Adios Amoeba's!

3 days, and I have had my share with the parasite named Amoeba (among other names!). Fortunately, I haven't had a case like this before and hope to not see it again! I am feeling great today, and praising God! Just a suggestion to any person who ever gets amoeba's... you can use the seeds of Papaya as a form of medicine to help kill them. Natural things are always nice to know about especially when breastfeeding and living in a 3rd world country.

.

Today. What a relaxing day today was enjoying the nice mountain breeze with our dear friends Mama and Papa Asaph... along with Asaph and their baby Asaiel. He is only 2 weeks to the day older than Malaki, its nice to see them grow up together; next thing you know they will be toddlers playing in the mud together! Its nice to be so close with them as we are always speaking openly back and forth with Papa Asaph about cultural things. Plus. We just simply love the company. Today. We bought the potatoes, peas and beans to plant. Today. We sit back glance at one another and simply remember "the goodness of the Lord". All our love...

.

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. ~Mother Teresa

Perspective.

Perspective. Something the Lord never hesitates to bring my way. Our security worker's son just had a baby and adjoining to their culture, we saw it fit to go visit them and bring a gift. We were informed that she had the baby Tuesday morning and was already walking back to her house in the mountains just a few hours afterwards. Only about 3-4 miles from the hospital to her home; part of that walk being down the rugged side of the mountain. I thought to myself... how in the world did this woman just hours after giving birth (in which the doctors won't allow her to even scream a word out...) get the strength to go mountain hiking down the side of a mountain.

.

On to the story...! We went to go visit his family today and brought a gift of some clothes that Malaki had outgrown. To get to his house we hiked through fields, down steep slopes of mud, and through trees to finally arrive. He is continually tell me that his family has Malaria, as it was no surprise at the amount of mosquito's everywhere during the daytime. As we entered into his son's house, I began to be flooded with a dose of "perspective". We went in and sat down on a termite infested couch, that we had given him a long time ago because they were spreading all over our furniture. They took the couch with joy as I expressed to them... I insisted there are termites!!... are you sure! With a smile on his face, he thought it would be a nice gift for his son. As I look to the ground, I see a dirt floor in which one of the 30 children crunched into this small room was peeing all over. Yes. I have been in many houses and huts with dirt floors, but this time it was different. As we sat there for about an hour talking about how beautiful this small precious baby was and just making simple conversation, my heart began to be moved. A man came running in the door saying "There must be a Muzungu here.... the whole mountain is talking about it!" I then spoke to the man in my broken kirundi after understanding what he said "Man, we have names... we are not just the foreigners; we are Papa Malaki and Mama Malaki." Smiling, he apologized and greeted us in a form of respect as Papa & Mama Malaki.

.

Prior to visiting them, I had many complaints on the table on how we have over 20 cracks opening up in our walls... having tremors now more often. The one in our living room is opening and shifting; we are confident the foundation wasn't made strong as the tremors are shifting the mountains. Along with having a mud land that when it rains gets (everything) and the dogs full of mud. As we returned home I thought to myself... I really appreciate our house; although its simple, it works and we are happy. What more do we need in this life to fulfill us than God Himself. I often wonder to what extent have we become dependent on material things for our happiness. I think... If my coffee, my house, my laptop and my car were taken would I still say God is good and faithful; as I hope to obtain and grow to such faith and truth one day.

.

Pictured above is Leonedas our security with his family (8 children)! They are amazing people... loving and simple. Also, his new gran baby with her parents; and the beautiful walk down the mountains with our little friends accompanying us. Long story, yet I thought you all might be interested in what an ordinary day can look like living in Burundi in visiting families that live in rural mountain tops. Experiences like this I cherish. All our love...

If you think...

If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito. ~Betty Reese

.

How true is this.... especially sleeping with mosquito nets in Africa and one is stuck inside! It brings a balance understanding that everyone can make a difference in their own way... in their own environment. I often ask myself, what have I done today to impact someones life... to make their day brighter; for we all have the power to do so. All our love...

My. Daddy.

My. Daddy. loves to show me the field that is being prepared to plant beans and potatoes for the children we will take in soon that don't have mommy's and daddy's. He said one day, I can help the children too and even change the world. One day, I want to be just like My. Daddy. All our love...

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. ~Author Unknown

On the search... yes!

We are "On the search" as I would like to say to choose our land from the government to build the projects! Picture above is the land we looked at yesterday in Bukeye that is relatively flat on a mountain top. It has valleys on 3 sides of it and its size is about 4 hectors (approx. 10 acres in US terms!). We are choosing from a few different lands offered as we will look at the surrounding needs along with a land that is accessible for building purposes. I have to admit.. its a bit exciting partaking step by step in the process to work over here!

