDI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/R09uIYUje5g/s1600/P1100471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Y6C45siJ-c/U-NdhxerpDI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/R09uIYUje5g/s1600/P1100471.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a>The assignments we did included making a detailed timeline
of the past 6 years identifying areas of change, concern, criticism, conflict,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We talked about these with the counselors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toward the end of the week we focused on
re-entry and what we could expect, how to start to make new ties, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the interesting things they said was
that coming back from such an assignment, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you
will find yourself with a great deal of highly specialized experience and
knowledge that will have no practical application in the context to which you
are going</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be very
difficult to deal with as few people will actually be very interested to hear
all about your experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
reminded that as much as we have changed, nothing in the place we are returning
to has remained stagnant either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
have changed in your home as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
assume you are coming back to the same culture you have left.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The kids did a similar thing in a more visual way. </span><span style="text-align: center;">They made a timeline with our help.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">But they also made "hot air" balloons and attached
strings to them, then attached symbols of things that had tethered them to
Burundi.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">The next day they had to cut
the strings and decide which of those things would be left behind and which
could go in the gondola with them.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">On
the 3</span><sup style="text-align: center;">rd</sup><span style="text-align: center;"> day they added new strings of things that would tether them
to the new place they were going.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> Both
Oren and David enjoyed doing this.</span></div>
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They were also asked about their reaction to leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our kids are in opposite camps on this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nine-year-old Oren is thrilled to be going
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To him America is all about
Grandparents, zoos, museums, and theme parks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Five-year-old David is devastated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He deeply identifies Burundi as home, for him this is not returning, but emigrating to the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point someone asked
him if he was excited about his upcoming Birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“NO.” was his reply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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When asked why not, he said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Because I am going to a country I don’t know where I have no
friends.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Even though David is 5, the debriefing seemed to be valuable
to him and I am glad there were counselors there that were able to process loss
and grief with him even at his young age.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The only disappointment about the whole experience was that
Rebecca had a terrible cold that was at its worst during 2 of the days we were
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard for her to be fully
present at all the sessions while feeling so miserable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0iLsjU4ztM/U-NdiTTM-yI/AAAAAAAAIuc/i7N2P8wH8Cg/s1600/P1100596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0iLsjU4ztM/U-NdiTTM-yI/AAAAAAAAIuc/i7N2P8wH8Cg/s1600/P1100596.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>We left the center on Friday and returned to Geneva where we
rented a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last 3 days of our
time in Europe were to be spent in Adelboden, Switzerland, a very quaint village
in the Swiss Alps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca’s friend
Caroline had invited us up to their vacation home, (a chalet on a highland farm
that had belonged to her husband Phillip’s grandparents.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joked that I was very
relieved that I did not live in this place, because if I did, I could imagine
only being disappointed by the Kingdom of Heaven after I died.</div>
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The town was the perfection of Swiss quaint beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every house was a chalet that looked like a
cuckoo clock, in dark wood complete with flower-filled window boxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The landscape was all lush green meadows
populated with towering Chrismas-tree shaped evergreens with a back drop of
snow covered mountains rising into the blue sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meadows also contained many wildflowers
and contented cows wearing gigantic bells that echoed in the hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The air was fresh and crisp, the water was melted glaciers,
the milk and cheese were produced right in front of our eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point we even went into the home of
one of the nomadic herders and saw the large copper kettle on a woodstove where
they made cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his cellar were
shelves upon shelves of aging swiss cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We could not resist buying some to bring home with us. I can only imagine that Tolkien got his inspiration for the life of Hobbits in the shire from the Swiss.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We took several hikes into the Alps and rode many cable cars
to get around to different places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cable
cars were like public transport and you could actually buy a day pass to get
around to different places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
winter, of course, this is all for the purpose of skiing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The first cable car ride Oren almost refused
to get on because he thought it was a roller coaster that was going to descend
1000s of feet at top speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
relieved to find they were, in fact, slow.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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We arrived on Swiss National Day, which they celebrate
with fireworks like our 4<sup>th</sup> of July.
Oren and David were thrilled to be able to light some off with Benjamin,
Caroline’s son. They would now like "playing with explosives" to become a regular family activity. :-( Caroline’s parents were
also with us, who had been friends of Rebecca’s family when she was growing up
in Bangladesh.</div>
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The whole stay was magical, although several morning the
weather did not cooperate until after noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we enjoyed the whole time thoroughly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren got a souvenir Swiss Army Knife on our
departure. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QULEpX6wGbU/U-NdkZWPDJI/AAAAAAAAIvA/6Mil3tLXf4Y/s1600/swiss+panorama+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QULEpX6wGbU/U-NdkZWPDJI/AAAAAAAAIvA/6Mil3tLXf4Y/s1600/swiss+panorama+2.jpg" height="209" width="640" /></a>We drove to the Zurich airport on Monday morning and boarded
a British Air flight to Heathrow and then on to Baltimore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me the flight was really the true
transition from our old life to our new one and I was happy it was long.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In Baltimore we were greeted by Rebecca’s parents and my Dad
and cousin Gabriel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My mom was at home
with one of the other cousins.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
drove us to my parents house where we spent the first night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids were so excited to be back that
despite jetlag they stayed up to nearly 11 pm to play with all the toys at
Grammy’s house that they remembered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day we did many errands including registering the
kids in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw some friends and
family, particularly Rebecca’s brother’s family Paul and Gwendolyn with cousins
Miriam and Gabriel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the other friends we saw were Naja and Thomas Spanner
with their kids Elias and Aviaja.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
were our Danish friends from Burundi who left last year to come to Baltimore to
work with World Relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elias was also
in Oren’s class in Burundi and will be at the same school Oren is
attending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is actually very nice that
they will be here this year and perhaps ease the adjustment back as they share
many memories of us of our past life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rebecca and I are currenly at MCC headquarters for a day to
do our final work debrief and ‘hand back the keys’ so to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were asked to share some our personal
experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a bit of what I had
to say:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>It hard to convey the deep satisfaction that we feel for the
work we were able to do in Rwanda and Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We felt called by God to do this and the experience has been
transformative for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was not
sustainable, put another way, it was sacrificial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were blessed to do it, but it did wear us
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also remade us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who we were when we left is not who we are
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is both a blessing and a
challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the things we learned
in life was how to find ways for renewal that are built into rituals of
routine, daily, weekly, and in larger cycles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Daily, we found the ritual of physical acitivity (swimming) followed by
Bible reading and prayer to be very lifegiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The weekly ritual of yoga and brunch, church and small group, the quarterly folk dances, the annual
vacations, all became important in helping us sustain ourselves during our
assignment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the writing of the blog
was important part of the ritual of living there.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>One lesson I have learned in general is that the motivations
that push us to take an action may have nothing to do with what actually
happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a cautionary tale I will say that one of
our big motivations for going was to give our children an exposure to a
culture not their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Like we ourselves had as children.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our fantasy we would expand
their world view and they would learn a new language and appreciate a culture
very different than their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>In practice, the experience was difficult and even traumatic
for Oren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children will have a very
different experience than you will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
some language learning comes easily, for other it is difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Burundi, taking a child on a field visit,
for instance, subjected them to a level of curiosity by local people that
bordered on harassment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were stared
at, often touched, pinched, squeezed, laughed-at, and even taunted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes Oren would not even get out of the
car and was treated like a goldfish in a bowl with hundreds of onlookers.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I have no regrets about our desire to expose our children
and even for the experience they had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They will process it and hopefully it will be redeemed to them fully in
the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I want to emphasize the
fact that no matter what we imagine the future to be, we make choices, but WE
DO NOT CONTROL EXPERIENCE, for ourselves, and even less for our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do the best we can, but we are always
boarding a raft on white rapids and hanging on for the ride, paddling does very
little to affect the course.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>We are out of one river and are about to enter another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel a bit like this is more of a canoe
ride on a slower current.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>We don’t know what is next for us, but I am glad that we
bring back with us a faith in God that gives us both hope and perseverance to
face the good and the difficult things we will encounter as we move forward.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the end of this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am amazed that I have come to this
point, I still have such vivid memories of the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A</span>s a former choreographer, I
do believe a work of art, a creative act, must have an arc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A beginning, a climax, and a well-conceived
ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this is my ending of the story of our journey
to Burundi and back. I thought about extending a bit into the re-entry experience, but I think that we will do that more privately. It has been a pleasure and an important part of processing our experience to be able to re-tell it to those who have been interested in reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thank the many friends who we know and don’t know who
have taken this journey with us vicariously through this blog. I know many friends from Poughkeepsie, our sending church PUMC as well as friends family and churches in Baltimore (Valley Baptist, NBMC, Long Green Valley) have been following faithfully the entire time. We picked up many friends and followers along the way, especially fellow ex pats. from Burundi. But many other friends from Facebook who we have known in our lives have kept up with us as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know who you all are who had followed this blog, but I
appreciate anyone who took the time to read the stories and reflections that were shared here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope we will meet again
sometime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to leave a
comment on this final entry, I would appreciate knowing who you are.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For now...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imana Ibahezegire<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dieu vous benisse<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
God Bless You.<o:p></o:p></div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-37148351946981309872014-07-22T10:40:00.001+02:002014-09-15T11:47:34.984+02:00Out of Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nwu9kmaou_A/U8y-fZOh4-I/AAAAAAAAIsk/8Q1vqxzOoes/s1600/P1100277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nwu9kmaou_A/U8y-fZOh4-I/AAAAAAAAIsk/8Q1vqxzOoes/s1600/P1100277.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Saying goodbye to Avril at Pinnacle 19.</i></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">It helps, now and then, to step back
and take a long view. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">The kingdom is not only beyond our
efforts, it is even beyond our vision.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We accomplish in our lifetime only a
tiny fraction of the magnificent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">enterprise that is God's work. Nothing
we do is complete, which is a way of<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">saying that the Kingdom always lies
beyond us….<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">No statement says all that could be
said.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br />
No prayer fully expresses our faith<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">.<br />
No confession brings perfection.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br />
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br />
No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><br />
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">This is what we are about.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We plant the seeds that one day will
grow.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We water seeds already planted, knowing
that they hold future promise.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We lay foundations that will need further
development.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We provide yeast that produces far
beyond our capabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We cannot do everything, and there is a
sense of liberation in realizing that.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">This enables us to do something, and to
do it very well.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,
a step along the way, an<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">opportunity for the Lord's grace to
enter and do the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We may never see the end results, but
that is the difference between the master<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">builder and the worker.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We are workers, not master builders;
ministers, not messiahs.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">We are prophets of a future not our
own.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
---Bishop Untener of Saginaw<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is my turn to be up late, unable to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are at about T – 18 hours from departure
from Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are holed up in the
small but very comfortable apartment adjoining the home of some German
missionary friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have generously
let us use it in our last week as we have moved out of our house entirely and
have, just yesterday surrendered the key to the landlord, having completed all
cleaning and inspection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left on very
good terms with him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Flashforward 24hours--<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
now sitting in Heathrow airport waiting for our final connection to Zurich
where we will do some visiting and ground travel to Stuttgart to visit our
German friends who had left Burundi last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I will talk more about that when we get back to the US.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EKW9mp6pEH0/U8y-dCs_omI/AAAAAAAAIso/NMNaHUs54k4/s1600/P1100264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EKW9mp6pEH0/U8y-dCs_omI/AAAAAAAAIso/NMNaHUs54k4/s1600/P1100264.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Looking back over the last 5 days is worth some
reflection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does one leave a home
and community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you do in the
last hours as you set aside a way of life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These were questions that we did reflect upon before the final hours
were upon us. I would encourage anyone who is leaving a place to reflect and plan before the last hours are upon you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last week itself remained busy and passed quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest responsibility we had left in the
first half was making our final trip to Kigali to drop off our SALT<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>volunteers, Julia and Matt who were returning
to the US at the end of their assignment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although it felt like a bit of burden in the very last days, we were
grateful for the chance to make a final visit and have real closure with our
partners and service workers there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkvV5y_Ujjc/U8y-dLQ8IDI/AAAAAAAAIr4/BtzbSIFTaQE/s1600/P1100262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkvV5y_Ujjc/U8y-dLQ8IDI/AAAAAAAAIr4/BtzbSIFTaQE/s1600/P1100262.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The highlight event (besides closing our bank accounts) was
a dinner we hosted at the guest house we staying in, for all of our partners,
the host parents of our SALTers, and our other service workers and local
staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were about 18 all told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was not unlike other such events we have had in the past
weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was dinner, speeches and
counter speeches, prayer, and gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
felt that we left Rwanda well and at peace with everyone there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next chapter for the new reps. who will be based in
Kigali, will be quite different as MCC is now registered as an official INGO in
the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will come with many
new opportunities and challenges that were not part of our experience when we
were the Reps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pEYo41SNPY/U8y-dP1mtpI/AAAAAAAAIsE/XjFj-OZTtF4/s1600/P1100259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pEYo41SNPY/U8y-dP1mtpI/AAAAAAAAIsE/XjFj-OZTtF4/s1600/P1100259.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should mention that we did take advantage of the drive upcountry
to drop in on some friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Samantha and
Isai Torres, are missionaries that arrived about the same time as us, and set
up a center for vulnerable children, in Bukeye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have 2 young children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
mission is called <a href="https://thecriesofachild.org/" target="_blank">Cries of a Child</a> and they are currently building a clinic in
this remote rural town.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was good to share and pray with them on our final visit
up country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had lunch together in the
Kabira Forest Guest House at the top of the hill in Bugarama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got back to Bujumbura from Kigali on Thursday afternoon
and went to dinner with our Ethiopian friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was Rebecca’s Birthday (pretty minimal this year) but we did have a
fabulous Ethiopian meal, complete with coffee and Café Gourmand pastries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1vGefWNarw/U8y-eZ6fLuI/AAAAAAAAIsM/cJd13u0qBuY/s1600/P1100268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1vGefWNarw/U8y-eZ6fLuI/AAAAAAAAIsM/cJd13u0qBuY/s1600/P1100268.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday I closed our Burundi bank accounts and Rebecca and I
took shifts closing the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our staff
had pretty much cleared it out while we were in Rwanda and there was not much
to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the afternoon we were able to
return it to the landlord and ended our stay in the house on good terms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday was a special day and we planned it as a family day
to do some of our favorite things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rebecca and the kids stopped off at Musee Vivant while I ran a quick
errand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I gave one of our old
computers to Odifax, one of our house staff who also works as a pastor.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there we went to Café Gourmand for
lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took some photos of Oren’s
icecream sundai and the pastry counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xnun_oCj2QQ/U8y-ewm_mAI/AAAAAAAAIsU/AqBgTmi-_eg/s1600/P1100271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xnun_oCj2QQ/U8y-ewm_mAI/AAAAAAAAIsU/AqBgTmi-_eg/s1600/P1100271.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the afternoon we went to Club du Lac Tanganyika for the
last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We swam in the pool and
lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jennifer Price stopped by and we
chatted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left there and stopped by
Pinnacle 19 to say good-bye to Avril the chimp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Avril knows David very well and immediately took his hand and led him to
the trampoline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent about 45 minutes there then headed to Ubuntu for
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ubuntu is a place of special
significance because it is where we had our first meal out in Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact we were brought there the very first
day of our arrival to meet the MCC team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To have our last supper there gave us a sense of closure as it was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a place we loved to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We shared our last meal with very special friends:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Emmanuel Ndikumana and his wife
Asele.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also friends that we have known
since our first days in Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Emmanuel Ndkikumana is one of the truly prophetic voices for the
Burundian church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, Sunday morning (the next day) he was preaching and
gave an inspired message based on Acts 4-6 to the church regarding corruption
and distraction as tools the devil uses to undermine the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last church service was fairly emotional as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were asked to come forward and give a
testimony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both talked about how the
BICC congregation was really a home for us and the place where we really
established sustainable community bonds in Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both through the church and the small group
that we formed out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was here
where I also shared the poem at the beginning of this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was read at the funeral of Arch Bishop
Arhur Romero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It captures a bit how it
feels to leave, not having completed nearly as much was set out to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work is far from done, but we are no
longer the people called to do it here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ManDMbLtbQU/U8y-gHx0b6I/AAAAAAAAIsw/NON85ynRG5w/s1600/P1100292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ManDMbLtbQU/U8y-gHx0b6I/AAAAAAAAIsw/NON85ynRG5w/s1600/P1100292.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were prayed for and commissioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sent back to the US to bring what we had
learned from Burundi back to the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
took pictures of ourselves with several good friends (they are here in the
blog).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went home and finished packing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miraculously I was able to get all 9 of our
suitcases into the car with our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately people who wanted to see us off did not meet us at the apartment
expecting a ride!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cFkHLUvqX-U/U8y-hqyyN5I/AAAAAAAAIs8/sAG6a5hc2BY/s1600/P1100294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cFkHLUvqX-U/U8y-hqyyN5I/AAAAAAAAIs8/sAG6a5hc2BY/s1600/P1100294.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We said goodbye to our friends Samuel and Sabine, who had
been hosting us, and headed to the airport at 4 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found on arrival, about a dozen
wellwishers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At that point things began to get very surreal for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First handing off my cellphone and all my
keys to Felix made me feel almost naked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am never without those things and the idea that the car, the office,
my house, and the phone were no longer mine to use really made the feeling that
the job was over sink in heavily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was not so much a feeling of freedom as one of loss, like
a heavy weight was lifted off my shoulders and I found that without that I was
not able to keep my feet on the ground and was blowing away like chaff in the
wind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really understood, at that moment that this was it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not coming back after our nomal one
month vacation in the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
no ‘back’ to come to now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SR-3MtsblUA/U8y-hU-iFeI/AAAAAAAAIs4/qASPWhuLf9g/s1600/P1100296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SR-3MtsblUA/U8y-hU-iFeI/AAAAAAAAIs4/qASPWhuLf9g/s1600/P1100296.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patrick and Michael in the Bujumbura departure lounge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To add to the surreal feeling were some surprise passengers
at the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both DRC service workers
(Patrick and Michael) were getting on the same flight for completely unrelated
reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us flying together was
completely by chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also saw Ali
Blair, another old friend who was dropping someone off at the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben Carlson was getting on the flight as was
another father from the Ecole Belge—Marcus, Nicola’s husband.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having this huge number of people I knew all going out with
us added to the strangeness of the whole departure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nonetheless. We left without incident on Kenya Airways which
stopped in Nairobi where got on a British Airways 747 to London and Zurich.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are currenly in Zurich where we will take a train to
visit some of our German missionarly friends and then do a professional
‘debriefing’ /reentry retreat to help us make the transition back to our
culture smoother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am looking forward
to that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The poem at the beginning captures a bit what it feels like to leave. So many seeds we harvested that we did not plant, but also so many seeds we planted that we will not be the ones to harvest. Some will grow and flourish, other will wither and die. But we are no longer the tenants in that place.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This is the first time in nearly my life where we are not going to something. The future is unknown for us and the past 6 years are so rich that looking forward will be difficult. I pray that the 'Grace that 'brought us safe thus far will be sufficient to lead us home.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<o:p> I plan to add one more entry to this blog once we are back on US soil and we begin a new season in our lives. </o:p></div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-37409282389148524482014-07-17T05:15:00.000+02:002014-07-22T11:44:05.549+02:00A Farewell to Dogs and Other Adieux<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Saving money, we decided to send David and Oren </i><i>by airfreight.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
It’s awfully difficult to sleep during our last days in the
African Great Lakes region. So much to think about and process and plan for. So
many details to think through. So on this last day in Kigali, I find myself up
at 3 am, giving Paul a boost for one of the final blog posts of our sojourn in
Burundi. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This past week has contained a wonderful, dizzying blend of
final visits with friends, mixed in with frantic disassembly of the house we
have lived in for 5 years (we moved to it near the end of our first year in
Burundi). Actually, we moved into 2 houses that were completely set up, and
included lots of other peoples’ useful things (and a little junk). We’ve done
little to diminish the contents since. <o:p></o:p></div>
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leaving sale more than a month ago, I’ve found out in the past week that our
“empty” closets and drawers still seem remarkably full. I have thrown away at
least 3 rice sacks full of precious kid’s artwork. I have filled about 10 large
baskets with random items that I can’t imagine how anyone would use, but they
aren’t quite trash – and shown them to our house staff, who miraculously
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Alongside that, I’ve been packing up all the useful pots,
pans, dishes, pharmaceuticals, bedding, books, and misc. for the Rep
replacement couple to take on. That’s all in one pile. There was another huge
pile in the garage (once we liberated the garage) for a new volunteer to set up
her household in Gitega. All categories, including furniture. There was our row
of 8 suitcases, bound for Europe and then our new home in Baltimore. Another
suitcase for our last week and trip to Kigali. Various piles of leftover things
that would bless one friend or another. Some things to donate to our church. And I’ve just been spinning from one pile to
the next, dropping things off in the appropriate location, pausing to check
Facebook to see if someone has agreed to buy this or that piece of unclaimed
furniture or want to rent our beautiful house starting in August. I will
confess that with all this packing and clearing out, I’ve been as close to
having my head explode as I’ve ever been in my life. Because almost all of the
sorting and packing has taken place between the hours of 8:30 pm and midnight,
to leave room for the RELATIONSHIPS!<o:p></o:p><br />
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We have had some very lovely, meaningful final visits with
people who have been important to us. On Tuesday afternoon, we invited our
house staff to come share Fanta’s with us, together with their families. I had
seen Odifax’s children the week before when I dropped him off at home with
their newborn baby (after paying the hospital bill). It was so wonderful to
welcome them with their 4 older children and newborn to come see our house.
Finally his kids know where Odifax has spent his working hours, and they got to
meet Oren and David. Our substitute cook Ghyslaine also brought her 6-year-old
daughter. All the kids really enjoyed trying out the trampoline and rolling
around on the <o:p></o:p></div>
scooters. Gaspard, our night guard, couldn’t bring his family
from up-country, but we enjoyed seeing him happy in his new job, back with the
Hieberts. And Marceline came a bit later, with her now healthy 2-month-old
Jakin and her husband. It was a joy to serve Fanta’s and snacks with this
group, to share speeches. Very moving at the end as we asked our staff to pray
for us, especially for Paul’s employment moving back. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6gEWahQG6I/U8c7K5JsvqI/AAAAAAAAIpM/yI73y_ngrrM/s1600/P1100116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6gEWahQG6I/U8c7K5JsvqI/AAAAAAAAIpM/yI73y_ngrrM/s1600/P1100116.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>We didn’t get a photo of it, but right after that staff
party, we met the whole Miller clan for dinner at a new-to-us Chinese restaurant.
There was so much to talk about and share about – our faith heritages, how Free
Methodism gets worked out in Burundi, the realities of life here as foreigners.
Our kids had their own table and enjoyed themselves, giving the 6 adults
(including Janette’s parents) time to really talk and share. We were grateful
for that quiet, meaningful time of closure with these good friends. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On Wednesday during the day, we kept working on chores –
Paul finally completed the process of moving ownership of our vehicles to
Scott. Oren and I snuck away to Buja Day Spa for an hour – I had promised him
one last outing to do a pedicure together. It’s not just pampering to get that
kid’s feet in better shape! He hates shoes, and his feet really take a beating
around here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our collective family activity that afternoon (after
continuing the brain dumping with our replacements) was the disassembly of our
beloved trampoline. Scott and Anne Marie and kids worked together with us so
that they would know how to put it up again when they are fully established in
Kigali. It was certainly not an easy project! Getting all those springs lose
under hundreds of pounds of pressure took all of us pulling together. We were
glad to have fully used the trampoline the day before with our staff’s kids. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We took some moments that evening to recognize that it was
our final family teatime on our own veranda in Burundi. It was a lovely
evening, made sweeter with thoughtful music that Paul finds and a Good
Earth/Rooibos blend in the pot. The mountains of Congo were even a faint shadow
for us behind the dry season haze. We have enjoyed many wonderful evening
moments in this spot as a family. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Later in the evening, special friends from our church bible
study came to pay us a final visit. Goretti Niragira, and her daughters Sonia
and Ariane have become dear companions on the journey as we have talked and
prayed over the past two years. There are many requests that we have seen
answered over those years, and several big ones that we are still waiting to see
fulfilled. The waiting and hoping and trusting in God together have drawn our
hearts together. These ladies blessed us with a unique map of Burundi, cut out
of local fabric.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonia, Ariane & Goretti</td></tr>
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On Thursday afternoon, we took time off to meet with members
of the Carlson family for a really unique outing. The women of my Wednesday
morning ladies’ bible study blessed with the farewell gift of a photo shoot,
done by the very talented Mrs. Kristy Carlson. She offered to help us document
special places and events of our life here in Burundi as a memory (one that
would fit more easily into our suitcases also!). So Kristy brought over her son
Myles (Oren’s friend) as her second shooter and we messed around our house for
a while. We took our dogs for a little walk to buy milk at the local boutique a
few steps away. We mimicked family teatime. And then we headed off for the zoo!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oren and Myles digging holes at the beach.</td></tr>
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Our kids just love their close encounters with wild animals,
so we did all the normal things you’ve read about in past blogs: scratching the
leopard behind the ears, pulling the banana snakes out of their cage, feeding
Kita the chimp peanuts. We even agreed to feed one last guinea pig to the
ever-ravenous crocodile (how else does a third-world zoo animal get fed??). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Our last stop was Pinnacle 19. I guess messing around with
animals has been a theme of our life here! We had a lot of fun playing with
Avril, who even wanted us adults to pick her up and cuddle her this time. It
was a gorgeous evening and we were so glad that Ben and little Neo could also
join us for a final time of drinks and conversation. It’s always so meaningful
to discuss this transition with other expats who have been alongside us during
this journey.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Friday afternoon, we enjoyed a very different kind of
closing event on the beach. Our MCC Burundi partners organized a “Fête de
depart” for us at Petit Bassam, a fairly new children’s playground. Oren was
thrilled to have an occasion to go back there one more time. For most of the
evening, through the dinner and speeches, Oren, David, Samuel and Luke had a
blast, jumping on the vast bouncy castle, trying out the trampoline with the
harnesses, going on the little train ride and the carousel, even swinging on
the modern swing sets – all of these attractions are absolutely unheard of
anywhere else in Burundi.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the adult side, we had a good time of speeches and
sharing, between our partners and ourselves, remembering many times we have
passed through together. </div>
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It was actually a real encouragement to see these
partners organize such an event and invite us to attend. It certainly shows the
strength and maturity of our Burundi partner coordinators. </div>
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Their work is
effective (not just in throwing parties) and their personal testimonies
continue to inspire us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the way home, we made one final stop at Ice World, one of
the kids’ favorite spots. Oren can now fluently order his ice cream creation of
choice in French, with all the changes he wants to make to it. That night for
me was the final push in packing and sorting – Paul was starting to panic about
whether we would be ready to move out of our house the following day. With
reason. I stayed up til 3 am, working on emptying the final corners, and still
didn’t finish.</div>
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<o:p></o:p>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oren ordering at Ice World</td></tr>
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But we still had FINAL YOGA. A really nice group of people
accompanying us, right to the end of our term. For the final session our
Ethiopian friends Genet and Melkamu joined for the first time! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final Yoga brunch</td></tr>
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We still had a
few moments to linger over coffee and cinnamon rolls (though we used plastic
plates and all the broken mugs I hadn’t packed up). In between, a guy came to
buy our old beat up salon set. It was incredible to see the way he transported
it out of our house: the three-seater sofa, 4 armchairs, 1 coffee table, 2 side
tables and cushions all went onto the back of one bicycle. Who needs a pick up
truck??</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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By 11 am, we were in a frenzy of moving out. Well, we didn’t
move the entire contents of our house to the nearby apartment on bicycles
ourselves. We actually did hire a pick up truck and taxi to help us out, both
of which were fully loaded and rolling by 11: 45. We were glad to have some
friends and volunteers stay to help us move boxes in and out. We also needed to
fit in a final visit with our newest volunteer, Sata, and with our old nanny,
who dropped by with her basket gift. There are definitely different categories
of final visits, we’ve found. One group of people wants to bless us and pray
for us and share with us—I’d say those are visits from friends. There have been
a whole other round of visits from “clients,” who always also come with a
request or need. Several clients have found it incredibly difficult to part
from us, and have come to say adieu two or even three times, with a request
every single time. This leaving process is starting to get far too expensive
for us! We’re starting to understand why many Africans do not announce their
final departure dates until just a few days before they leave: this doesn’t
represent lack of planning, but rather fiscal wisdom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Which is a second reason we were finding it more and more
pressing to MOVE OUT OF OUR HOUSE!!! First reason: it was almost impossible to
finish the packing when our children were circling behind us, pulling things
out of boxes and out of the trash, creating new messes, and needing to be fed
meals, which create more mess. So, on Saturday afternoon, we loaded most of our
packed suitcases into Melkamu’s car and dropped them off at the guest apartment
of German missionary friends Sam and Sabine in a far away neighborhood. What a
Godsend to land in that peaceful, well-appointed and equipped little hideaway!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VLEUD6IIQ0w/U8c7-FtEPaI/AAAAAAAAIq4/BJJehCk6nwA/s1600/P1100244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VLEUD6IIQ0w/U8c7-FtEPaI/AAAAAAAAIq4/BJJehCk6nwA/s1600/P1100244.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a>There was also the dog drop-off. Our predecessors, the
Hieberts, are back in Burundi. They agreed to reclaim their old dog Bella, and
also to foster Noël (who will go to our replacements in January) for the time
being. The Hiebert girls were so excited to see their new dogs and we are so
grateful and happy to be leaving them in a loving home. But it was clearly very
hard for Noël (who has never changed owners or even slept outside our compound
in her life). Noël was literally climbing back into the car with us as we tried
to pull out and she had to be leashed and held onto tightly. She literally
worshipped Paul; so to be parted from her master is very, very difficult. Bella
seemed to take it all in stride, fortunately. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We closed off the evening with a final dinner together with
other German friends, Markus and Nicola and boys. They have been in Burundi
almost as long as we have, and we have shared a lot together. Our oldest boys
have been in the same class the whole time, and Frederick has really encouraged
Oren to learn and use playground French over the years. One thing we will
really miss when we leave here is the daily interaction with other parents as
we all drop off and pick up our kids at Ecole Belge. There is always a chance
to check up on each other, to share a word of sympathy or just a smile. It’s
been a real place of connection in our close-knit community.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And so, at 9 pm, we were finally moved out of our home. We
landed, exhausted, back in our guest apartment. The work isn’t totally
finished. The house is not completely ready to surrender to the landlord. There
are still final tasks to do. But we were able to move out, as planned, on
Saturday. Whew!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bonus video: Rebecca holding Avril the chimp at Pinnacle 19.</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-11053695275159544192014-07-07T23:11:00.000+02:002014-07-07T23:15:32.331+02:00Démissionné--Ask Not for Whom the Drum Beats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_o7ZMySz6k/U7sKJWJ67TI/AAAAAAAAIlg/mmqKrxdVKR0/s1600/P1090995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_o7ZMySz6k/U7sKJWJ67TI/AAAAAAAAIlg/mmqKrxdVKR0/s1600/P1090995.jpg" height="320" width="303" /></a></div>
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<i>Nestor, one of the 10th graders at Hope School this year, leading the drum corps and bidding us farewell.</i></div>
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With less than 2 weeks, (13 days) left before our departure
from Burundi, we are definitely in the final countdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strangely I am finding the task of
chronicling these final days challenging to the point of onerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why after writing almost weekly for 6 year
can I hardly stand to finish?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maybe there is just too much to say, or maybe I don’t feel
like I can capture in language the feelings surrounding this final push.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps it is simply because we seem to
have things to do from early morning until late in the evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am being unhelpful in sitting to write at this
moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca is doing most of the
triage of personal belongings and we have 8 suitcases sitting in a guestroom
that are being filled slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting 6
year of stuff into 8 suitcases will be tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of the furniture and larger items belong to MCC or the landlord,
but there are so many things the kids made, or that were acquired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention gifts and a year’s supply of
Burundian coffee.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am enjoying my last evening in our rocking chair which has
been in our bedroom the past six years and where I composed many a blog on a
late Sunday evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rebecca was sorting kids school and artwork this evening and
David and Oren each get a suitcase to fill themselves with things they want to
keep.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The biggest challenge for us is that we have to get
everything of ours and MCC’s out of this house as it will not be rented beyond
our departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were hoping to find
some friends who might want to take it but failed to do so, much to the
disappointment to the landlord as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We are at home this week and have only one more trip out of
town planned before our departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were, however, out of town most of the past week for some final visits to
partners and for a formal presentation of the new Reps. to our partners in
Rwanda.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
School ended last Friday, and the kids went everyday but the
last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We packed our bags the night before
and headed upcountry to the Grand Seminaire in Burasira, and for a visit to the
Hope School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the last day of
