A strange mixture of thoughts and emotions right now. Plenty of hope, plenty that feels challenging.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for those affected by the flooding in Bujumbura
- Please pray for ARM's relief effort
- Please pray for peace and rest, so that we can continue our work here
- Give thanks for the progress the school is making
- Give thanks for our great friends and the community here
FLOODING
Most of you will have heard about the severe flooding that we've had in Bujumbura recently. 150+ dead and countless homes and livelihoods destroyed. Fortunately no one from the school has been badly affected (We have a shower curtain over the end of our bed to keep our feet dry, but we'll cope with that).
We're always looking for ways to glorify God and radically witness in every situation. And so even this situation provides an opportunity to further the Kingdom. Recently Rusizi House, in the Secondary School, began building a relationship with a Batwa community (Burundi's heavily marginalised minority). The Buturere Batwa live in one of the worst affected areas and, whilst no lives were lost, homes and possessions have been wiped out for those that were already struggling to survive.
There are some Batwa badly affected, but many of their neighbours have suffered worse. So we're going to help the Batwa reach out to their neighbours. Twenty families in desperate need have been identified and so this week we asked parents to donate what they can so we can provide food and clothing. With any surplus we hope to set up a rebuilding fund.
On Thursday I went to deliver relief supplies (food, shoes and shelters) to this community with ARM (our parent charity). The devastation is astonishing and the need desperate, yet almost nothing is being done to relieve this. It wasn't a surprise that the aid distribution got quite angry. No matter how big your lorry and how much you take, the queue will always be longer. No matter how well you organise it, there will be fighting for food. My lack of Kirundi insulated me somewhat from the pleas of the hungry and homeless; but not from the sight of mothers, with babies strapped to their backs, fighting in front of me over a bag of rice.
Of course there will be life-saving benefits from the practical aid we can provide, but soul-saving benefits from the example we hope to set. Last time we met with the community it made the national press. The 'wealthiest' reaching out to the poorest. Not something that is seen very often in this part of the world. So we seek, again, to challenge the status quo. To demonstrate God's love as a Christian school responds quickly to meet the needs of brothers and sisters who are suffering.
THE SCHOOL
In stark contrast, the future for the school is bright. Very bright! I hope that we will break even by the end of August, leaving the financial crisis of 2012 far behind us. Earlier in the week I received a draft of next year's budget....and it doesn't have a negative number at the bottom.
We will have financial security, we will be able to invest in the school....finishing our building work, putting in our sports field, providing sufficient resources, creating more opportunities.
I now have a full time Relationship Manager, who is able to spend the time I don't have connecting with charitable funds, corporate sponsors, universities and partners to create a wealth of opportunities for the school and its students.
And we continue to be in demand, with our final places being snapped up in a, now very competitive, application process. We have two final classes to put into the school over the summer and we are very confident that the places will get taken quickly.
And through all this we continue to share the gospel. In songs and stories in the Primary School and through the Rooted team, in the Secondary School, who have been bringing people in to provide some very challenging testimonies. This is the frontline stuff!
Exams are looming and we have a great eight month plan that will take our Year 11-13 students through mocks, careers evenings, revision, exams and A-level or University entry. The teachers are on track, the students are more focused than ever (though perhaps not enough) and everyone is, anxiously, getting ready for May and June. And, because we are full, they only get one shot at this; repeating a year is no longer an option.
OUR MISSION
Fatigue continues. Especially compassion fatigue; very common in the mission field and a very uncomfortable feeling. The flooding is a perfect case in point. Of course people need help, of course we should help and of course we are happy to help. But...it's another way we give of ourselves. And this can be exhausting. And causes a lot of guilt as you breathe an exasperated sigh as another 'need' arises. We are very careful not to over-commit or lose sight of our core mission. Not every need is ours to meet. But often there are ways we have to help that are outside of the job description.
Some days it becomes too much and you lose it...like I did this week. The neighbourhood dogs and mosque kept me awake at night. All my chances of eating anything before 13:30 kept getting scuppered. Things piled up. New things came. And then I kept getting electrocuted by the chargers on my desk. Cue much cursing, banging and storming off to my room to feel sorry for myself....while Allie took over. It may be my turn to take over tomorrow. That's marriage.
Living by faith financially stills tests me and causes strains at home. God has never failed to provide. I know this. But in the face of mounting family costs my trust wobbles (or disappears entirely). So you wait and trust. Then something else comes up, so you wait and trust. And then a disaster happens and you raise money for others...and then hate yourself for feeling resentful at this fundraising interference. So you apologise to God, put a smile on your face and do your best to 'freely give'. And wait and trust. I don't know when I'll learn to happily live like this. But I know that, although I think that I do not have enough for tomorrow, I have been blessed with more than enough for today.
The summer break is already tempting us with rest and McDonalds. It's good to have something to look forward to. And my cultural identity has become so important to me now that I am a minority in a foreign land, so it tickled me when our summer schedule needed planning in October. Not because of flights, speaking engagements or family visits; but because of the cricket dates. A wonderfully English priority.
But even with the stress, fatigue and lure of a summer break, there is still much we can and want to do. It feels that by June we will have settled in and stabilised everything at home and work (it only took 2 years)....ready for another fantastic season to begin! My life is no longer recognisable when compared to 18mths ago...but that's ok. It's such a privilege and an adventure. And fun sometimes too...
VISITORS
I'm trying to get this finished of before I go and pick up Alex and Rita Haxton; who are visiting with their granddaughter Bethany. Alex and Rita have had links with Burundi and ARM for many years; though this is their first visit for a while. It's great to have them here as it was Alex who first suggested, back in 2010 over breakfast, that I come to Burundi to do some training...and now I live here. It'll be great to spend some time with them...and to raid their cases for chocolate and cheddar.
THANK YOU...
...to everyone for their continued support, prayers, funding (for us) and fundraising (for the flooding and school).
God Bless,
Jeremy
P.S. I've checked this four times for typos...but I'm shattered so, if there any still in here, consider it an opportunity for you to exercise forgiveness :)