.

Many may ask: "Can the land be seized again by the government; and how can you be confident that the land will really become yours?" For all NGO's here in Burundi, part of the partnership includes the government providing land and the (Non Governmental Organization) proving the projects and financement to execute them. They give you approx a 2 year period after you get the deed to begin your work on the land and if for some reason you don't begin working... they make it clear from the beginning that the land can be given to another who needs it if you don't use it for what you promised to do. They are happy and consistent to give land as International Projects = Local Development on all levels. We are gaining ground day by day and within the coming month hope to see the beginning of what has tarried for quite some time: our first home for orphaned and abandoned children!

.

What does this mean? It means lives will be changed and given a hope. It means afraid and hurting children will be put in a nice warm bed, with a full stomach and a quite voice whispering I love you and sweet dreams. It means that these children will be able to see a future for them; a future to be healed and restored and to do what they were created to do. It means as a child they will no longer have to worry about what small food they can collect to feed their siblings or fear the cold nights. It means their cries were heard. Will you respond to the cries of a child today? You can make a difference. All our love...

Mubarazi Kindness.

In Burundi many times you can find yourself after a very discouraging day looking for some encouragement! On the way home from Bujumbura yesterday, we were stopping to buy some carrots on the road as we stop there every week and greet the guys that work there. They gave me some beautiful flowers as a gift... talk about putting a smile on my face! You could get a bouquet like this for about 30 cents or so, not bad! I'm not even a "flower person", although I think flowers can brighten any ones day. All our love...
.

Children smile 400 times a day on average ... adults 15 times.

Children laugh 150 times a day ... adults 6 times per day.

Children play between 4-6 hours a day ... adults only 20 minutes a day.

What's happened?

My Bibs.

Malaki in Bibs. Yes, how handsome is he! Second hand clothes are simply the best... Yesterday I went with a friend to the market to look for some clothes for her baby to come and Malaki and boy did we have an interesting experience. When we were ready to go, she paid for her 25 pieces of clothing about $19.00. As we were beginning to walk away, all the 5 woman began screaming back and forth trying to take her bag of clothes out of her hand. The situation was so tense I didn't put much effort into trying to figure out what they were saying... I simply told my friend "Lets go NOW." Just walk away... I repeated! As we began to step away, they got even more upset until I finally tried to put together their words with my broken Kirundi. After a time of much tension and confusion I finally realized they wanted her bag of clothes back because they needed to see which clothing belonged to which women to divide the money! To be honest I thought they were going to take back the clothes and try to tell us we didn't pay! After we realized what was happening, we handed the bag back to them and suddenly everything was O.K. Talk about challenging situations that arise from language barriers! I have to admit... we were laughing so hard afterwards.

.

Things are moving along here in Burundi. We signed our protocol of execution just yesterday confirming our work in Muramvya and now we can we are free to sign for land. Many politics within the NGO world. God has been faithful to give us a persevering heart; I can't count the times we just wanted to "give up!". God made a way, because the children suffering here in various situations are truly dear to His heart. He sees their need and He is faithful and just to help them overcome through love. We bought the silverware and plates for the homes... on to the other furnishings in the coming days! To be updated on our work in Burundi, check out our TCOAC Blog at www.thecriesofachild.blogspot.com All our love...

The love of the Father.

We went to watch Isai preach yesterday at our local church here in the mountains of Muramvya. It was an amazing message on the love of the Father and His desire to have a relationship with us. How this message never gets old for me... He used the example of when you fall in love; how you think of them, look for them, want to please them and somehow... everything becomes "about them"! It never fails to prick at my heart to returnin all areas in my life... to my first love. God. Pictured above was Malaki right before we left for church. Here in Burundi, its rare that the children would have a program in church... even in some churches the children would remain with the parents. Malaki did great as usual. I think he is mesmerized every time he watches Isai preach... for a 4 month baby he sits calm and collected watching daddy go back and forth... and back and forth! (Isai loves to walk and be expressive as he preaches!) If he is anything like his father, he will be an amazing man of God in the days to come. A man of integrity, compassion and truth. All our love...

A convenient destination.

Yesterday. Isai and I were able to get a glimpse of where many clothing donations end up... for us I can say it is a convenient destination. Here's how it goes. Many donations come from abroad with the intention that they will be given to people in need. (I strongly emphasize the word "many" as I cannot speak for the accountability of all organizations doing clothing donations)... At the ports there along the ocean, there are buyers that buy big sacks of assorted clothing from the containers in which they come on. The buyers then bring the sacks to the nearby countries to sell per sack. The ones who buy the sacks from them in return seek to make profit off it and the final destination will find itself either in the local markets or upon the shoulders of young boys selling bulks of clothing in the streets!