classes for them on Friday, but the biggest celebration was reserved for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Innocent, the leader of our partner
organization who has become a friend over the years, had organized a farewell
ceremony for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fOOujof7a7s/U7sNkoRTBpI/AAAAAAAAInw/osfyFfaL3zc/s1600/IMG_1534+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fOOujof7a7s/U7sNkoRTBpI/AAAAAAAAInw/osfyFfaL3zc/s1600/IMG_1534+2.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oren on first visit in 2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We arrived at 10 am to find the drum corps already set up
ready to play for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did a very
nice set of dances, songs, and speeches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rebecca and I both spoke along with a half dozen others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was hard to take in all the times we had been here in the
past and appreciate the finality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember our first visit within a week of our arrival and Oren standing amidst
the Batwa children, looking almost at home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Our kids were not nearly into all the speeches and songs
this time around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But after several
hours of introductions, we went into one of the classrooms with the teachers
and the Batwa elders and had a meal together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dtiQr9ULVg/U7sKK_1QOYI/AAAAAAAAImc/sWgFKiXz60U/s1600/P1100011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dtiQr9ULVg/U7sKK_1QOYI/AAAAAAAAImc/sWgFKiXz60U/s1600/P1100011.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salvatore (an elder) and wife</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We received many gifts, some local fabrics, some batwa woven
mats, and some paintings and woodcuts done for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woodcut had a picture of Burundi and two
people caring a building on their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was custom made for us and represented the many years we supported
the Hope School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I have to say the
image of being weighed down under a building for 6 years was strangely apropos
to how it has begun to feel toward the end.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We also received a painting with a photo of us on one of our
first visits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were many more
speeches and expressing of appreciation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teachers and the Batwa elders were very
warm in their expressions of gratitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speeches were followed by a lavish feast each of us received
a plate of fried a half dozen fried plaintain bananas piled high with spaghetti
topped with some brown sauce and a large hunk of meat on a bone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was more than I could eat, but I was glad
to see that the children outside were given food as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We drank the traditional ceremonial fantas and
coca-colas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some final words we
made our way back to the seminary in the late afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leaving the seminary is at least as difficult as saying good
bye to the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids always loved
to stay the night there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went and
visited the farm and the kids fed the cows and pigs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a short hike around the grounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remembered days gone by of Jodi living
here, and then Teri-Lynn last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We planned to stay the night and asked the sister for the
old rooms on the second floor of the guesthouse where we used to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soeur Anesée was thrilled to see us all and
we left her a shawl for cold nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
evening was perfectly clear and we had a fantastic view of Scorpio directly
overhead in the inky night sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Something you can only see in the Southern Hemisphere.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b4E7Z4PawOs/U7sKOEZUJcI/AAAAAAAAIms/z6t0sgTEsv4/s1600/P1100055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b4E7Z4PawOs/U7sKOEZUJcI/AAAAAAAAIms/z6t0sgTEsv4/s1600/P1100055.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a>We had roast rabbit for dinner and after a good night’s sleep,
enjoyed the homemade bread, honey, guava jam, omelettes and Burundian coffee
with fresh cows milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No food at the
seminary comes from more than a few hundred meters away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We said good bye for the last time and took our leave, and
headed on to Kigali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived in the
early evening and found Mark and Angela Sprunger (our area reps.) who have been
living at the Amani guest house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Stoner-Eby’s arrived later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had
dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant with our SALTER Julia and the rest of the
gang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The World Cup was on so it added
to the festivities of the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
World Cup is religion here in Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The next morning was Sunday and I took the Stoner-Eby’s to
the Kinyarwanda service at the Friends Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(the church we partner with.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought it would be a good introduction to the 3-4 hour service
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did not disappoint in
longevity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca stayed home with the
kids as David had been sick with tonsillitis for several days and Oren and Luke
did not want to go either.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got back home midday and began having meetings after a
short visit to a park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday evening was special because it was Oren’s real
Birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to celebrate it as a
family at Meze Fresh, one of the best Burrito places in the world, right in
Kigali!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We gave him a little metal
teapot he wanted so he could have tea in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was very happy to get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also a day to celebrate because he
read his first chapter book (150 pgs) all by himself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(It was Stink and the super galactic
Jawbreaker). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Beginning Monday, the time with partners was fairly intense
as we had a very full schedule and I took the Stoner-Ebys for interviews with
partners all day on Monday then we had a big meeting of all the partners
together to discuss program issues on Tuesday morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this meeting, which as on July 1<sup>st</sup>, I took the
opportunity to officially acknowledge the handover of our position to the new
Reps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes we are now ‘démissionné.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>French for decommissioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
a significant moment and from that point in the meeting the Stoner-Ebys took
over the chairmanship of the meeting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It is a strange feeling to be done with the official part of
our job, although this is primarily to give us extra time to pack up and move
everything out of our house.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We drove home the next day (Wednesday).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From that point forward we really feel the end is upon
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have done errands like getting
the dogs rabies shots, we are having last meetings with friends who are still
in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cleared out my desk at the
office.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday was church and I managed to get a cool picture with 3
generations of MCC Reps, as the Hieberts have moved back to Burundi to work
with the Mennonite Brethren Mission Network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think I can really appreciate how they were feeling at the end as they
handed the program over to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
sorry they were not back sooner in our term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their kids will start at the Ecole Belge this fall.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were invited to lunch at the home of our Ethiopian small
group friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was followed by our
second to last small group at their house.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today we began titling the cars over to Scott Stoner-Eby,
and his has proved to be a complicated process now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For expats and others here in Burundi, there
is a new step now in buying or selling a vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to get a tax ID number and a
financial attestation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This adds an
interesting new set of worm tunnels in the already Kafka-esque process of
titling a vehicle to get mired in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M03Ykxc7Plk/U7sKVyCXbzI/AAAAAAAAIno/iqtJOKN1dqY/s1600/P1100086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M03Ykxc7Plk/U7sKVyCXbzI/AAAAAAAAIno/iqtJOKN1dqY/s1600/P1100086.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This past week penultimate yoga with<br />
Patrick and Yolanda visiting among others.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should be able to finish the process in a few days and
many many trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point 20 of us were lined up in front
of a desk occupied by no one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no
hope that they would even arrive as it was the last hour of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we all stayed and waited nonetheless
until we had to go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The humor in this
was that I found I was not even impatient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am now, finally, used to this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I may have finally acquired the much-coveted Burundian patience that
allows one to suffer all things, and bear with all delays.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The days ahead are pretty mapped out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a luncheon with our house staff
tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our last day in the house is
Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have yoga (last one) then
get a truck and move up to Samuel and Sabine’s house (some German missionaries)
so we can finish cleaning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We go up to Kigali again the following Wednesday through
Friday then fly out of Burundi on Sunday July 20<sup>th</sup> right after
church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know if there will be another entry from Burundi,
but will add some thoughts when we get to Switzerland for some professional
debriefing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-5415794175897965892014-06-26T22:28:00.000+02:002014-06-26T22:28:41.934+02:00A Pilgrimage, a Birthday, a Graduation, and a Theft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeLxqnCDB5I/U6x9R6t6aiI/AAAAAAAAIkQ/0aL6dzbq2s4/s1600/P1090938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeLxqnCDB5I/U6x9R6t6aiI/AAAAAAAAIkQ/0aL6dzbq2s4/s1600/P1090938.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The Graduate. David at his Maternelle commencement ceremony.</i></div>
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Paul really wants to squeeze in one more blog entry in the
month of June. I agreed to write the beginning, and he will finish it. As he
posted last week, I was up-country visiting Buta with Oren, and he promised
that I would say more about that visit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In fact, I found myself leading this pilgrimage to a site
that has defined our time in Burundi: Paul made his first trip to Buta within
the first month of our assignment, and have made our last trip within our final
month here. This time, I was guiding people involved with the Great Lakes
Initiative, a movement of Christian leaders seeking reconciliation, from
Tanzania, Rwanda and the USA. In addition, the Stoner-Eby family came along to
experience Buta for the first time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I had initially envisioned our entire family joining the
pilgrimage. But frankly, the vicious sibling rivalry between Oren and David
reached a new level of intensity the past two weeks. And Oren had been acting
distressed, angry and unloved. It seemed wiser to make this a special trip just
for the two of us. Truly, he was not very excited about going, but he submitted
in the end and got in the car. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We arrived in time for lunch and chanted prayers with the
Benedictine monks. Then we joined Father Zacharie in the sanctuary of the
martyrs. Quietly, he told us the story again: of his sense of foreboding, the
outbreak of civil war, his preparation of his students to be one body in
Christ, their healing from ethnic hatred, the attack by rebels, the students
refusing to separate, the bloodbath in the dormitory, the forgiveness poured
into his heart directly by God, in his moment of greatest fear and despair, the
courage to open the school again after only one month. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This time, I was translating Fr Zacharie’s French to our
Anglophone visitors. So I couldn’t be on top of Oren monitoring his behavior. I
just had to watch out of the corner of my eye as he wandered around the
sanctuary, contemplating the huge mural, depicting the life-like faces of the
40 young martyrs who gave their lives for the sake of Christian fraternity. He
even wanted to touch what he could reach, and then go outside to look at the
tombstones. He had no patience to listen to Fr. Zacharie, but I know he knew
the story; I had recounted it in Sunday school.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before supper, we spent some time together, just in the room
talking and snacking and doing what Oren likes best (watching a little movie on
the iPod). But he did really want to go down to the sanctuary again in the
dark. We spent a little time inside, me praying for him; and then time outside
thinking about how young those students were when they made the choice to die.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the morning, on Sunday, we all climbed the hill behind
the seminary, up to the place where the rebel troops had looked down at the
school, and planned the killing. We took some time to pray for those guilty
people who had stood on that spot, some of whom are in powerful positions now,
to pray that they might know and accept both forgiveness from God and justice
before men. It was a beautiful spot from which to reflect on what we had heard
and seen and learned. When the boys got tired of being near praying, they went
to throw rocks and hack down bushes – it worked for them, too. ;-)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back down the mountain, we all prepared to attend the 11 am
mass at the sanctuary. Oren declared that this church was not “his type” and
went outside to explore and be alone. But I wasn’t prepared for what an amazing
experience that mass was. In the past, I’ve always experienced the sanctuary as
a quiet, empty place, just the faces of those 40 teenagers silently observing
those who come and pray. But on Sunday morning, the church was already half
full as we arrived. From off in the distance, we heard the sounds of singing as
the seminary students processed from their school grounds. Soon the column of
students flooded into the chapel, all wearing white t-shirts, and the volume of
the singing rose and rose. Finally, the group of acolytes and altar boys
entered with the priest, all wearing white robes, bearing the cross before
them, and filling the front rows. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9sYPxG1fz0/U6x9P2yarHI/AAAAAAAAIjs/f97embJbhEo/s1600/P1090897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9sYPxG1fz0/U6x9P2yarHI/AAAAAAAAIjs/f97embJbhEo/s1600/P1090897.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>I was thunderstruck, as they began singing another Kirundi
worship song, waving incense over the congregation. We were worshipping in the
round. The living students in white robes singing and clapping around me, the
martyred students in white robes, surrounding the throne of grace, worshipping
in heaven. You have to see the photo to understand the visual effect of heaven
touching earth. I could look at the painted faces of the dead, and find an
almost identical face among the living boys around me. Humanity and sanctity
were brought together. I know in the week before they died, those boys started
to ask Fr. Zacharie about heaven, some even had glimpses of it. In the dancing
song of thanksgiving following communion, I found myself terribly moved by the
thought that I probably won’t see these martyrs’ faces again until we meet in
person in paradise. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was thankful to have some closing words with Fr. Zacharie
before we headed down the mountain back to Bujumbura. It has been a precious gift
to me to get to know him and to receive his trust and goodwill. I won’t mention
too much about driving our group down the mountain from Bururi, except to say
that it is actually possible to get a case of shivering vertigo, even when you
are behind the wheel. That is one extreme mountain road!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Monday through Thursday we had GLI related meetings of the
core partners. It was a really wonderful and productive time – I have gotten to
know these amazing men and women over years of working and ministering together,
working to bring together and reconcile Christians leaders who could make a
difference in their contexts. We are at the verge of hiring a regional
coordinator who will take on tasks that have formerly been done by a staff
person at Duke Divinity school, and a Board is being formed to run the
Initiative. It’s great to see things reach this point right before I have to
leave. I felt so grateful that Anne Marie was there in the meetings with me,
and has been able to catch the potential of GLI at such an early stage in her
term as new Rep. We even had the moment to bring together local GLI leaders
from Burundi with the regional group, and there was good sharing and
encouragement. So, for me, I felt I was working hard, but doing it in the
company of friends.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, there was a lot of work involved in hosting,
arranging ground transport for some very complicated and varied arrivals and
departures, and then going home each night to sleep (at least a few hours!).
And meanwhile, Paul was have a completely different, though equally challenging
experience of the week. He had to hold down the fort at the office, and home,
do all our normal rep work alone, and plan Oren’s 9<sup>th</sup> birthday
party, all without any support from me. I’ll let him take it from there…<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is Paul continuing…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a hard week to ‘hold down the fort’ with Oren in finals week and
his Birthday on Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was relieved
to have it over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, the
Birthday preparations did not go badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oren wanted the theme to be Hawks, Condors, and other birds of
prey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started to think up some games
for this theme and I fashioned some elastic slings to shoot tennis balls at
some large building blocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting faces
on the tennis balls made it a pretty good Angry Birds game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kTTwm1qYzrg/U6x9Sr1GAqI/AAAAAAAAIkM/3K2PqNVncpQ/s1600/P1090914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kTTwm1qYzrg/U6x9Sr1GAqI/AAAAAAAAIkM/3K2PqNVncpQ/s1600/P1090914.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Oren and I also built a hawk piniata together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted it carrying some prey so attached a
stuffed monkey to his talons (made of darning needles.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all coming together well, although in
his excitement 10 minutes before the party Oren shot a tennis ball at the
ceiling and broke one of the light fixtures, then pulled on the piniata string
and knocked it down as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately
we got it all back together before everyone had arrived.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hF9e3YG84Mw/U6x9LtlFGlI/AAAAAAAAIjQ/la8wwzced0Y/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hF9e3YG84Mw/U6x9LtlFGlI/AAAAAAAAIjQ/la8wwzced0Y/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The coup de grace was the cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided that I had neither time nor energy
to make a cake which gave me the perfect excuse to order a black forest cake
from Café Gourmand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a photo here,
but it is probably the best cake I have ever had in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed that the adults were all hanging
around for a piece once the candles were blown out. (Oren did make a cake later in the week for his class mates at school and brought it on Wednesday.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oren had a modest group of friends as many have already
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Guillebaud kids, the Carlsons,
Luke Stoner-Eby, and about 4 classmates as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will miss these international birthdays
which looked like a gathering of World Cup fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were Burundians, Americans, Brits, and
Germans.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2YIZuSxGHY/U6x9h2MSkcI/AAAAAAAAIk0/bcUsucHglMo/s1600/IMG_0514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2YIZuSxGHY/U6x9h2MSkcI/AAAAAAAAIk0/bcUsucHglMo/s1600/IMG_0514.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They had fun with the games, presents, trampoline, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to host it, but also a relief to
have it over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the culmination of
one of the hardest weeks of our term.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weekend was fairly relaxing by contrast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did nothing all day, then went to a good
bye party for one of Oren’s friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
decided he wanted a ‘grown up’ party in the evening, and invited parents as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was our German friend Nicola
who was the mom and we had a very nice evening with her and most of the other
parents of Oren’s class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The kids ran
around outside in the dark while the adults chatted.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sq_t9b6OFo/U6x9Uo0fQBI/AAAAAAAAIkc/--hpJHavTsg/s1600/P1090958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sq_t9b6OFo/U6x9Uo0fQBI/AAAAAAAAIkc/--hpJHavTsg/s1600/P1090958.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday we visited our Ethiopian friends for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Always great to have a meal with them!) and
followed that with our small group.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week has been full of transition activities with the
new reps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been getting them up
to speed and they will officially take over next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David has been sick the past 3 days which is
making this difficult.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8ZzUQxRrCo/U6x9U6fI7-I/AAAAAAAAIko/kYimdhzkzAM/s1600/P1090966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8ZzUQxRrCo/U6x9U6fI7-I/AAAAAAAAIko/kYimdhzkzAM/s1600/P1090966.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>Despite his illness we did take him to his ‘graduation’ from
maternelle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a little ceremony
at the Ecole Belge complete with caps, gowns, and diplomas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They even threw their hats up in the air at
the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very fun, but David was
pretty out of it the whole time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jodi Mikalachki came over in the evening as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had dinner and wished her well on her new
job working for MCC in Nairobi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said
it would be hard to leave Burundi after all of these years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are aware that time is running out for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are less than a month from our departure
date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transition is stressful because
there is a lot more work at this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it is stressful in other ways, to wit, we are getting numerous
‘requests’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are from acquantances
but others from friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They range from
asking for a sum of money to asking if we would take one of their children with
us to educate him in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In between
there are requests for plane tickets, visas, jobs in the US, etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekLxt8Ci1hY/U6x9VxfFdnI/AAAAAAAAIks/BzzwwNOoGZc/s1600/P1090968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekLxt8Ci1hY/U6x9VxfFdnI/AAAAAAAAIks/BzzwwNOoGZc/s1600/P1090968.jpg" height="320" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oren and his teacher M. Bernard on last day of school.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a saying here:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“There is no harm in asking.” The worse that can happen is to say
no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is not always true in my
view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asking does change a relationship
and it has been disappointing to be approached by so many people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst is that a refusal is always
understood as a lack of will rather than capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saying I can’t get someone a visa speaks more
to my interest rather than my ability to do so in their view.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But worst of all are those who see the end as a chance to
take something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of our houseworkers
got into a safe in our house and stole a large amount of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was done in a way to appear that nothing
was missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost wish they would
have taken it all and ran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way it
was done makes it impossible to know who did it and puts everyone in the house
under a cloud of suspicion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our approaching
departure definitely contributed to this person’s decision to get into the
safe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Endings are sad, and at this point we are ready to be
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have 2 more trips to Rwanda,
one tomorrow, before we go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to
put all of this down because if this blog might serve as a guide for other ex
pats. who are leaving in the future, I hope it helps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my experience thus far, leaving is hard in many more ways than one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwsCtim5Pz6WmtalkBiYt7jLFt_1wqON_TWzFqAl4C5HrV0uEls98u1S6Yl6jBN_Wu53EjD8qAh8zu1YOfCcA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i>Bonus video: A bit of footage from the Mass Rebecca attended at</i></div>
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<i>the Martyr's shrine in Buta</i></div>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-6598795879075141472014-06-15T15:06:00.001+02:002014-06-18T10:00:38.273+02:00The Last Dance <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skaRc8AylvU/U52TwBgG9XI/AAAAAAAAIdY/04c1x4LLG7g/s1600/P1090845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skaRc8AylvU/U52TwBgG9XI/AAAAAAAAIdY/04c1x4LLG7g/s1600/P1090845.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Oren preparing his two best toys, Alfie his spelling robot, and Cruncher his robot dinosaur, for our big moving sale.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Sunday afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rebecca and Oren are upcountry on a trip to Buta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a sight where a group of Catholic
seminarians, Hutus and Tutsis, being educated together in a theology of unity
made the choice to die together rather than be separated ethnically by a rebel
group that attacked and ordered them to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Rebecca will add a bit more on that next week,
particularly our decision to have her go up there with Oren (while she led a
pilgrimage with partners of the Great Lakes Initiative.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We felt it was important for him to see this
since he is old enough to understand what had happened and why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">This leaves David and I at home and for the first
time in what seems like weeks, we are actually alone in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is watching a movie which has finally given
me time to get a few reflections down about the past week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">These last several weeks are as intense as we have
ever experienced in terms of being overburdened with responsibility along with
some very exciting arrivals of friends and others we want to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying to sit down and write can seem
oppressive when you are trying sneak in a moment right before bed in which you
crash without so much as bathing, thoroughly exhausted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OpoFBxKUOXU/U52Tw7YFyTI/AAAAAAAAIdk/4-p0NjIKBjM/s1600/P1090846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OpoFBxKUOXU/U52Tw7YFyTI/AAAAAAAAIdk/4-p0NjIKBjM/s1600/P1090846.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">It probably began this past Friday when we had a
huge moving sale to get rid of much of our furniture and other items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren and David had helped organize this, and
each had their own table of their toys to sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(They were going to be able to keep their money and buy stuff in the
US)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren was definitely a hard-core
salesman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was however, hard on them
and we had a few meltdowns in the process, but that is to be understood I
suppose as the try to process what is happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Last Saturday, though must be preserved for posterity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was officially the last
folk dance we were hosting during our tenure here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did four this year and since we arrived we
have usually hosted about one per quarter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have become very popular, particularly in the ex pat. missionary
community and we wanted to be sure that the word got out well in advance of our
plan to host one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">This one did not disappoint and we had a very large
number in attendance including most of our service workers, the new Reps, a
majority of our expat. friends, with newcomers to boot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We especially happy to have some our
Burundian members of our small group there as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">The dances went well, and it is interesting to even
see an evolution of skill over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have settled into a routing of alternating line dances with different folk
dances, mainly squares and cotillions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we did have a new hora and ceilidh (the Dashing White Sargeant).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Before the last dance we took some time to do some
speeches to say farewell and explain the significance of the dances to us in
terms of knitting together our community.
I read something I had written in a blog 2 years ago (May 2012), to
describe the experience we have had of dancing together here. I am putting that quote in below: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cGLB9loYsTo/U52Txut4rRI/AAAAAAAAIdw/VqgIxMONuc0/s1600/P1090850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cGLB9loYsTo/U52Txut4rRI/AAAAAAAAIdw/VqgIxMONuc0/s1600/P1090850.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David doing Cotton-Eyed Joe</td></tr>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times;">It is at
the time of milestones that one feels inclined to reflect on the passage of
time, or in the case of living here, the passage of community. I can say
now as an International worker who has been in the same place for 4 years, the
meaning of the word 'community' has evolved for me. Rebecca and I are
very intentional about creating community around us. We did so in
Poughkeepsie and Baltimore and we have done so here as well. The
difference is that an expat community is somewhat unique. It sometimes
seems like a very intensely-colored fabric---a scarf or stole that is being
woven together at one end as rapidly as it is fraying and disappearing at the
other. At any moment it will be the same length as any other moment, but
the pattern will be entirely different. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times;">And so it
is with our communities here. I marvel at how fast they have changed over
the years and yet seem at every moment to be in some way stable. There is
on the front end of the scarf the continual welcoming and inclusion of
newcomers and simultaneous heart-felt <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Adieux</span> for
friends who are leaving for good at the back end.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eUdq8DF-LdU/U52Tx5d9YEI/AAAAAAAAId4/GhNqqIobXsY/s1600/P1090857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eUdq8DF-LdU/U52Tx5d9YEI/AAAAAAAAId4/GhNqqIobXsY/s1600/P1090857.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times;">One is
only a newcomer until someone else newer arrives, then the first newcomer
begins to take on roles of responsibility in the community and its sustenance.
At nearly 4 years Rebecca and I find ourselves in the company of a very
few people who have been here longer than us. There are a few 'senior
statesmen' life-time generational missionary families and a few expats who have
married Burundians and now call this home, but by and large we are the
oldtimers here. I realize that as time passes we will near and eventually
find ourselves at the unraveling end of the scarf and the threads of our lives
here will fray away leaving a continually mutating communal pattern making and
unmaking itself here in Burundi as people come and go.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times;">The
tradition of doing a folk dance was one we inherited from a missionary family
named the Carrs. They hosted a Scottich Ceilidh from time to time which
was a lot of fun. We inherited the house and the tradition of holding
dances here. Their particular favorite was “Strip the Willow” which for
us Americans became the “Virginia Reel”. We usually end our parties with
this one, and it seems to fit aptly the community I described above that makes
and unmakes itself--continually progressing forward and unraveling at the end.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times;">There is
also something unique and mysterious about a community that dances together,
especially this kind of structured social dance based on dancing figures and
interacting with almost everyone. It goes beyond what happens in
conversation or sharing food. I wish I could say what it is that is
special, but it seems to be such a ritual expression of what community is--a
vibrant changing, evolving pattern of relationships that create and dissolve
themselves in the perpetual rhythm of living in the moment---the present
experienced, instant by instant. The steps don't change in the Virginia
Reel but new dancers join each time we dance it here, often barely able to keep
up with the unexpected shift of unfamiliar patterns, while the more experienced
ones encourage them along in the routines that are as comfortable and
instinctive to them as a well worn path.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Y-8gDt-Nq4/U52Ty68QaGI/AAAAAAAAIeA/W5meQK3HtPM/s1600/P1090861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Y-8gDt-Nq4/U52Ty68QaGI/AAAAAAAAIeA/W5meQK3HtPM/s1600/P1090861.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Needless to say, we did end with the Virginia Reel after our speeches (and counter speech in the Burundian style- delivered aptly by Simon Guillebaud, one of the ‘mutamas’ of the ex pat. Community.)</span></div>
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Afterward we did dance the Virginia Reel together and it
felt particularly significant dancing with Rebecca as my partner down the line
of people and back off the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
lead couple finishes by making a sort of bridge which everyone passes under
leaving the leaders at the very end and a new lead couple to take control of
the dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4_ihcJnbbVE/U52T0PZ4hUI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/OHWk8H_2CJ0/s1600/P1090863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4_ihcJnbbVE/U52T0PZ4hUI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/OHWk8H_2CJ0/s1600/P1090863.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
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We had a feast together and at the end, many of the
missionary families and service workers stayed around to pray for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As usual, the dance ended and everyone was
gone by 9pm leaving us time to clean up before bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admit, I like parties that do not go too
late into the night these days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Because of the dance, we have had many service workers around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melody was down from Gitega and Julia and
Teresa were down from Kigali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a
full house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jennifer and Matt were also
around quite a bit with them as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our service workers are very easy to host though so there were no
complaints.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sunday was a surprisingly quiet day and Rebecca and I were
actually able to take a nap in the afternoon while the kids played.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We needed the rest after the party the day
before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stoner-Ebys meeting UCEDD in Gitega</td></tr>
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The week was a continuation of orienting the Stoner-Ebys and
we took some time to introduce them to partners in Bujumbura, and give them
some history of our work in the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The previous week I had taken them to Gitega where we had met our 3 partners and two service workers there.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Tuesday and Wednesday of this week were particularly significant
orientation days as a donor named Robin Wilde who heads the Foundation for Hope
in Africa, a co-donor to the Hope School, was in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to do some strategic planning at
the school, but also meet the new MCC Reps. to see if they could coordinate
some of their Hope School projects with MCC.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I know him quite well from previous trips here, but I wanted
him to meet the new Reps. so we made arrangements to go up the Hope School
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left Tuesday afternoon.
Pastor Wilde had brought his associate Roger, and the Stoner-Eby’s brought
their youngest son Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It was exciting to me to be bringing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>everyone up together, (the Stoner-Ebys for
the first time.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed the night at
the seminary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The priests and nuns were
happy to see us and insisted that Rebecca and the kids make one more trip up
before we leave town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met Innocent
there that night and had some meetings about the possible construction of
classrooms for the superior cycle of secondary school.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wednesday morning we went up to the school and were greeted
by drummers, dancers, a drummed skit, and many welcome speeches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We inspected the many completed projects, the
water catchment system, library, solar power, etc. and found it all in working
order.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We heard that there were 20 students sitting that day for
the national exam to go on to secondary school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We met with the teachers and directors and talked about strategic
priorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Luke took this opportunity
to play football with some of the other kids who were kicking around their
plastic bag constructed soccer ball. (They only use the real ones during school
hours to protect them.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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We left Wednesday afternoon after having a big meal together
at the Seminary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very symbolic
here to share food as a sign of solidarity and the gesture, was much
appreciated.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We got home on Wednesday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The end of the week has had its share of new
challenges as arrivals for a final conference hosted by Rebecca begin to
arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able, however, to have a
meal with Simon and Lizzie Guillebaud this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Can’t remember the day.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lizzie made a very tasty curry meal since we
were all lamenting the demise of Indian food in Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Actually knowing that the good Indian
restaurants are closed will make departing a tiny bit easier.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also did have a special lunch with Oren at Café
Gourmand-the best Belgian patisserie, in the Southern hemisphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have found the kids are starting to act
out a bit in strange ways and we are having a lot of conflict between
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sense that this is due to some
sub-conscious anxiety about all the upheaval they are seeing around them as the
house begins to get packed up and sold off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are particularly hard on each other, so we are trying to do things
separately with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oren finished his first week of exams and has one week
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seems to be on top of his
reviews and we are praying for the best.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The end of this week has included some visits from special guests including Melody's parents and Yolanda (our service worker from last year) She is here doing research for her dissertation and joined us for yoga and Saturday morning. <i> (I will add a picture to this post soon.)</i></div>
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Rebecca will be back in a few hours from her pilgrimage and
her return will be welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am no
longer great at the bachelor life and many things are not being done, or
missing from the fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We are nearing the last month of our time here, but will say
more about that later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still have to
survive next week!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwkgVAs1noiti__5NUmgpvTTTYi4dqO8UDrZ6H8piGKMQERHJvulxRSAbPAFlnWHQu-8M17s8MArrCzhTw_Ig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Bonus video, excerpt from little girls welcome dance</div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-83729855988933127292014-06-04T04:55:00.000+02:002014-06-04T09:34:19.135+02:00Retrospective and Transition at a Partners Retreat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d77iB8rQbYs/U46G3Lx1sSI/AAAAAAAAIb4/msSlRg0Dn7A/s1600/P1090709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d77iB8rQbYs/U46G3Lx1sSI/AAAAAAAAIb4/msSlRg0Dn7A/s1600/P1090709.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Berlin Wall set at the Fete de l'Ecole (20th century theme).</i></div>
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Oren woke up early last Saturday and nearly jumped out of
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Today is the day of the “Fete de
L’ecole!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly I was surprised at his enthusiasm
for the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the annual school
spring festival which features games, a bouncy castle, the sale of many baked
goods, beer (this is a Belgian school) and the ever popular ‘frites’ (better
known to us as French fries.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is also a presentation of songs and dances by each
class of the primary school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren has
participated in it every one of the past six years and David in the last
3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I do not remember in the past
was this amount of anticipation and enthusiasm about performing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The theme of the festival was the 20<sup>th</sup>
century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew Oren’s group was going
to do an antiwar song, but little else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had been working at trying to memorize it all week and learn the hand
gestures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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On Friday he told me he could not wait until Saturday to do
the ‘spectacle’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had been sent
home with instructions about time and place for gathering as well as costume
requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately Rebecca had
to lead a retreat for a peace group (GLI) on Friday evening which extended into
Saturday so I had to get them ready and over to school on Saturday afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We were there in plenty of time and I dropped David off with
his teacher to get ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren wandered
around while I found a seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other
parents arrived and I sat and reflected on the familiarity of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking over the blog in the past six years,
I am struck by how similar they look in photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each year feels so completely different, but there is, in fact, a rhythm
to life here, daily and yearly that is really easy to observe over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two major school ‘fetes’ the one at
Christmas and the one in the spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ex pat. Community is small and we see many of the familiar faces in different
settings: the beach, certain restaurants, at church, and of course at the
school fetes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it really
strikes me what a small town life we live here in that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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But I do find comfort in the rhythm and the fete signals the
end of the school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the next
month the kids in the primary school start their final exams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Belgian system the final exams count
above all else in evaluating a student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No continuous evaluation here, this is make it or break it and Oren has
to study like a med. Student in grade 3 if he is going to pass.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One thing I am struck by at the fete is how many of the
girls have passed through my ballet class over the past 5 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know many of the students and have seen
them grow up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know the teachers
and have certain expectations about what they will present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 3<sup>rd</sup> grade teacher Madame
Krystelle is always the most creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>M. Christophe is the funniest, and there are others that have a certain
reputation for being a bit riské for primary school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The fete does not disappoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stage has been set with a reconstruction
of the Berlin Wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first group (2<sup>nd</sup>
graders) do a dance to Pink Floyd’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Wall and end with a triumphal tearing it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I would say that the 20th century perspective presented was decidedly European with the exception of several dances with a Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse theme.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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David was an Aristocat from a Disney review in his class.
