Caring For Those That Serve

Hello,

Prayer points at the top, as requested, but do read on otherwise they won't make a lot of sense.

PRAYER POINTS:

- Please pray for radical witnessing as we demonstrate a better way of managing 'workers'

- Give thanks for the wonderful workforce that supports us out here

- Please pray for provision for uniforms and improved living conditions

With out a doubt, one of the great blessings of living in Burundi are the Burundians who work in homes and businesses...doing the jobs that keep everything working in an environment where simple tasks can be complicated and very time consuming.

In most homes in Bujumbura it is normal to employ a number of people to cook, clean, guard etc... At our house we have a number of people working shifts and at the school we employ around 30 'workers'. The workers allow us to focus on our jobs (small amounts of shopping can take over 1 hour, all washing has to be done by hand, queuing for petrol during a shortage can take 4+) and provide much needed employment in a country where so many are unemployed. Our workers earn, roughly, the same as a state-employed teacher or half the salary of a reasonable office job...but less than the cost of fuelling the car.

However it is common to hear people complaining about their workers, suggesting that they make life harder...not easier. There are always employees that are a challenge...but, as a rule, if you treat those that work for you with respect and manage them properly...they will always go the extra mile for you.

Sadly, workers are often referred to here as the 'little people'...indeed it is so ingrained that even they will refer to themselves like this. More often than not, they are treated very badly. Yet they are men and women we rely on. Today Claude is not at work because his wife is sick...and thrown our day into chaos! As they say...'you don't know what you've got until it's gone'.

So we try and set a new precedent. At home we feed our workers well, smile and say 'Hello', pay hospital bills for them and their families (a relatively small cost for us...everything for them), give them national holidays off and try and appreciate the blessing that they are. And they are legends! Ciza has said that I am the best boss he has ever met...but I don't even speak his language...all I do is say 'Hello'. How crazy is it that saying 'Hello' can rank you as a great employer?!

This term saw the beginning of important work that I must do in the school to set a new standard for how workers are treated. To show that having them is a privilege...not a right. And to show that better conditions might cost in the short term, but pay off greatly in the long term.

Before half-term I finished my meetings with the school's workers. Simple one hour meetings, under a tree, showing some appreciation, discussing changes and listening to issues....then praying together...we are all equal in God's eyes.

I've committed to standardising working hours and duties, providing pension arrangements and improving meals.

We also need to find funds to improve living conditions for those who live on site and also provide proper working clothes and uniforms for them too. IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT...PLEASE LET ME KNOW (jez.wisdom@gmail.com)...I feel that this is something that should be addressed quicker than the school can manage...we continue to suffer financially from last year.

Just before half-term there was a national holiday and so we invited the school's workers to a lunch....cooked and served by the teachers. A radical departure from the normin Burundi, but something we felt was very appropriate. Though the workers seemed unconvinced that it would actually happen without their help!

Lunch was a little late...be an amazing feast was prepared and there was a great time of fellowship and a great opportunity serve. After lunch one of our Primary School teachers decided that 'these men cannot turn up, eat and leave...they must dance!'...and so they did! And so did we! Crazy, weird...but a great leveller. I still hear my night guard watching the footage on his phone with his friends in the evening.

We don't want to create an unaffordable situation or make promises that can't be kept...most of what we will change is either cheap or a cultural change...but I want people to hear that the workers at this Christian school are treated the best...but work the best.

This may not be the main reason we came here...but we feel God is giving us a great opportunity to witness to our employees and other employers.

Please continue to pray for us.

God Bless,

Jez

Total Dependency

Term has settled down, my diary's under control and we're in a routine...so, hopefully, more opportunities for blogs.

I've been told that sometimes our prayer requests are a little hard to find in our blogs; so I'll put them at the top!

Prayer Requests:

- Please pray for the school's leadership as they make and deliver plans for developing the school.

- Pray for the work of our new Pastoral Team...the full time evangelists in the school who are doing amazing work for God.

- Praise God for His faithfulness and the ways in which he provides for us.

- Pray that our journey with God will give hope and encouragement to others.

- Pray for Andrew Cornes, our vicar from the UK, who will be visiting us in a couple of weeks.

PEACE...although it doesn't always feel like it, there has been so much more peace this year than this time last year. Life continues to be challenging, but the blessings are abundant if you take time to look for them.

With the exception of a few minor bumps, the school year has started so well. Enrolments have increased so that we now operate waiting lists. Parents are paying on time or early, enabling us to better manage the final debt from last year. Changes made throughout the school, particularly in the Secondary School, have really helped to focus our students and made it clear that we are a serious place of academic study.

