This is first (rough) document that Allie and I pulled together in early May 2011 to help express how and why we felt called to go to Burundi
1999 Jez has long had a passion for travel, particularly in Africa and feels a call to overseas mission. He’s been exploring the possibility of mission in Afghanistan before we meet.
2000 Marry Jez. We talk about hopes and dreams for the future and both agree that we will go wherever God sends us. Assume that won’t be very far!
2007 New Wine – Whilst praying, see a picture in my mind of an African woman with a water carrier on her head, by a dusty road. Think it can’t be from God as it has no relevance to me. Forget about it.
Begin, extremely tentatively, to consider whether God is calling us to Africa, often discuss it on long car journeys (Jez significantly more keen than me!). Feel God is preparing us, one tiny step at a time, for something. Seeking His will.
My constant prayers are song lyrics:
‘Lord you have my heart, and I will search for yours. Jesus take my life and lead me on...let me be to you a sacrifice’ [Martin Smith]
‘Break my heart for what breaks yours; everything I am for your kingdom’s cause’ [Brooke Fraser]
2008 Jez is increasingly disillusioned and frustrated with the corporate sector; unable to see the impact of his work and struggling to engage fully without any passion, whilst believing that leaders must be passionate about their business.
2010 Jez is becoming more and more keen, I just keep repeating “If God sends us, I’ll go, but not if we(you) are making it happen”. Keep seeking His will.
July New wine - God confirms my ‘fringe’ministry: to reach people on the fringes of church and society, and says despite not having formal qualifications, I am completely qualified for all he wants me to do.
Jez sees how God has been shaping him through work, illness, experiences, travel and personality, to develop skills that would enable him to work effectively overseas. Begins searching 3rd sector job sites.
He plans to go to Burundi for 2 weeks to run management training workshops for local project managers in the capital, Bujumbura. I know this is also a ‘recce’ and he’s looking at whether we could live there. I can think of LOTS of reasons why this would be a bad idea.
Allie - Kirsty Mauritz speaks at Thirsty about how our Christian brothers and sisters are only separated from us by water, illustrated by joining everyone in the room together with wool!
2011 February – Jez returns from Burundi having had an amazing time BUT says it’s ‘too soon’ for us – I breathe an enormous sigh of relief! As he shares his experiences, and the standard of living there, even for westerners, I am convinced it’s not right for us now. However when he shows us his video diary the people and places start to seem real. I feel a huge sense of love for the people and projects.
Lots of further discussion, but we (I) can’t see a way round all the practicalities eg. schools, health care, dentists (there are barely any, westerners fly elsewhere for dental care!), dogs, ‘my’ girls, and the biggest two concerns; money and Andrew, who will just have finished school. We discuss other ways to maintain the links Jez has made eg. fundraising, business, tourism.
Jez speaks to Alex about other ways of pursuing NGO work without entering the field
April 8th Kate Bailey speaks at Thirsty and shows a clip on Isaiah 58:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him...” v6-7
As I pray and worship in response to this I ask God again, “Is it Africa?” and this time I receive a resounding “YES!” and see a picture of an open door.I find somewhere quiet and as I read Isaiah 58 again I discover verse 11
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.”
I feel a sense of relief at having clarity now and, amazingly, an overwhelming, total peace over all the things that concerned me before. I’m realising how big God is. Tell Jez.
Jez realises that he already knows who he can work with and what he can do!
April 9th feeling tired and emotional, turn to my favourite often-read Psalm 139. WHERE ON EARTH DID VERSE 9 SUDDENLY APPEAR FROM?! I am quite sure that wasn’t there before:
‘If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.’
May Continue to be confident that God is calling us to Burundi, and that he has opened the door for us through Jeremy’s trip in February. Still feel very peaceful about practicalities. It’s going to be quite a journey :0)