Oren’s class did an impressively well rehearsed anti-war song that the kids
sing loudly with much enthusiasm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
looked thrilled to be doing it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oren loved everything about the fete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Particulary because you can buy tickets that
can be exchanged for food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He waited in
line for half an hour for the Belgian ‘frites’ and had other desserts as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He is familiar with the whole routine as he has been to many in his life here.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Rebecca arrived shortly after the kids performed and hung
out there until dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually we leave
earlier but Oren really wanted to stay for the raffle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I think he mistakenly thought that since he
bought a ticket he would win something.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What I find really interesting though is how much he likes to just be at
the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He feels independent and
enjoyed doing the games other things on his own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We headed home after dark and watched a movie together,
exhausted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Sunday was fairly routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We went to church and had our small group in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer requests are always interesting and in
earnest there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray often for
bureaucratic processes to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
a Burundian friend with a Canadian wife who has been waiting more than a year
for his visa process to be completed. His wife and very young son really need
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point the passport is just
sitting in the Canadian Consulate in Nairobi with no information why it is
being delayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This kind of prayer is so
typical here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The experience of no
justice for those without means is now something I feel deeply acquainted
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea just how unfair life
is until I started praying with others here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rebecca and I had prayer requests of our own as we were
looking with trepidation at the week ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had two days to prepare for our partners retreat that started on
Wednesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were very unprepared and
had been distracted by numerous crises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our cook’s baby needed some attention since the past week, although was
improving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got a call out of the blue
Sunday from our service worker Jennifer to tell us her passport had been stolen
when she went to the airport in Nairobi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We spent some time communicating with MCC Kenya to get that sorted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So trying to prepare was hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q4KtJRK4eCU/U46G5UBJTOI/AAAAAAAAIcg/EZmA0S0E6NQ/s1600/P1090742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q4KtJRK4eCU/U46G5UBJTOI/AAAAAAAAIcg/EZmA0S0E6NQ/s1600/P1090742.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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After many false starts though we settled on the theme of
retrospective and transition and decided it would be good to look at the past
and then talk about the future, the transition and beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wanted people to talk openly about the
opportunities and threats they perceived with the transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were happy that the Stoner-Ebys were with
us and could hear this as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
retreat for the partners, another annual event, was going to be the opportunity
to introduce Scott and Anne Marie formally to the partners. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I spent much of Tuesday on a slide show of our past six
years, primarily field visits with partners to give them a chance to remember
with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had photos of all the
other service workers that have served during out term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca prepared several devotionals on the
theme of departure and change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One using
the text 1 Corinthians 3:1-15 was particularly relevant as it talks about how
we sow we did not plant and plant what we will not sow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We left after school on Wednesday. (The kids were off for
Ascencion day Thursday and Friday- a nice perk of living in a Catholic country.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We has 3 cars coming from Buja, one from
Gitega and 2 from Kigali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were going
to meet near the town of Butare in Rwanda at a Catholic Benedictine Monastery
called Gihindamuyaga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very pleasant
place where we have stayed for such retreats twice before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teresa translating a presentation by Jennifer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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All the partners were represented there as well as the
Stoner-Ebys, so we had 2 families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(That
gave the kids friends to play with.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
brought a childcare person as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The retreat went well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We gathered and introduced ourselves Wednesday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had several sessions and workshops on
Thursday as well as devotionals and hymn singing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the most memorable moments for me was watching a
movie together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a French film
(English subtitles) called Gods and Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Les Dieux et les Hommes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
about a group of Franciscan monks who worked in Algeria during the civil war
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time of crisis they were
forced to make a decision to leave or stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because they felt called by Christ to be there to care for the people
there, many of them were martyred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a very powerful film, slow moving, almost like a meditation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was unapolegetically ‘religious’ looking
deeply into the theology that motivated these men to make the decision to
stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the best films I have ever
seen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pL97p4yJOU4/U46G6TYi2II/AAAAAAAAIcc/utWyFBDEzJc/s1600/P1090773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pL97p4yJOU4/U46G6TYi2II/AAAAAAAAIcc/utWyFBDEzJc/s1600/P1090773.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">visit with refugees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Saturday we went on a field visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We intended to go to talk to the refugees at
the refugee camp for an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked,
one of our partners if we could see a field where they were doing Conservation
Agriculture on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained we
could stop for about 15 minutes to see one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He assured me there was one almost right next to the main
road we were going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 6 years of
being here I knew it was a mistake to add something to a program that is not
pre-tested, but I took the chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we
were leaving, another partner mentioned that the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese
would like to greet us at his church next to the refugee camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not happy about this addition as well,
but we set off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sure enough, the ‘short detour’ off the main road to see the
field took us nearly 45 minutes down one of the most treacherous stretches of
roads I have ever driven. I barely made it in the jeep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Stoner-Ebys had a smaller car and had a
real Baptism by fire into the world of ‘field visits’. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By the time we returned from the field we were nearly 2
hours behind schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went on to the
church where we had kept the Bishop waiting (second faux pas) .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A ‘greeting’ in this context means a
reception with fantas, food, sitting down, and several speeches back and forth
between him and some of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It added
another hour to our short visit to the refugees.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We finally saw the refugees at dusk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a very good exchange with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the partners had questions for them
and were interested in the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we finally left it was dark and we got home for dinner about 8pm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LI-ZJSDNrKE/U46G6mps-XI/AAAAAAAAIco/n5A2pU0DY6M/s1600/P1090781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LI-ZJSDNrKE/U46G6mps-XI/AAAAAAAAIco/n5A2pU0DY6M/s1600/P1090781.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BICC church and theological school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I can look back at it and laugh now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I will even miss these kinds of
fiascos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes miscommunication is
intentional here, I have come to see how it is used to get some advantage
somehow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The visit to the refugees was
still worth it, but I was reminded that it is hard to get and communicate
accurate (truthful) information through direct conversation here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am almost always told what I want to here,
even after this much time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We left the retreat on Saturday morning and got home mid
afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WFwo5XArbs/U46G7QAXP5I/AAAAAAAAIc4/nJf7UehALfw/s1600/P1090791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WFwo5XArbs/U46G7QAXP5I/AAAAAAAAIc4/nJf7UehALfw/s1600/P1090791.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basket race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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For our family the day was not over as there was a big
church picnic and gathering to say good bye to people leaving for the
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were expected to be there
because we were leaving soon and were getting honorable mention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another couple leaving at the same time as us
from the church was Peter and Linda Taylor (who I have blogged about
before).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There were games, a bouncy castle, and briochettes for a
snack. We had a nice moment of recognition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The kids were even pretty good despite having to delay their arrival
back at their house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did announce
our actual leaving date and had a chance to say goodbye to some who will be
gone over the summer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This week is busy with orientation of the Stoner Ebys and I
am heading up to Gitega with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have no doubt the month of June will fly by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are tiring but relieved to have completed the partners retreat, one
of our last big events that needed to be planned and executed well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the open discussion about transition,
particularly the relocation of the Rwanda Burundi program office to Kigali
(have I mentioned that here?) was able to be explained clearly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally I sense more anticipation than fear
about the future from our partners, and that is good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFockO7dPG0/U46G3o1FNCI/AAAAAAAAIc8/43IBK8kmZoU/s1600/DSC_0212_073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFockO7dPG0/U46G3o1FNCI/AAAAAAAAIc8/43IBK8kmZoU/s1600/DSC_0212_073.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Bonus Photo of the whole group of parnters and service workers this year at our retreat. An awesome team!</i></div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-41603824192618724122014-05-23T21:59:00.000+02:002014-06-04T09:43:19.201+02:00Advocacy Tour and Existential Ruminations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wu2n7yM1tHM/U3-bTSF4YqI/AAAAAAAAIZ4/TE-nnQ7MjvU/s1600/P1090639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wu2n7yM1tHM/U3-bTSF4YqI/AAAAAAAAIZ4/TE-nnQ7MjvU/s1600/P1090639.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Advocacy team with Rwandan partners at Friends Peace House in Kigali.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes getting this writing started seems to be an
existential problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is it that is
writing this blog?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like I used to
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am changing, a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe this is becoming more conscious to me
because I am able to see the end of the road from here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are less than two months away from
completing our term, but I don’t know in what way I will be going ‘back’ to
anything, because I don’t seem to be me anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This came to mind last week on a field visit to the Kigeme
refugee camp in Southern Rwanda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
been there several times before as we support a project there in conjunction
with the Friends Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We provide financing that has trained refugee
volunteers in the camp in conflict mediation and trauma healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They act as peer counselors and mediators in
the camp and have given testimonies about the amazing positive affect these
interventions are having.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ153MAcwZM/U3-bVMf7FhI/AAAAAAAAIaE/r3T9yl_NXec/s1600/P1090650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ153MAcwZM/U3-bVMf7FhI/AAAAAAAAIaE/r3T9yl_NXec/s1600/P1090650.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was there bringing some members of MCCs advocacy offices
(from the UN and Washington DC) to see the work we are doing in the
region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are trying to better
understand what policy recommendations we should be making to the UN and US
government with regard to the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The meeting with the refugees was very enlightening and we
stayed with them for several hours asking them questions ranging from how they
ended up coming to the camp, to when they thought it might be safe to return to
the DRC (in North Kivu.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The overwhelming challenge for them is having sufficient
food every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They get a set amount of
rations from the UN, corn and beans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
to grind the corn they have to pay a miller about 20% of their ration for the
month to have it milled into flour to be used for making the corn dough they
like to eat (fufu).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TpH0UKN0AQA/U3-bSNuQqnI/AAAAAAAAIZs/TElDSw5zfdE/s1600/P1090642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TpH0UKN0AQA/U3-bSNuQqnI/AAAAAAAAIZs/TElDSw5zfdE/s1600/P1090642.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Through all of this, what struck me was how completely
normal this felt to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting and
discussing very practically and thoughtfully how one might be able to eek out a
living for another day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt neither
horror, nor guilt, nor pity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was there
to help and to better understand them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And they did not seem 'other' to me in any way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all humans with very different
problems, but all of us want the same things, food to eat, some clothes, a safe
place to sleep, a place for our children to go to school, and a way to earn
some money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These came up over and over
again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pH9aUIRwGd4/U3-bWuthHtI/AAAAAAAAIaI/VYFVd6LGQ5k/s1600/P1090652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pH9aUIRwGd4/U3-bWuthHtI/AAAAAAAAIaI/VYFVd6LGQ5k/s1600/P1090652.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I appreciated the time with them and the advocacy team was
thrilled with the chance to hear from refugees in Rwanda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I left I was struck by this question,
of who I have become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When did I become
a person who feels at home with refugees?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who finds discussions of where one’s next meal comes from, a topic of
interest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I emerge from that world, and return to our guesthouse
to look at Facebook, the New York Times, or anything else, I find myself at a
loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These worlds seem utterly incompatible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find the partisan wars in politics
tedious, the injustice against the poor infuriating, and the obsession with
self-care and the endless pursuit of personal happiness, completely baffling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most surprisingly, I cannot imagine myself
ever being immersed in an interesting escapist TV series like Game of Thrones
or The Wire.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know who I am anymore or who is going to be going
home to try to reintegrate into my own culture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p20dO11XeWE/U3-drAOcD6I/AAAAAAAAIbA/lRQks1Q_5AU/s1600/P1090641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p20dO11XeWE/U3-drAOcD6I/AAAAAAAAIbA/lRQks1Q_5AU/s1600/P1090641.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The past week I was in Kigali to meet the aforementioned
advocacy team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went up with Melody Musser
who agreed to help me take them around to visit some partners and other sights
when I had other work to do during the three days they were there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Patrick Maxwell our Bukavu service worker, who had been down in Bujumbura with his dad
the week before, came up and joined us as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He plays an advocacy role with the DRC program so he was a welcome
addition to our team.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrived on Tuesday, a day ahead of the team who came
Wednesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guesthouse that we
usually stay in was full last week and we needed to find lodging elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended up at the Good News guesthouse in
the Gikondo neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can highly
recommend it if you need a place to stay in Kigali with hot water and excellent internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the team arrived we began our tour with a visit to the
genocide memorial museum in Kigali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
honestly have avoided visiting such memorials after my first year here because
it is not something I find I need to remind myself of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, it was worthwhile looking again
at the way that they are trying to preserve the memory of those killed---many photos and stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a good explanation about the events
that led up to the genocide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the
genocide is not the only thing that we want one to think of when
one comes to Rwanda, it does not help to deny it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a deep trauma that touches the life
of everyone here, yet no one talks about in a personal way, certainly not to a foreigner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent the late afternoon there before going out to
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were joined at dinner by our
SALTers and Mark, Angela, and Ben Sprunger, the MCC area Reps and their
son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had arrived in Kigali the same
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area Representative office for
Central West Africa will be re-locating to Kigali this summer and they are the
avant-garde.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhL1oJVRhsk/U3-dD5V7RQI/AAAAAAAAIao/1p20m9vwFws/s1600/P1090638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhL1oJVRhsk/U3-dD5V7RQI/AAAAAAAAIao/1p20m9vwFws/s1600/P1090638.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all enjoyed going out to eat at Sola Luna with the entire
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next morning the advocacy
team met with some of our partners for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a
local perspective on Rwandan politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Can’t say more about this as it is classified.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the afternoon Matt Gates took them on a
tour of one of our Conservation Agriculture projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a mishap enroute when the hood of
the Fortuner, not securely fastened after a fill-up, flew up and cracked the
front windshield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite this, the
visit went fairly well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday, their last day, was our most ambitious, we spend the
morning with someone from UNHCR who filled us in on work with refugees in
Rwanda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there we took a 3 hour trip
to the Kigeme camp I wrote about above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although we only spent a few hours there before making the 3 hour trip
back to Kigali, the trip was well worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the long drive home we listened to a Mahalia Jackson CD and for the
first time I really felt like I understood Gospel music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every song reminds you that things are bad
now but its gonna be be better in Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Where we are all going to get shoes!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think it makes any sense to listen to this in a culture of
excess, but here, after hearing the testimony, despair and hope of the
refugees, it really spoke to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are primarily Christian and thanked God even for our visit, and a reminder that
they are not forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They were obviously uplifted by our visit and seemed even happy, in the way that the gospel music seemed to uplift me on the drive back.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The advocacy team left Saturday for the DRC with Patrick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I headed back to Bujumbura with the
Sprungers, the whole family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several
MCCers stayed in Rwanda for a half marathon (Matt Gates, Matt Allen, Julia Downer,
and Melody Musser)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The amount of MCC
movement in the region is a bit crazy these days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dAUgPd4i7Pw/U3-dvFPcMNI/AAAAAAAAIbU/__-lLpEWC9s/s1600/P1090669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dAUgPd4i7Pw/U3-dvFPcMNI/AAAAAAAAIbU/__-lLpEWC9s/s1600/P1090669.jpg" height="302" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">English reading club Moms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I arrived home with the Sprungers in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angela Sprunger was here on business and was
going to do an evaluation of an AIDS clinic we support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was good to be back to see Rebecca and the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been busy with lots of social
activities, tennis, english club. The highlight of which was a Lord of the Rings Birthday party
complete with maps, bows and arrows, wooden daggers, swords and capes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Thanks Zack Johnson).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was good to be back into a normal routine again the
following week. We did have new guests arrive on Monday though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt Alan’s (our SALTer) parents were visiting from Canada
so we had a full house much of this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did do some touristy stuff with the Sprungers, like visit
Avril the chimp at Pinnacle 19. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rebecca was particularly occupied this week continuing to
watch over Marceline and her baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
had just finished explaining the importance of breast feeding the week before
when Marceline called Monday to say the baby was not eating, had diarrhea and
a terrible throat infection.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTPXe0lsJ5A/U3-dxdDkEhI/AAAAAAAAIbc/EcE5b0k6bAU/s1600/P1090687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTPXe0lsJ5A/U3-dxdDkEhI/AAAAAAAAIbc/EcE5b0k6bAU/s1600/P1090687.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Ben Sprunger with Matt and his parents.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rebecca went out and got her and the baby and took them to a
good clinic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was unresponsive for
several days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night she was quite
sure he would die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we went back to the
clinic this morning to find him in better health, the antibiotics apparently
worked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We talked to the doctor privately to find out about lab
results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He very matter of factly
explained that throat infections are common when an infant of 5 days is given a
uvulectomy! (cutting out the uvula in the back of the throat.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were stunned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would they do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her husband insisted that it was a doctor at
another clinic that said it was necessary, but the doctor at the clinic she was
at told us it was a common practice here coming from some traditional medical
superstition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is bizarre to me that they are very conservative
evangelical Christians who preach and sing in the choir, and would still go to
some traditional ‘witch doctor’ with their new-born to do this highly dangerous
and unnecessary procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes we feel like we need a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This episode encapsulates in a way our experience
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We work hard for change, we do all
we can, but so often we are clueless about the complex motivations and practices of those around us and we are foiled, in our efforts to make things
better. Even after six years we are shocked by new information we never knew. This is not the first time where
we feel like our work to assist completely contradicts the practices of those we
are trying to help. And they seem to be
their own worst enemies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are getting tired, perhaps the timing of the end of our
term is not altogether bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I still
don’t know who is coming home this August.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxetVcfTutBdWeBjipgaJOd121IsaMRsj5Jwso3qXTTK2jPlhMp3lZL-towLM_p63oDKDj0C6zgi8C5ODQqXw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Bonus video, David and Oren playing with Avril the chimp on the trampoline.</i></div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-50182216416125522162014-05-13T23:07:00.001+02:002014-05-13T23:08:08.689+02:00The Pain of Childbirth, Lost and Found<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L60ZUqSt_mw/U3KCAXnTNNI/AAAAAAAAIYg/iXVwftvVLCU/s1600/P1090621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L60ZUqSt_mw/U3KCAXnTNNI/AAAAAAAAIYg/iXVwftvVLCU/s1600/P1090621.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marceline with her new baby Jaquin Darvarcy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<blockquote type="cite">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is Rebecca writing this week. Our cook Marceline has
been expecting her first baby and she actually began her maternity leave in the
beginning of April. Last Saturday night, she got very worried; the baby had stopped
moving. She went into the private clinic where she had been receiving check
ups. The baby seemed OK, but they tried
for 24 hours to induce labor. By Monday morning, they were ready to do a
C-section. Surprise, surprise: this was Clinique Cesar.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wasn’t able to be there because I was scheduled to drive
up to Gitega on Monday morning. But I called when I got to Gitega and was so
relieved to find that Marceline had given birth to a healthy baby boy. I have
known of at least 4 women who have died in childbirth, including women of
means. I know we’ve said it before, but having a baby in Burundi is
nerve-wracking and dangerous, not a prospect filled with pure joy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had a good 24-hour visit with our two volunteers in
Gitega, Sata and Melody. It was also time to sign new MOU’s for our projects
this year. And there were some project issues to discuss with each of our 3
partners. So it was one of those packed visits going late into the night, and
starting again at dawn. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I actually even enjoyed the drive up and back, from the
perspective of having some alone time to listen to music and marvel at the
beauty of Burundi at the end of the rainy season. However, it was awful to see
the way the road has deteriorated this season. Part of that was due to the
catastrophic flood near Bujumbura in February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But further up the mountain, erosion is causing the road to subside in
many places, and even washing away the dirt and rock support from under the road
itself, so that it’s as if there’s just a bit of asphalt hanging out over an
open drop. Burundi will need to recruit some very talented and honest engineers
to fix that all-important road, as soon as things can move beyond the politics
of power.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I finished in Gitega early enough to get back to Buja by
mid-afternoon and so I went directly to visit Marceline. I was shocked to find
her in so much pain that she could hardly speak. The baby was apparently not
doing very well, on antibiotics and not nursing yet. We talked through the
issues, and it seemed like there were some GI issues that take time to get
resolved after a C-section. That’s normal and uncomfortable. But Marceline kept
insisting that she felt like she was not simply bloated, but full of wounds. I
started imagining all kinds of bad scenarios.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQ3f9tPR3h4/U3KCXwyjoTI/AAAAAAAAIZU/_0e25alKq90/s1600/P1090624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQ3f9tPR3h4/U3KCXwyjoTI/AAAAAAAAIZU/_0e25alKq90/s1600/P1090624.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud father, David</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went to speak to the doctor personally, because I realize
that having a Mzungu advocate can really improve patient care in this country.
And I was paying for Marceline to have her baby at this private clinic because
I couldn’t stand the thought of either of them losing their lives due to the
all-too-common kinds of malpractice one finds here. The doctor was jolly and
reassuring: She’s fine. She’s normal. I’ll take good care of her. I was
doubtful, but went back to her room and prayed with her and her husband and the
three other women hanging out with them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went back home to rejoin my family and on the way back, I
went over the situation in Marceline’s room. Suddenly, it occurred to me: when
I delivered my first son by C-section, I had morphine on demand for the first
day and I still felt horrible. That certainly doesn’t exist in Burundi. But
that wasn’t all. Marceline had no Percocet. No ibuprofen. Not even Tylenol. She
felt like she was full of wounds because she WAS full of wounds, with no pain
management whatsoever. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I found my David sick when I got home, so I couldn’t go back to
the clinic in person for the next two days, but I tried to keep track of things
by phone. Marceline was better in the evening after I left. But the doctors
refused to prescribe pain medication until I finally insisted on it when
helping to get her discharged on Friday. I was relieved to see the baby nursing
before I paid the bill, but Marceline was still hardly able to walk across the
room. It was a nice suite, with a salon and a bedroom with an extra bed for a helper (yes, you bring your sheets, towels and your own nurse), but the absence of pain killers (which is apparently typical in
Burundian health care) made the experience really awful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1yQth4_8R8/U3KCDV3kqZI/AAAAAAAAIYk/kXrCdiPwxhU/s1600/P1090629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1yQth4_8R8/U3KCDV3kqZI/AAAAAAAAIYk/kXrCdiPwxhU/s1600/P1090629.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoga brunch with lots of MCCers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had a fairly relaxing day on Saturday, with a big crowd
at yoga in the morning. Then we took the kids to Pinnacle 19 in the afternoon
to play with Avril the chimp. We adults spent time with one of our volunteers,
Patrick, and his visiting father. But it was a super-windy day on the beach and
the water was full of debris. So David and I elected to swim in the little pool
there. It was fun to play together, and I’m glad I have a kid who loves to swim
so much and take my mind off of the many constant stresses I’m dealing with
these days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday morning was special, but not simply because of
Mothers’ Day. (My impatient kids had to give me their gifts straight after
school on Friday, so you could say we celebrated early.) Paul was preaching, and I was teaching Sunday school, so that added a dynamic to the morning already. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfv2ZDtCONc/U3KCUmj4XOI/AAAAAAAAIZA/VasQHNASvxA/s1600/P1090612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfv2ZDtCONc/U3KCUmj4XOI/AAAAAAAAIZA/VasQHNASvxA/s1600/P1090612.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">early mother's day gifts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, our home bible study
was sending off one of our members to a new job in South Sudan, so we wanted to
seize the opportunity to share our experience with the congregation before he
left. Really, it’s been an incredibly stabilizing and encouraging thing to meet
with our international Anglophone group every Sunday afternoon. Our discussions
on the bible are so helpful, especially because many members bring an African
cultural perspective that is similar to the Hebrew perspective. But it’s the
constancy in prayer that I’ve appreciated most. And we’ve seen some really
amazing answers to prayer in the past two years. Yes, we are still waiting for
answers to a lot of things, even now. But we’ve had a precious experience and
we wanted to encourage other people in the church to be part of home cells,
too. We even sang a few songs that we often sing together in our living room,
including that oldie but goodie, “We are one in the Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5KejP4ZHwhU/U3KCEkJz-EI/AAAAAAAAIYo/YztsY6PHoGQ/s1600/P1090630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5KejP4ZHwhU/U3KCEkJz-EI/AAAAAAAAIYo/YztsY6PHoGQ/s1600/P1090630.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul, preaching for Mothers' Day <br />
(sorry no synopsis, but I was with kids!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later in the service, when I went forward with David for the
children’s prayer, I had a thrill of surprise: there was my bible in its velvet
case, sitting on the shelf of the podium! I had lost track of my bible two
weeks ago while in church. I asked the pastor about it last week, but it hadn’t
turned up in the lost and found. I had to resign myself that someone probably
had stolen it while I went to take the kids to Sunday school. Things like that
happen in the context of poverty. But here it was! Returned to me! I was so
happy and practically skipped down to the room where I was teaching Sunday
school. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where I stopped dead. My backpack was gone. Containing our
Bluetooth speaker. And all the crafts and books for Sunday school for that
week. My heart sank. I asked the other teacher, Lizzie, to look after my class
while I tried to find the church guard. He didn’t know what had happened, but
went to look for the other guard. I returned to our Sunday school, and when the
singing was over, I told the kids that my backpack was gone. I asked one kid to
pray about it, and just as she opened her mouth to pray, in comes the guard
with a smile on his face! My bag had been moved for safekeeping apparently.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A94RglnpwCo/U3KCGBrBkkI/AAAAAAAAIY0/wcAMKfjOzHE/s1600/P1090633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A94RglnpwCo/U3KCGBrBkkI/AAAAAAAAIY0/wcAMKfjOzHE/s1600/P1090633.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother's Day with mommy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I told my class this whole story, and one of the kids said,
what are you going to lose next? Your glasses? Your earrings? Oren? I said,
let’s not go there! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After church, we drove through town to drop off two church
friends. As we were stopped to let them off, Oren suddenly yelled, “Hey, that
guy took the iPod!” Sure enough, Paul had noticed a suspicious young man
walking close to the car and had locked the doors, but didn’t realize that
Oren’s window was down. He had been listening to an audiobook, and the iPod was
snatched right out of his hands. Then the guy took off running around the
corner.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After some moments of fury and impotent anger, Paul chased
after him on foot and I took the wheel and tried to drive around the block to
find the guy. We stopped to talk to a group of ne’er-do-wells ensconced nearby
(clearly a gang of thieves). Yes, they saw the kid running away, they knew who
he was. We promised a reward if they returned the iPod. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next we went to the Bata store, where “vendors” lurk
outside, happy to sell you cheap (stolen) electronics. Again, we contacted the
guy in charge (chef des voleurs) and promised a reward. All these guys wanted
an advance payment of 10,000 Francs for transport and communications to find
the iPod. We laughed and said, it was an investment. If they found the iPod,
they’d get money. Well, we did give the one guy 500 Francs. And then there was
nothing else to do, so we went home and changed all our passwords. Argh.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the friends who had been with us is the daughter of a Burundian woman
in our bible study. She’d contacted her mother right away, and it turns out
that the mother had come into town and reported the theft to the police. By the
time she came to bible study, the police had arrested two of the young men
loitering near the theft area, the same guys we’d talked to. We were really
uncomfortable with this – often the police just beat gangsters until they will
give the name and address of their compatriots. But Goretti said it would be
difficult to simply release these accomplices. We said, tell them to be gentle. By the end of bible study, these police had
also detained the man who had taken 500 francs from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They certainly were skilled in following our
tracks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the morning there was no new news. But at 3:30 in the
afternoon, Goretti called to say that the iPod had been found. We should come
to the station to pick it up. And here is where it really gets weird. We met in
town and walked through the crowded, chaotic streets around the remains of the
burned central market. Right up to the front gate. Shook hands with the cluster
of uniformed police, who exuded a mixture of curiosity, hostility and lewdness.
Went on through the barrier, right to this triangular bit of the market that
sticks out in the front, part that wasn’t burned. There were a couple of guys
milling around, in t-shirts and old track pants, mostly. They looked for all
the world just like the chief of thieves right across the street at Bata. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were apparently waiting for one of these guys. It was
stinking hot. The air was filled with this odd, fermented smell which I
finally realized was more related to the burned market debris still lying
around, than to any beer-drinking which had been done by the guys who were
chatting with us. No, apparently, the whole “team” had been working since dawn on my case,
and hadn’t stopped to eat or drink all day. Finally we followed the guy in
charge into a tiny room inside the apparent police station. The rough wooden
door had to be held shut with a broken metal chair. The chief (still in
t-shirt and track pants) explained to Goretti how they had pursued the case,
from the thief to the vendor to the man who had purchased the iPod this
morning. His assistant picked shreds of molten debris off of the slatted glass
windows, facing right into the destroyed market behind. Really, if I had wanted
to design a movie set of an extremely shady deal going down, I couldn’t have
dreamed up anything this good. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, for dramatic effect, the chief unzipped his pants pocket
and pulled out…our very own iPod. I couldn’t believe it. In that sense, these
guys were good at their job. There was a certain amount of haggling over how
much “encouragement” this team of plainclothes police officers needed to cover
the costs they had incurred in taking on our case. Really, looking around me, I
was sure that there was no budget for phone calls or taxis, let alone a working
chair (or door) in an office of the central market police station. The chief said
he was a Christian and so he wouldn’t ask for more than was needed. So I ended
up handing over to the police the exact sum I had promised as a reward to the chief
of thieves across the street. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And walked
away wondering to what extent they are really two sides of the same coin. But also elated to have our very personalized little piece of equipment back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bujumbura expat friends, if you get something stolen, you
could certainly try to report it to the police at that market station. If you
can find the place. If you can figure out which of the shifty guys in
plainclothes is really in charge. And really able, not only to find your stolen
goods, but to return them to you, rather than keeping them for profit.