And there is so much support. I am now supported by two, four member, leadership teams (one at each school; made up of the Heads and teachers we have promoted and given additional responsibility). Allie has installed, and is leading, a full time Pastoral Team and Student Support Team. We have a Director of Studies helping us to review our GCSE and A-level standards. And government departments are being very cooperative and helpful.

DEPENDENCY...in God has been a key feature that we've seen on our journey over the last year. And this period of Godly refinement has really helped us.

The difficulties of last year have created a strong team spirit and faith has been rewarded. God provided and brought us through with no real, lasting damage. Seeing his provision and protection at the school gives us hope and testimonies that carry us through challenges. The Admin Office, particularly, is a calm, trusting environment. We work in faith and that gives such peace.

God often takes us to a place of complete dependency so that we learn to trust him.

As a family we experienced this financially. At points, over the summer, all we has was £20...often with no idea about when we'd next get what we needed. I struggled with this at New Wine. I had been prepared to follow God's call to face Burundi's challenges; but did I ever commit to being someone who would have to trust The Lord to provide in everything, every day?

We were completely dependent on Him...yet there was always just enough for each day. You hear stories of people living by faith alone, but you never expect to test the theory.

I knew that this was part of God's plan...even if I didn't like it. So we agreed to pray...not to seek support from potential and existing supporters. And there was always enough...until I needed to get on the plane back to Burundi.

We had been advised that missionaries should have firm pledges for 70% of their income before entering the mission field. We had 7%. And so we (well me) angsted about returning. But it came down to this...

...did we believe? Did we really believe? Did we really believe when things got serious?

If we believed that our mission to Burundi was a calling, then certainly God would ensure that we had what we needed, when we needed. So I got on the plane; knowing that the money could run out by the end of September. And we prayed.

And once we'd taken this leap of faith, far greater than the one we took to move out here last year, three things happened:

1) We saw significant increases in our support.

2) God consistently demonstrated his sovereignty by miraculously providing specific amounts of money, at specific times, in the most unusual ways for needs known only to us and God.

3) For the first time in my adult life I was released from worry about money. God's faithfulness and power was just too obvious.

And so we face challenges and worry threatens to creep in...but in the midst of the storm we are learning to say 'So Be It'...God will always have His way...and ultimately that will be good.

God Bless,

Jez

Young Christian Professionals

Just a quick note to say that tomorrow I shall speaking to a large number of young, Christian professionals at an event being hosted by our church.

I'll be spending a couple of hours on 'Service Beyond Expectations - How to be an excellent employee'. We're looking to equip our young professionals so that they can be efficient, Godly role models in the work place.

Please pray that it will be a God-centred, not Jeremy-centred, session and that all attending will find it to be an interesting and practically useful session.

God Bless,

Jeremy

P.S. A full update from the Wisdom's on the way soon!

Please Pray For...

...all our staff as they travel to Bujumbura to resume the Lord's work at The King's School.

Beginning to get a steady trickle of illnesses, accidents etc...

The enemy won't want us to start the school year well...

...but we will with your prayers and in His power!

Jeremy

On our way back!

School's out and we fly on Thursday!

There's a lot to write this time...so I've split this into Mission and Family Life.

MISSION

End of Term:

What a stressful few weeks...you can't put anything off and a real challenge when you're doing for the first time. Indeed many of us were new, particularly from an administrative perspective. Contracts to write, teachers to hire, supplies to buy and - er - no money.

We've had a very generous loan from a UK church which is really helping, but summer finances are still an exercise of faith. In the last week of term I had to tell teachers that they were only going to get June and July salaries...August would have to wait. Not a terribly nice thing to tell tell teachers as they prepare to travel home for the summer.

But we made it! And had four graduations along the way for the different age groups in the school. The Secondary School graduation made it onto TV here...I had no idea. Explains the random people saying 'Congratulations' all last week. Glad I wore my brightest, pinkest socks!

But what's being done is unique and so great that it's a Christian organisation leading the way. The Secondary Graduation saw the country's FIRST students, educated to an international standard, moving on to universities!...two of whom were from one of the orphanages the school supports...one of whom will be taking up a scholarship in the US this year.

Please pray that our work here will be a witness to Burundi

Summer Work:

It took a couple of extra days...but I've finished work! Woo Hoo!!

Already stress levels are dropping, though there will be work for the summer. The admin team will be monitoring our finances and preparing houses for teachers next year.

We also, sadly, discovered a huge amount of immigration requirements for next year. Everyone of our internationally scattered teachers needs immigration packs, so those left behind have a big collation exercise ahead of them.

Please pray that the summer work will go smoothly.

Next Year:

Although I'm just finished and very worn out, we really are looking forward to next year.

