It's almost midnight and I've been laying in bed for over 2 hours, but can't seem to sleep so I decided to sit up and jot down my thoughts. And of course the first ones go instantly to my family. This will be a busy week for all of us since Lizz is in Italy on a mission trip with Young Life, Molly will be going to Minnesota to be a Nanny for 3 weeks (ya betch ya she comes back speaking weird), and Helen will spend several days in California. That leaves Lara, MLE and Luke stuck to the hot pavement of Scottsdale. I find myself thinking of you all and praying for you more than usual. In fact, just writing your names in an email floods my eyes with tears as I realize how much you mean to me...
Anyway, today I went back to the community called Magara which is located in the southern part of Burundi along Lake Tanganyika. Big banana trees cover the hillsides along with other fruit trees and mud brick houses. It is a very interesting place. I'm told that I am the only white person that the people have seen in this area except for the United Nations representatives a couple of years back, so you know how sometimes you feel self-conscious like you have spinach on your teeth and everyone is looking at you? Well that's how I feel from the moment I step out of the van until we crawl back in it at the end of the day. And to top it off, today I wore a neon green shirt just to make sure everyone could see the tall mzungu (white man) as he walked down the street. I looked a picture that I had someone take of me with a group and it was only then that I realized how goofy I must look. Do you remember the Jolly Green Giant in those old green bean commercials ("Ho, ho, ho. Green giant!")? That's me. I must be 6 inches taller than everyone here and outweigh them by at least 75 lbs. I mean, I almost scare myself as I look at that picture.
I was informed that the weather in Scottsdale was cloudy and 108 degrees. In Magara the temperature is something like 90 degrees with a steady cool breeze coming off the lake. That is of course if you are outside. Today my ministry partner/translator, John Claude, wanted me to have an indoor experience and led us through the neighborhoods to share the gospel. At our first invitation inside a woman's home, I quickly realized why people stay outside most of the day. Her home was a simple 2 room mud brick structure with a small two foot high table with a bench and 2 small chairs. These chairs were like the ones we might find in a preschool classroom made of wood. And I was instructed to have a seat in one of these chairs. I'm stressing a little as I worry that I might put too much stress on that chair and it will collapse under my weight leaving this poor woman with only a bench and one small chair. But I'm proud to say the visit went without the destruction of property. While I was speaking with her and sharing the message of God's love through the evange-cube, the room began to fill up with kids, teens and adults who were curious about why the giant green bean man would visit their neighbor. The sweat poured down my back as 10, 15 and then 20 more people stuffed themselves inside this small room sucking the air out of it and replacing it with the African aroma. 15 minutes later 12 of those people prayed to begin a personal relationship with God. II Corinthians 2:14 says, But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
I was invited by the community administrator (I guess he would be like the mayor of the city in the USA) to speak to a group of widows in the area. This gentleman was in the first group that I spoke with yesterday when after welcoming me to the community he listened to the gospel presentation and gave his life to Christ. And now, just one day later, he had spread the news and gathered these widows together in one meeting place and asked me to come share with them and pray for them. To get to their location, I had to walk through the local market place. Now this is not like Safeway or Walmart. It's more of a farmer's market with individuals setting up shop along the paths with their fruits and various foods on display on tarps lining the ground. It's difficult to explain the feeling of walking through such a place. It's like I've traveled back in time to what rural life in the States might have been like in the early 1900's.
I made a turn at the end of the road to discover the meeting area for the widows which was on the shoreline of the lake. The wind was strong and caused waves to lap loudly as it hit the rocky beach. In the distance, about 300 yards, was a docking place for the local fishing boats. Again these boats were of times past without motors or fiberglass. I took a picture, but I'm not sure it will reveal the true beauty of the scenery.
There were over 100 people gathered under an open air pavilion-like structure awaiting my arrival. I thought I was to meet with a few widows, but this was much more. Everyone was seated on benches with the Magara Community Administrator at the front talking. Yep, this guy was a true politician who never missed an opportunity to give a speech. I was quickly ushered to the front to sit in the seat of honor. And after a few more words from the Administrator I was introduced to the crowd. My heart ached as looked into the weary eyes that looked back at me. What could I possibly say to relieve such pain? The best I could do was to attempt to share the heart of God for them, after which I prayed and gently touched each widow's hand. It was one of those moments that shakes the rust off a hard, cynical heart. I walked away, but only after leaving part of my soul with them.
Writing down the events of the day does not do justice to the power of God. Words seem to get in the way of trying to explain it all. Maybe I'll be able to better picture it for you later in person. Until then, know that I love you and am eager to spend time with you.
"Nakagaruka" (see you soon)
Husband, father, son, and little servant of God wearing the extra large neon green shirt.
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