I am certain that a personal home-village link had a lot to do with the
excellent service we received from the police. So it’s probably not worth
wasting your time unless you have a really good, generous friend like my friend
Goretti to lead you through.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul will be in Kigali all week, introducing yet another team from MCC to the complexities of the Great Lakes region. I'm here with the kids, trying to hold down the fort til Saturday. Hopefully, Paul will have all the interesting experiences for writing the blog next week!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQvr-_u4tdA/U3KCW8jacHI/AAAAAAAAIZM/13V5KHmq6eo/s1600/P1090599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQvr-_u4tdA/U3KCW8jacHI/AAAAAAAAIZM/13V5KHmq6eo/s1600/P1090599.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus photos: Oren with Boa at zoo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NB7WVc2x3VQ/U3KCVjb4-nI/AAAAAAAAIZE/Pze7E9-oK6g/s1600/P1090596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NB7WVc2x3VQ/U3KCVjb4-nI/AAAAAAAAIZE/Pze7E9-oK6g/s1600/P1090596.jpg" height="320" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No photos of those snakes mentioned above,<br />
must make do with the much more enjoyable<br />
snakes of musee vivante</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-70051813527201058532014-05-04T22:41:00.000+02:002014-05-06T12:21:07.103+02:00A VIP Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPkWR73EGD8/U2afLdTetUI/AAAAAAAAIWY/94LdNpeMKKo/s1600/P1090553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPkWR73EGD8/U2afLdTetUI/AAAAAAAAIWY/94LdNpeMKKo/s1600/P1090553.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Oren and David displaying bread loaves they made this Thursday as an activity that Oren suggested for holiday relaxation.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a change in the air and I don’t like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually noticed it this past week on a
trip upcountry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was on a 3 day field
visit and it did not rain once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
are looking at the sky nervously as the arrival of the dry season one month
early will spell disaster for the harvest of the first planting season of the
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The air is very still in
Bujumbura, and although it remains free of dust, I feel like I am adept, after
6 years of living here, at recognizing a change in weather.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reason for being upcountry this past week was to
accompany MCC’s executive directors from the US and Canada on a three day
visit to our programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ron Byler (MCC
USA) and Don Peters (MCC Canada) were in the region for meetings in Nairobi
this week, but came about 10 days early to see programming in Eastern DRC and
Rwanda/Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is a great
honor to host them, it was also a great responsibility and required no small
amount of coordinated planning with our partners to allow them to see memorable
things in a short time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QbR9g_y8STc/U2afDSoJfdI/AAAAAAAAIVo/Yu9NwrDnMfo/s1600/P1090505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QbR9g_y8STc/U2afDSoJfdI/AAAAAAAAIVo/Yu9NwrDnMfo/s1600/P1090505.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They arrived last Sunday by taxi from Bukavu in DRC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trip is under 3 hours and they got here
in the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had arranged for them
to stay at our house and were happy to host them at Chez Mosley, the Mennonite
Guesthouse in Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At almost any other time in the past several years, this
would have been perfectly appointed with constantly working electricity
(because of our back-up system) and 24 hour internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as it happened, our gardener plugged in
a high wattage lawn mower during our absence in South Africa and fried
our inverter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could not get it
repaired quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on the day of
their arrival a power surge somehow fried our router, so we had none of these
amenities on the day they arrived.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fortunately Mennonites at all levels are not complainers
about living simply, so when they arrived to a dark, internet free house, they
made the best of it without complaint.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
On Monday morning I left Rebecca and the kids in Bujumbura
and headed upcountry with them to see some of our programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started by traveling toward the Hope
School in Mutaho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our plan was to arrive
in the late afternoon and stay the night at the Grande Seminaire de Burasira nearby and
visiting the school in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of our other partners, the equivalent of Intervarsity
Christian Fellowship was also at the seminary for a 4-day seminar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was able to introduce Ron and Don to
them as well as have them meet Matt Allen, our SALT volunteer who works with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They were a large group, over 100 and we had dinner with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner, I had been asked to
give a talk (prior to our arrival).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
did a teaching on ‘the ministry of reconcilliation’ from 2 Corinthians 5,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went well and Ron and Don appreciated
seeing me speak in that capacity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For them, as representatives of Mennonite Churches in the US
and Canada, they were interested in seeing ways in which MCC made its identity
as a Christian NGO known in its programming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seeing me speak to a group of Christian University students gave a good
example of that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3X9sdtAPaA/U2agTmKtI-I/AAAAAAAAIW0/cmg5KMTbdik/s1600/P1090512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3X9sdtAPaA/U2agTmKtI-I/AAAAAAAAIW0/cmg5KMTbdik/s1600/P1090512.jpg" height="147" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent the night reasonably comfortably in the monk-ish
rooms of the guesthouse, then headed up to Hope School the next morning after
breakfast of a roll and some milk-less tea to dunk it into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(no butter, jelly, etc.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The school had prepared us a rousing welcome complete with
the traditional drum corps and some batwa dances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made a huge impression on our
directors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then visited every
classroom and greeted the students and ended with a meeting of administrators
and teachers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Innocent, our partner presented the school well and as a
former principle, Don Peters was very interested to find out about the
administration of the school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeANn_pZSk4/U2agwNq4t7I/AAAAAAAAIXI/juAx7_z_B_M/s1600/P1090516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeANn_pZSk4/U2agwNq4t7I/AAAAAAAAIXI/juAx7_z_B_M/s1600/P1090516.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the early afternoon we continued on to Gitega, the town
where we have three partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got there
in time for dinner and met Melody and Sata, our two services workers who work
with MiPAREC and UCPD respectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don
and Ron were interested in meeting our service workers to find out why people
join MCC and get a sense of who they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both women made an excellent impression on them and represented well
their motivations for working with MCC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had visited MiPAREC in the afternoon that same day and
after spending the night at a guesthouse in Gitega, we met our UCPD partner and
followed them by car out to Bukirasazi where they do their programming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw the vocational training program we
support, where students learn sewing, masonry, and carpentry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More impressive though was a visit to a
carpentry workshop set up by graduates from a previous year who were now in
business for themselves—impact!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGtqEriipUM/U2agwtCvyiI/AAAAAAAAIXM/60GB5Cyb6Yw/s1600/P1090519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGtqEriipUM/U2agwtCvyiI/AAAAAAAAIXM/60GB5Cyb6Yw/s1600/P1090519.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day was a long one though, and after leaving them we
continued South to Rutana province where we met our service worker Jennifer
Price and Help Channel, our food security partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They met us at an intersection on the road
about an hour from Gitega.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They escorted
us to a demonstration farm and several other food security and watershed
management projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over lunch with
them we talked about how they present themselves as a Christian organization without proselytizing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Don and Ron appreciated the fact that the Help Channel founders had come out of the same campus christian movement MCC still supports.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a late afternoon lunch we headed back to
Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got home about 6 pm, I was
pretty much spent and went to bed without dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually I had done my best to disguise the
fact that I had been suffering from diarrhea for the past two days and felt
pretty bad most of the last day of our trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was good to get home to get some Flagyl and oral rehydration
solution.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don and Ron left the next day (Thursday) and I think our
program made a very good impression on them, projects and staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yXVc7B8mSL0/U2agxWJ9VUI/AAAAAAAAIXk/nFpiZUsIxHU/s1600/P1090530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yXVc7B8mSL0/U2agxWJ9VUI/AAAAAAAAIXk/nFpiZUsIxHU/s1600/P1090530.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That day happened to be International workers day, so the kids had a school holiday. We celebrated by making bread, spending a few hours at the pool with the high diving boards, visiting the horses at Cercle Hippique and finishing off at Oren's favorite Indian restaurant. Friday felt very strange to be back to school!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Saturday was a return to normalcy with yoga, the Stoner-Ebys
have started coming, and we had a nice brunch with them afterward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the afternoon Rebecca and I took the kids
to the zoo where they can easily pass 2 to 3 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are so used to being there that we will
even open the cage of the banana snakes and get one out on our own to play
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had a very nice dinner with JJ and Courtney Ivaska, our
friends from World Relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our kids
played surprisingly well together and we were able to have some nice adult time
which was a treat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FjoloTH1zY0/U2agyPY5lJI/AAAAAAAAIXc/46cq2Ys2Cds/s1600/P1090542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FjoloTH1zY0/U2agyPY5lJI/AAAAAAAAIXc/46cq2Ys2Cds/s1600/P1090542.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weekend marked the end of two of the hardest weeks of
the year for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it was coming
after our South Africa vacation, but I was dreading it a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, with the South Africa trip it has been
a full month since I have been in any kind of regular routine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hard part of the past two weeks was that the week prior
to Ron and Don’s visit I had been in Rwanda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was the first visit there since before Lent and there were many, many
issues to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a
particularly complex conservation agriculture and savings groups project we are
running through a consortium of partners and there is no end of crises that can
happen in the management of this project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A visit was long overdue and our service worker Matt Gates was really
needing some input from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent 3 straight days in a dozen meetings, did about 5
straight hours of banking, checked in on the status of our registration in the
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of all of that, I had
brought the Stoner-Ebys for a visit there for their first visit to Kigali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a long-term goal of relocating the
country office there and they were anxious to see the City and the place their
kids will eventually go to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
had a good visit, but I had to send them out on their own with a taxi on
several occasions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkcZeOoDiSg/U2i2tiqf_bI/AAAAAAAAIYM/8Hp-zZWkeUM/s1600/DSC_1348_051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkcZeOoDiSg/U2i2tiqf_bI/AAAAAAAAIYM/8Hp-zZWkeUM/s1600/DSC_1348_051.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a>There were also other visitors including our Area Directors
Mark and Angela Sprunger, and Suzanne Lind, the MCC Congo Rep. who was picking
up Ron and Don from the airport when they first arrived and headed off to Goma
with her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt like I had been conducting a symphony by Mahler by
the time I was done with everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was so much detail and so many timings that had to be worked out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best news from Kigali is that the registration process
in pretty much at an end and we may now legally apply for visas for staff of
our independently registered INGO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
was no small accomplishment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t believe I have had enough ummphh this Sunday to get
this posted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mean to be losing
steam at the end, but things are really getting hard now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to look forward to the end, but
I am looking forward to a less intense schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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I am starting to look at job postings in the Baltimore area
that can capitalize on my experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Will keep everyone posted as things evolve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–forgive the lack of proofreading.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Bonus Photo: Some members of our small group and the family of Phillip, a friend who just accepted a job in Juba with World Concern. They leave Bujumbura next week. We follow them a few months later out of Burundi. </i></div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-12004902900828282112014-04-20T21:06:00.001+02:002014-04-20T21:06:52.649+02:00A Final African Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzsF_TkKA2o/U1QWftQyLkI/AAAAAAAAISo/2dI_qP7K3bM/s1600/P1090148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzsF_TkKA2o/U1QWftQyLkI/AAAAAAAAISo/2dI_qP7K3bM/s1600/P1090148.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Giant wall spider, they grow them big in Botswana where we spent several days of our vacation last week.</i></div>
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Not writing for two weeks makes the task even more
daunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why, at the end
here, finding the time to blog becomes more and more difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is true that we are busy, but there is
something else about life now that makes sitting and reflecting difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The last two weeks though, have been particularly worth
retelling as we had some very new and unique experiences during our spring
break holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is our last break
before entering the ‘end game’ of our term, and for what lies ahead in the next
3 months, we really need to be refreshed to sprint to the finish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Deciding what to do for our last break in Africa was not
easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought of many things we had
done before that were worth repeating: Kigoma or Zanzibar, TZ, Kenya, or the Akagera
game park in Rwanda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But since the
departure of our South African friends Tim and Jeanette, from Burundi, we had
always felt a desire to visit them and see South Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to visit Cape Town, which many have
raved about for its beauty and uniqueness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rebecca also wanted to go to Botswana where she had done an MCC term
more than a decade ago, and wanted to revisit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With that in mind, we began looking for reasonable tickets
and found that getting from Bujumbura to Johannesburg is pretty easy as there
is a direct flight from Kigali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left
Bujumbura after school on Friday in the afternoon to connect to the Kigali
flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found the family of one of
Oren’s classmates from the Ecole Belge on the same flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are Belgian, and while in the departure
lounge, we compared Easter traditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was surprised to learn that in much of Europe it is the church bells, not the
Easter Bunny, that brings the colored eggs and candies to children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a decidedly more Catholic tradition, the
bells leave on Friday afternoon (and don’t ring that day) to go to Rome to get
the candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They return overnight on
Saturday with the goodies and fly back to their towers to ring in Easter
Sunday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The flight to Kigali was short, less than 30 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our time between flights was also about
30 minutes so we had to rush to get the second flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just made it as they closed the doors and
taxied to the runway with us barely in our seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But just before takeoff the power went off in
Kigali and the runway went dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
plane had to taxi back to the terminal where we sat and waited for the power to
be restored so the lights on the runway would work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three hours later we took off for our 4-hour
flight to Johannesburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived late
at night and fortunately had a hotel near the airport that night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tx8p6BqMwtM/U1QWeyg8D-I/AAAAAAAAISg/rQ33Ihn7ECk/s1600/P1090157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tx8p6BqMwtM/U1QWeyg8D-I/AAAAAAAAISg/rQ33Ihn7ECk/s1600/P1090157.jpg" height="190" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">donkey cart in Gabane</td></tr>
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Tim, Jeanette, and Isabel picked us up the next morning and
took us to their town of Potchefstroom, about an hour from Johannesburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a smallish city, like Tulsa,
Oklahoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make this comparison because
South Africa is nothing like the rest of Africa in terms of development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is pretty much just like America, but with
more visible inequity of wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
town had malls, supermarkets and was pretty much indistinguishable from a
mid-size town in rural Oklahoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
surprised to see such a developed country in Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This was my first visit there.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Tim and Jeanette have rented a small house that is located
on a farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is attached to the main
farmhouse where the owner and his wife live. We spent the night with them on
Saturday and enjoyed catching up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim
was just handing in his dissertation and Jeanette has been teaching computers
at a technical school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isabel was in
school and learning Afrikaans, but still preferred English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and David were very happy to see each
other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgqFNiafCQE/U1QWuKoq80I/AAAAAAAAIT8/7UjaKZimsV4/s1600/P1090342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgqFNiafCQE/U1QWuKoq80I/AAAAAAAAIT8/7UjaKZimsV4/s1600/P1090342.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim and Jeanette</td></tr>
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Our plan was to go to Botswana first, and to leave the
following morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim very generously
lent us his Toyota 4X4 for the trip which saved us a lot on a rental.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Botswana border was only about 4 hours
from their house and Gaborone was another hour away from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left early Sunday morning following a map
we had printed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The drive reminded me a lot, again, of traveling in the
rural Midwest, miles and miles of farmland and prairie, very flat, fertile,
with long straight roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small towns
along the way had general stores, malls, and fast food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was honestly a bit strange.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Evidence of the legacy of apartheid was still apparent in
the poorer townships, built by the government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the equivalent of low income housing in the US, only it is more
spread out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the most bizarre things I saw on the trip though was
the existence of a white underclass as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Something I have not seen elsewhere in Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when we stopped at a fast food restaurant
an older white man came up to me and asked:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Can I watch your car for you while you are inside?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me aware that the settlers who came
here were not colonialists in the traditional sense, but rather, like the
pilgrims, people who came to live in what they perceived to be the Promised
Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The drive was long but uneventful; we crossed the border into
Botswana easily enough and made it to Gaborone, and then to the nearby town of
Gabane where we were to stay.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Botswana is also quite developed thanks to its diamond
mining industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It actually does not
really look anything like the dusty rural images projected on the PBS series
The Number One Ladies Detective Agency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gaborone
is large with paved highways, flyovers, and a skyline of skyscrapers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank and Margaret Taylor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Rebecca had been in touch with her old supervisor from her
MCC days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had been seconded to an institution
(run by this man) that did research on indigenous fruits in order to find ways
to make them marketable for export, so as to help rural communities earn income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name is Frank Taylor and his wife is
Margaret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is originally South African
and she is from the UK and they have spent most of their adult lives in
Botswana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only describe them as
iconic, in the ‘Out of Africa’ sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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They have labored to create a beautiful parcel of land
replete with almost every indigenous fruit tree in the land, and a fruit-processing
factory. They have also built many stone homes in the traditional round style
with thatched roofs, but fabulously appointed with modern kitchens, microwaves,
hot water, beautiful landscaping and every amenity for a restful retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They rent many of these to foreigners looking
for an escape from the capital city. Their property is also located on a series
of rocky bluffs and there are boulders everywhere that Oren and David were
thrilled to be able to climb.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Frank and Margaret Taylor were impeccable hosts, in the way
that I think is lost on younger generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were attentive to the children and had cupboards of art supplies, and
were always ready to invite us in for a cup of tea and conversation as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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They have been doing a lot with the ‘marula’ fruit in their
factory. We sampled marula juice, jam, and fruit leather that they are trying
to create a market for in South Africa among other places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(For those of you who have tasted the liqueur
called Amarula—that is made from the marula fruit.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The time in Botswana at the cottage they had made available
to us, was very restful, and I know had the spiritual impact of a sacred
pilgrimage for Rebecca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be back in
that place, see old friends, and old sights was very special for her, and to
share it with us was meaningful as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the highlights for her was to meet her old Bible
study small group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had been a new
Christian in Botswana and had profound memories of her friends there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was able to get in contact with them and
we spent an evening together having dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They all seemed to be doing very well many years later and we had a very
nice visit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We generally took it very easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hiked, watched birds, read, and
bouldered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took at least one longer
hike with Margaret Taylor and did some pretty high climbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally the kids did very well and really
enjoyed being with the Taylors who played the role of surrogate grandparents
perfectly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packed in for the 16 hour trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Upon our departure, Margaret blessed Rebecca with a special
gift: it was one of her paintings--a picture of tree roots and rocks,
beautifully textured and capturing the essence of the land there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margaret is an accomplished painter and her
work is quite sought after in the art exhibitions where she shows her work. We
were aware that this was a very special gift and one we never could have
afforded to buy on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it
will mean a great deal to Rebecca as a permanent reminder of her life and
friendships in Botswana. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We returned to South Africa on Wednesday after 4 days in
Botswana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got back in the late
afternoon to Potchefstroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the
day there Thursday with Tim and Jeanette getting ready for our trip South to
the cape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim and Jeanette have friends
with a cottage in a town called Dana Bay, a few hours from Cape Town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plan was to drive there in the 4X4. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I admit I had some trepidation about this plan despite its
cost effectiveness. It would mean traveling for 16 hours with two families and
3 kids, non-stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that it would
probably try even the most patient of nerves, and it did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will spare my readers the gory details, but we left at 5
in the morning and arrived at 9pm that night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I will say that the landscape was quite spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reminded me of the badlands of the Dakotas
in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we approached the Cape we
traversed a narrow pass through a low range of craggy mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did see some wildlife—a mongoose at a rest
stop, some antelope, flamingoes, baboons, many ostriches on ostrich farms (they are raised for meat),
and other livestock.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once we crossed through the pass the land became lush, hilly
and green, like going from the Columbia valley in Washington State through the Snoqualmie
pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made our way to the coast,
which had many towns and vacation style attractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dana Bay, though, is a more secluded retirement
community.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After finding the place at night with some difficulty we did
manage to get a good night’s sleep and woke up the next morning to find a
spectacular view of the ocean from our deck that sat about 500 feet over the
ocean on a hillside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were also very
surprised to find the weather was warm!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>April is autumn in South Africa and it is often cold by this time of
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were actually freezing in
Potchefstroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we were blessed with
warm weather here so we headed to the beach the first morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The beach closest to us was too dangerous to swim in but
quite beautiful to walk on and the kids enjoyed exploring, finding dead jelly
fish, building sand castles and running up and down large dunes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At low tide there are oyster-covered rocks
that are exposed as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The four days in Dana Bay and neighboring Mossel Bay were
relaxing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did go to some swimming beaches,
which were cold but not unbearable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
visited a museum and aquarium, and one day we took a hike in a nearby
rainforest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was quite an adventure
with a fairly steep climb up a high hill, and an opportunity to cross a small
river with a pontoon boat bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren
particularly enjoyed doing that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw
some fascinating birds including Turacos and the rare Black Oystercatcher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We had one very nice meal at a gourmet seafood
restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(They cleverly had a bouncy
castle in the back so the kids would leave the adults alone to socialize.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say it was a pleasant surprise to
find the Dollar is currently very strong against the Rand and everything seemed
extremely inexpensive to Rebecca and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Meals for 7 were as little as $20 at a fast food restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we were not moving back to the US in 3
months, this would have been a great place to stock up on goodies that we miss
in Burundi.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the end of our 4 days we packed up and made the return
trip, which was no easier than the trip down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were relieved to get back to their house and got a final good night’s
sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our final day together we all went to Johannesburg and
surprised the kids with a trip to a theme park:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gold Reef City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a modern
amusement park complete with 5 rollercoasters and many other rides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again the only difference between it and one
in the US was the price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admission was
$15 for adults and less for kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Oren was beside himself with excitement after experiencing
his first amusement park in Kansas City this past summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he was not willing to go on the scariest
roller coasters because he complained that they gave him too many butterflies
in his tummy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Tim was up for the rollercoasters so he and I did the Anaconda,
which is one of those hanging ones that goes through many loops and
twists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was one ride that did look
daunting to me, but Tim convinced me to try it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The whole park was built over an abandoned gold mine, and there is an
optional two-hour tour of the mine if one is inclined to go underground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there are several derricks left, over one
hundred meters high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One has a ride on
it that is essentially an 4 passenger car that is taken to the top by elevator,
goes on a track and plunges vertically 100 meters then goes into a pit where it
levels out and comes out and returns to the start point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine driving a train off a cliff and you
get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since you ride it strapped
in and facing down when it goes down the rail, it is in a word
‘terrifying’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even watching it gave me
butterflies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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But Tim convinced me to do it, and I did it, once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at least as psychologically scary as
it was physically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The slow ride up, the
jolt of the wheels set on the track, the tip over the edge then going straight
down into a hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ride over, return to
start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not get more vertical
than 90 degrees.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We ended the day with a ride on a giant Ferris wheel
together in one gondola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great
day and when the park closed at 5 we went to a chicken restaurant called
Nando’s. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
After dinner Tim and Jeanette dropped us at a guesthouse we
had booked in Johannesburg near the airport as our flight left early the next
morning and we did not want to have them drive us an hour from Potchefstroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We said our final goodbyes that night, had
some prayers together in the car, and then parted ways.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The flight home was far less eventful and we got back to
Burundi in the mid-afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Felix
picked us up and things seemed to have been fairly calm in our absence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived home on Good Friday and were a bit
too tired to try to get out to the service at our church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did a family service at the house and
talked to the kids about the crucifixion. In the evening our family went out to
Ubuntu for pizza.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday was a big day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Julia and Teresa were in town on their way to Gitega and stayed the
night at our house the night before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Julia was here for yoga and Jennifer Price came over as well for
brunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The highlight of the day though
was an Easter egg hunt organized for American kids by the American Embassy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were on the guest list and went over the house where over
150 eggs had been hidden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
interesting to see a gathering of every American family in the whole country in
one place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a surprisingly small
group and we all knew each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
actually a lot of fun with games like carrying an egg on a spoon, an Easter egg
hunt, and plenty of goodies like chocolate chip cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The US Ambassador was there as well as a life-size
cut out of President Obama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all had a
good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Easter Sunday was very nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The kids did get some Easter candy (thanks to our South Africa trip) and
we went to church where Simon Guillebaud was preaching this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us went out to Pinnacle 19 (where the
chimp is) to have lunch so we saw many of the same friends from church and the
Easter egg hunt.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was good to catch up with people about their
vacations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us are asking
questions about our future plans and our departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know what we are going to next but
we are trusting that God is in control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did have 2 job interviews in the past several weeks and we will see if
either bears fruit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This week begins with a trip to Rwanda for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, there will not be much routine left
with swimming in the morning in the weeks ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time to buckle down and complete the
work that needs to be done before we leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We are grateful that our replacements, the Stoner-Ebys look
more and more ready to take the reigns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
will be going with me to Kigali this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-85559869861347995242014-04-04T05:14:00.000+02:002014-04-04T05:16:02.626+02:00A Meeting, A Sermon, and a Final Curtain Call<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuDE_O0m4Ik/Uz4cWsuWH1I/AAAAAAAAIRs/ZjeeKV-sTK0/s1600/P1090129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuDE_O0m4Ik/Uz4cWsuWH1I/AAAAAAAAIRs/ZjeeKV-sTK0/s1600/P1090129.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a> <i style="color: #545454;">“Until
one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always
ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid
plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves
too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have
occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's
favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance
which no man could have dreamed would have come his way."</i><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">The
above famous quote, misattributed to the German poet Goethe, came to mind as I
reflect back on the past 10 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has
been a whirlwind of activities and has required us to be about as engaged as we
have ever been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, even finding
time to write anything down, and I am doing this because I don’t want to
forget, is quite a challenge as it is late, and on the eve of a departure to
South Africa for a 2 week (much needed) vacation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e1kytFSLHZA/Uz4cReEG9vI/AAAAAAAAIQw/xGUiz9ujiQE/s1600/P1090062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e1kytFSLHZA/Uz4cReEG9vI/AAAAAAAAIQw/xGUiz9ujiQE/s1600/P1090062.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">The
backdrop for everything that has happened are regional meetings for MCC that we
have been hosting in Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
two regional meetings per year, one is the larger Central West Africa meeting,
but this one is a smaller Great Lakes regional meeting involving the Rwanda,
Burundi and DRC program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">In
attendance were quite a few people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
area director Mark Sprunger with his wife Angela were there, the DRC Rep. Tim
Lind, as well as two DRC service workers, Michael and Patrick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From Burundi there was Rebecca and I as well
as the new Reps. Scott, and Anne Marie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Melody, one of our service workers in the domain of Peace was there as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julia, our Kigali SALTer was also
down for the weekend as she needed a bit of a break from the Kigali routine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnD5Z5hbJLY/Uz4cS7ZsKmI/AAAAAAAAIRM/QUaXt4uZlZY/s1600/P1090064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnD5Z5hbJLY/Uz4cS7ZsKmI/AAAAAAAAIRM/QUaXt4uZlZY/s1600/P1090064.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">The
meetings covered a broad range of topics, but there was particular focus on the
work of our Peace service workers on the first day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a fruitful conversation with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">The
second day of the meetings were more concentrated on issues we are dealing with
as Reps, particularly our transition out of here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is yet another milestone as this is our
last regional meeting before the end of our assignment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim Lind and his wife Suzanne will be
finishing their assignment in DRC as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1HhdY5IUBQ/Uz4cTIHdCiI/AAAAAAAAIRI/x1eMRlLUfpU/s1600/P1090069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1HhdY5IUBQ/Uz4cTIHdCiI/AAAAAAAAIRI/x1eMRlLUfpU/s1600/P1090069.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We
are not exactly sliding into the end as there are several visits by MCC VIPs to
the region, so we will have our hands full right to the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">The
time was not all work and no play though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We went out as a group on Saturday afternoon to Bora Bora, one of the
beach resorts along the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then went
out for Indian food that evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
also had another team dinner together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jennifer, Matt (our SALTer) and Felix with his wife Alice joined the
rest of us for this as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really
felt like we were a pretty significant presence in the region with all of us
together in one place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Sunday
was particularly challenging for Rebecca as she was doing a fabulous job of
hosting everyone, but also had been asked to preach at our church<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>several weeks prior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To pull all of this together during the midst
of a busy weekend was a huge challenge to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are in a series on the Beatitudes and she was given the topic:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall
be called sons of God”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">There
was a large contingent of MCCers in the congregation that day so she was under
pressure to do this well as we are considered to be ‘experts’ on peacebuilding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPA4MkuSn2g/Uz4cRS-Yo8I/AAAAAAAAIQ0/tTh8UydXUaM/s1600/DSCN0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPA4MkuSn2g/Uz4cRS-Yo8I/AAAAAAAAIQ0/tTh8UydXUaM/s1600/DSCN0015.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Rebecca,
in fact, began by observing the challenge we face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do many trainings in peacebuilding and
helped organizations and churches set up peace committees and other mechanisms
for conflict resolutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT we have
also found that some of the ugliest, most challenging conflicts have come right
out of the heart of these organizations and churches themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Case in point, in the past, the Legal Rep.
of the pacifist Friends Church here had to travel around with armed guards to
protect himself from competitors for his job.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Her
point was that peacemaking is a matter of character not training, and no amount
of expertise in peacebuilding makes us into peacemakers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Most
of her sermon concentrated on the only other passage in the Bible where
‘peacemaking’ is mentioned, that is James 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">13 </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by
their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. <b>14 </b>But
if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast
about it or deny the truth. <b>15 </b>Such “wisdom” does not come down
from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. <b>16 </b>For where you
have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil
practice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">17 </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #545454; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then
peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial
and sincere. <b>18 </b>Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of
righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She compared the two kinds of wisdom above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worldy wisdom that is driven by ‘selfish
ambition’ and ‘bitter envy’ and Heavenly wisdom that is pure, peaceloving,
consideratie, submissive, full of mercy, impartial and sincere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was struck by the truth that most conflict that I have
seen is rooted in the two characteristics of worldy wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bitter envy, selfish ambition, are truly the
drivers on conflct on an individual character level and can destroy families,
organizations, even churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
qualities of the second kind of wisdom, far harder to cultivate are the true
characteristics of a peacemaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her sermon was very well received and I think the MCCers
felt very proud of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a quiet
afternoon and went to small group a new member’s house, a Chinese woman, Cici,
who has married a Burundian and lives about a block away from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In terms of chronology the two days of meetings happened on
the Monday and Tuesday after Rebecca’s sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since most of the people gathered for the meetings were living at our
house, we were fairly crowded, although some of the younger service workers
were staying with Jennifer Price.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the big stressers for me during the meetings had
nothing to do with their content or hosting the group that was gathered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, I was aware of a very important (for
me) upcoming event that had been planned several months in advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the final presentation of the kids I
have been teaching ballet to this entire year at the Ecole Belge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year is my last of 5 years of doing this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt particularly ambitious for some
reason, and for the first time had taken all of the dances we learned from both
my classes and made them into a single ‘suite’ using the music of Swan
Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 8 pieces in all, so it
was quite an ambitious project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
To further complicate the matter, I was inspired to order
all of the kids tutus and white tights for their show this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 4 years ago, as I tried to improve the
classes, I discovered that I could order ballet shoes from China for a
reasonable price in bulk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started
doing this at the beginning of the year every year to be sure every child had
ballet slippers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing
resembling a ballet supply store in Burundi or anywhere in Central Africa, I
believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this was the most cost
effective thing to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the past I had also bought mirrors and had barres welded
together for the studio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But adding
tutus was really a leap of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
outfits from China cost about $ 10 each and there were about 30 girls
participating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guessed at the girls
sizes and ordered 30 plus shipping by DHL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I cut it tight ordering less than a month in advance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
When they arrived, they were very cute, but I found that 4 did
not fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was willing to leave well
enough alone, but once you introduce such an element the mothers and the girls
who did not have tutus were about to throw a fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I frantically began emailing my China supplier to have them
rush me 5 more tutues with little hope that they would make it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the time went by in the meetings, I had
this in the back of my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got DHL
confirmation of their departure from Hong Kong Sunday and they were in Nairobi
by Monday afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Tuesday
afternoon they had arrived in Bujumbura, but finding who had accepted delivery
was difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Miraculously I did get them all by Tuesday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day before the show!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was one small stress reducer, but there
are many many other things that can go wrong before such an event, or
during.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having this hanging over my head
and hosting the large group of people for the regional meeting was definitely
about as much as I could take.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The day of the show, I brought all the costumes and all 30
kids showed up early as instructed,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
had all done their hair as per my request and miraculously, every single kid had
a tutu, tights, and shoes that fit well enough by the time I distributed the last 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had a back up speaker and ipod that ran on batteries if the power
failed, so was as ready as I could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
knew the kids would invite many friends and family, but was surprised to see
over 100 people, including the two directors of the primary and
secondary school, as well as my Area Director and his wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did feel that the kids were ready, we had had a rehearsal
and the show began at 5pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to
say, with the costumes, music, and audience, the event was truly magical and exceeded even my
highest expectations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did many dances and I explained the story of Swan Lake to
those gathered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The music was familiar
and each of the groups (beginner and intermediate) had two dances with everyone
in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had set the little swans
variation that everyone knows (modified for begnners).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also put in an adagio using Camille Saint
Saen’s Dying Swan music for some of the oldest girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren and another boy who had been
participating did a duet for the Princes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>complete with swords and battle axes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Unfortunately one boy could not make it so I had to sub. In for the
performance, but Oren was awesome.) The finale was a crisscross of chassees and
grand jetes for all of the kids together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It was greatly appreciated by the spectators and at the end I was very much
surprised to be presented with flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
announced with sadness that this was my last class of my last year doing
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was struck by a parallel to the last time I received
flowers for a performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was six
years ago after my final presentation of the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre as
their Artistic Director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood at the
Bardavon theater in Poughkeepsie New York before more than 1000 people and
received flowers on stage, surrounded by the dance company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt very appreciated after 8 years of hard
work with that company and received thunderous extended applause.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yet here, surrounded by 30 little girls, in Burundi, in a
concrete floored gym, I felt an equal sense of pride and accomplishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last job I had was paid, carried a certain amount of prestige and I loved it. This time it has been more of a part-time hobby, but I have loved it just as
much, if not more!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-31qJVtzQ9JQ/Uz4cWW5M7VI/AAAAAAAAISA/hA6U8nEnt9M/s1600/P1090128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-31qJVtzQ9JQ/Uz4cWW5M7VI/AAAAAAAAISA/hA6U8nEnt9M/s1600/P1090128.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it worth it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
stress? The challenges of no electricity, inadequate facilities, no support,
and really no idea in anyone’s heads of what ballet is?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is where I reflect on the quote from the beginning on
commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truthfully, if I did this,
or anything else in my life based purely on my moment by moment feelings--particularly those feelings driven by worldy motives like envy and selfish ambition. I would have done nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing
is <b>worth it</b> if it is done purely for those reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But commitment takes on a life of its own and offers
rewards that are intangible but profound, I have found after many years in the
field of dance as well as in my work with MCC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Putting on a production of Swan Lake for no financial remuneration, no
fame, no reason at all, other than the desire to realize it, is the best
motivation of all, and I have never regretted giving myself greatly in bringing
something to fruition for its own sake. What, I think makes it rewarding is to see how being committed is infectious. If I take it seriously, others do too, and the event begins to take on a life and meaning all its own that far exceeds anything one ever imagined would happen in ones own power. I would even add that I feel God's blessing and favor on things that we do with such pure motives--not personal gain, but simply a labor of love, for its own sake. I will treasure these memories in my heart for the rest of my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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We are more than ready for our vacation which begins this
afternoon when we board a plane to Johanesburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After that, we really enter the end game of our term here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Bonus video. This is one of the dances the older girls did in the production.</i></div>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-28018812821540843672014-03-24T14:34:00.000+02:002014-03-24T14:39:04.698+02:00The Replacements and the Penultimate Folkdance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5JQTIX1NZFk/UzAjDltz7AI/AAAAAAAAIII/xPTKraWVjR4/s1600/P1090059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5JQTIX1NZFk/UzAjDltz7AI/AAAAAAAAIII/xPTKraWVjR4/s1600/P1090059.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Lenten Devotionals: Oren lighting a candle on Sunday night as we are memorizing a Beatitude each week during lent. </i></div>
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Too many days without an update and this one should really
write itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is going very fast,
and it is hard to set aside the time to reflect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually I had envisioned the title for this
blog more than a month ago as we anticipated the arrival of the new MCC Reps.
who will do a 5 month hand-over with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But now that they are here, I don’t feel like I have much time to write.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nothing makes it more clear that your leaving as having your
replacement show up in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say
we are moving into the ‘end game’ of our term, but life here is so busy and
everything seems so focused on the present that it is hard to project more than
a week into the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Stoner-Ebys (Scott, Anne Marie, Samuel and Luke) arrived
on Brussels Airways one week ago (Sunday night).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got here without a hitch and were
actually waiting in the airport with all of their baggage when we pulled up
with our car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It was about 9pm and we brought them to our house for
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We had gone a family to pick
them up.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have arranged for them to
live in the flat beneath our service worker Jennifer’s house, but we thought
they might want to eat before settling in for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a nice visit together and the four
kids (ours and theirs) jumped on the trampoline for over an hour before we got
them all back to their house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the
ideal school night, but Oren and David did do well making Samuel and Luke feel
welcome.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next day, orientation to life in Burundi for the next
several months for them began in earnest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had them over most of the day Monday to talk about basics, how to get
around, get money, find places, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
provided them with one of our cars (the Raum) so we are back down to one car
until the end of term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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On Monday evening we had a small gathering of Bujumbura team
members and Felix to meet them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went
to Ubuntu, which was the first place we were taken out to dinner as newly
arriving Reps. when we began, and it is a great place to take in the charm of
Bujumbura by the lake at sunset while enjoying good Italian pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids enjoyed seeing the crowned cranes
which we have become so used to, but are really quite spectacular to see up
close, walking around the grounds freely.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tuesday, I took them around to visit the Kings school and
other venues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also a good
orientation for me as our kids attend the Ecole Belge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For any Anglophones thinking of moving here,
the Kings school really offers a very impressive curriculum complete with
computer courses, sports, African drumming and other activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the British system so getting used to
some of the vocabulary is different ('form tutor' instead of homeroom teacher for
instance). But on the plus side for Americans, the kids are put into ‘houses’
for the year for sports competitions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Samuel was quite pleased to be put into “Rusizi house” with another kid
his age named Harry (the headmaster’s son).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From what I can tell though, Quiddich is not one of the sports offerings
and the headmaster’s name is Jeremy Wisdom, not Dumbledore. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The kids started school on Wednesday and Scott and Anne
Marie began language study. I did
accompany them on their morning commute on Wednesday and Thursday to help them
negotiate the best shortcuts through rush hour traffic, but by Friday they were
on their own and able to do it all themselves.