So much ground work has been done this year and I have no doubt that the school will be a wonderful Christian witness, showing what is possible in this great, little country.

Staff growth and the addition of Allie's Learning Support and Pastoral teams will make such an impact next year.

Over the year I have had the opportunity to meet with various organisations interested in education in Burundi. And although the school will continue to look inwards and on how it can develop, I hope that next year will see us begin to explore developing our scope of education projects in Burundi.

Education is in such need of development here and is so vital to the future development of this country.

In other news...a few weeks ago I discovered a substantial tax liability that the school has due to the previous administrator not paying our bills...so another year of frugal living ahead of us. Not a nice thing to discover, however the government is willing to negotiate on repayment terms, not wishing the school to close.

Please pray that financial issues will be put behind soon so that we can invest in the school.

Finances:

Our work here has been a challenge, but so rewarding and IS making such a difference. God has really used us and there are so many opportunities for us make changes here.

But our work relies solely in private donations. Neither the school nor Burundi could pay us to be here.

For our living costs through summer and so that we can return to Burundi, we MUST raise next year's income.

We're still short for this year so, in total, we need to raise £45,000 to see us through to next September. Our work will have to stop if we cannot secure funds.

But some have been so generous in the last year...helping both the school and us financially. THANK YOU!

So please remember us in your giving...this work is so essential!

Please pray for provision

FAMILY LIFE

Transition:

We're back in that transition stage...moving house and preparing for big culture changes.

Allie's been a star, packing for our house move and the journey home while I've been busy at work. But a final push tomorrow will get it sorted.

Although it needs a lot of work over the summer, the new house will be such a blessing. Big enough for hosting the expat community and church groups, very close to the school and at a reasonable rate. We also managed to buy furniture from a departing German family for a very reasonable price (including a hat stand that the husband bought to put his clothes on rather than dumping them on the bedroom floor - genius). When I return we'll still need to buy mattresses, a backup power supply and a few other bits.

It's a funny time of year here. Almost everyone is cycling out at some point. Some for good - shame to lose friends. Some earlier than us - good to have them when we return. Some later than us - won't see them for 3mths. I've been doing a number of the airport runs, so it's been a strange week of goodbyes.

We're aware that being back in the UK will have it's challenges, notably the contrast in living standards and the different perspective we now have things. And this has also made me more aware of the contrasts here. We gave up so much to come here and live modestly as missionaries; yet our 'wealth', skin colour and my role thrusts us (unwillingly) into the elite. So often I get preferential treatment or deference that I neither want nor deserve. A very confusing way to live.

I've recently had the opportunity to visit some more Burundian houses and I have, if I'm honest, been surprised at how basic the living standard is of the even professional class here. Yet everyone is so well presented at work...you'd never know. Our 4x4 is pretty average and very much a necessity, but the other day it wouldn't fit onto a colleague's drive....very embarrassing!

What's my point? I'm not sure other than life here can be very contradictory and confusing...and more acutely during these times of transition.

Please pray for us through this confusing time.

UK Plans:

A pretty busy summer ahead...visiting friends and family, going to New Wine, speaking engagements, clothes shopping, check ups, fillings, vaccinations, stocking up on sun cream.

Talk recently has been about what we're looking forward to. Personally a KFC, some Ben and Jerry's and trip to a cinema would be a good start.

Another blessing has been a missionary car service that's giving us a Ford Galaxy for 2 months at a very cheap rate. The car was freed up by a last minute cancellation....such an answer to prayer.

Keep an eye out in church newsletters for when we're visiting or drop me an email.

Please pray that the summer will be balanced and we'll get time with all the right people.

How Are We?

Shortly after we return, Allie and I have a mission debriefing course. It'll be interesting to see what that uncovers.

We love it here. The work is essential and rewarding. Our lifestyle is great. But we deal with Cholera, corruption, extreme poverty, cockroaches, powercuts, water cuts, massive inefficiencies, food shortages, fuel shortages, a lack of healthcare, too many guns, nighttime shooting, deadly snakes, rats, malaria, etc...

We are TIRED. I have never worked so hard in my life.

We have culture fatigue. Having 'muzungu' shouted at you all the time and being stared at every day gets a bit boring.

Hand washing your own pants gets REALLY boring!

And moving again is hard.

The children are doing really well, but a bit fed up now.

It'll be wonderful to get away, rest and catchup...but I reckon pretty soon we'll want to get back for Chapter 2 of the crazy adventure God has us on.

And we have a lot to look forward to. A great church, a great school, a fabulous expat community and an opportunity to really make a difference...and may be more opportunities to flash my pink socks on TV.

Please pray for our psychological and spiritual health.