They even made a trip on their own to the zoo on Friday afternoon.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rebecca did a lot of work holding down the fort at the
office and also getting our kids to their normal activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since we are at the end of our fiscal year
there has been a lot of extra reporting to do, and there have been quite a few
meetings for her to attend and let people know she will need to be replaced in
the near future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has asked to step
down from the church Elders committee among others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is interesting to note though is that
saying you are leaving tends to mean people want to double down on your
workload and social obligations rather than lighten them, so this has all
proved to be a bit stressful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Among the highlights for activities with the kids was a
Birthday party for David last Saturday that we all went to. Imanzi is one of David’s Rwandese friends who
invited the families to a party. They
had a very nice gathering with several of their colleagues from Pakistan and
Somalia. Among the games was a live
version of Angry Birds featuring a giant slingshot, tennis balls, and empty
cereal boxes as buildings. It was quite
a bit of fun that even the parents enjoyed.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another exciting highlight has been the long hoped for
reopening of the pool at Entente Sportive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pool was a favorite of Rebecca and I for a morning swim in a 35
meter pool, but also a favorite of the kids because it offered some cool
features like a 3 and 5 meter platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were told last October (2012) that they would close for two months
for renovation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True to form the
renovations took 16 months because of delays in receiving new tiles (and
probably many other reasons.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not
think we would see it reopen before our departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it opened a couple of weeks ago and after
trying it ourselves, we took the kids last Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren and David were delighted to go back
after a year and David swam in all of the smaller pools that connect to the
larger pool with the platforms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren, to
my surprise walked right up to the top of the 5 meter platform and jumped
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been afraid to do that a
year and a half ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then proceeded
to jump off another 30 or so times after that over the next 2 hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pool is a bit shorter as they added a wall making a
smaller pool for beginning swimmers at the shallow end of the larger pool, but
I am just happy to see it open again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sadly they are still using the archaic heavy metal vacuum system that
they have had since the 1960s to clean the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the main reason that the tiles
pre-renovation were being damaged at the bottom of the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize now though, that I can’t change the
world, so I am learning to accept small positive changes--at least we can swim
there again before we leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rebecca also took the Stoner-Ebys over there with our kids
again this past week, and they all apparently enjoyed it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a certain pleasure in showing
someone new to a place all of the fun things to do there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The main highlight of the week though was the Penultimate
Folk Dance we hosted at our house this past Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLnIZSIRmWs/UzAjBr4ltuI/AAAAAAAAIH4/C-fZ5NG8bn0/s1600/P1080995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLnIZSIRmWs/UzAjBr4ltuI/AAAAAAAAIH4/C-fZ5NG8bn0/s1600/P1080995.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is not often in life that one gets to use the word
penultimate, but Rebecca and I do know that we want to host one more dance at
the end of the school year before we leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We did see a window to fit one in this month so we sent out an email to
let friends know about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times this
has been a very well attended event drawing friends and friends of friends from
far and wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one was no exception
to the rule as we had, counting children, at least 70 people at our home for
dancing and a potluck dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aqCWuF1tZg/UzAjCOtqABI/AAAAAAAAIH8/9HJ1cleGdfE/s1600/P1080998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aqCWuF1tZg/UzAjCOtqABI/AAAAAAAAIH8/9HJ1cleGdfE/s1600/P1080998.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The dancing was a lot of fun, some of it led by the kids who
really like the line dances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did
several square dances, a cotillion, and Strip the Willow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the work that goes into preparing
these dances (which we have down to a science now), I realize how much we will
miss these when we get back to the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even if we wanted to, we would never be able to host a dance in our
small living room, nor do I think could we gather a group of 50 close friends
to come and join us on a Saturday afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is definitely a labor of love and a way that we have been blessed,
and hopefully been a blessing to our community of friends here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We cleaned up the house Saturday night and were ready for church
on Sunday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I appreciated being
able to hear Emmanuel Ndikumana preach again, whom I have written about
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a prophetic voice in
Burundi in my opinion and preached on the Beatitude:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be filled.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could not do the sermon justice in a synopsis but did point out some
interesting points including the fact that the word for righteousness in French
is Justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he went much further
than that and connected it to the story of the Pharisee who prayed thankfully
that he was not a murderer, adulterer, thief, or even a tax collector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the tax collector beat his chest and
prayed, “Lord have mercy on me a sinner.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Emmanuel pointed out that despite the tendency for us to
think of Pharisees as ‘hypocrites’ he took the prayer as sincere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man was thankful that he was not like
those men and probably was earnest in obeying the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT he was ‘filled up’, not hungering, for
righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He challenged us with the
fact that many of us who are Christians tend to be like that as well—We may
feel better about ourselves than others because we are not like ‘them’ in their
weaknesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are ‘basically good’ and
do not ‘hunger and thirst’ anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
Jesus makes the point in the beatitude and the parable that it is in fact those
who earnestly desire that are blessed, not those who feel they have arrived at
righteousness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SALRnk6ma3g/UzAlflVpHeI/AAAAAAAAIIc/_Y9TbcvRzCo/s1600/P1090010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SALRnk6ma3g/UzAlflVpHeI/AAAAAAAAIIc/_Y9TbcvRzCo/s1600/P1090010.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avril greets Sam and Luke to Burundi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday afternoon we took the Stoner-Ebys out to Pinnacle 19
to enjoy the beach and also for the kids to see the free roaming
chimpanzees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avril (the baby chimp) did
not disappoint as she gleefully played with them, climbed on them, and cheekly
stole their shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had a great
time with her, then we all played in the Lake after lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca and I got home just on time for small
group.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I begin the search for a new job near the house we are
returning to in Maryland, I become more and more grateful for what we have
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will profoundly miss the
routines here when we are gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To swim,
read the Bible and pray with Rebecca every morning before work, to come home
for lunch with the kids before going back to school and work in the afternoon,
to have most weekends for family time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are the things that are hard to find in a culture that is bent on
success and efficiency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
complained of the work ethic here when I needed to find a bank or store open at
lunchtime, but truth be told, I would trade away much of our American
work-ethic for less stuff and more leisure time with family.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The week ahead will prove to be challenging for work and
hospitality as well as we are hosting a regional meeting at our house and our
cook (who is pregnant) was in a bus accident is on bed rest until at least midweek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayers are appreciated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwgSW-_FVaFgL6Ct_2VrEkoEtJC_iAjzbblY7FSxJV4ZAR4TppS_DFJvUR23gN1kmMxfsmIgTtpI38QI_o5zg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Bonus video: Oren conquering the 5 meter platform.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-84596347699608339612014-03-13T06:59:00.001+02:002014-09-08T08:26:46.095+02:00Oren's Perfect Day<div class="MsoNormal">
This is Rebecca, pitching in to write a short blog this
week, since Paul is spending much of his “free time” in the evenings applying
for jobs in Baltimore (when he’s not answering work emails). <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, last Monday, we arrived in Kigali in the evening. We
immediately had a meeting with our agronomist in Kigali. (Here David, play with
this; Oren, here’s the iPod) Following that meeting, let me just say that Paul
and I had a lot to discuss, ponder, search MCC policy about, check with HQ
about. At any normally unscheduled point during the week, we found that we had a
lot of processing to do from that first meeting. We went to dinner at a coffee
shop, because the kids love the ice cream there (David, you have to keep your
shoes ON in the restaurant. No, you can’t climb on the couches, even though I
know you just had 6 hours in the car. And you absolutely can’t run on all fours
through the restaurant! Oren, don’t knock over your drink! Here, let’s come
read this story while we wait…)</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJmHt2hjv-s/UyE3QpUK7bI/AAAAAAAAIFg/h_0A49Gff3w/s1600/P1080814_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJmHt2hjv-s/UyE3QpUK7bI/AAAAAAAAIFg/h_0A49Gff3w/s1600/P1080814_2.jpg" height="284" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team dinner with visiting parents</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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The remaining two full work days in Kigali (with kids in tow)
were along the same lines. Fortunately, the next morning visiting parents of a
volunteer entertained our children wonderfully while Paul and I were able to
sit together in a meeting with all our Rwanda partners. It was a very necessary
and productive meeting, and we were glad to have all brains on deck and to all
be on the same page at this stage in the beginning of the fiscal year. It is
this group of partners that works together on our new Conservation Ag adoption
program, as well as a project to encourage community savings groups. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But from there, off to the bank (Oren, David, while daddy’s
in the bank, let’s go buy some more MALARIA MEDICINE! Isn’t that fun! No, wait
don’t crash each other’s heads into the pharmacy mirror!!!) And then a meeting
with our Rwandese consultant facilitating INGO registration (I know David, why
don’t you pick up colorful bottle caps off of the stony restaurant ground, and
then enjoy your buffet lunch with your dirty hands!) From there, another
meeting with a partner about one particular education project – at that point,
it was obvious that the boys would not sit calmly in someone’s office, so Paul
took them back to the guest house and I handled the meeting. Good thing they
had a little time of liberty because for dinner we were off to enjoy Ethiopian
food with our Kigali-based team, a favorite choice among the adult set (What! I
thought we were going to have pizza, mom! I hate that funny bread!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wednesday we had an early meeting about a new, exciting
project in Discipleship for Development. Fortunately again, we met at the home
of the Friends’ missionaries which has a trampoline and an excellent book
cupboard, so the kids were not too hard to handle. But immediately afterwards,
we had other partner meetings (So, here are your markers and paper David, draw
me something nice in the corner of this office. OK, fine Oren, you can rot your
brain watching Mickey Mouse for a while.) </div>
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Those were not the most fun meetings
either. We did treat the kids to a great pizza lunch (not shared by us since it
was the beginning of the Lenten season) before dropping Paul off at another
Peace-building partner meeting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally I had a little time with the kids not in meetings,
so of course we celebrated by going to the dentist! Everyone’s favorite
activity! David was scared, but Oren was brave and good thing, too. He had the
beginning of his first cavity to be dealt with. I was glad we had worked that
into the schedule. </div>
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And then we did something else the kids love (no, really!):
the Elephant store. No elephants for sale there, just a big bronze statue at
the door, but it is a novelty for the kids to go into a real Kenyan-style
supermarket (Nakumatt). I needed to get a few missing household items for our arriving Rep
replacements and tried to turn it into a scavenger hunt. But we just can’t seem
to get the idea of all being on the same team, rather than being in a brotherly
competition. So that errand involved much whispered screaming from me as the
kids crashed their carts together and nearly mowed down a pair of Slovakian
nuns. And it was hot. And we were thirsty. Ice cream and coffee respectively
became necessary at a certain point. </div>
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But there was still a burned out computer
power cord to replace. (Oren, David you can’t run in circles in here, there are
BREAKABLE things in here! OK, go in the hallway. No, don’t run in the hallway!
Oh, have mercy, let me get that cord and get out of here!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back at the guesthouse, I frantically tried to finish a few
work emails I’d promised partners while David and Oren played in the garden
(Mommy, we’re playing this game that it’s the end of the world! Come play with
us! It’s fun!). Then we picked up Paul from his 4 hour meeting, bowed out of
another dinner out with different team members, and just had burritos as a
family to try and decompress. There was still lots to do in terms of responding
to partners when the kids were asleep, and we didn’t get it all done. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the drive back to Burundi, I sat with Oren for a while
(we were transporting 3 partners back to Burundi). We had already decided that
Friday would be a comp day, after the loss of the previous weekend. And we
decided that we would give Oren the chance to design his own perfect day of
rest. </div>
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So this is the day he came up with:<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S4W3grtCZEQ/UyE2aOb97KI/AAAAAAAAIEw/PpIL0Awit9o/s1600/P1080833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S4W3grtCZEQ/UyE2aOb97KI/AAAAAAAAIEw/PpIL0Awit9o/s1600/P1080833.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Breakfast: pancakes with butter and syrup</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Play Sorry</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Go to the zoo</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Make your own cardboard pet</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Lunch at home: Ham sandwiches</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Play Candyland</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Treasure hunt</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Go to the “cold pool beach” (Bora Bora)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Dinner: Indian restaurant (Koh-i-Noor)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Family
Movie Night: Peter Pan</span></li>
</ol>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Two weeks ago was our last day of rest as a family (and we
were even missing Paul because he was preaching up-country). So it was so
wonderful to wake up in the morning and to know we could just be us for a day.
And also, we’ve almost never had a completely open day since every weekend
involves hosting yoga on Saturday morning and going to church on Sunday. Even
better, we parents didn’t have to make any decisions because Oren had already
made them for us, and he was happy with all of them! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t16lU0gYqog/UyE2Z6JzWCI/AAAAAAAAIE8/HjZgHnQuHgY/s1600/P1080829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t16lU0gYqog/UyE2Z6JzWCI/AAAAAAAAIE8/HjZgHnQuHgY/s1600/P1080829.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">feeding Kita</td></tr>
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I must admit that I didn’t
get up in time for the Pancakes myself, but the game of Sorry was really fun.
The zoo was wonderful – we’ve never been there as early as 9:30 am. Paul and
the boys made a video walk through of the zoo, so that we can remember this
favorite place when we leave. I really enjoyed feeding peanuts to Kita the
chimp. After a bit, the zookeeper brought out a basin of weird breakfast mush
and handed it to me so that I could feed that to Kita also. I asked what it
was, and he said, “well, of course, it’s bread soaked in tea!” It was very fun
to spoon that into Kita’s mouth as she sat there blissfully folding her arms
and sticking out her lower lip. I guess everyone enjoys a cuppa to start the
day!<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzPM7ehm_eY/UyE2bmFdokI/AAAAAAAAIFQ/zn_-1ZuuXBo/s1600/P1080900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzPM7ehm_eY/UyE2bmFdokI/AAAAAAAAIFQ/zn_-1ZuuXBo/s1600/P1080900.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cardboard pets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The cardboard pets activity sounded too hard to me, but I
decided to be supportive, and we did end up making some pretty fun things. I
helped David design a stand-up bald eagle. Paul made a cat. And Oren worked for
two days on his leopard (he had to admit that it would be better to go to the
beach than just stay home and finish in one day). Oh, but first he designed the
treasure hunt, which was truly ingenious. He made a map of our yard and marked
a spot. Then he cut up the map like a puzzle. We had to re-assemble the puzzle,
find the spot, go outside – and there was another mini-map leading to yet
another clue…and another…and another… until the treasure. We each won 100
Mommy, Daddy and David dollars, respectively!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4MX-TM4Fnk/UyE2cOsdW6I/AAAAAAAAIFY/BziDyvIyrqQ/s1600/P1080905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4MX-TM4Fnk/UyE2cOsdW6I/AAAAAAAAIFY/BziDyvIyrqQ/s1600/P1080905.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oren working on his leopard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So then, on to the beach. It was after 3, the perfect time
to be there. And the day had gone from being cloudy and overcast to being
stunningly clear on all sides down the lake. We enjoyed the pool, playing with
friends from the kids’ school, having cool drinks, reading more of Lloyd
Alexander with Oren. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPF_QNnvjik/UyE2aSzeFrI/AAAAAAAAIE0/sZYp6gMz2Eg/s1600/P1080868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPF_QNnvjik/UyE2aSzeFrI/AAAAAAAAIE0/sZYp6gMz2Eg/s1600/P1080868.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oren and school friends</td></tr>
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As the sun started to set, Oren and David frolicked in the
sand for a while. I thought about rushing them off to dinner, but it was so
absolutely, stunningly beautiful. They were having a fantastic time. They were
finally out of the parentheses of our lives into the planning as full-fledged
family members. It was good for me not to rush, but to really savor having such
a fully restful day together. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cynUHMIz2gg/UyE2a4WS3gI/AAAAAAAAIFI/JqOakN7YdK0/s1600/P1080891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cynUHMIz2gg/UyE2a4WS3gI/AAAAAAAAIFI/JqOakN7YdK0/s1600/P1080891.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a>As the sun set, we left the tropical paradise for our
favorite Indian restaurant. Oren decided that he wanted to try at least 1 new
dish, and it could be spicy, showing every indication of finally becoming a
culinary adventurer. Indian isn’t
David’s favorite, but he enjoyed his juice and French fries. We agreed together
that the next free day of rest could be planned by David, so that he could
choose the things he really likes, too.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our last movement of the day was back home for family movie
night. Peter Pan was great, but Paul couldn’t make it all the way through. Even
I struggled. It had been a very full day!<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had some nice moments in the weekend proper, particularly
a time to catch up with our friends Courtney and JJ. We also had a visit to the
neighborhood pool, where David became more confident at swimming down
underwater to collect dive sticks. It’s been so fun to watch him progress in
his swimming skills week by week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian Dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The unsettling part of the weekend happened on Saturday
afternoon while we were with Ivaska’s. We suddenly started hearing a lot of
gunfire in our neighborhood. One of our volunteers called to say that the
shooting was just down the street. Apparently a group of women from an
opposition party had gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day together.
This year, all such gatherings were banned in Burundi unless they were hosted
by the ruling party. I’ll make no comment – you can judge for yourself on the
justice of this. So the police came to break up the gathering. The opposition
party closed the gates of their HQ and there was a serious confrontation
involving tear gas, fire, and at least 10 people injured. The police tried to
capture the leader of the opposition party, but he fled somehow into our
neighborhood. The search was on for him over the next 24 hours and some members
of our neighborhood bible study were shut into their homes over that time
because no one was allowed to come or go from certain streets. So, this is the
nature of election preparation in Burundi at this point, one year away from the
actual polling day: step 1, in order to guard power, neutralize the opposition
using any means necessary. And are things in the USA all that different? Enough
politics, but I really hope that the Church has something to say about the
necessity of all parties using legal means. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The other part of the news roundup is that our sister-in-law
Christine was released from the hospital last Friday and she’s home recovering.
She still had pneumonia because of the stress on her lungs through the ordeal,
but is so much better than she was. Thanks again for praying!</div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-31453700331780953962014-03-04T05:56:00.000+02:002014-03-06T15:44:57.665+02:00The God Who Suffers with Us, a Team Gathering, and a Resurrection <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdQAQD2Krts/UxVLATLAkrI/AAAAAAAAIA4/2iy2mT01BnM/s1600/P1080749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdQAQD2Krts/UxVLATLAkrI/AAAAAAAAIA4/2iy2mT01BnM/s1600/P1080749.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>David taking a rest with Avril at Pinnacle 19.</i></div>
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I have many friends who are not theists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have at least as many who believe in a
powerful God who does mighty acts every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They live life going from ‘strength to strength’ and cling to the
promise that we are ‘more than conquerors through him who loved us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The God I have come to know here, though, is not the one who
always delivers us from suffering, tragedy and adversity, taking us from 'strength to strength', but rather suffers
with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the one who abides
despite poverty, famine, genocide, unimaginable acts of barbarism, but in our personal failings and weaknesses as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I am more rationally comfortable with a suffering God,
I have occasionally had a glimpse at the God of miracles, who heals our
diseases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I feel I was privy to
a resurrection, this time not metaphorical, but quite literal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It began at 4 am--a time I find is the preferred hour of bad tidings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A skype message on my ipod from my youngest
brother told me that my sister-in-law (of my other brother) was in a coma after
an accidental overdose of medication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She had been found by my brother, blue, not breathing and no pulse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started cpr and called EMS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were able to restore a weak pulse and
took her to the hostpital on a ventilator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She spent 3 days in a coma, completely unresponsive, and it appeared she
might be ‘brain dead’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did not seem
possible that she could not have suffered severe brain damage after so much
time without oxygen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then, she suddenly woke up!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A</span>lthough could not talk, because of the ventilator in her throat, she wrote on a paper
asking how long she had been asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When told 3 days, the next thing she wrote was ‘’I have an exam.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was fully cognitive and had all of her
motor functions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a real
resurrection in my opinion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me it was even more dramatic because on the third day I
was beginning to look for plane tickets in expectation of returning for a
funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To hear the news of her waking
up really felt like God un-did history!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was gone, and then she was back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think I know now how the family of Lazarus must have felt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I received the good news this past Friday at about 5
am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can tell you I cannot think of any
day that has ever been better than that one in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were having a team meeting and I joked
that no matter what any of them said to me, or no matter how bad things might
get at work, there is nothing that could make that day a bad day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had started too impossibly well!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been living in the bliss of this wonderful news for
several days now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose it will
eventually wear off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I had heard the news, about the coma, I did ask many of
my praying friends all over the world to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I can see that our prayers were answered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I did notice that not everyone was equally blessed that
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My nightguard came and told us that
one of his closest friends in town died quite unexpectedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My cook also told me that same day that a
pastor in her church, one who had been supporting her family with tuition for
several years, was senselessly shot to death by a bandit breaking in his
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He died about the same time my
sister-in-law recovered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of
this, I rejoice at the miracle we experienced, but I continue to put my faith
in the abiding constancy of the ‘God who suffers with us’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miracles can happen, but they are not
entitlements to us as believers, and we don’t control them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of the turmoil of the past week which ended so well,
I was a bit delayed in writing any report on the past two weeks, so I will
backtrack here to some of the highlights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am writing from Kigali where we have come with the family because the
kids have this week off for the pre-lenten <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vacances
de Carnaval</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were very excited
to come and really feel like it is a vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They meticulously pack certain toys and games they want to take with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their current favorite activities
are drawing and watercolors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
immediately spread out on the floor of our guesthouse suite and went to
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We brought Teresa and Julia our SALTers back from Burundi
with us as they had come down for a team meeting and retreat that we held at
our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to have everyone
down for the annual meeting to discuss MCC values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do this every year because new people join
each year and it is good to revisit the motivations behind the work we do and
the way we do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pow3Hsud0qI/UxVLDokCzwI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/jG4BAIn63uA/s1600/P1080803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pow3Hsud0qI/UxVLDokCzwI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/jG4BAIn63uA/s1600/P1080803.jpg" height="200" width="147" /></a>I appreciate MCC’s commitment to a holistic approach to
international development work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, as Christians
working in the field of relief, development and peacebuilding, are expected to
‘live’ our assignment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is to say,
we attempt to live simply, learn language, behave in ways that are culturally
appropriate, work through local partners rather than implement our own
programs, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe the ends are
only justified by the means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not
here just ‘doing’ our work, we are ‘being’ our work as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have an awesome team and they enjoy getting to together
as much as we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had Melody, and our
new service worker Sata down from Gitega, Jennifer and Matt from Bujumbura,
with Felix our program assistant, Teresa and Jennifer our SALTers in Kigali
came down, and Patrick and Michael from Bukavu joined us as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt Gates was not able to come because his
parents were visiting him in Kigali during the week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ud6_Gla9BNc/UxVK5pnVJ_I/AAAAAAAAIAU/Jr-ROLMUB9k/s1600/P1080713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ud6_Gla9BNc/UxVK5pnVJ_I/AAAAAAAAIAU/Jr-ROLMUB9k/s1600/P1080713.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a>It was not all work and no play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The team did enjoy cooking together, we
watched a movie one evening and went to the beach on Saturday afternoon when we
were done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to Pinnacle 19 on
the beach day where our family enjoyed spending about an hour on a porch
with Avril the chimp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids played
with her and had a ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have some
very nice pictures of David and her lying around together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPNkgfFCbck/UxVLBieCPGI/AAAAAAAAIBE/2zG3cJt8ojo/s1600/P1080762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPNkgfFCbck/UxVLBieCPGI/AAAAAAAAIBE/2zG3cJt8ojo/s1600/P1080762.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a>The team retreat was the culmination of a fairly busy 10
days, which kept me occupied through two weekends without a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The previous weekend I was upcountry for
several reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was asked to preach
on the theme of reconciliation at a Friends Church upcountry (the legal rep.
would like me to visit several churches in the next 3 months to share as we are
leaving soon.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got up at 6 am on
Sunday and drove with the Legal Rep. and Matt Alan, our SALTer who wanted to
see what it was like, to Mutaho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took
about 3 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were lucky we had been
warned that rain had made many roads muddy and we took a longer but paved-road
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The service started at 9 am and I
started preaching around 12:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
done a bit after 2 pm, afterwhich we were invited to share a meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a pretty typical upcountry service.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the length, I did not mind it really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were about 8 choirs that sung, a youth
choir, an adult choir, a mens choir, womens choir, young mens choir, young
womens choir, prayer intercessors choir… I think at least 400 of the 500 people
present were in some choir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
remarkable thing to see are the hundred or so kids who sit quietly through the
whole thing without complaining.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel the sermon went well, I preached on the passage about
Jesus coming with a sword, to divide families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I used this to talk about generational sin. How belonging to Christ is
taking on a new identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that we
change physically, I am still white, male, etc. but that these identities are
must be redeemed as we are adopted into Christ’s family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used my own example as coming from a family
of slave traders, now myself a ‘slave of Christ’ in Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I said that standing here requires that I
renounce that identity and even ask for forgiveness from African brothers and
sisters whose ancestors my ancestors may have harmed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
By the same token I challenged them as Hutus and Tutsis, to
renounce the generational sins of their families, the hatred and prejudice that
they inherited along with the good things that they were given by their
families of origin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When this is done,
you become available now, to go back to your identity as a redeemed individual,
able to forgive your enemies, and then share the gospel of peace with those
with whom you share a common background.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We left around 3 and headed to Gitega where Matt and I
stayed the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to do a field
visit to the Hope School so stayed upcountry rather than return to
Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took the opportunity to
drop in on Melody and Sata who live there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had a nice evening with them, shared dinner and conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sata had just finished a kind of village
‘live-in’ where she spent 2 weeks with a Burundian family as part of her
orientation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said it was a bit
challenging but OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt and I stayed
the night at a Catholic guesthouse and left the next morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We headed to Hope School, close to the church we were at the
day before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took Innocent and
Beatrice, our partners who run the school with us from Gitega.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to see the completion of a new
water project that collects rainwater off the roofs of the buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The project looked great and they can collect
about 5000 liters per rain for the school to use for drinking and
cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is even filtered when it
comes out of the tank thanks to new technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was a project sponsored by the Foundation for Hope in Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I also had to do an interview with a student for some
reporting to MCC and met with the teachers to discuss challenges with meeting
our objectives of high success rate for students continuing beyond grade
10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because this is a Batwa school, in a
very impoverished community, factors like hunger and illness make success
difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Girls are particularly
vulnerable as they often do not have family support as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently only 2 of the 15 10<sup>th</sup>
graders are girls and they face a difficult road to the end of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passing the national exam is a challenge as
well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The meetings did go well and then Mat and I headed back to
Bujumbura again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was raining on the
way down and we took the longer paved way to get home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was very happy to be with the family again although Rebeca
and I had only two days to get ready for the team retreat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was on the night of my return that I received the bad
news about my sister-in-law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still
can’t believe how the dark cloud of grief that day gave way to the bright sun
of resurrection three days later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
glad we have a team who was able to be compassionate and understanding when I
shared the bad news and were able to rejoice with me at the good news.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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I am also blessed to work in an organization where we work,
play and pray together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every morning
and evening of the team meeting we had singing, prayer and went and brief
liturgy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel God in our midst when we
are together and it is a blessing to be with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks to all my other praying friends around the world who interceded for my family and I during the past week. Our prayers were mightily answered!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M1RMleuCESE/UxVK-BkvDaI/AAAAAAAAIAw/22YLhSrmtVc/s1600/P1080727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M1RMleuCESE/UxVK-BkvDaI/AAAAAAAAIAw/22YLhSrmtVc/s1600/P1080727.jpg" height="400" width="371" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bonus Photo: David and Avril</i></td></tr>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-64850356672534615352014-02-21T22:20:00.001+02:002014-02-22T02:19:34.410+02:00Phases of 50 part 5: 54 Last Birthday in Burundi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9T2iZoTbigU/UwexFhj-TEI/AAAAAAAAH_s/QXjT2XMh1yk/s1600/P1080576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9T2iZoTbigU/UwexFhj-TEI/AAAAAAAAH_s/QXjT2XMh1yk/s1600/P1080576.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Truck that fell off the road in a ditch while negotiating a detour because of flooding.</i></div>
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I have had 6 Birthdays in Burundi. Another landmark to contemplate. Time is not a continuum, at least in my life. There are times that have been more
significant than others. I can almost
look back and see my past in terms of lifetimes, like some kind of
reincarnation. Although we can’t go back
in time, there have been periods where ‘who I am’ has not significantly changed
by circumstances over many years. This
has not been the case in the past six. I
don’t even feel like the same person who came here six years ago. Whatever motivated me to come here belonged
to the mindset of someone quite different.
But I do not regret who I have become.
It is indeed a metamorphosis of sorts.
I can never ‘go back’ to who I was.
This is interesting because we will be ‘going back’ to the US in
July. But it will be a going
forward. I might look the same on the
outside if you see me again, but I am different on the inside. <br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The fifties are great though. It is like your senior
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really feels like I am in the
right place and I know what I am doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hopefully this will sustain me through any period of unemployment we
might face upon our return.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I celebrated my Birthday modestly this past Tuesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids were very excited about it and had
prepared a kind of surprise party. They had decorated the living room when I
came home from work, and had some presents and a cake on the coffee table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest surprise though was when we went
to open the door to let Rebecca in and in about 10 seconds Bella jumped up and
devoured about half of the cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
kids were sobbing about this, but I did cut away the part that was eaten and we
enjoyed the rest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I got a very tasty gift that we all enjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was chocolate from Switzerland in the
shape of 5 Swiss army knives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought
they were real knives at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Rebecca and I also had a double date night with Simon and
Lizzie Guillebaud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are missionary
friends from the UK who have been here longer than us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon is an author as well, check out his
blog here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://www.simonguillebaud.com/" target="_blank">Simon Guillebaud</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not know that Simon was at least as
much as an Indian food connoisseur as I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We all went to Kohinoor (which is the current best Indian food
restaurant in Buja no matter what anyone might say about Taj Mahal.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We concluded that the chili garlic tawa
chicken (extra spicy) is the best dish there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a really nice evening with the two of them, and it seems like the
first time in many years that we have been out as a couple with other
adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope we can do that again
before my next Birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The end of last week was occupied with assessing and
deciding upon an appropriate MCC response to the disaster that happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had written about the floods last week, and
I had a chance last Monday to go up and see the damage in some areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have decided to work on doing relief with
a church that is at the epicenter of the area where the flood came down the
mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a link to the blog
here written by one of the missionaries who works with this church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://spotlightburundi.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Joy and Jesse Johnson</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Jesse took me up to the church and I had a much better idea
of what had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say, I
would have never imagined, before seeing this, how much damage rushing water
can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During a torrential downpour
water coming down the mountain backed up behind a culvert through which a river
past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The river flooded its banks and
went over a road and came down the mountain like a tsunami.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was standing in what looked like a dry
rocky riverbed that was nearly a kilometer wide and went straight down the
hillside for several miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not
a riverbed at all, but at one time a hillside with houses, trees, walls,
fields, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was completely
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently the water was 10 feet
high as it crashed down the mountain pushing boulders the size of elephants and
trees down with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not believe
the amount of damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked a local
how long the torrential ran lasted that did this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said only about one hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It came like one giant wave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were the remains of some houses that
were strategically located or at the edges of the torrent of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One house was sheered in half by a boulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On an inner wall, now completely exposed is a
picture of the Blessed Mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know if the family inside survived.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dz3bbos__ns/UwexBsn5a5I/AAAAAAAAH-w/OG6DxyTi63M/s1600/P1080485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dz3bbos__ns/UwexBsn5a5I/AAAAAAAAH-w/OG6DxyTi63M/s1600/P1080485.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>It was a bit surreal to see the Emmanuel church in the
middle of the rubble, standing fully with no damage to the walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see that the water had come up about
5 feet around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently many people
fled to it and were saved inside when they locked the front doors (which faced
up the hill)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also took a picture of a deep gorge that was the road
until the flood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t believe the
water carved out such a long deep trench where the road had been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how that could ever be restored
without a tremendous amount of earth moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have a picture of a house beside what was the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had porch extending in front of it onto
the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it is on the edge of the
gorge with no porch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RokjwEWQKw/UwexB6ivVGI/AAAAAAAAH-0/Je2UTzc1HE4/s1600/P1080491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RokjwEWQKw/UwexB6ivVGI/AAAAAAAAH-0/Je2UTzc1HE4/s1600/P1080491.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">that was the road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I talked to Jesse he told me that the immediate need is
cookware and some supplies like clothes for the survivors who lost
everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondarily there will need
to be some supplies to rebuild—cement and tin for roofs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am glad to say that MCC was able to respond
very immediately with financial assistance because we are on the ground
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point it is estimated that
over one hundred died, but up to 40,000 were affected by the flood because of
the damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The exact number of
casualties is difficult to know because there are still many unaccounted for
whose bodies may never be found.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of the last week was fairly normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in the reporting period of the year so
time at the office has been spent doing end of year things, entering reports
(mainly Rebecca’s job) and communicating with partners and service
workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weekend was good, especially Sunday when Emmanual
Ndkumana preached a powerful sermon about being salt and light in Burundi as
Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked this in the context
of the current political crisis and flood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is a person who feels that Christians must be politically engaged and
aware of what happens around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can’t spend all of our time in the church praying and ignorant of current
events, be they political, natural, social.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His critique of Christian’s in Burundi in the past was their
dis-engagement from the events that were happening around them, very
spiritually concerned but not able to be a prophetic voice in the time of the
ethnic crisis here because they were not well informed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He described a time he heard a tutsi praying
for the destruction of the hutus, and later that day a hutu praying for a
judgement on hutus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3sFmAWaXgo/UwexC5zf1TI/AAAAAAAAH_I/Kb1_QHPrxpo/s1600/P1080501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3sFmAWaXgo/UwexC5zf1TI/AAAAAAAAH_I/Kb1_QHPrxpo/s1600/P1080501.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>He said that God is waiting for a time when we can pray ‘in
agreement’ it is in those prayers when he is in our midst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His sermon is timely as the political
situation continues to deteriorate here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the latest somewhat bizarre turn of events, it appears that the
President has been able to name the new head of the opposition party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(It would be like Obama claiming to have
legal authority to pick the head of the Republican party.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is all aimed at him getting a third
term, which I am certain he will succeed in doing, but am wont to know how.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went for icecream on Sunday afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We usually go once per week to Ice World
where you can get real (McDonalds style) softserve icecream, which is the best
one can do here in Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I
will miss especially the moral dilemma one must negotiate to enjoy this small
pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the photo you can see David
enjoying his small scoop while two hungry street kids look through the window
at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if I will ever be
able to go to Coldstone Creamery again because there is no one to remind me, as
I eat, that there are those who cannot. Justice isn't a world where no one has ice cream, justice is a world where everyone has it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-608ritw1O0I/UwexCxjOBBI/AAAAAAAAH_M/-FR1HdizR5Q/s1600/P1080510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-608ritw1O0I/UwexCxjOBBI/AAAAAAAAH_M/-FR1HdizR5Q/s1600/P1080510.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weekend was spent partially in preparation for
teaching I did on Monday and Tuesday for a group called YWAM (Youth with a
Mission)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do a 3 month training
school followed by 3 months of practicum on mission work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was asked to teach on reconciliation and
the Father heart of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had two days about five hours each day so I had to have
enough to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 6 students, 4
Burundian and 2 bazungu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very
interested group and I felt like I made a good case for the fact that the
Apostle Paul did not feel that reconciliation to God could be separated in any
way with reconciliation to one another, particularly across ethnic lines. (Jews
and Gentiles).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was really hardcore
about this and had many disputes with fellow jewish believers on this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did try to convince them that one of the failures of early
evangelism in Burundi was the separation of sharing the gospel from ethnic
reconciliation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the war started
Christians divided ethnically and killed each other in great numbers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1WmKsQbwN9M/UwexEhjKZHI/AAAAAAAAH_k/7JFsKzymIkw/s1600/P1080572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1WmKsQbwN9M/UwexEhjKZHI/AAAAAAAAH_k/7JFsKzymIkw/s1600/P1080572.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One notable exception to this was in Buta (a town in the
South) where there is a Catholic seminary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In 1997 they were the only school in the country that remained
ethnically mixed while all others were divided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When rebels attacked them, the older seminarians (high schoolers) were
asked to separate by ethnicity so the rebels could kill the tutsis only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students refused and 37 were martyred
when they interlocked arms and stood together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One dying survivor had a beatific smile on his face as he told the
rector “Father, we won, they told us to separate and we didn’t”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since that day the Father, Zachary Bukuru has
built a memorial and tells the story to any who come to hear it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt this story was worth hearing in person during the
week of teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was actually
splitting the teaching days over the week with Simon Guillebaud so on Thursday we drove 2 cars
with the students up to Buta.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_Ar6W47Y5k/UwexE-ODg2I/AAAAAAAAH_w/fhCsqnaqrsg/s1600/P1080568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_Ar6W47Y5k/UwexE-ODg2I/AAAAAAAAH_w/fhCsqnaqrsg/s1600/P1080568.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father Zachary and Simon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The drive up was no small ordeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rainy season has been terrible and about
an hour down the road we came upon an impassable avalanche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were forced to find another route which
took us several hours longer than our time planned for the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless we got there in the early
afternoon and met Father Zackary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
an honor for me to bring all of these students, including Simon and the YWAM
staff here for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
quite overwhelmed by the man and his story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am especially glad to be getting Burundians to hear it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is sadly not well known, but as the Father
says, God prepared this ground as a place of healing and reconciliation for
Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does stand as a memorial,
not of a massacre, but as a martyrdom of boys who stood as brothers in Christ
against ethnicism in the hope for a better future.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trip back home was even worse than the way up, we had some
bad sections of slow decent and Simon’s brakes actually failed completely by
the time we got down the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Miraculously they did not fail before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was, still, more than worthwhile and all who went up were
deeply, deeply appreciative of the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday was ballet day and we are now hard at work preparing
a suite of Swan Lake dances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am even
planning to order some little white tutus from China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my last year so I want to make it
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will miss this when I am gone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No rest for the weary, I am supposed to go back up country
to preach on Sunday than stay on for a field visit at the Hope School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep me in prayers and thanks to all who sent
me Birthday wishes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-28730703749268405302014-02-13T06:37:00.002+02:002014-02-13T11:46:42.828+02:00Disaster Strikes--Burundi in the News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5A4E-7vQt_A/UvxB5QpuzDI/AAAAAAAAH3Q/ey5ikFph5xQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5A4E-7vQt_A/UvxB5QpuzDI/AAAAAAAAH3Q/ey5ikFph5xQ/s1600/1.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Funerals for those lost in the floods on Sunday night--most of them children.</i></div>
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Burundi has been in the news quite a bit in the past
month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually four times at last count
which seems like more times than I remember in the past six years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually when a country like Burundi is in the
news, it is for a bad reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last
time was during the fire in the Central market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The most recent, and most tragic story is about the
flooding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not know when I fell
asleep on Sunday listening to a steady downpour, that not 5 kilometers away on
the other side of town, a number of mountain fed rivers running down the hills
into the several popular quarters, including, Kamenge, Gasenyi and Butere,
would explode into cascading landslides of mud, rock, trees, and a tsunami like
deluge which ripped through neighborhoods demolishing houses in its path like a
tornado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Families were trapped in their
houses with water rising with an impossible choice between running out into the
current or waiting inside for the water to collapse the roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than 70 people have been counted as dead
from drowning and many are still missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many hundreds are injured and hundreds of houses were swept away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the dead are children who could not
wade through the current in trying to get to safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dw_FmncK6E/UvxB8cpujQI/AAAAAAAAH4Q/Av_Jlj7SN2Y/s1600/P1080459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dw_FmncK6E/UvxB8cpujQI/AAAAAAAAH4Q/Av_Jlj7SN2Y/s1600/P1080459.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">road upcountry note huge culvert on side</td></tr>
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The first clue Rebecca and I had that something this bad had
happened was when she tried to head up country on Monday morning to bring a new
service worker to Gitega.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The road we
heard was closed because of landslides and she was forced to take a different
much longer route to Gitega.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Reports started filing in through the day, especially as
friends who were reading the International news began calling to ask us how we
were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MeKmRq2AOa0/UvxB99Pu6gI/AAAAAAAAH4g/Q4n4KkBhYa8/s1600/P1080464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MeKmRq2AOa0/UvxB99Pu6gI/AAAAAAAAH4g/Q4n4KkBhYa8/s1600/P1080464.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama Sese's house across from Marceline's</td></tr>
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MCC will be making a contribution toward disaster relief in
a particularly hard hit area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a
church in the midst which is capable of doing some disaster management and is
handling some immediate needs for shelter, food, clothing, and eventually
reconstruction of some houses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The International Red Cross is also on the scene and has set
up several hundred tents as temporary shelters .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Sadly they do not provide cooking supplies.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6jxUZob9nHk/UvxB9WMJMZI/AAAAAAAAH4Y/VaWOQ3OsF_A/s1600/P1080462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6jxUZob9nHk/UvxB9WMJMZI/AAAAAAAAH4Y/VaWOQ3OsF_A/s1600/P1080462.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Other news stories include Burundi’s involvement in
peacekeeping in the Central African Republic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Burundi has extensive experience in peacekeeping through its
participation in peacekeeping with the Africa Union in Somalia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now several thousand Burundian troops are
being deployed to the CAR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Related to
this story is the award of a large US Dept. of Defense contract to Burundi to set up a training
base to train Burundian soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Although I work for a pacifist organization I do not feel
altogether bad about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The CAR is in
serious need of stability as it is threatening to degenerate into an interfaith
bloodbath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Burundi’s army is well
trained and professional,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> t</span>hey are also
ethnically integrated by law, thanks to the Arusha accords, so they are not
particularly partisan to a political party or ethnic group.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With elections getting closer, I think it is better for a
country to have a downsized, professional, independent army that is not
beholden to one political party rather than one that has its interest directly connected to one group. For this reason, I am not opposed to its professionalization despite the slight dis-ease I feel about Burundi's chief export being Africa Union peacekeeping forces.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This brings us to the fourth piece of news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the latest machinations by the ruling
party to get their President a third term the President fired one of his two
vice-Presidents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem was that
the First Vice President, a member of the opposition party, was opposing the
move by the ruling party to change the Constitution so the President could run
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The President chose someone who
was more favorable to him to take control of the opposition party (and be VP).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, the new VP suddenly resigned on his
own accord as a protest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the govt.