See you soon and thanks for all you support so far.

God Bless,

Jez

Secondary School English Teacher Wanted

The school has been really blessed and we have (almost) a full compliment of teaching staff for the school in September.

HOWEVER, we still need someone to join the English Department in the Secondary School to bring experience of teaching English at GCSE and A-level; as well as first language fluency of English as examined by the UK examination boards.

Could this be anyone you know?

Could this be you?

Please share and encourage potential candidates to drop me a quick email (jez.wisdom@gmail.com)

September is not that far away which might be too short notice for some, but I'd prefer someone late rather than not at all, so start dates could be flexible.

Jeremy

P.S. Hope you've got some nice weather waiting for us!

Harvest

This is now the 2nd blog where I've started by talking about previous blog's that didn't get published.

Maybe I was making them too complicated.

So I'm giving myself 30mins and then I'm pressing 'Send' regardless!

HARVEST:

Our new church, Christian Life Ministries, has been performing the drama 'Heaven's Gates, Hell's Flames'. It's a series of short stories about the lives of different individuals and what happens to them on judgement day. Some go to heaven...some to hell. Powerful stuff!

Boarding the buses for the play

Today we took the entire Secondary School and perhaps more than 50 gave their lives to Christ...to the sound of much whooping and cheering from their supportive class mates.

Giving their lives to Christ!

What a day!

Give thanks for God's grace!

THE FUTURE:

Although I'm giving my accountant ulcers by rampantly reinvesting...we're so excited about next academic year. The teachers and students are getting ready for 28th June - the end of term. My management and admin teams and I are gearing up for the 9th September - the beginning of next year. We really want to start next year well.

The highlights include:

- new Primary classes

- new, experienced teachers from the UK

- all teachers are expected to return in September

- the secondary school will have a full-time pastoral team (led by Allie). We're going to start team teaching RE as a timetabled youth group and the team will be available throughout the week as school counsellors

- there will be a special needs team (again led by Allie). Allie and an experienced Learning Support Assistant from the UK, supported by some great classroom assistants, will help the students who are struggling academically and developmentally

- we will have a new Director of Studies in place to help the new Secondary Management team implement improvements to teaching standards and curriculum changes

- we hope to have enough teaching supplies

- we hope to raise the money for our new sports field

- we hope to raise money to complete our half built Secondary School admin block

- we will have a consistent salary and benefits policy in place across the whole school

- and I am praying for more UK teachers and gap students to fill up our staff room

As well as these day to day changes, there are some new strategic ideas that are floating around in my head.

I'd like to see we if we can offer some trade training to a few students next year...a great career opportunity.

There is also a new need becoming apparent for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). I'd like to explore raising financing for a TEFL team to:

- offer high quality, low cost English language tuition in the evenings. There is a huge demand and I have an empty school in the evenings. Such an easy outreach opportunity

- help implement English in the Primary School that ARM runs in the very poor Jabe area of the city

- support The King's School students who are struggling with English

- develop an accelerated English programme to enable bright non-English speaking children to enrol in our school

- fulfil the consultancy requests from the Ministry of Education regarding the implementation of English in the Burundian curriculum

Exciting times ahead. Please do connect us with people who maybe interested in supporting the school and these initiatives both financially and practically.

Give thanks for the work God is doing at His school and pray that we may keep it centred on Him.

FAMILY:

Let's be clear...we have been and are very blessed.

Life here has some real positives:

- better weather

- very tight and supportive communities

- more family time

- less material and media clutter in our lives

There have been challenges...but with God's support they have been over come.

But there is a big period of change (again) for us this summer.

We're moving house...which is a source of anxiety...though it shouldn't have been and needn't be. God has provided us with a very large, cheap house. It needs a lot of the work and we had no furniture....until yesterday when we visited the house of a German missionary family who are moving back home. There was a lot going cheap...so hopefully we're nearly sorted with that.

Please pray as we visit the house tomorrow to asses the extent of the work needed on the house.

We're very excited about spending the summer in the UK....although it is with some sadness that we leave our expat friends for two months. And we have been warned that it can be a mixed experience...seeing friends and family vs culture shock vs rest from work vs living out of bags vs speaking engagements.

Our countdown chart

But we need a break. We're tired...happy, but tired. The guns, poverty, cholera, power cuts, malaria etc...grind you down.

Please pray for a restful and joyful summer.

Please also pray that we might find a car (with tow bar) to borrow over the summer.

And, as always, we're still trying to raise funds...we're nearly out! Please remember us in your giving.