is in a sort of institutional crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I am curious how the ruling party is going to pull off its
Constitution change if this hardball technique does not work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So that is the news from Burundi, where usually nothing very
newsworthy happens on an international scale anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kiDqAXKMgQ/UvxB6cLDuCI/AAAAAAAAH30/UCeea0zKRKg/s1600/P1080377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kiDqAXKMgQ/UvxB6cLDuCI/AAAAAAAAH30/UCeea0zKRKg/s1600/P1080377.jpg" height="144" width="200" /></a></div>
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In personal news, we have some exciting updates to share as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably the most significant is
the much anticipated of our newest MCC arrival, Sata.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sata comes to us from Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are thrilled she
comes already fluent in French having spent some years in Paris growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been wating for her for several
months because of MCC orientation and she got here this past Saturday with some
difficulty because of weather in the US.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rgXjibhvIcY/UvxB50k5_II/AAAAAAAAH3U/lWnR4F-wDEw/s1600/P1080365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rgXjibhvIcY/UvxB50k5_II/AAAAAAAAH3U/lWnR4F-wDEw/s1600/P1080365.jpg" height="125" width="200" /></a></div>
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Rebecca picked her up Saturday afternoon while I took the
kids to the zoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Note picture of
leopard who lets me pet her).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all had
dinner together and Sata went to bed early.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Sunday she accompanied us to church and then we went to
the beach where we met Matt (the SALTer) and Jennifer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were very welcoming to her and we shared
a nice lunch together while the kids played in the Tanganyika waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Monday morning was the day scheduled to take Sata up to
Gitega to meet Melody (her roommate) as well as the partner she will be seconded
to (UCPD) and to go on a field visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7O1XG5Hhkw/UvxB8l-JZbI/AAAAAAAAH4c/Ifhay5CnHbM/s1600/P1080397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7O1XG5Hhkw/UvxB8l-JZbI/AAAAAAAAH4c/Ifhay5CnHbM/s1600/P1080397.jpg" height="195" width="200" /></a></div>
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Felix and Rebecca went up with her while I stayed behind
with the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was to be gone three
days, and the first clue I had that something was amiss was when Marceline our
cook did not come to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I called
her, I found out that she was at her house that had been flooded and an outer
wall had been knocked down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me
later that many houses in her area had collapsed and that there were many
stories from her friends of people being swept away or drowned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man down the street from her was a well
to do butcher who lost<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>70 pigs and his
two cars washed away into the raging stream behind his house.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Later that day I talked on the phone to Gaspard, our night guard who was
upcountry visiting family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me he
could not get down to Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
last straw was Odifax’s wife getting sick leaving me with no staff to help in
Rebecca’s absence. (I don’t want to sound like I need staff to take care of
kids, but here where our system includes someone going to the market to shop
and do othe preparation, it is difficult.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CstkidAWgeY/UvxB5g__5eI/AAAAAAAAH3Y/uIjWoIDpw8c/s1600/P1080370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CstkidAWgeY/UvxB5g__5eI/AAAAAAAAH3Y/uIjWoIDpw8c/s1600/P1080370.jpg" height="125" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">peering into crocodile cage</td></tr>
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So the kids and I were together Monday through Wednesday
eating sandwiches and Ramen soup for most meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite this they were very cooperative and
good sports about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren had to recite
a poem for homework on Tuesday so we did a lot of work to help him learn it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I did all of the normal activities on Monday like tennis and
reading club, so it was not an altogether bad couple of days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hVXK3zLr_nk/UvxB8XqUifI/AAAAAAAAH4E/QUfB7es2C3M/s1600/P1080447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hVXK3zLr_nk/UvxB8XqUifI/AAAAAAAAH4E/QUfB7es2C3M/s1600/P1080447.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a>Rebecca came back Wednesday and told me that the trip went
well despite the difficulty getting out of Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the country had not suffered the
flooding that we had here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did
introduce Sata to Melody and the partners and took her on a field visit to
Bukirasazi, the commune where UCPD does most of its work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were able to meet three of the women’s
collectives there and see some of the trade school activities that are
supported there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6WMwC27jRk/UvxB7moi7NI/AAAAAAAAH38/w4V7wb0Zn8Q/s1600/P1080389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6WMwC27jRk/UvxB7moi7NI/AAAAAAAAH38/w4V7wb0Zn8Q/s1600/P1080389.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Rebecca left Sata for a two week stay with a Burundian host
family which is part of the cultural experience we encourage people to have
before beginning their assignment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was good to see Rebecca back on Wednesday morning and I
was relieved that they did not have any driving issues during the 3 days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6y5oNDG3Epg/UvxB6xApVhI/AAAAAAAAH3w/fgB4cqtROMA/s1600/P1080384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6y5oNDG3Epg/UvxB6xApVhI/AAAAAAAAH3w/fgB4cqtROMA/s1600/P1080384.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sata and Colleagues</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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When Rebecca returned, we took a trip up to Marceline’s house
to see how she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able to see
the damage around her house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took some
pictures of broken down walls in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Marceline had wisely invested in putting up some cement walls around her
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the brick houses in her
neighborhood are made with mud rather than cement to hold the bricks
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can imagine what happens
when they are hit but a rush of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cement brick houses fared much better in my observation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spaYDJ22Tnc/UvxK3FH35VI/AAAAAAAAH4w/lKkOuE9xIJc/s1600/P1080344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spaYDJ22Tnc/UvxK3FH35VI/AAAAAAAAH4w/lKkOuE9xIJc/s1600/P1080344.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">doing watercolors at Ijenda</td></tr>
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One last reflection:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have been in the process of trying to intentionally say goodbye to
certain people and places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may seem
like starting soon, but the end will be getting very crowded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had a school holiday last Wednesday
so we went up to Ijenda on Tuesday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was fun to stay there in the cold and sit by a fire roasting
marshmallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Wednesday we took a
hike on the nearby hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our friend Ben
Carlson joined us with his two kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
had a great time hiking although it was a bit odd because the hills we hiked
had just been cleared of a massive eucalyptus forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like the whole mountain had gotten a
crew cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could see a lot further,
but we really missed the shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit of
an odd way to remember the place for the last time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Postscript: For those of you who follow the blog regularly and remember my report on A's story in this post: <a href="http://pamosley.blogspot.com/2013/05/ruthless-clarity-in-bujumbura-as-story.html" target="_blank">Ruthless Clarity in Bujumbura</a>. I saw A yesterday when he came by my office to tell me that his restaurant, which is beside the road where the flood hit, was completely wiped out. The building is still there but all the chairs, tables, plates, silverware etc. were swept away. The fridge was filled with 3 feet of water and ruined. He is looking for capital again to restart. Another chapter in his ongoing saga.</div>
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-58408927152233384932014-02-03T23:03:00.000+02:002014-02-04T14:26:50.177+02:00Parables of Development in Kigali<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lSiK5VFsf30/UvAB73LQ1rI/AAAAAAAAH0Y/uMzo-kP-mdE/s1600/P1080266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lSiK5VFsf30/UvAB73LQ1rI/AAAAAAAAH0Y/uMzo-kP-mdE/s1600/P1080266.jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>A spider with a very cool web that David found in our back yard.</i><br />
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And as they were riding to another town, Paul turned to his
faithful colleague Felix and speaking in parables said: “the Kingdom of Hell is
like unto a sower who goeth out in the field to till.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On turning over the soil he findeth a golden
nugget therein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that he ceaseth to
sow and toileth endlessly in his field digging for gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the season he hath neither gold
nor a harvest and is worse off than he was before he started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He who has ears let him hear!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The parable was one that came to mind as I drove back from
Rwanda with Felix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had been there
this past week, leaving on Monday and returning Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do like to go to Rwanda as much as I make
these monthly trips sound like a bit of a hardship in the blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our programming there is very interesting and
our three service workers, Matt, Teresa, and Julia are very competent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What is especially gratifying to see in the last year is the
way our Rwanda partners have begun collaborating together and even formed a
partners network to execute larger projects together as a collective.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One such project is our Conservation Agriculture
project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a project whose
objective is to encourage adoption of a low tillage, high mulching system of
cultivation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It promises to increase
yields with less inputs and help improve soil structure and reduce erosion over
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are nearing the end of the
first growing season and are already seeing positive results in most groups.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DNJPDNjiN1Q/UvADdCNV2tI/AAAAAAAAH1g/uuadb2nzk_U/s1600/1477345_541023284565_26569135_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DNJPDNjiN1Q/UvADdCNV2tI/AAAAAAAAH1g/uuadb2nzk_U/s1600/1477345_541023284565_26569135_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CA on right, traditional cultivation on left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The challenge has been one aspect of the project, the
provision of some credit, to help farmers buy inputs without taking too much of
a risk if the method fails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(In which
case they would not have to reimburse.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The groups we are working with already have a history of farming
together on small collective fields and were happy to try the method on their
collective fields so all could learn the technique.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the credit has created some conflict and
‘misunderstandings'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact as soon as
the word credit was mentioned the immediate next question was what was the
maximum amount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many groups wanted to
leverage themselves out for $1000 immediately eventhough their .5 hectare
fields would never return that much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Others claimed that without the credit they would not be able to buy
seeds or sow at all eventhough the year before they had been doing this
collectively without any inputs from outside donors at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What we found is that the access to credit became such a
preoccupation to many, once they heard that it would be available, that all
other aspect of the project became nearly irrelevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly the project was seen as a way to
access money rather than a way to improve farming.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was an interesting lesson for us and when we saw the
number of requests we lowered the maximum amount to between $50 and $100
depending on the size of the field and what was cultivated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People were disappointed but then got down to
the business of cultivation again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We learned the perpetual lesson that we learn in the
development world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Foreign aid of any
kind is seen as a kind of natural resource around here and people try to mine
it whenever they come across a small vein in hopes of getting more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am happy to say that despite this we are really happy with
the results we are seeing and have even seen a number of individuals trying the
method in their private fields as a result of working in the fields in the
first season.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Matt Gates, our service worker is becoming in very high
demand for his technical expertise and has been invited to conferences in
Zambia and Burkina Faso after hosting a gathering in Kigali in a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are also pretty jazzed about the fact that
MCC is about the only NGO doing an extensive CA project in Rwanda at this time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxU2CYJmrg0/UvAB6fZA2YI/AAAAAAAAH0A/I7TKIv6M3DQ/s1600/IMG_0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxU2CYJmrg0/UvAB6fZA2YI/AAAAAAAAH0A/I7TKIv6M3DQ/s1600/IMG_0311.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Despite all of the good news, we are still struggling with
our registration, a project that has been occupying our local program assistant
in Rwanda for the last 8 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other news in Rwanda, our service workers are doing well, we
went out for Indian food on Tuesday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am pleased to report that one of our SALTers (one year volunteers)
will be renewing for another year to work with one of our partners at the
Friends Church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Felix and I had two travel days and spent two full days in Kigali and it felt at times like one long continuous meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since we only go up once per month, it tends
to be packed if I am to see everyone, do banking, shopping, worker care,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually try to finish by Thursday
morning so I can get back to Buja that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Friday is the day I teach ballet and I like to be home on time for that
and to be with the family for the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a routine that I have come to accept as a not altogether
unpleasant variation on the ‘normal’ week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although I miss the two days of swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I drove directly to a pool in
Bujumbura on the way home and took a dip in the afternoon to sooth the muscles
after the 5 hour drive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We also did stop in and do a field visit to a rural trade
school we are supporting in Southern Rwanda near the Burundi border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was interesting to watch two students
demonstrate what they have learned by measuring, then cutting out a shirt for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marie-Antoinette, and Jean de Dieu
were the two students who showed us how to measure and sew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another student was ironing clothes using a real
charcoal iron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a good reminder of
the things we take for granted when I see such technology—like electricity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was good to be home on the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friday I taught ballet as usual and I am
starting to teach the little girls some modified variations from Swan Lake that
they will perform for their parents at the end of March.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The weekend was relaxing with the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to a pool party at a friend’s house
who works with the embassy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fun
despite a bit of rain. We watched movies together as a family on Friday and
Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We also got a copy of season
4 of Downton Abbey and Rebecca and I started watching that this week.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rebecca has a few notes to add about her time with the kids
while I was in Rwanda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are her
reflections:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paul left on Monday at
midday, but the kids and I still had a busy day ahead of us. We went to tennis
as usual with our little group of friends, and then on to English club. It has
been an wonderful and encouraging experience to be working on Oren’s English,
especially. We have a long way to go, for him to be ready for fourth grade English
reading and writing, but at least we’re working towards it. And one mom plans
extraordinary activities for David’s age group, to help them express themselves
in English. It’s a good community effort, and I’m really thankful for the
family who hosts us each week.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When we got home, I
needed to do some cooking because Marceline was sick. I was a little worried
that the kids would be tempted by screen time, but when I walked in the living
room to check on them, I heard their two little voices in the corner of the
living room, by the metal door where we have attached all our magnet letters.
There I found Oren eagerly teaching David how to spell words with the “—at”
sound… c-at, b-at, r-at, th-at…What a joy that they 1) weren’t fighting! And 2)
were doing something really constructive!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlBaq-l0_e4/UvAB-0ClcmI/AAAAAAAAH08/X73mJcPFTqs/s1600/P1080276_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlBaq-l0_e4/UvAB-0ClcmI/AAAAAAAAH08/X73mJcPFTqs/s1600/P1080276_2.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On Tuesday afternoon,
we went to visit Courtney and her kids. It was a spectacular afternoon – one of
those which makes you feel like Burundi is the most blessed place on earth.
Clear, cool, mighty clouds building over the mountains behind us, but a clear
view over the lake to Congo. The older kids cooperated well, and I enjoyed
catching up with my friend, while we chased her 2 year old around the yard. We
left just as the heavens opened and drove home in one of those gully-washers
that are the classic experience of the Burundian rainy season. I was drenched
just opening the gate. The kids decided it was time for a rain dance. They love
it when our backyard floods and they can’t even see the rain canals that
theoretically carry the water away from our yard. This time, they discovered
that our former garbage hole made a really great kiddie swimming pool. (Note:
in Burundi, everyone has a garbage hole, either for being emptied by the
garbage guys who walk into your yard with big baskets and pitchforks and carry
it out to their truck; or you just burn what’s in the hole. We’d filled this
old hole up 2 years ago and planted grass over it because it was causing
drainage problems. But it seems to have, well, subsided just a little.)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Finally, on Wednesday,
we had sandwiches because Marceline was just getting back on track. Oren has
watched a few Scooby-Doo episodes and has now developed this idealized picture
of the most awesome sandwich imaginable. It took him about 20 minutes to assemble
this sandwich so that it stayed up-right. I took a photo to convince him that
now it was on record and he could eat the thing, and if stuff fell out if it,
well, that was OK. Along with salami and cheese, it also includes cucumber,
lettuce, tomato, and curly pasta.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul again:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
just add few final notes for the record. First, we did have a short visit from some old friends, one was Jean Claude who just finished his masters at Eastern Mennonite, and the other was former MCC Rep. Doug Hiebert. They came over for dinner to our house one night last week. Doug's family are planning to move back to Burundi with another couple shortly before we leave. It is interesting to see this odd symmetry between our arrival and departure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And lastly I want to mention that, Rebecca and I were asked by our church to lead a
marriage retreat the weekend before my departure. It was once again a good lesson in Burundian
planning. (Which tends to be fairly
last-minute). I was told the week before
that it was to be an 8 hour retreat, for instance and people were only really
invited about 3 days before. Despite
that, we had about 50! It was an
interesting day. We had a plenary
session in the morning then broke into men’s and women’s groups just before
lunch. In the afternoon we had couples
sit across from each other and share based on what they learned and pray for
each other. That session lasted an hour
which is more than most of us spend in intentional conversation with our
spouses in a month.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It all went fairly well but I did learn that African women
have had it up to here with any teachings on submission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed it is a challenge to talk on this
sensitive topic in a context where women are pretty much treate<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did remind
men that there is absolutely no Biblical precedent for wife beating or ‘disciplining’
a wife in any way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite this, the
feedback from the women really ran home the point home that teachings about
women taking a submissive role fits too comfortably with a cultural precedent
that puts them down, and harms them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think we men left feeling pretty contrite about the way women are treated in
this context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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d like cattle in
the family they marry into.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
As a whole though, the retreat was a real opportunity to
have couples sit down and talk honestly to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca and I personally felt blessed to have
the time to do that and affirm each other as partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows, maybe we will write a book.<o:p></o:p></div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-54523130068718301972014-01-24T22:26:00.000+02:002014-01-24T22:26:39.907+02:00Come out of your cave and be in my presence<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z68bOiX8vqU/UuKp4CkM-hI/AAAAAAAAHyY/dib50AN8sAA/s1600/P1080155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z68bOiX8vqU/UuKp4CkM-hI/AAAAAAAAHyY/dib50AN8sAA/s1600/P1080155.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLI participants in plenary.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Paul promised last week, this is Rebecca writing this
week.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The journey to the Great Lakes Initiative Institute for
Reconciliation began for me on Friday. I was so thankful that I could begin my
day with the precious routine Paul and I have together – swimming, bible
reading, prayer. It was a very hectic lead-up to my departure, with an
up-country trip Tuesday-Wednesday, and then saying goodbye to my parents on
Thursday. I didn’t even have time to help Paul stock up on coffee and powdered
milk – but he was so gracious and told me not to worry about him and the boys. So
that last swim and prayer together was what I needed to start well. I also had
taken a few moments the night before to ask people from my prayer groups here
to be lifting me up throughout the week. I knew I would need it!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLmQ82aiZGI/UuKp6ofKVcI/AAAAAAAAHzI/DbfX5AA0kCQ/s1600/P1080214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLmQ82aiZGI/UuKp6ofKVcI/AAAAAAAAHzI/DbfX5AA0kCQ/s1600/P1080214.jpg" height="200" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asele and Emmanuel, key GLI catalysts <br />and members of our own church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul left me at the airport exactly 2 hours before the
flight and I was anticipating having some good time to finish some office work
in the airport. Another member of our group of 4 showed up. And then, they
called the flight to board – almost an hour early! I started frantically
calling the other 2 members of our team. They were in the airport, but were
being told they had come too late to check in. On my walk out to the plane, I
pleaded with at least 4 staff members to let my colleagues join us. I kept
praying and arguing. For a while it looked hopeless. And then we saw our
friends running out to the tarmac. Apparently, the Ethiopian pilot is very
strict and he wanted to leave early. The staff didn’t like to question him, even
if it meant leaving customers behind. So PSA – even at the tiny Bujumbura
airport, it is wise to arrive early!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrived early enough on Friday evening for me to take a
walk down to the shores of Lake Victoria. There were incredible bird-watching
opportunities there, with 4 new birds for me (including the black-headed
gonolek!). It was a gift to have that time of quiet before a very intense week.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PA36W-zYXTw/UuKp4eFoCiI/AAAAAAAAHyc/hkcShyt2VFM/s1600/P1080189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PA36W-zYXTw/UuKp4eFoCiI/AAAAAAAAHyc/hkcShyt2VFM/s1600/P1080189.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLI worship in the Ggaba chapel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I knew I was going as worship facilitator again this year
for the Leadership Institute. And, with great <o:p></o:p></div>
trepidation, I had accepted an
assignment of doing the biblical teaching for one of the plenary sessions. When
I arrived in Uganda, I found out about a third assignment: the remaining
founder of the Institute and a key faculty member and leader from Duke University
decide last minute that he could not join us. My Tanzanian colleague Wilfred
Mlay serves as the GLI Ambassador, but he was facing a very lonely leadership
role all week. So he asked myself and a few others to be his advisory group and
share the “up front” space with him during the week. I sometimes wonder how I
ever became qualified to be asked to do things like this, but I agreed to help
him as best as I was able, knowing that it would be one more set of late-night
meetings and quick consults during the day.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve written about the <a href="http://pamosley.blogspot.com/2013/01/give-us-courage-for-journey-gli-2013.html">GLI
Institute for Reconciliation</a> before, so I’ll just say that it is an
occasion to bring together Christian leaders of all descriptions from across
the Great Lakes region to reflect theologically on the fact that Reconciliation
is the mission of God. God calls each of us to be ambassadors of his
reconciliation, a blessing that is best shared in action as we are reconciled
to one another in spite of the divisive pressures around us. In this context we
also consider the sobering fact that many ambassadors of reconciliation have
been martyred, like the students at <a href="http://pamosley.blogspot.com/2013/10/praying-with-martyrs-of-buta.html">Buta</a>;
those with a prophetic calling should expect to suffer when they question the
official theologies which support violence; and leadership for reconciliation
requires a counter-cultural willingness to give up power. But our God promises
hope – streams in the desert, lavish banquets served in the presence of our
enemies – and each year we hear new examples of living people living out that
godly hope of reconciliation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">GLI: Our mission is to mobilize restless Christian leaders from
across the Great Lakes Region, create a space for their transformation, and
empower them to participate in God’s mission of reconciliation in their own
communities, organizations and nations.</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4QKHcnH33jU/UuKp74QgQgI/AAAAAAAAHzc/obLl9DWPUBo/s1600/P1080247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4QKHcnH33jU/UuKp74QgQgI/AAAAAAAAHzc/obLl9DWPUBo/s1600/P1080247.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmanuel and Eraste, sharing about developments<br />in Burundi church reconciliation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is to say, what really counts is not the Institute
itself, but what happens when the group we invite <o:p></o:p></div>
returns back home to work for
reconciliation. My joy this year has been to see the Burundi GLI team grow and
mature as we have shared experiences over the past 12 months – 2 short
retreats, several prayer meetings, 2 meetings of reflection. There is a GLI
offshoot effort underway that is bringing together nearly all Burundian
Protestant churches to contribute meaningfully to the national healing and
reconciliation. More on that at the opportune time – now is too early. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But as a group of GLI partners, we were able to invite in a
few more of these key leaders from both the Protestant and Catholic communities
to join us for the Institute. We had amongst us 1/4 Catholics, several pastors
representing the key Protestant forums, young activists, a few Christian NGO
workers, a few foreigners whose hearts are bound to Burundi (mine included) and
no less than 2 living saints. The maturity and honesty of the group as we met
together in Uganda and got to know one another was truly inspiring. The leaders
in the room were certainly restless, and not so much in need of transformation
as in need of encouragement and fellow-sojourners. I am really excited about
the potential of that gathering for the future of this country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ1fJwPy9hk/UuKp7y9TypI/AAAAAAAAHzg/Gnie_-pnPi0/s1600/P1080254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ1fJwPy9hk/UuKp7y9TypI/AAAAAAAAHzg/Gnie_-pnPi0/s1600/P1080254.jpg" height="400" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josephine and I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another joy for me was that our times of worship were full
of grace. In the past 2 years, I have found myself often anxious about the
unknown aspects of GLI worship, but this year I felt such peace and trust,
working alongside my co-facilitator Josephine. We always had just enough time
to contact other Institute participants over teatime or lunch, so that they
could come and join us to help sing or read scripture or pray. Our goal was to
involve many different people from different nations and different faith
traditions, and this year I think at least 50 different people participated in
worship at various times. My private paradigm for this kind of worship is that
we are practicing for heaven. All of us have our favorite worship styles and
tend to gravitate towards communities which share our preferences. But when we
meet our Lord face to face, we will also meet one another there. And we will
have eternity to take turns praising Him in all our multitude of ways and our
multitude of languages. So, it’s high time we <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>practice and learn from each other in the here
and now, to get ourselves ready. Otherwise, heaven could be quite a shock!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my favorite moments during the week came Monday
evening. I really wanted to sing a beautiful French Catholic song the next
morning – On the road of my life, be my light, O Lord <span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">(Sur le chemin de ma vie, sois ma lumière
Seigneur)</span>. It calls upon Jesus to transfigure the harsh realities of
life and be glorified by those who imitate his sacrifice. I love the song but
it’s one that I can’t lead well. I had been looking all day for someone who
could help me, but no one really knew the song well. I didn’t want to bother Maggy
Barankitse (she’s something of a celebrity in Burundi) but finally I broke down
and interrupted her as she was chatting with Father Zacharie Bukuru after
dinner. When I asked if she knew the song, she and Father Zacharie stopped what
they were doing and sang all four verses from memory with gusto. We ran up to
the chapel together so I could learn the guitar rhythm and sang it again
together, with various other members of the Burundi Catholic team. They said
they were so glad to have been asked! It’s a song Maggy said she shared many
times with the children she rescued during the civil war.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjlVnJmHK70/UuKp4RLXiII/AAAAAAAAHyg/r53NmLElN8o/s1600/P1080171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjlVnJmHK70/UuKp4RLXiII/AAAAAAAAHyg/r53NmLElN8o/s1600/P1080171.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggy Barankitse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was an undercurrent of pain running through our
gathering this year as well – the sudden and terrible return to war in South
Sudan. Just a few years ago, we were celebrating peace at last with friends
from the youngest country in the world. But tribalism and the quest for power
were never really dealt with in the new nation, all reconciliation efforts were
hijacked and politicized, and the country exploded. Up to 10,000 people were
killed on the first night of the crisis, December 15. No one could celebrate
Christmas this year. Now there are at least 300,000 refugees and displaced
people in South Sudan. Many of them cannot be reached by groups providing food
or water or medical care. Most of the delegates from South Sudan could not join
us – they were too afraid to leave their families behind, not knowing what
tomorrow will bring. However a small group came, mostly from our organization,
MCC. They looked exhausted. I think it must be devastating to work so hard for
peace and then watch as death and destruction undermine all you’ve worked for.
This is the kind of situation I really pray against here in Burundi or Rwanda,
but too often it’s impossible to ignore the danger signs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dHzfEBYs9Q/UuKp5qFQjFI/AAAAAAAAHy4/NsLYnO93iYk/s1600/P1080206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dHzfEBYs9Q/UuKp5qFQjFI/AAAAAAAAHy4/NsLYnO93iYk/s1600/P1080206.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catholic Shrine of the Uganda Martyrs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year we visited the shrine of the Uganda martyrs –
memorials to the 45 young men in the king’s palace who chose to die instead of
give up their faith in Jesus. This was back in 1885. At that point, Anglican
and Catholic missionaries had only recently arrived, and those young men
learned about Jesus together, and chose to die together. Never at any point did
they separate themselves into sects, but they kept singing together as they
were burned alive. Their testimony and shed blood is said to have nourished a massive
movement of Christian conversion in the region. Today, we must visit Anglican
and Catholic shrines separately. The story is told separately, 22 Catholic
saints and 23 Anglicans. And there has been bad blood between the two churches
in Uganda, as a result of European quarrels. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
South Sudan with it’s divided church and this new look at
the Uganda martyrs made me think about my own country and the failure of most
Christians to behave like ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians
5:17-20). It’s easy to accuse Africans of tribalism or some kind of primitive
hatred. But whether I look at FB posts by relatives, check HuffPost, or look at
any other source of news coming out of the USA, all I hear are Christians whose
identities are completely disfigured by tribalism. With the ways that Northern/progressive/urban
Christians and Southern/fundamentalist/rural Christians demonize one another so
religiously, I can almost see the Evil One dance a jig.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm2AMrn254I/UuKp5ZQvVQI/AAAAAAAAHyw/QXvRsqCKRq4/s1600/P1080196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm2AMrn254I/UuKp5ZQvVQI/AAAAAAAAHyw/QXvRsqCKRq4/s1600/P1080196.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anglican memorial to the martyrs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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When I looked around the room with my friends from Burundi,
Hutus and Tutsis, divided before by the kind of hate-filled propaganda and
manipulation I hear on the US news, whose family members were mutually
massacring each other just 20 years ago, I heard a warning for my culture.