Please pray for provision and trust in God's timing.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:

- our Housegroup is planning an end of year party...possibly involving pirate costumes

- we had a lovely weekend away 'up country'...a very peaceful guest house with large vegetable gardens...though it was weird driving even deeper into the heart of Africa

The rooms

The Vegetable Gardens

- a UK charity has managed to get hold of a load of lab equipment for the science labs

- my lunch last week with Fliss was interrupted by a bright green snake which was either a Banana Snake (very harmless) or a Green Mamba (one of the most deadly)...Allie and Cass had angry hippos at theirs

- the Secondary School's library is now up and running....and is now my new office there. I prefer to work in there and hang out with the kids rather than shut myself away.

The new library

- the school took receipt of a gift of computers, desks and laptops from Samaritan's Feet allowing us to complete our second ICT lab...what a blessing!

 

Preparing for an interview about the new ICT suite

More soon.

God Bless,

Jeremy

Introducing Mary

I've got a blog on the way...but unless you get them out quickly they get stage fright...my current one just doesn't want to get finished.

But in the meantime I'd like to introduce Mary who is with us for a month to get some more teaching experience, help out and experience Burundi.

I asked Mary if she would blog out here as it would provide a fresh insight for our regular readers...we've been here long enough to stop seeing so many things...

...but also I thought it would be useful for anyone who might be considering a short-term or gap year placement with us.

So please read and enjoy her posts.

http://www.maryinburundi.blogspot.com

Recruiting For Sept '13

This advert will be running in Christianity and Youthwork magazines and their recruitment websites for the next three months. We are also advertising at the Oscar recruitment stands at The Big Church Day Out and New Wine.

 

(The website won't be finished for a few days)

 

Please share.

 

Jeremy



Cholera and Turtles

I've been sitting here wondering how to start this blog, reflecting on the fact that there have been more blessings than challenges...a good week generally.

I've then been thinking on what a good example this is of how we normalise the extraordinary in this part of the world. This week's involved cholera and cholera clinics...and it's a been a good week!?! It's amazing how God gives us the strength to cope with things that would have seemed terrifying a year ago.

RENSON

I visited Renson in the tented(!) cholera unit on Thursday, which was a little nerve-racking. My mask still hangs off the rear view mirror.


But he looked really well and it was a good opportunity to poke fun at him and leave him with a toilet roll in which I'd hidden a message telling to stop being lazy and get back to work.

We sent the car to collect him on Friday and hopefully he'll be back in a week or so. Apparently he's in really good cheer. Thank you for all your prayers.

There have been no illnesses at the school and we've started to taste chlorine in the water supply; a good sign that the government is trying to respond.

Please pray for continued health and protection over the school and our family.






STAFF TRAINING DAY

We had another great staff training day on Monday (albeit not realising that one of our number was literally dying quietly of cholera in the corner).

Dr Isaac, the best friend who kept Renson alive, did a great session on first aid. The staff really engaged with the topic and it's given us many ideas on how we can improve in this area.

Pastor Edmond, International Director of ARM, shared a word with us. I gave him 15 minutes. He took 40. But I kind of expected that and it was great to hear him share the history and vision of the school with the staff.

It was also a great opportunity to brief the staff on the new house system.

HOUSE SYSTEM

As of Tuesday the school has four 'houses' named after four rivers in/near Bujumbura. Kanyosha, Muha, Ntahangwa and Rusizi.

Although the houses were introduced to the Primary school at their Friday assembly this week, the main launch has been in the Secondary school.

House Masters, Mistresses, Captains and Vice Captains have been appointed and the first house meetings spontaneously held in anticipation of Monday morning's assembly.

From Monday students will form up in houses, rather than year groups, for assembly; with, this week, 100 house points being awarded for the best presented house.

Each house has come up with a set of values, a house prayer and house chant. They will meet for morning devotions every Wednesday morning, compete together in sports, music etc... and compete for an annual house point trophy.

So far, this initiative has been warmly welcomed by staff and pupils.

When the Secondary School moved from the main school site, took in many new students and had 70% new staff at the beginning of the academic year something changed culturally within the school.

We hope that the houses will foster healthy competition and create a culture where effort, respect, good behaviour, punctuality and a smart appearance become the norm. We want to teach the students that there are consequences for all actions (good and bad) and that these consequences can impact others...their houses. We hope that this will create a positive sense of community for all students within the school.

It was encouraging, on Friday, to get a sense from all houses that they want to do this right...do it properly. Chants were being practiced and house prayers learnt, with each house raising the bar a little higher.

I'm ordering a house points trophy which will get brought out next month and awarded at our end of year prize giving ceremony...hopefully by the Minister of Education or British Ambassador.

I've an idea to hold a house Christian music competition later in the term...just depends on whether this will disrupt GCSE's and A-levels.

Please pray that this initiative will bring in a Godly culture of high standards and effort.

FINANCES

I've been reviewing both personal and school finances recently. Both look more promising than they did at the end of last term, though both currently result in bankruptcy at the beginning of June.

We remain convinced of God's plans for both us and the school.

God's track record is one of provision and honoured promises, but yet we find it hard to trust.

I was chatting about this with a friend some months back. We were both admitting our inability to trust God 100% with our finances. She made this interesting comparison.

Imagine that I offered to take my children for an ice cream each week and that each week I do this without fail. Imagine then that, despite the fact that I always honoured my promises, my children doubted me and were anxious about whether or not I'd come good on my promise this week. I'd be upset. Hurt. I'd wonder why my children don't trust me when they have no reason not to.

See my point? (Or rather hers...mustn't lay claim to somebody else's wisdom)

June will be the month of abundant blessing and I look forward to sharing that with you!

Please continue to pray for financial provision and trust.

POWER

Regideso, that state owned utility company, have a new hydro electric turbine.

No power rationing this week.

Woo Hoo!

Praise God for the little things that make life a little easier.

CASPAR

Caspar, finally, had is Burundi birthday party.

Lot's of friends turned up to help and we hired one of the country's rare bouncy castles.

The first present? An 10", Congolese, African Mud Turtle! Requires a water feature.

A first for us!

Praise God for the unique experiences that we're all having here

I made the cake. Zan Alexander need not worry.

The staff where we held the party asked what it was. I said "R2D2". They looked confused. I said, "A robot". No change. I gave up.

CHURCH

We have a new church.

Up to now we'd struggled with the one church that was at least partly English. It just wasn't our 'flavour' of church.

In the last few weeks a new, charismatic, English-speaking church has just started. It's run by a team that have successfully planted churches elsewhere in Africa and is led by a Canadian pastor.

We love it! Very Thirsty / New Wine.

It wasn't easy to leave the other church. They are doing great work. But our mission is to the school and we need to have a church that can easily work for us as a family and support us...without cultural barriers.

Many of the school's staff now worship there and it's great for us to be able to meet outside school.

Please pray that we will continue to settle well in this church.

God Bless,

Jeremy

P.S. Have you got any decent weather yet?

Today's Update

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Yesterday Renson did not make it into the two hospitals with Cholera facilities. However a clinic near us has set up a temporary facility for Cholera patients and medical staff using tents.

Renson was put into the isolation tent with fellow patients yesterday and is reportedly in good cheer.

The clinic is now full.

Although he appears to be on the mend, it may take him some time to recover. On Tuesday they had to give 45 litres of fluids.

Throughout all of this he has been cared for by our friend Isaac. Isaac is one of Renson's best friends and only a newly qualified doctor. Yesterday, having delivered Renson to the clinic, Isaac had to wait to be fully disinfected before being allowed to return home. A very stressful couple of days for him.

Please pray mental and physical protection on Isaac.

Please pray for continued recovery for Renson.

Please pray for protection over the school. Encouragingly some parents have responded to my letter yesterday and are not sending in children with diarrhoea symptoms...so we have not issues at the school or at home.

I'll let you know how Renson is doing in my next blog.

Jeremy

Staff Prayer Update

Hello,

Renson has made some improvement....no surprise as so many people are praying.

We were grateful for the hospital he was initially in. In other hospitals there is a limit on the amount of fluid supplies that can be used on an individual patient; Renson needed a lot of fluid! In another hospital he would not have survived.

But he is still very, very ill. As I write, his friend and doctor is trying to get him admitted into one of the two hospitals that are equipped to deal with cholera. He was rejected from both yesterday because his symptoms were too severe. They have just been refused from one and are now retrying the second.

No one is sure of the options after this.

I sent a letter home today as we've been advised that the tap water is now causing a significant amount of diarrhoea in the city.

Some lifestyle changes needed for all of us.

Jeremy

Urgent Staff Prayer Request

Hello,

Please pray. Our friend and Administrative Assistant, Renson, is in a critical condition in hospital with Cholera.

The hospital he's in has run out of fluids to treat him with and are looking for another hospital in the city that will be able to isolate and treat him.

Staff are meeting at 6:30pm (5:30pm UK) to pray for him.

Please pray for Renson. Please pray that he won't get rejected by the two hospitals that could help (isolation cases are high maintenance and take up space). Please pray for his family in Kenya and his sister here in Bujumbura. Please pray for healing.

Please also pray for the staff and the school as another difficult situation presents itself at the beginning of a term and the difficulties presented by the absence of a key member of staff.