Would we enjoy entering that kind of civil war again? I am quite sure that if
we did, there would be American Christians singing hymns as they led the battle
cry against other American Christians. I also hear a challenge: Burundian
Christians, who lost so much trust in one another, have come so much farther in
admitting their failures, sharing the truth, seeking to pray together and
seeking the healing of their country. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Enough American politics. I might make myself sick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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On the final day of the Institute, I was asked to present a
biblical engagement on the topic “Why me? Why bother? Spirituality for the
long-haul.” I decided to take a rigorous look at Elijah in 1 Kings 19 – the
exhausted Elijah who has just come down from Mt. Carmel having defeated the
prophets of Baal in a great show of power. I thought I would find a guy who
just needed to practice better self-care and be in God’s presence. But when I
really studied the passage, I found something much more interesting. The Bible
isn’t cynical about Elijah. It clearly shows a man who has been completely
faithful to God, following every instruction, including bizarre ones like
accepting food from un-kosher ravens (What kind of meat do ravens bring you
anyway? Don’t ask! Just cook it really, really well), or being supported for
years by a pagan widow who has no actual food beyond the current meal she is
serving. Elijah went on to confront a corrupt king, and gave 100% in doing what
the Lord asked him to do to show the unfaithful people of Israel that Yahweh is
the only real God. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_G_xO8_pB2g/UuKp6iBGECI/AAAAAAAAHzM/WWEItnDeCHQ/s1600/P1080235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_G_xO8_pB2g/UuKp6iBGECI/AAAAAAAAHzM/WWEItnDeCHQ/s1600/P1080235.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salim, a Palestinian Christian, who works <br />to reconcile Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land</td></tr>
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But I think that what sent Elijah over the edge was not just
pure exhaustion, too much effort spent in ministry (as it is for most of us who
reach that point). No, Elijah prayed for death because he had done his best,
100%, and it was all a complete failure. I know that there were some leaders in
the room in Kampala who have been just as faithful as Elijah but who have seen
their vision end in complete failure. There are no immediate answers. God
allows Elijah two good nights of sleep and two good meals before facing the
tough questions at Sinai, the mountain of the covenant. Elijah pours out his
accusations honestly. After a pause, God asks Elijah to come out of the cave
and be in his presence. And God agrees with Elijah’s accusations. But he also
unveils a much, much bigger plan than Elijah had imagined. There is a plan for
judgment of those who enjoy living in judgment. And there is also the assurance
that Elijah is in good company. He may feel alone, but there are not 2, not
100, but actually 7000 others who worship Yahweh as god. So, Elijah is sent off
to anoint 2 future kings and his own prophet successor. And here’s the best
part. In his lifetime, Elijah only anoints 1 of 3 – Elisha to succeed him. And
Elijah never again appeared to struggle with failure. I take a lot of comfort
in the fact that we can have a vision for our lives that exceeds our own
lifetime.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-heL03dSP524/UuKp6q70BwI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/izB2Qs5cPpA/s1600/P1080217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-heL03dSP524/UuKp6q70BwI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/izB2Qs5cPpA/s1600/P1080217.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate and Jean-Serge, two GLI friends</td></tr>
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The week ended well, with really warm, loving worship and a
party at the end of the day on Friday. Most of us traveled back to Burundi
together on Saturday, and I was so happy to see my boys and Paul at the
airport! We had a fairly quiet weekend after I got home, just catching up with
each other. I needed some time to just “be” with them – I really loved being
able to serve so intensely during the week, a lot of prayer, not much sleep,
but always enough for the coming day, not much time, but just enough to do what
was necessary, always the words coming from outside of me for the moment. It’s
amazing to find oneself really serving as an instrument to build up the body of
Christ, not an owner of gifts, but one through whom they are given. But it’s
hard to maintain that level of spiritual alertness for more than a week. So I
had planned a retreat day on Tuesday. I really am thankful that God had
prepared the place for me in advance where I could meet with him and just rest.
And again, Paul allowed me to take the time all day Tuesday, while he kept the
kids in their normal school routine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, that’s the scoop. More on a “normal” week next week.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking for signs of hope with the martyrs</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">P.S. As a follow up and natural extension to the week in Kampala, the GLI Burundi team joined many other Christians for the world-wide prayers for Christian Unity on Thursday evening. This year, the service was held at the large Catholic cathedral downtown. I was with a Quaker colleague who noted that it was only his second time entering the Cathedral. I asked about the first time. He told me that he had sung in a choir there on the occasion of the 1993 funeral for the assassinated first Hutu President of Burundi, Melchior Ndadaye. It was his murder that sparked the 14 year civil war here. I felt even more keenly the longing that my friends and colleagues never need go through a horrible time like that again.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-10505050019371791132014-01-17T21:57:00.001+02:002014-01-17T21:57:23.068+02:00Stay At Home Dad and Goodbye to Grandparents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Kids from Hope School displaying soccer balls they received from friends in the US via Jean Sack.</i><br />
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I am counting down the days to Rebecca's return (one left). I am writing this evening playing the stay-at-home-dad for the 8th and final day, while Rebecca is at a conference in Kampala. Actually I should be pretty good at this as this is the third year that this conference has happened in January. As co-representatives there are times when we need to divide our work rather than share it. Although there was some temptation to take the kids out of school and go to Kampala as a family, the reality is that this is usually the most unpleasant option with kids feeling neglected, out of their routine, and us dividing our time between family and work responsibility. We fail at both when we try to do such things together and do much better keeping the kids in their routine with one parent while the other can give her (or his) full time to work. <br />
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Rebecca will write next week about the details of the GLI conference. It is becoming a very powerful venue for regional church leaders from Catholic and Protestant churches to come together and reflect on the role of the church in bringing reconciliation and redemption to the Great Lakes region.<br />
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For me, the week is more or less normal, but a bit more stressful without team parenting. I still take the kids to school in the morning and then follow my morning routine with swimming and devotional followed by 3.5 hours at work. When I pick the kids up for lunch at noon, I discontinue working for the rest of the day and play with the kids. There are some extra-curricular activities, like tennis and reading club they go to, but most of the time they are with me. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GZt8j92EHE/UtmIfcUomBI/AAAAAAAAHx0/Y8dFq1TRrAg/s1600/P1070702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GZt8j92EHE/UtmIfcUomBI/AAAAAAAAHx0/Y8dFq1TRrAg/s1600/P1070702.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a>It is fortunate that I have always been the one that is in charge for the morning routine. (I am the morning person). So I am used to being up early to make breakfast, feed the dogs, prepare breakfast, and snacks and get the kids ready for school. I am less practiced with the afternoon activities, but at least we have never been late for school.<br />
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The kids have been more cooperative than usual, like I think they realize they have an unfair advantage with two of them and one of me. They have been playing better with each other and have been fighting less. We have also managed to wean them off of screen time over the Christmas break and they spend many an hour in the afternoon coloring, of all things. (Are they still going to like coloring when we get back to the US?)<br />
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The only change in routine worthy of noting was the temporary closing of our pool in Kinanira III. They were changing the water which gave me the opportunity to find some other options. There is a great pool at the Star Hotel in Kigobe (the last place I would have looked for a pool.) Also, Entente Sportive, the pool that was closed last year for a month of renovation that took a year and a half is scheduled to open tomorrow evening. It still has its 3 and 5 meter platform, but for some reason the owner saw fit to divide its majestic 33 meter length into a 10 and 23 meter pool. (No one consulted me, but I would have told him that was a dreadfully bad idea.) Anyway, that should suffice for my Bujumbura pool PSA. Club du Lac T is always great of course, and the US embassy has a very big pool as well, but you have to be in the diplomatic or official corps to use it as far as I can tell. Too bad.<br />
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Actually this is the second week of normal routine with the kids having gone back to school after vacation last Monday. Rebecca and I got a full day of work in on Monday as Grandma Jean watched them in the afternoon and even gave us a date night that evening. The kids spent the time with her taking down the Christmas decorations and putting them in a suitcase for the grandparents to take back to the US. Some of the heavier toys were packed up as well. It is strange to see this process beginning so early. But you have to take advantage of transcontinental sherpas when they are visiting. We do not get to take anything more back than we can fit into 2 suitcases each when we leave.<br />
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Papa Dave and Grandma Jean were still with us last week until Thursday, and Rebecca took the opportunity to take them up to the Hope School in Mutaho overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.<br />
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Hope School is one of MCC's longterm partner projects. We have placed service workers and SALTers there in the past. Jean Sack has also been there on at least 4 past visits and it was those visits that really inspired her (a professional librarian) to start a book campaign to get books to Burundi when she realized how impoverished schools here were for educational materials. If you have followed this blog you are probably aware of the book drive and container of books and other pedagogical materials that arrived here in the past few years.<br />
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Her visit was especially meaningful, not only because it will be the last one during our term as MCC reps. but because her passion for books for the Hope School inspired another donor, The Foundation for Hope in Africa, to give a grant to build a library at the school which was completed this fall. <br />
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This was a wonderful synergy of efforts as the 8000 books that Jean Sack had furnished had been primarily stored in book shelves stuffed into a small supply room, virtually inaccessible to teachers and students.<br />
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To see the books in a library with solar power to boot was certainly a well received tribute for her efforts several years ago. We have also advertised for a one year SALT position of a librarian assistant to help better organize the books and get them better circulated in classrooms and used as resources. It is easy to see the challenges and how much more that needs to be done, but it is also important to look at what was accomplished.<br />
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I think Jean is regarded by our partner and others at the school as a local hero and they brought up several more suitcases of French books and other supplies they had brought from many who donated before their trip. Included in the gifts were 50 new soccer balls and several hundred pinpal letters! (The soccer ball donation was inspired from the visit of Rebecca's brother's family last spring who saw the school and played soccer there with some kids using a wad of bags wrapped up with twine as a ball. Cousin Miriam's soccer team contributed many of these balls after she shared her experience with them.)<br />
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Although I was not on the visit (I stayed with the kids because they were in school), I did receive a great report about the visit. Even at the Grande Seminaire where they stayed overnight, they were welcomed warmly by the nuns and priests who have also met Jean in the past. Many gifts were bestowed on her as well, most notably some gigantic avocados from the seminary trees, that were, no exaggeration, as big as my head! I think they should get some kind of world record. As a result we have had avocado in just about everything and I did find out this week, that if you are out of mayonnaise, mashed avocado makes a perfect substitute in tuna salad. (The kids really liked it.)<br />
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Dave and Jean left last Thursday and then we had one night as a family before Rebecca left last Friday morning. We did a swim together, prayed together and then I took Rebecca to the airport. The rest of the day was a bit of a challenge as I had to teach ballet, 2 classes, with both kids in tow. It is especially hard because David's best friend Isabel, the daughter of Tim and Jeanette is no longer here. So she was not in class and her mom was not around to help.<br />
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I made arrangements for David to go home with some other friends during the second hour, but found him fast asleep in the corner of the room by the end of the first class. Oren has been doing the older kids class which has been nice to have him participate. Sadly he is the only boy, but does like to jump, and especially likes to try to do <i>tour en l'air</i>. (He usually lands on his butt.)<br />
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The weekend was good. After yoga I took the kids to Pinnacle 19 on the beach all day where we swam, fished, and David was very happy to play with Avril the baby chimp who was also very excited to see him. We saw Lulu the older chimp out of her cage as well on the grounds but she was limping terribly and when I asked the owner what happened she told me someone shot her in the night about 2 weeks before. I don't know if she will fully recover but it was very sad to see that.<br />
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Sunday we went to church as usual. I did go down and help with the Sunday School though. We had a small cell group in the evening and I made sure things were prepared for school the next morning.<br />
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Monday turned out to be the hardest day of the week as several members of our staff (or their families were sick) and basically no one showed up for work. This would not have been terrible if there was not a guest, a photographer from one of our back donors (CFGB) arriving that evening. I did my best to get things ready in the house including dinner and the guest room. Fortunately she arrived in the evening (I sent a taxi for her) and was taken by our partner upcountry the next morning meaning I did not really have any extensive hosting responsibilities. By Tuesday our staff was back and Marcelline cleaned a mountain of dirty dishes. By comparison, the rest of the week seemed easy.<br />
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Through the week the kids have been very good and many friends have offered to be there for us during the week. On Tuesday our Ethiopian friends invited us over for dinner. We took them up on the offer and enjoyed Ethiopian food (and a ton of appetizers and desserts) We did get home late for a school night, but at least there were no dishes.<br />
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Rebecca has been checking in all week and despite being the stay at home parent, I did get a lot of work done in the mornings while the kids were at school. The week is over now, and I do feel some sense of pride that I can give Rebecca this opportunity to be fully available for this conference. Expect an update from her on that next week.<br />
<br />Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-43996647748819949752014-01-05T13:30:00.000+02:002014-01-05T15:30:33.434+02:00Ruminations on the Sublime and The Hobbit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Oren showing Papa Dave the offerings of Cafe Gourmand in Bujumbura--the best Belgian pastry shop in the Southern Hemisphere!</i></div>
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Once again, I find myself with some unexpected time to sit
and reflect, on a Sunday morning this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>David began getting a fever yesterday and I found myself suffering from
an earache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been taking it easy
since yesterday and stayed home from church this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Rebecca did take him to BUMEREC for a
malaria test which was negative.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2m7i5JAI_os/Usk0d4lgzWI/AAAAAAAAHuw/OsctkGjXLck/s1600/P1070913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2m7i5JAI_os/Usk0d4lgzWI/AAAAAAAAHuw/OsctkGjXLck/s200/P1070913.jpg" width="200" /></a>We came back only 3 days ago from our vacation in Kigoma,
Tanzania and are enjoying our last week in Burundi with Papa Dave and Grandma
Jean, who will be here until Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Actually they and Rebecca will leaving at the end of next week, Rebecca
going to a conference in Kampala, which will leave me alone with the kids for
the following week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZQjRLRqi8Y/Usk0e6Ig-aI/AAAAAAAAHvE/lEyCJ0dBWPo/s1600/P1070926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZQjRLRqi8Y/Usk0e6Ig-aI/AAAAAAAAHvE/lEyCJ0dBWPo/s200/P1070926.jpg" width="150" /></a>We left for Kigoma the previous week (Dec 28<sup>th</sup>)
and drove the 5 hours down from Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We made one interesting stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of our partners, Help Channel Burundi, was doing an emergency food distribution
for some recently returned Burundian refugees from Tanzania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has been a forced repatriation in the
past 6 months that has resulted in hardship and food insecurity for many of the
returnees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MCC sent a container of
emergency food and some school kits that were being distributed at several
sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was serendipitous that one of
them was on the way south along the lake and we stopped to see the
distribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx4AcHlBw0E/Usk0e4xtJ_I/AAAAAAAAHvM/Gq2q08Ff8Fs/s1600/P1070917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx4AcHlBw0E/Usk0e4xtJ_I/AAAAAAAAHvM/Gq2q08Ff8Fs/s200/P1070917.jpg" width="200" /></a>A food distribution is not much to look at on the surface—a
truck with supplies was unloaded containing maize, beans, canned turkey meat
and school kits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a team there
with a list of eligible recipients and many in line---many not on the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca and Jean Sack took the opportunity to
interview several women (and men) and got details on their stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did an official obligatory speech of
introduction and left after that to continue our journey to Kigoma. We crossed
the border without a problem although the 26 km of dirt road to the border was
much worse than normal after some hard rains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We arrived at Jakobbson beach in the late afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sublime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A word I
often ponder, was first impressed upon my consciousness in reading Kant’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Critique of Judgment </i>in grad. school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He, the master of metaphysical categories,
defines 3 types of experience of the sublime:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the noble, the splendid and the terrifying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For him there is an important distinction between
the experience of beauty and the experience of the sublime, although there are
some similarities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beauty is defined by
the 'boundaries' of the object admired-- (ex. a rose) while the sublime is experienced as
boundless because of the magnitude of the object (ex. a glacier).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The experience of the sublime
is the pleasure in seeing an overpowering, vast, object of great magnitude that
renders the viewer insignificant and mortal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is this peculiar experience of terror, without actually being afraid, that gives one the sense of the sublime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I would say that Kigoma, is a place where one encounters the
sublime in the experience of the splendid.
<a href="http://pamosley.blogspot.com/2012/01/paradise-thy-name-is-kigoma.html" target="_blank">I have described in the past the particulars of the Jakobbsen beach with
its cottages, lagoon like beachfront, on a crystal clear shore of Lake
Tanganyika.</a><a href="http://pamosley.blogspot.com/2012/01/paradise-thy-name-is-kigoma.html" target="_blank"> </a> Not to mention the immensely
bouldered savannah on a high plateau that offers one a view of an immense
peninsula overlooking the vast surrounding lake, town, and mountains of
DRC. A zebra and troup of monkeys paid
regular visits to our front porch, and we enjoyed snorkeling, swimming and
bouldering on the beaches and surrounding cliffs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Lake Tanganyika itself has a certain claim on the sublime
being the second deepest lake in the entire world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought of the bottom, largely unexplored
extending 1000s of feet below the surface is terrifying enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Kigoma offers a unique opportunity to
experience its depth in a small way because of the clarity of the water
surrounded by rocky cliffs and sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
clarity of the water affords a great opportunity for snorkeling that feels
almost coral reef like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tropical fish
swim around the boulders close to the shore, but one can snorkel away from the
shallows and see down to depths of 30 to 50 feet fairly easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plunging down for a surface dive in the late
afternoon, one experiences a rapid cooling of the water with each passing
meter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an exciting place to
snorkel and swim as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jCpw64Qb_ow/Usk0fpE37pI/AAAAAAAAHvY/IIo5R9FStl4/s1600/P1070962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jCpw64Qb_ow/Usk0fpE37pI/AAAAAAAAHvY/IIo5R9FStl4/s320/P1070962.jpg" width="320" /></a>Rebecca and I enjoyed swimming between points in the lagoon,
clear as swimming pool 10 feet deep but 175 to 200 meters across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although there are no hippos or crocs ever
sighted in this area, the clear water, looking horizontally is scary as one
imagines seeing shadowy forms in the underwater distances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The bouldering could easily be technical climbing for
someone properly equipped and so inclined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As it was, this was a favorite activity of David and Oren who had to be
kept from the more dangerously high faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We encouraged them to do more ‘horizontal’ bouldering along the shore of
the lake, marginally safer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It was rainy season, and every day was not equally amenable
to outdoor activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed in much
of Monday and Tuesday and worked on a puzzle, played games and read books.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did a fascinating 1000 piece puzzle based on a miniature
old time general store by look-alike artist Joan Steiner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If any ‘puzzling’ friends in Burundi want to
borrow it, let me know.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I also read the Hobbit to Oren and David over the 5 day
vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We listened to some of it on
the ipod during the 5 hour drive to and from Kigoma.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is such a good book, and I was struck by
how unnerving it is to imagine ‘men’ at a much lower point on the food chain
than we usually imagine ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tolkein captures well the sense of hapless survival that becomes one’s
life in the face of undeafeatable enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I can imagine how such fantasy could come out of the mind of someone
living in early 20<sup>th</sup> century Europe--a place inhabited by formidable enemies who could in essence devour
another nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As Germany did in
WWII).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The enchanted enemies of the
Hobbit, goblins, dragons, wolves, may seem little more than pure fantasy for
those of us living in ‘First World’ nations nowadays, our enemies are real, but far less powerful than hordes of goblins or Smaug the dragon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was simultaneously reading Jason Stearns <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Glory-Monsters-Collapse-Africa/dp/1610391071" target="_blank">Dancing in the Glory of Monsters</a>—</i>the
recent history of DRC starting with the fall of Mobutu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This is a must read for those working in the
Great Lakes region, in my opinion.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
was disturbing to me, besides the unbelievable horror of the war in the region
beginning in 1994, was the utter depravity of the slaughter of
civilian refugees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The magnitude of death
between the Rwanda genocide and the retribution that followed is beyond all
capacity to imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To read these books together, chapter by chapter, one almost
feels there is something allegorical in it all from old Smaug—Mobutu, to the
dwarves, elves and men all laying claim to the treasure, after his defeat, not to mention the
goblins and wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One would have to look hard for
someone acting in the noble role of eagles or kindly wizards. (Foreign powers that have been involved have not seemed so ennobled in their motives)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have many friends and colleagues that want to find simple
roots to these events--conflict metals, colonialism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, like Smaug’s arrival and staying power,
the greed of dwarves, the histories of bitterness between goblins and men, the
causes of war lack easy explanation, and sometimes it seems that small things
change the course of history significantly for better or worse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I was struck, in the Hobbit, that the whole goblin war of 5
armies was a result of the dwarves quest itself and their stumbling into the
lair, causing the death of the Great Goblin.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is something comforting realistic about the end of the Hobbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things are better, but dragons are still
around, alliances are only so strong, and larger forces are held only at bay,
not eradicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Noble actions and
self-serving motives intermingle and characters may move between one and the
other in a way that strikes me as true to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More true than what I might read in someone’s biography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We finished the Hobbit but I am still working on the other
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The parallel reading informs my experience of the
sublime along the shore of the lake as I contemplate the terrifying legacy of
the land I stand upon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bloodshed and
feudal warfare in this region the past two decades is truly medieval in its
horror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is actually what<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is—probably little different from Europe
in its feudalistic period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People live
here, like they did in the Hobbit’s ‘edge of the wild’ in uneasy alliances,
avoiding enemies, and in some fatalistic awareness of forces far greater than
themselves that can change everything for better but more often for the worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is always the opportunity for ruthless
and noble actions and the lives of people here full of examples of both.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a westerner I never feel more awed (in the terrible sense
of the word) and yet more removed from this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are the ‘hollow men’ here--people without a history of suffering and
tribulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But awareness changes a
person, even me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even how I read a book
like the Hobbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no longer a mere
fantasy to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is probably closer to
the experience of many I live with here than what my life in the US was, complete
with creature comforts and continuous trance-inducing claim of mass media and
the entertainment industry. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes I think history will show our culture to be the
true<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘lotus eaters’ of this age—living
life comfortably stoned, (even if we ‘say no to drugs’).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oops, straying into the tedious role of cultural critic and casting too pessimistic a light on the current state of affairs in Burundi to boot. Indeed for us here the monster is dead and the goblin wars are over for the time being as lives are being remade. People are daring to rebuild again and hope for a better future. It is good to be part of the force for good here in that way, and there are other foreigners here with a similar desire to help in the rebuilding in small ways.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vacation was refreshing, and having the time to reflect in
awe at the majesty and horror of this place has been good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps I wax more philosophical because we
continue our steady plod to the end of our term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have said I fear leaving and I will say it
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new year marked another
milestone, our last New Year’s here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
barely acknowledged it on the night, all of us having fallen asleep by 11pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oren desperately wanted us to wake him up to
jump off a chair in the Danish tradition we learned from our friends the
Spanners, but we were not even able to arouse him to do it at 11.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Our trip back to Bujumbura was without event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stopped along the lake at Saga Resha
resort for some local fish—mukeke, and fried bananas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will say there is nothing like eating the
fish fresh from the lake here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Kigoma
we bought a fresh sangala and grilled it whole over charcoal,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was incredibly delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to get it that fresh in Bujumbura
and always tastes more ‘fishy’ here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rebecca and I did a day of work on Friday while grandparents
baby-sat, and they even sat for the kids that evening giving Rebecca and I are
rare ‘date night’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to Botanika restaurant and had a very
nice evening together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed like
the first time in ages we had time to talk eventhough we have a time of swimming,
morning devotional and prayer together most mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Topic of conversation was centered on
departure and on being intentional about work, child rearing, working, diet,
Sabbath, after our return to the US.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday was a return to the routine of yoga, and the
outbreak of David’s fever midday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
spent Saturday evening with him while Rebecca took her parents to our colleague
Felix’s house for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patrick came
down this weekend as well, for some business and is with us today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will likely go to the weekly ultimate
game this afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Looking forward to the kids return to school tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></div>
Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-9196337868560648432013-12-27T13:37:00.001+02:002013-12-28T05:59:12.367+02:00December Rites (part 3): Folk dances, Grandparents, Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtWjEcosYLE/Ur1lCZEoI9I/AAAAAAAAHt8/P8tqxqwzROM/s1600/P1070890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtWjEcosYLE/Ur1lCZEoI9I/AAAAAAAAHt8/P8tqxqwzROM/s320/P1070890.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Family Christmas with grandparents wearing tailor-made Bujumbura themed Gitenge shirts for the men. Rebecca's dress was also from the tailor.</i></div>
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As the dust of Christmas revelry settles, I am finally able
to sneak away from familial activities to log some of the events of the past
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed the rituals of December
seem to build to a crescendo in the week preceding Christmas and this year,
perhaps because it is our last here, seemed even more full of gatherings and
merry-making then any year previous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Starting from last Friday and working forward, I would have
to say that the preparations and execution of our annual Christmas folk dance
was the most time consuming activity of the past week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids finished the week of school on
Friday and by that time many of their compatriots had gone or were planning
their departure from Burundi for the holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many of the Europeans from the school return home over Christmas as do
most of the Ecole Belge teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The kids did really well in school socially this year and it
is hard to believe the first trimester is already over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My last ballet classes of the semester on
Friday finished fairly inauspiciously with only 3 of 20 girls showing up for
either one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My disappointment was short-lived
though as the plans for Friday evening at our house were elaborate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I arrived back at the house that evening, we had 5
service workers over at the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teresa
and Julia were down from Kigali, and Melody was down from Gitega.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patrick had come from Bukavu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Actually Teresa and Julia came down with
Patrick as they had popped round for a visit to Bukavu before heading to
Bujumbura.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt Alan also stopped by the
house as well to greet his fellow SALTers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We shared dinner together Friday night and the service workers played
card games in the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They had all come down to join us in our Christmas folk dance scheduled for the next day.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sObivObW0Vw/Ur1UYSb_gNI/AAAAAAAAHso/DmI8Gwmhiaw/s1600/P1070726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sObivObW0Vw/Ur1UYSb_gNI/AAAAAAAAHso/DmI8Gwmhiaw/s320/P1070726.jpg" width="320" /></a>I had an ambitious project that same night to complete a gingerbread cathedral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
year Oren and I had used his magnet blocks as a pattern to build a very
impressive church and we wanted to do it again this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately the building part of the
project went late into Friday night so Oren was not able to help much in the
design phase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used Joy Johnson’s
method of gluing the pieces together by dipping the edges in molten sugar and
completed the design before midnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The next morning Oren, David and I were up by 6am to do the
icing and decorating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was literally
the only time during the day we had to work as the rest of the morning was
occupied by yoga followed by mad preparations for our folk dance and offering
of the arts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The kids did a great job decorating the creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really wanted it for the party as the
half-life of gingerbread houses in Burundi is about 12 hours because of the
heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my hope to display it, then
have it eaten on the same day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was to be one of our ‘artworks’ for the party.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rebecca and I had also discussed with Melody some ideas for
songs we might sing as Melody and Rebecca are both trained singers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided on a few Christmas carols, ‘Lo How a Rose E're Blooming’ and a “Come All Ye Faithful” medley with another song from the
Mennonite Hymnbook (Sing the Journey) that can be overlaid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After yoga, which was quite a large group,
we began to work on the two songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Several other members of our team joined us, including Patrick who had
brought his ukulele and after a few run-throughs we were ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The SALTers went to the beach at that point
and our family stayed and got the house ready for the dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This primarily involves pushing all the
furniture out of the living room.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rT6EFgMRh30/Ur1UV4mUE3I/AAAAAAAAHsM/-usn6wkUd50/s1600/IMG_1709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rT6EFgMRh30/Ur1UV4mUE3I/AAAAAAAAHsM/-usn6wkUd50/s200/IMG_1709.jpg" width="200" /></a>Rebecca and I prepared several Christmas themed square
dances, including “Strip the Willow” (in honor of the Carrs who used to do
Ceilidhs here).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In general we had more
traditional dances and no line dances this time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our family also did a few rehearsals of the carol “The Friendly
Beasts” with Oren and David so that each one of us did a verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was the donkey, Rebecca the sheep, Oren the
cow, and David the camel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had masques
to along with the song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Guests started arriving between 3 and 4 and by 4:30 we did
our presentations of the arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
gathering this year was a bit smaller, probably due to the fact that
it was done a bit closer to Christmas itself so many of our ex. pat friends
were out of town already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very
nice group, mostly from the mission community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Among the families were the Wisdoms,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Guillbauds, Millers, Ivaskas, Van Aardes, Carlsons, Andersons, Peter and Linda Taylor, several
other families from the Kings School, Ena and her son Carl and of course the MCC team of 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps one reason it seemed like smaller
gathering this year was because we were lacking the Withrows with their 5
daugthers who have been at all of our dances for the past 4 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Travis and Co.--We are happy you are all
finally reunited in the US for Christmas but you are missed here this
year.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmmmtNVaMQY/Ur1UV1Jl6HI/AAAAAAAAHsQ/u1cIfLoe0vk/s1600/IMG_1717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmmmtNVaMQY/Ur1UV1Jl6HI/AAAAAAAAHsQ/u1cIfLoe0vk/s320/IMG_1717.jpg" width="320" /></a>Our musical offerings were appreciated by the group as well
as a poem shared by Jodi Mikalachki.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
were also many other Christmas food offerings from peoples home countries that
were brought to share at the potluck that followed the dancing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Actually, having a somewhat smaller group made the dancing a
bit more manageable this year and we were able to learn a pretty cool double square
dance that took both sets in a big circle around the room to change sides every
repetition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully I can make a recording of it next
time we do it to save for posterity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Strip the Willow was also appreciated and we did it in 3 simultaneous
lines in the living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Dinner was fabulous and and great to share with
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were desserts aplenty and
a good portion of the gingerbread house was devoured as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately I got some good photos of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The party ended at about 8pm and by 9 we had pretty much
cleaned it up, thanks to help from our MCC service workers and Odifax, one of
our cleaning staff.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This event, as big as it was, seemed almost little more than
a precursor to other activities planned for the days ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Sunday I needed to go to a Baptism at 7 in
the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca and I had sponsored
one of the youth at the church and needed to make an appearance at the Baptism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I should preface this a bit by explaining what constitutes
Baptism in Burundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the good side,
among all Christians, Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox, Reform, there is no
doctrinal question about what ritual represents the sacrament of Baptism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baptism is always a full immersion into Lake
Tanganyika or a swimming pool next to the Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There are no churches with Baptismal fonts and certainly no
small vessels for sprinkling water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
one has ever heard of such things here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So a Baptism is a big deal because it always involves scheduling a
place, time and arranging for transportation of candidates and witnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consequently, Baptisms are usually done only once or twice a year for a large group of people, and not for individuals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I arrived at Petit Bassam, one of the lakeside resorts with
a pool, and met the group there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was a small choir, 2 pastors and about a dozens candidates for Baptism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all changed into white Baptismal robes
and stood by the pool where the pastor did an introduction in Kirundi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The candidates followed the pastors in, two
by two to be Baptized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choir sung
during the Baptism and the whole scene was quite picturesque on the beautiful
sun-drenched morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see why no
one would want to give up this kind of lakeside ritual for something ‘more
convenient’ involving sprinkling at a church.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We all got back in time for church to begin where I met my
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I had gone to the Baptism alone
as the family representative.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
service was good and Rebecca taught Sunday school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were at church our volunteers made
an attempt to get back to Rwanda only to find all the buses were full, so we
met them back at our house when we got home. They planned to try again the next morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This was complicated by the fact that the next big event of
the same day was the arrival of Rebecca’s parents David and Jean Sack that same afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids were thrilled to see Papa Dave and
Grandma Jean and they were laden with gifts from home and other family
members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All but one of their bags
arrived with them on the flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The
last one arrived the next day.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Without piling it on too deeply, we did have yet another
evening event planned on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our small group
was to meet for the last time this year and we wanted to have a potluck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The occasion was to be festive but also
solemn as we were going to say our farewells to Tim, Jeanette, and Isabel Van
Aarde, our longtime South African missionary friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been here for pretty much all of
the past 5 years we were here and Isabel and David practically grew up as
brother and sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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They had completed their assignment here and were returning
to South Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Actual departure date
was to be Christmas day.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a short
time of Bible study then we gathered around them, laid hands upon them and took
turns praying for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
followed by a potluck as well with offerings from Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia as
well as spinach lasagna, and baked ziti dish made by yours truly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFRtALKcXBs/Ur1UeeTJWdI/AAAAAAAAHtY/sgqwpnzy9MA/s1600/P1070809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFRtALKcXBs/Ur1UeeTJWdI/AAAAAAAAHtY/sgqwpnzy9MA/s320/P1070809.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our small group with Tim and Jeanette in the center.</td></tr>
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It was a fun evening and Rebecca’s parents joined in the
festivities despite their jetlag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although this was pretty much the last time we saw Tim and Jeanette
before their departure, it was hard to experience at that moment, the full
impact of their departure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I later described to our friend Joel Miller the sense of
what it is like to be in our last year and be the last to leave among the
‘cohort’ we started with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(It seems many
ex pats spend between 3 and 5 years here.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With the Spanners, Hoffmans, Jacksons, and now Van Aardes gone, I feel
like our senior class graduated last year and left and we stayed around an
extra year to start a graduate degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are in the same place, but everything seems different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not complaining, we still have good friends
here, but we are feeling that gentle tidal pull of our time coming to an end
here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday was a day of preparation for Christmas at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our cook was sick so we did prepare some
food, the kids were home from school because of holidays and Dave and Jean were
here with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rebecca spent some of the
day preparing music for the evening as we were going over to a “Lessons and
Carols’ at Joel and Janette Miller’s home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the second year they are hosting this event, and hopefully it will
continue to be a tradition. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m1mY9mDs2a4/Ur1UcohxMwI/AAAAAAAAHtM/RyoSAZnm6gg/s1600/P1070813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m1mY9mDs2a4/Ur1UcohxMwI/AAAAAAAAHtM/RyoSAZnm6gg/s320/P1070813.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa Dave and Grandma Jean making cinnamon rolls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again we had a large group of many of the same missionary
families that were at our house, but with the addition of the Johnson family
who numbered about 20 all counted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a really beautiful evening of readings and singing and Joel Miller
thoughtfully prepared appropriate rituals for different parts of the service
which was held in their living room under candlelight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the highlights included short
dramatic readings by some of the Miller kids of certain parts of the Christmas
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended with Silent Night sung
while lighting candles—the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sin qua non</i>
of Christmas Lessons and Carols ceremonies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because we did this on Monday night, before Christmas eve.
it left the day and evening of the December 24<sup>th</sup> completely
unprogrammed for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t tell you
how relieving it was to have a day with nothing specifically planned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pe2WJuLabu8/Ur1Ufk5eqBI/AAAAAAAAHts/GoLeSO3akKQ/s1600/P1070844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pe2WJuLabu8/Ur1Ufk5eqBI/AAAAAAAAHts/GoLeSO3akKQ/s200/P1070844.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grandma Jean and the kids spent the day in a cinnamon roll
making project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A grand Sack
tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made several dozen, the
first of which was eaten by us on Christmas morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For Christmas eve. dinner we opted to go out to Kohinoor,
the Indian restaurant in the Quartier Asiatique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(as an Indian food connoisseur I need to let
other ex pats. know that this is the best Indian food in Burundi hands down—former
chef of Khanna kazana working there.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
had a fabulous Indian meal for Christmas eve. AND no dirty dishes to wash to
boot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We went home and did our final advent candle lighting and
finished our Jessie tree before going to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YnYYbFhwHFY/Ur1Uf9XHZwI/AAAAAAAAHto/fkfJYYYf2b0/s1600/P1070825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YnYYbFhwHFY/Ur1Uf9XHZwI/AAAAAAAAHto/fkfJYYYf2b0/s320/P1070825.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oren was up several times in the night to check his
stocking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could hardly wait until
Christmas morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both kids were up a
6am and opened their stockings and played with things in there until everyone
else got up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We opened the presents Christmas morning which seemed like a
bonanza to the kids with all the ‘loot’ brought from the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got many of the things on their
Christmas list, most notably, David’s pet turkey (a stuffed one) which he named
Sherman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had a lazy morning but prepared a salad for our last
Christmas social gathering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben and
Christie Carlson, some friends of our in the coffee business here, (<a href="http://www.longmilescoffeeproject.com/">longmilescoffeeproject.com</a>),
invited us and several other families to share Christmas dinner together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was another gathering of familiar faces,
and Ben and Christy had really extended themselves with delicious gourmet food
offerings featuring a roasted lamb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were also selections of things we don’t often get here like
roasted walnuts with dried cranberries and relishes of wasabi mayonnaise and
blue cheese.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had a great time together with them the Millers and
Ivaskas as well as several visiting parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The kids, who are all classmates at the Ecole Belge, had a great time playing together as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One interesting note is that the
Carlson’s hosted this at their new home in Mutanga Nord, the old house of our
German friends the Hoffmans who left last summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like these houses continue to get
recycled in the ex. pat. Mission community.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItOVazySIsU/Ur1UgSjmv8I/AAAAAAAAHtw/QQG5s3I5MYk/s1600/P1070869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItOVazySIsU/Ur1UgSjmv8I/AAAAAAAAHtw/QQG5s3I5MYk/s320/P1070869.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben explaining Greed rules to kids.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the evening, by candlelight (because of a power failure)
we had a big greed game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We divided it
into a kids, then an adult game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
a lot fun, and Rebecca and I tried unsuccessfully to unload a particularly dreadful greed
gift we had received at a similar game 3 years before here in Bujumbura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Papa Dave won it back.)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got home late and went to bed shortly after our arrival
home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day after Christmas we took Papa Dave and Grandma Jean
to the zoo to see the kids’ 'pets'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Kita
the chimp, the leopard, snakes, etc.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kita was thrilled to see David and began to bang on her cage as soon as
she saw him walk into the zoo entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We fed her some fruit and David entertained other visitors playing
‘keep-away’ with her and a plastic bottle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPxSz-gsJvo/Ur1lsAgLbXI/AAAAAAAAHuM/WcSeNYHm0Rg/s1600/DSCN3791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPxSz-gsJvo/Ur1lsAgLbXI/AAAAAAAAHuM/WcSeNYHm0Rg/s200/DSCN3791.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We then stopped by Cercle Nautique where 2 hippos obliged to
show up and play around the boats in the marina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is nice when we can time visits to these
places with out of town visitors to see these sites which do not happen
everytime we go.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We enjoyed a family movie night last night and today are
getting ready to depart for Kigoma Tanzania for a 5 day vacation with Rebecca’s
parents. We do have one more small social gathering today as we have invited several of our Burundian friends and partners who know Rebecca's parents to drop by to greet them between 2 and 5 pm. (That will probably end around 9 :-). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0iZYe5SweuY/Ur1ld3qOH_I/AAAAAAAAHuE/-iIBFdfou4A/s1600/P1070883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0iZYe5SweuY/Ur1ld3qOH_I/AAAAAAAAHuE/-iIBFdfou4A/s200/P1070883.jpg" width="200" /></a>As I look back, I realize how much I will miss the kind of 'do-it-yourself' Christmas we have here. We do re-create many of the traditions we have grown up with, but they all have to be invented again--there are no pre-packaged, store-bought versions. I will miss the need to do it all from scratch, from services, to gingerbread houses. In some ways I fear trying to find our role in our community back home where we can choose from a potpourri of Lessons and Carols services, square dances, and a host of other Christmas special offerings at our local supermarkets, and delivered to our homes on cable TV. Maybe I will miss the feeling that we have something unique to offer to our friends and family. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This will be the last post of 2013, and a record of our last Christmas in Burundi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-79581410021450430462013-12-17T22:35:00.000+02:002013-12-18T11:41:13.429+02:00The Rites of December (part 2) Gingerbread Moms<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i>Oren and Caitlyn working on gingerbread houses at Joy Johnson's Annual Gingerbread Extravaganza</i></div>
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We are now deep into the rituals of Christmas. The third Advent candle was lit in our little
makeshift wreath on our coffee table yesterday, and we had participated in a
number of family style Christmas events in the past week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Working backwards, Oren and David’s English reading group
had a big cookie decorating Christmas party today (Monday). We are blessed to have Debbie, an 'embassy' mom who supplied many goodies from the US to decorate cookies with and turned
the airconditioning down in her house to give a feel of winter. The kids ate cookies, watched Christmas
movies on a big screen TV and drank hot chocolate!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sunday, we had a modified children’s Christmas pageant at
our church. Rebecca was very involved
in this and was actually leading worship.