Jeremy

Spark Plugs, Ravioli and Bruce Lee

Two more days until term starts again and it's been a curious time since I last wrote....which was more recent for some as the email version sat in my outbox for a week before I realised there was a problem.

Without a doubt, the most difficult point recently was the very sudden death of the young son of our night guard. It all happened very quickly, but it seems likely that he was poisoned by a disgruntled/jealous neighbour. Tragic but apparently not uncommon in this part of the world. Very hard to understand.

On the following morning our guard, now a broken figure of a man, came round as he didn't have the money to buy a coffin (£12) to bury his son in. We were very happy to meet some of the funeral costs; but it is difficult when the only thing you can do is give money...though there is prayer too.

Caspar and Felicity both had a bout of tonsillitis which was an anxious time. Fortunately they both recovered before we had to hunt down some amoxicillin in one of the 'interesting' pharmacies in town.

I've been thinking more about my personal approach to the third term and I don't think it will surprise anyone that Bruce Lee provides relevant wisdom about how to run a Christian school in Central Africa.

He said:

Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.

I'm a great ideas person, but sometimes the doing bit can seem like such an effort...particularly when the summer holidays are looming. We have a staff training day on Monday where I hope to encourage and remind the staff that we still have a third of our teaching year in which to make some fantastic changes.

A very proud moment for me last week was when our generator wouldn't start. Previously this had been caused by dodgy fuel, but a now expert rub of the fingers ruled that out. So I took out the spark plug, cleaned it and it worked. How alpha male is that!

Today we started house hunting and went to look at house. Not really right for us and the rent was $2,000! As Allie and I discussed this when we got home, the kids drew their ideal house (see photo below). Yet another area where we must trust God. We feel that we'll never find an affordable and suitable house. But Allie's been encouraging us to deny these feelings of doubt...they're not of God.

A treat tonight as we watch the new series of Foyles War which I've downloaded and crack open a tin of Everyday Ravioli I picked up at the 'expat' shop...yummy!

God Bless,

Jez

Fresh Start

We're at the mid point of our Easter break and there's been a lot of space and time for me to reflect on my work and our mission...which have, if we're honest, been a lot harder than any one would have imagined.

In a typically worldly manner, I've been looking at the way I do things (reviewing my workflow for you productivity geeks). One of the challenges of this role is the speed, variety, volume and unpredictability of my work. I've picked up some amazing apps to help me manage emails, meetings, diaries and projects...as well as this blogging app.

Allie and I are so aware of the importance of keeping our supporters updated, but blogging at the end of a long, hard day/week is often the last thing you want to do. I hope this app will help me write more frequent, if perhaps shorter updates.

I have an article app which gives me views on, amongst other subjects, leadership; albeit from a secular perspective. Feeling really challenged right now to:

- Do what's right, not what's easy...there are few troublesome pieces of work that just need finishing.
- Remember that it's not all about me...it's God and the people who work for me that make the school a success.
- Connect...really connect...with people. Spend time with them. Get to know them even better. Build relationships with everyone on the staff team.

Spiritually I'm overhauling my prayer life. Reading about and applying ways of making it more meaningful, structured...and grateful! I've also embarked on reading Christian books jointly with a friend in England. Allies does this a lot...perhaps reading a chapter a week then discussing it. In the 2 months or so my friend and I have managed to buy a book.

WORK:

This has been a challenging year so far. Hardwork, stressful and tiring...and, if I'm honest, I'm not really enjoying it. But I persevere because God has given me this job. I can be sure that the work he's given me will be for His glory...but he never promised an easy ride.

Recent reflections with my leadership team were that, on the whole, we are fixing problems and not, hopefully, creating them. Which is great...but it feels like wrestling a giant...whilst being frequently punched in the face. It's either straining or reeling.

But we do it in the hope and belief that next year will be easier as many of our challenges will have been resolved...trying to not to it in my own strength and accepting God's plans, timing and will.

Please Pray: That during the busyness, stress and strain we would continue to rely on God.

The challenges we face in the school include:

- Finances...we continue to look for the final £40,000 that will allow the school remain open until September.
- Recruitment...finding well qualified, English speaking teachers, especially for A-levels, is extremely difficult; especially as the Burundian economy prevents of from offering competitive salaries. Watch out for job vacancies in Christianity and Youth Work magazines and at the Big Church Day Out which we pray will bring some missionary teachers from the UK for September.
- Salaries...which, historically, have not been set with reference to a transparent salary structure. Naturally this creates inconsistencies and unhappy members of staff. We have a structure we'd like to move to...but these initiatives always put the salary bill up.
- Resources...for next year need to be bought soon. Without the funds to do this we may have to go ahead in faith that funding will come through. Many children are sharing text books in the Secondary School.
- Fees...for some parents are a real struggle. We have missionary children, widows and refugees whose circumstances have worsened. As a Christian school we want to be compassionate, whilst balancing this against the school's own financial issues.
- Administrative Staffing...has not grown with the school, putting pressures on the current staff and creating bottle necks around the school.