She had worked on a number of Christmas songs for the Anglophone kids,
(with the help of several other moms).
The chairs were arranged in the sanctuary with a big space in the middle
for the kids to sit in. The presentation
was very cute and surprisingly well rehearsed, even with musicians arriving
less than 5 minutes before Church started on the day of the show. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Oren and David had been practicing their songs at home
during the week, especially “The Friendly Beasts”. David has a beautiful voice and could sing
the part about the donkey and the camel expertly. He, however, was not much of a performer and
didn’t seem to notice when his group was actually singing for the real thing. It was still very cute though.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oren played Joseph being visited by ‘Zack Guillbaud’ the
arch angel, telling him to take Mary as his wife. (Mary was an Ethiopian girl about a foot
taller than him.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The kids said their lines audibly and well, most of them
memorized.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There were songs from the Kirundiphone kids and even a guest
children’s choir from a town upcountry.
It was a successful production that showed a lot of effort on behalf of
the many mother’s who are involved in the Sunday School, and appreciated by all
of us there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Afterwards, I took Rebecca and the kids out to Ubuntu
restaurant to get pizza. She definitely
looked too exhausted to go home and prepare lunch. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Saturday before that was also a big, mulit-event
day. It began with yoga, as usual, but
afterwards we went out to Pinnacle 19 on the beach to spend some time with Tim,
Jeanette and Isabel. (Our South African
friends.) The occasion was an official good-bye get together for them with many friends
from the ex-pat community who have come to know them. The Ivaska’s, Millers, Guillbaud’s, as well
as others who dropped in. Many of these
were folks we saw at Thanksgiving and other gatherings this month. It was a pleasant afternoon, with kids
playing cricket on the beach and swimming in the lake. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That same afternoon, as if that day was not complicated
enough, the Ecole Belge’s Marché de Noel was scheduled. This is a great place to pick up Christmas
gifts for Friends and family as many merchants set up booths at the school to sell souvenirs and other handicrafts.
Mothers provide cookies and other sweets to sell, all of this to
fundraise for the school. It was like
‘deja-vu all over again’ as far as seeing everyone we had just left at the
beach. It has become an attraction for
almost every expat. in the country in my opinion, and I think I saw just about
everyone I know there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvRxMGxdrnc/UrCyAHPHYII/AAAAAAAAHq0/nv5o1jC3eDc/s1600/P1070633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvRxMGxdrnc/UrCyAHPHYII/AAAAAAAAHq0/nv5o1jC3eDc/s200/P1070633.jpg" width="200" /></a>The kids enjoyed Christmas shopping for each other, Rebecca
took David and I took Oren and we walked around and shopped. Sadly, for the second year in a row, the
weather was particularly disagreeable for an outdoor fête with overcast skies
and rain on and off. One highlight was
Oren winning a raffle prize worth about $50 at a local restaurant. He is excited to take us all out to dinner in
the next week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Friday was family movie night and we did our best to watch <i>A
Christmas Story</i> by streaming it without much success. So much for Spidernet being a great internet
provider all of the time. Oren managed
to stay up and watch it all the way through with many interruptions, but
Rebecca, David and I fell asleep. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QT-NJrQxwYc/UrCx-GUop_I/AAAAAAAAHqM/ToKESX1nIhY/s1600/P1070608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QT-NJrQxwYc/UrCx-GUop_I/AAAAAAAAHqM/ToKESX1nIhY/s200/P1070608.jpg" width="150" /></a>What made it fun though is that the kids have been on a serious
‘screen time’ fast, so this was a real treat. Rebecca and I have
been fasting from food during the day over the season, but the kids are giving
up screen time except one evening per week during this month. I will say that I have seen a marked
improvement in their behavior—far fewer fights.
I am one of the parents that is becoming convinced that the paradoxical
inertness of watching combined with the high brain activity of the content
watched (shows or games) does cause the kids to be very aggressive and agitated,
especially with each other. I think
this means we will probably not be getting a Playstation anytime soon in our
move back to the States.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Earlier in the week, the biggest highlight was a gingerbread
house making party hosted by Joy Johnson. This is the second year in what will
probably continue to be a tradition here.
Although I did not attend, Rebecca described it as epic! Joy had made several dozen undecorated
gingerbread houses, and all the other mothers who came supplied candies to
decorate the houses with. It was a huge
even with at least 25 participating kids.
The results were impressive and Oren and David brought theirs home and
promptly began eating it. At this
writing there is less than half of it left.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I still have not made our own gingerbread creation but have
designed a kind of Gothic Church that Oren and I will work on this week. We will be able to display it at our own
Annual Christmas Folkdance and Offering of the Arts this coming Saturday. We will be doing some carol singing as well
for this event, so there is a lot to prepare.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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We do expect most of our MCC team to be down for the weekend
as well, so it should be busy. Rebecca’s
parents also arrive this Sunday so we will be doubling down on hosting for at
least the next two weeks. Its all good
though!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-70540808432319256662013-12-08T22:27:00.003+02:002013-12-10T14:05:24.741+02:00The Rites of December<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVauono36Lo/UqTRV3nRDeI/AAAAAAAAHoE/PjQNJWXP7EE/s1600/P1070515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVauono36Lo/UqTRV3nRDeI/AAAAAAAAHoE/PjQNJWXP7EE/s320/P1070515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A sticker
activity coloring book</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A book
that shows information about leopards</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A book
that shows information about dinosaurs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A space
almanac</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A photo
of Teddy (who is at Gramma Jean’s house)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A photo
of the kind of pine tree that can be a Christmas tree</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A lego
set – of the crocodile boat?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A big bag
of gumdrops</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A bag of
marshmallows</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A photo
of Grammy’s Christmas tree with the decorations on it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A photo
of a squirrel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A photo
of a gingerbread house</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A photo
of my bike that is at Grammy’s house</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A plastic
animal hawk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A beautiful bracelet </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oren began
making his Christmas list right after Thanksgiving. It is interesting that for as far back as I
can remember, Oren never believed in Santa Claus, but this has never deterred
him from the ritual of writing his annual Christmas list. Actually this year, I would have to insist
that “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” in the form of his Grandma Jean who
will be coming out with Papa Dave in a couple weeks from Baltimore to share
Christmas with us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Actually I find
Oren’s Christmas list refreshing in that it seems relatively untainted by
things he might have seen on television or at the houses of friends. We are blessed to be in a plae that is so
‘non-commercial’ during this season, so the kids are not exposed to a lot of
things to covet this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ziRd9AzSdU/UqTRW0UKUBI/AAAAAAAAHoc/ivVHkIESLM4/s1600/P1070535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ziRd9AzSdU/UqTRW0UKUBI/AAAAAAAAHoc/ivVHkIESLM4/s200/P1070535.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The down side
is, that without a change of season, there is really no way to get into the
Christmas spirit without making a real effort by way of home décor to change
the atmosphere. The contrast, between
here and home with regard to weather is striking. While winter storms blanketed the US on
Thanksgiving, we were attending a dinner with some other Americans where the
main kids’ activity was playing on a slip and slide outdoors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanksgiving is
probably a good place to start the recollections of the past 10 days as so as
much has happened since then. As I had
mentioned in the previous entry, we had plans to have two Thanksgiving dinners
this year. The one on Thursday was at
our house with and Ethiopian family and some Burundian friends from our small
group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOCjHJACN88/UqTSzgJUc-I/AAAAAAAAHpk/eEYeT0rpqaI/s1600/P1070506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOCjHJACN88/UqTSzgJUc-I/AAAAAAAAHpk/eEYeT0rpqaI/s320/P1070506.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although we did
not have a turkey, we did get some rotisserie chicken and made stuffing and all
the other fixin’s. Rebecca made her
awesome faux cranberry relish out of Japanese plums that are readily available
here. (<a href="http://pamosley.blogspot.com/2010/11/two-thanksgivings-and-farewell.html" target="_blank">recipe here</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our guests
really appreciated partaking of an American Thanksgiving, which they had all
heard about, but had never been invited to one.
I did my best to recount the origins of the Holiday with some caveats
about our historical treatment of Indians.
But I did have a new appreciation, through their eyes, of a national
holiday dedicated to giving thanks. This
does not exist in Ethiopia or Burundi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4Fy-u-UJjM/UqTRWSyoppI/AAAAAAAAHoo/TSOLS-GpH7o/s1600/P1070526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4Fy-u-UJjM/UqTRWSyoppI/AAAAAAAAHoo/TSOLS-GpH7o/s200/P1070526.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That was
Thursday, but on Saturday we had another feast, this time with some other
Americans and various other Anglophone families from the Ecole Belge. It was at JJ and Courtney’s house (Naja and
Thomas’ old house). The featured dish at
this party was an entire lamb roasted on a spit. I think it was one of the tastiest
Thanksgiving meats I have ever had. Many
people contributed the rest of the meal, including an array of pumpkin
pies. There we about 50 people in
attendance including kids, and we played a big game of volleyball, and visited
well into the evening. The kids enjoyed
running around outside in the dark playing various games of tag and hide and
seek. Seeing the kids running around in
the dark reminded me so much of childhood with cousins and friends at family
gatherings. They had a great time
together. I again felt the now familiar
pang of seeing the milestone of another ‘last’ come and go. I will miss the warm-weather makeshift
Thanksgivings we have here with friends, local and ex-pat. Such celebrations have given me a deeper
appreciations of these traditions that I have long taken for granted back home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4gD9-9rJmog/UqTRY9y7ulI/AAAAAAAAHpA/o9HtOODN-7c/s1600/P1070549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4gD9-9rJmog/UqTRY9y7ulI/AAAAAAAAHpA/o9HtOODN-7c/s200/P1070549.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">kid's table</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The day after
our first Thanksgiving also marked what had become the beginning of our
Christmas season at the house. Creating
a change in season is a very intentional act of decorating here, and at this
point, Oren is the one who leads the crusade to get it started and
completed. We agreed to put up the
Christmas tree on Friday evening after ballet.
We are lucky to have a tree inherited from former service workers that
is life size. We also have collected,
over the years, a suitcase full of Christmas paraphernalia. It is all we can do to keep Oren from getting
it out during the rest of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NQC0vszic_M/UqTRU5FlvOI/AAAAAAAAHoA/ekF9B42z6gQ/s1600/P1070507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NQC0vszic_M/UqTRU5FlvOI/AAAAAAAAHoA/ekF9B42z6gQ/s320/P1070507.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So the big night
arrived and Oren and David opened the suitcase while I put lights on the
tree. This is an important ritual for
them and the duties were already agreed upon between them. David would take the ornaments out of the
suitcase and hand them to Oren, who in turn would hang them on the tree. They carried out the solemn ceremony for well
over an hour while Rebecca and I hung lights, stockings, set up Advent candles
and other Christmas decorations around the room. By the end of the evening we turned out the
lights, and listened to Christmas carols and admiring the tree. It really transforms the room and gives the
feel of Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F2XZ4og_hUE/UqTRV4DsmlI/AAAAAAAAHoI/aqSigEadizo/s1600/P1070519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F2XZ4og_hUE/UqTRV4DsmlI/AAAAAAAAHoI/aqSigEadizo/s200/P1070519.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a nice
family day on Sunday which was good because I left for Kigali on Monday after
school. It has been great to have two
straight weeks at home, but visits to Rwaanda with our two SALTers and multiple
projects is complex now and needs a visit at least once per month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite being
away from family, I do enjoy seeing the work on the projects in Rwanda. The conservation agriculture project is going
well and we are beginning to see results of the improved technique. There were also elections recently at the
Friends Church (who we partner with_ and a new Legal Rep. was named. Fortunately it is someone we know well, so we
will continue to have good relationships with them after the transition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt, Julia and
Teresa were doing well and we went out for Ethiopian food on the Monday night I
arrived. I stayed with Matt while I was
there, and had many meetings with partners in which service workers were
involved. It was good to see how
valuable our SALTers have become in their work with our partners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ltxPud08BM/UqTRaXE1h_I/AAAAAAAAHpY/Oldhbmw32zg/s1600/P1070553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ltxPud08BM/UqTRaXE1h_I/AAAAAAAAHpY/Oldhbmw32zg/s200/P1070553.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although I spent most of my time in meetings, I had one interesting field visit to a trade school that we support (Mwana Nshuti) where the director had made an agreement with a local mechanic to teach auto mechanics in exchange for use of the partner's property to set up a repair shop. I met some of the students apprenticing in the program and it seemed to be going very well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We continue to
slog away at getting MCC registered as an independent NGO in the country and
have made limited progress in getting all the necessary authorization. We are hoping to complete this at the end of
the month with some anticipation that Mark Sprunger and his wife Angela, the
Area Rep. for Central West Africa will be able to move to Kigali in January.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I spent three days
in Kigali and headed back to Burundi on Thursday. I had a very full day planned as I went
through Burasira to close down the MCC there where Jodi Mikalachki and
Teri-Lynn Jordan had lived. From there I
was to continue on to Gitega to drop some of the stuff off from that house with
our service worker Melody, then on to Bujumbura before it got too late in the
evening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R4TV9lf9okw/UqTRabyYWFI/AAAAAAAAHpU/dUu1AdMGzno/s1600/P1070562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R4TV9lf9okw/UqTRabyYWFI/AAAAAAAAHpU/dUu1AdMGzno/s200/P1070562.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got to
Burasira about noon without incident crossing the border. Jennifer Price and Felix met me there with a
Prado they brought from Bujumbura so we could have at least 2 4X4s to take
stuff back in. We loaded the cars and
stacked stuff on the roof rack, donated some stuff to our partner and paid out
severance to the staff who were remaining—2 guards. (Chartier and Lazarre greet you
Teri-Lynn.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had lunch at the Grand Seminaire then headed to Gitega in
convoy. We were praying against the odds
that it would not rain (it is rainy season) because of the stuff on the
roofs—especially a mattress. We got to
Gitega where we met Melody and Patrick (who was visiting from Bukavu). They helped us unload stuff and we headed to
Bujumbura about 5 pm. I saw the storm
approaching us and knew we were not going to avoid rain, or darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESpvRRkklS0/UqTRbElEadI/AAAAAAAAHpc/iupahVE6vPA/s1600/P1070566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESpvRRkklS0/UqTRbElEadI/AAAAAAAAHpc/iupahVE6vPA/s320/P1070566.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Patrick, Melody, Jennifer in Gitega</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I took it easy driving when the rain hit, and did feel a
sense of peace and willingness to be patient.
This served me well as I started the descent down the mountain and came
to the one small one lane detour (of about 30 ft) to find that a tractor
trailer had gotten itself completely stuck there in the mud. It could not go forward or backwards, which
means the entire route was blocked going to Bujumbura, or coming up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cars started backing up, and I was the first in line. It was 7pm then but I could see the problem
was not going to be resolved soon. I
called Rebecca to let her know, then sat and waited for about 2 and a half
hours. Eventually some enterprising guys
began digging around the truck against the mountain face and cleared out a
space big enough for one car to pass every 5 minutes or so. I got in line and agreed to pay a small
‘service fee’ and did get through. I had
to use my 4 wheel drive which unfortunately got jammed and I descended the rest
of the way to Buja in 4 wheel, just about frying the transmission. (The car went in for repairs the next morning.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn9bAYPubxI/UqTRU9xorrI/AAAAAAAAHoM/O3gHl4nmiIo/s1600/MEMO0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn9bAYPubxI/UqTRU9xorrI/AAAAAAAAHoM/O3gHl4nmiIo/s200/MEMO0017.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was nonetheless, happy to be home before 11pm. The kids were in bed already. It was good to take them to school and go for
a swim in the morning. After ballet we
went took the kids to a movie at a friends house (a new American family at the
Ecole Belge) where they watched Monsters University. It was a fun evening.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVeuclPEffA/UqTRUwo6CrI/AAAAAAAAHn0/JCTjT2QG_ag/s1600/MEMO0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVeuclPEffA/UqTRUwo6CrI/AAAAAAAAHn0/JCTjT2QG_ag/s200/MEMO0011.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saturday we had a big family day at the church which was
really quite amusing. It reminded me of
a church gathering in the US from the 60s with potato sack and 3 legged races,
water balloon toss, badminton, etc. One
notable difference was a race carrying a very large basket on ones head for
several hundred meters. It seems that
all Burundians are experts at basket carrying and can run with one on their head
quite easily. It was great to watch this
race. Rebecca and some other Muzungu
women tried and could barely cross the start line without knocking the basket
off their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is Sunday. We have
had Patrick and Teresa here over the weekend for various reasons. Patrick left today to return to Bukavu and
Teresa will go back to Kigali tomorrow.
It will be nice to have our home to ourselves for a week or so before
the arrival of the Grandparents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xne4gA55UTA/UqTUSdHxGxI/AAAAAAAAHpw/SfJa72lyhyk/s1600/P1070468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xne4gA55UTA/UqTUSdHxGxI/AAAAAAAAHpw/SfJa72lyhyk/s200/P1070468.jpg" width="165" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking of arriving Grandparents, here is David’s Christmas
list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 46.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.
<!--[endif]-->A toy bald eagle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 46.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.
<!--[endif]-->A T rex book<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 46.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">3.
<!--[endif]-->A toy dinosaur<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 46.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">4.
<!--[endif]-->A book with Noah’s ark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 46.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">5.
<!--[endif]-->A coloring book about birds and animals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 46.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">6.
<!--[endif]--> A pet
turkey <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857967970067426627.post-4152313530828933612013-11-26T11:18:00.000+02:002013-11-30T11:40:36.740+02:00An Ode to Laziness, and Gratitude<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHWLeZBMITA/UpOqKTR1EuI/AAAAAAAAHl4/DCLPNbXMWmI/s1600/P1070481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHWLeZBMITA/UpOqKTR1EuI/AAAAAAAAHl4/DCLPNbXMWmI/s320/P1070481.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a Pablo Neruda poem called Ode to Laziness that starts
like this:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Yesterday it seemed<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">the ode wouldn't leave the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">It was time, it should<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">at least show a green leaf.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I scratched the earth, 'Get up,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">sister ode<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">- I said to her -<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I've promised you,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">don't be afraid of me,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I'm not going to chew you up,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">ode with four leaves,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">ode for four hands,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">you'll take tea with me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Rise,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I'll crown you among the odes,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">we'll go out along the shore<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">of the sea, on a bicycle.'<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">No use.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Substitute the work blog for ode and it would well describe
my feeling about writing in the last week.
I have a self imposed discipline of writing weekly, but this week, like
Neruda, I have found laziness to be the biggest challenge in getting something
out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Indeed it was a week without much travel or other stress
creating drama. Five full days of work, complete
with a sustainable morning routine. The addition of Monday morning prayer with a
growing group of men has been one of several positive improvements.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnGolhT5NJI/UpOq2gvAqmI/AAAAAAAAHmk/T4cHIAIkAn8/s1600/P1070477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnGolhT5NJI/UpOq2gvAqmI/AAAAAAAAHmk/T4cHIAIkAn8/s200/P1070477.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Sunday is a good place to start and it was highlighted
by a surprise Birthday party for Kersten, one of our friends with two daughters
about our kids’ age. Her husband
arranged for a small group of us to be at a local hilltop restaurant called
Chez Vaya. We were there with Tim and Jeanette and Debbie and Rick, a new
embassy family, and enjoyed completely shocking her when she emerged from her
car. Her husband had been very clever in
his ruse by pretending to be obstinate about not going to their favorite resort
in favor of this new place. She was
stewing until she found out the real reason for the change. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cus1LCv4LzU/UpOqNVEPscI/AAAAAAAAHmE/ujBXyyG2Lko/s1600/P1070480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cus1LCv4LzU/UpOqNVEPscI/AAAAAAAAHmE/ujBXyyG2Lko/s200/P1070480.jpg" width="200" /></a>We enjoyed lunch and some cakes from Café Gourmand which for
those of you living in the US, I can only say you would not believe the quality
of Belgian and French pastry we can get in this terribly impoverished
country. I included a picture of the
mousse cake here. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Work was fairly routine the rest of the week, in fact, I
would describe it as slow. This is
actually a kind of seasonal slowness. We
are really between things in November and December, mid-term reports are in,
but new projects are not yet due. It is
a time that is conducive to slowing down, perhaps even laziness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I took the opportunity in the last two weeks to reimplement
our routine of tea-time, when we come home at 5pm. We used to do it all the time two years ago,
but fell out of the habit last year with Oren’s karate schedule that went a bit
late twice a week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oLPE2T5AmqA/UpOqQ_hPhKI/AAAAAAAAHmc/SsVFBUkZ70k/s1600/P1070502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oLPE2T5AmqA/UpOqQ_hPhKI/AAAAAAAAHmc/SsVFBUkZ70k/s320/P1070502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This year our extra-curricular activities still allow for us
to have tea as a family on our porch while watching the sun set over the
Congolese mountains beyond the Lake, about 4 times per week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Tea-time is a wonderfully cultivated ritual of laziness that
really allows one time for reflection, and appreciation of the beauty around us
in the setting of our front porch. I
usually bring out the ipod and have a play list of classical music including
some Lizst piano sonatas and Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Even the kids appreciate this ritual of
sitting around doing nothing, but appreciating each other’s company and the
place where we live.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Then<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">high up in the pines<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">laziness<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">appeared naked,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I got up in a daze,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">half asleep,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">on the sand I found<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">little broken fragments<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">of oceanic substances,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">wood, seaweed, shells,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">feathers of sea birds.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I looked for yellow<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">agates but found none.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The sea<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">filled the spaces,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">wearing away towers,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">invading<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">the coasts of my homeland,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">pushing forward<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">successive catastrophes of foam,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Alone on the sand<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">a ray opened<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">a ring of petals.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I saw the silvered petrels<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">pass, and like black crosses<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">the cormorants<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">nailed to the rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I set free<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">a bee dying in a spider's web,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I put a little stone<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">in my pocket,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">it was smooth, very smooth,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">like a bird's egg,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">meanwhile on the coast<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">all afternoon<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">the sunlight and cloud wrestled.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Sometimes<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">the cloud was filled<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">with light<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">like a topaz,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">other times a moist<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">ray of sunlight fell,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">and yellow drops fell after it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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We did take the opportunity to host several friends
including some of the kids’ friends during lunches. Tuesday and Thursday lunch is a great
opportunity to make a playdate at noon as everyone returns to school at 2pm so
pick ups are easy. If you have a regular
routine you and your spouse can enjoy a quiet lunch together once per week, in
exchange for hosting some kids on one of the other days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We don’t have it completely systematized, but do have kids
over from time to time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We invited over one of our friends/partners, the head of
Help Channel, Cassien and his family on Tuesday night. In true Burundian style he brought a huge
basket of fruits and vegetables (like 50 lbs) as a gift. We are still working through it a week later
with the help of our staff as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Thursday was report card day which is a big change of pace
at the Ecole Belge. Parents stay around
after school and are asked to meet the teacher one by one to receive and
discuss student grades. It is amusing as
we sit outside the classroom door in a queue waiting our turn while all the
kids in the school run around the yard like a bunch of maniacs with little or
no supervision.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I was not displeased with Oren’s work this semester. French continues to be a challenge, but Oren
is very happy and comfortable in his class and seems to understand well. He has the family trait of being ‘un lune
reveur’ as they call it here which translates roughly to ‘space cadet’. But he likes his teacher and his class, he
did OK in Math and even got a 20/20 in spelling which was a shock to even the
teacher. I will be very curious to see
how he does when he goes back and enters a school in his own language. Something he has never experienced before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thoughts of moving back, like unwelcome patches of sunshine on a pleasantly cloudy day do make their way into our minds. We continue to be aware of lasts, and are
even preparing to say goodbye to several friends who are preceding us leaving
in the month ahead.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSY2RRJldBM/UpRT9ZNQ20I/AAAAAAAAHnM/qrPViW30ly8/s1600/Image+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSY2RRJldBM/UpRT9ZNQ20I/AAAAAAAAHnM/qrPViW30ly8/s320/Image+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aviaja (right) with the kids' cousins Miriam and Gabriel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
July is still a long way off, and I don’t want to think
about the next steps. But some planning
is necessary. Our house that we bought in the US last summer is also a bit of a preoccupation as we are now renting it to our
friends the Spanners. (Thomas and Naja,
Elias and Aviaja).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If anyone does not think that the Lord work’s in mysterious
ways, they should look at who we are renting our house to—Our Danish friends
from Burundi who have moved to the US to work with World Relief. We expect they will be there the following
year as well which means one of Oren’s classmates will be in school with him in
Baltimore from Burundi!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It is almost surreal to Skype them and see them hanging out
at our house, or with our families, playing with the kids’ cousins. This does give us something to look forward
to in going back and should help ease the cultural adjustment knowing there are
friends there who really ‘know what it was like.’<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The weekend was good beginning with an awesome set of ballet
classes. The kids are so into ballet in
both groups that I really feel a bit of pain at the thought that teaching
ballet to little kids will probably not be something I do again once we
leave. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5Lb69d_5sw/UpOqKjcqS4I/AAAAAAAAHl8/FR0-wWfel5o/s1600/P1070483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5Lb69d_5sw/UpOqKjcqS4I/AAAAAAAAHl8/FR0-wWfel5o/s320/P1070483.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MCC team Birthday for Jennifer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Friday night we had an impromptu team gathering for Jennifer
Price’ Birthday as Melody was down from Upcountry and Patrick and Michael were
in for two days ofr R and R from Bukavu.
Oren helped make a Birthday cake with Jennifer on Thursday then helped Rebecca
make brownies on Friday. He will
definitely be a pastry chef when he grows up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was a nice evening and the service workers went out
together later that evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday was a very big yoga class followed by yet another
outing to Musee Vivant (the zoo). We
went with Tim Jeanette, and Lizzie and all of their kids. (6 kids in all.) They enjoyed watching many small birds being
swallowed whole, feeding Kita the chimp, and seeing a man tease a crocodile
with a stick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Everyone came over to our house for dinner and we had a
lovely, lazy, evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FtZjnMQh-dw/UpRPdbgPWPI/AAAAAAAAHm8/5FWu3ecRK8k/s1600/P1070484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FtZjnMQh-dw/UpRPdbgPWPI/AAAAAAAAHm8/5FWu3ecRK8k/s320/P1070484.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoga crew</td></tr>
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Sunday was inspiring as well as Simon Guilbaud (Lizzie’s
husband) was preaching this week. He
basically gave a testimony to how he has come to spend over 15 years in mission
in Burundi and how his understanding of his vocation has changed over that
time. Simon is from a long line of
missionaries here, and told one humorous story about visiting his Grandfather’s
tomb with the inscription Imbata y’Imana, which is slave of God
in Kinyarwanda, but actually would be interpreted as Duck of God in Kirundi (the language of Burundi where he is buried). <o:p></o:p></div>
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His testimony is incredible and inspiring and at the end he allowed time for questions. I asked him what
the biggest challenge was in his time here, and the biggest surprise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To the challenge question the answer was not
unpredictable. Coming as a mzungu,
perhaps naively, he found himself losing trust in people as a result of being
robbed, lied to, and cheated on many occasions, even by people he considered to be trusted friends. I do agree that this is a hard lesson that we
all learn here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yR06UKzzzY8/UpRPc4sturI/AAAAAAAAHnA/emjsMKpFHkE/s1600/P1070496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yR06UKzzzY8/UpRPc4sturI/AAAAAAAAHnA/emjsMKpFHkE/s320/P1070496.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the Kapok tree at Musee Vivant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But as for the biggest surprise, he said that he has come to
a new understanding of gratitude. He
talked about learning it from the very hardships that afflicted him here. When his life was threatened he came to learn
a deep gratitude for being alive. He
described learning gratitude for having clothes, shoes on his feet, and so many
things we take for granted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He recounted a short story:
“I remember a young girl telling me how she had to sleep with a Priest
to get $5 to pay her school fees, so she could go to school. I am so grateful that my daughter will not be
faced with that terrible choice, that we have money to send her to school, and
care for her.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Simon’s experience of re-learning gratitude really resonated
with me. I realize that I have really
changed in what I would consider even basic rights or entitlements. I feel more grateful than I have ever felt in
my life from my 6 years here. I realize
that what we have is so much more than what most of the world has, and I am
finding myself content with less. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This week is Thanksgiving, we will celebrate with some
Ethiopians on Thursday at our house, then with other American on Saturday. I hope that I can take this gratitude, born
from our experiences here, back to the US with us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gratitude, is nothing more than a perspective. I think the poem about laziness, where the
poet stops trying to write and starts noticing finally leads him to have something to
write about. To me it is about having a perspective of appreciation by taking time to notice the deep joy hidden in our circumstances. I am thankful for the
laziness of the past two weeks and my own lack of inspiration to write anything
down. It is late, and I will go to bed
now. Happy Thanksgiving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">At night<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">thinking of the duties of my<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">fugitive ode,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I took off my shoes by the fire,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">poured the sand out of them<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">and almost at once fell<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1e324f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">sound asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Paul, Rebecca, Oren and David Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16570182529820014150noreply@blogger.com0