Please Pray: For wisdom as we deal with these challenges.

Personal challenges include:

- Finding time to get some work done. Distractions and demands on my time are insane. I've taken to spending some time at a local conference centre for an hour two now and then to get some work done.
- The sense that two terms were lost. In term 1 we were totally distracted by the financial crisis. In term 2 our return to the UK plus some issues in the Secondary School snatched that time away from us. I feel like I'm just starting!

Please Pray: That I might feel encouraged.

It's often the negative that we have to deal with and so there's a danger that we only see that. However there are a great many things to give God thanks for:

- The school continues to grow and new parents arrive to enrol almost every day. We have healthy waiting lists now.
- Last month we signed a formal agreement with Oklahoma Christian University who will offer scholarships to two Year 13 students each year to study in the US.
- Guitar and Keyboard lessons are now offered in the Primary School.
- The Monday morning Secondary School assembly now has a very talented worship group...one day I want our assemblies to be heard by the passing commuters!
- 20 PC's have been pledged so that we can fit out our second ICT lab at the Secondary School.
- Our first Easter Fayre was held at the Junior School. It was organised very successfully by our Year 6 students.
- All staff visas have now been brought up to date...when our Administrator 'left' we discovered that none had been done.
- Every half term I hold a staff day. A great opportunity to bring all the staff together, have some fun, do some training and share our plans.
- A-level staff are now offering additional study, teaching and mentoring to our Year 12 and 13 students to help our fledgling candidates cope with this new qualification.
- We have a full teaching staff and new administrative recruitments have really helped with building maintenance and management of our workers.
- Sports matches are now more regular in both the Primary and Secondary Schools. Also an arrangement with one of our parents means we can now offer Step Aerobics and Salsa to our Secondary girls as a sports option.
- Next term we will be launching a new House System in a bid to create a greater sense of belonging and ownership amongst the students. A points system will also create a competitive environment where both good and behaviour are recognised and contribute to House totals.
- Some staff restructuring has been put in place to provide more leadership support in both the Primary and Secondary Schools.
- Although progressing slower than hoped, our recent strategy work has given us some structure around how we'd like to develop the school.
- Offerings from Allie's father's funeral have enabled us to build a new Primary classroom, buy a new Primary projector, build two new slides for the Nursery and put shelving in for a Secondary library.
- I've managed to spend some time with the school's accountant building a financial model that will cut her monthly accounting from 2 weeks to 1 day.
- Despite all our challenges the teachers remain highly committed and our students receive some of the best education Burundi has to offer.

Thank God: For all His blessings

FAMILY:

Whilst work is tough, life in Burundi is different, challenging but pretty great.

School holidays are fun and restful...we have visitors (who bring treats)...we get letters and packages.

Harry is much more settled at school and Caspar and Felicity can often been heard talking or singing in Kirundi or French.

Life here offers some great experiences...Hippos, back garden Ethiopian restaurants, Burundian engagement parties.

We've been given plenty of DVD's and games...Settlers of Catan is growing on me.

My birthday was great fun...and well timed as Allie's mum was able to bring presents out!

Thank God: For our friends in Bujumbura

Fundraising has slowed a bit. Something I'm not very good at handing over to God. We still need £9,000 to get us through to Sept, plus next year's costs.

Over the summer we will need to find a new home, which is making us anxious, and it is likely that we'll have to pay rent on two houses for a month or two to avoid having to move house as the new academic year begins. We may also have to find some furniture too.

Please Pray: For God's provision and our faith.

FINALLY...

I've been trying to take a photo each day to document life here. Here's a very small selection.

God Bless,

Jez

The Non-Blogging Blog

You've probably noticed that we've not blogged for a really, really long time.

Sorry.

We're still here!

For those of you who were out of the loop, our blogs were interrupted for a number of reasons:

1) In October the school was the victim of a severe financial crisis...the worst of which, praise God, is now behind us.
2) In January our work here was interrupted due a sudden and very sad death in the family; leading to a two week return to the UK.
3) We were no longer happy with the unrestricted access to our postings on this blog.

But...service will resume shortly once we've arranged a login procedure.

However, we:

- are safe
- are really enjoying our work
- have a new puppy (next year's guard dog)
- are much warmer (England was really cold)
- are really excited about what God has planned for the school and education in Burundi.

God Bless

Jez