.

Although I STRONGLY disagree with how this whole operation is played out with the deception involved that these donations were going to be given to those who really need it, we simply have to clothe Malaki somehow! As we went to the market yesterday, its massive with thousands of people and very little space. There are small rooms in the walls that about 3-4 women would sit in with their bulk of clothes they are trying to sell. As we were there with Malaki.. we simply said umuhungu afise.... 4 months; quickly they all began searching through their mess of clothes to give us options! The funny thing is.... you would think I would be shown clothing size 3-6 months... and possibly stretching it... 1 year! Not the case... they were showing me clothing for 2 years old etc! Not because they didn't have smaller clothing, but because its common for children to wear clothes that are way to big on them! You can get each piece just under a dollar if you can bargain good! To our surprise, we found ALOT of Carter's clothing which I love of course because its simply cute and durable. What an experience that was. The pictures above have absolutely nothing to do with the story... they are just "nice!". All our love...

1. Papi and Malaki... having to much fun!
2. Tanya and Malaki (our friend from Germany); she was smelling Malaki and loved it! yes... smelling! And boy does he smell good!
3. Malaki enjoying the pleasant heat of Buja with no blankets applied while sleeping!

The many faces of M.D. TORRES

Approaching 4 months with one of a kind of a personality!

Like Father like son...

All our love...

Bring you to work baby.

Malaki enjoyed a day at work with me aka... our office. He was somehow so amused at just simply watching me and pretending to talk. Usually he would join us at all the meetings and appointments we have throughout the week; the youngest TCOAC worker we have at the moment! The wooden bassinet that hes in will soon be passed on to our friend for her little girl to come... I kept telling Isai "Surly he will fit in there until he's 6 months or so... not happening!" The last picture was when he was just days old, wow has he grown from being a 6 pounder to almost a 13 pounder these days. I have to admit, it has been fun with him lately with his continual smiling and now hes starting to giggle. At home we will speak English and Spanish with him, but outside he will speak Kirundi with the locals. In Burundi, its normal for someone to speak 3-4 languages.... as in, normal. They would speak Kirundi, French, Swahili and now learning English. What a blessed nation. All our love...

Cloth Diapers 101...

Malaki has officially... unofficially started with cloth diapers today! We were blessed by some friends taking of to Uganda to buy many many large packs of huggies for $4.00 a pack containing over 40... I don't know if you know about pampers, but that is a great deal! All that said to say, they are coming to an end and the cloth diapers we were given by our friend are making their entrance! We are grateful that they were given to us because they are a bit pricey! Somehow the Lord always makes a way...

.

Cloth diapers + No running water = Alot more work for mommy at the end of each day!

.

One thing is for sure: It's well worth it, that's for sure. Isai is convinced that Malaki will be potty trained by 1... just like his daddy (Isai hated to wear pampers and always threw them off!). Time will tell ehh. Isai and I are going to go to the market on Monday to look for some bigger clothes for Mal as we only have a few; we had planned to be back in the states as of this week but unfortuntley our plans were changed and we are not coming back until mid November! All the clothes in the market are donations from abroad given to help people... they somehow end up being sold by bulk off the ports and then brought to the markets to be resold! Anyhow, I heard there are alot of nice Carter's clothes there (a really nice American brand, yes!) Will keep you posted of the nice things we find. :o) All our love...

Potential.

Never underestimate the potential of a child,

for potential is only a seed that needs to be watered.

-Isai Torres

.

Potential - capable of being, but not yet in existance.

Burundi L.I.F.E.

We drove back to the mountains this afternoon from being 2 days in Buja doing documents for the NGO... Malaki fast asleep this evening as I find myself meditating on our life here in Burundi. I have come to realize (not so obvious to me) how different our life really is from the states... and how different we really are as people living here. Things that have now become normal:

• Getting 2 (20 liter) containers of water each morning courtesy of our workers, one of them being nearly 60... they walk down to the valley every morning to get us water that we can use to cook, clean and flush toilets with. (Did I mention we don't have running water... we have the pipes, although Muramvya has never been to successful with having a flow of water.)
• Locking all our steel doors that lead to outside with padlocks (big metal locks). We have security guards, although they are old men... and our fence is rotted bamboo that often breaks all around when street dogs try to enter.
• Getting a worker just to "watch the car" every time we are parking in the city near the market. Just to watch the car... yes. A thief stole our spare tire one day, another day our mirror, another day one attempted to break into the car.
• Restraining ourselves from using the following words: maybe, possibly, might happen, etc. Some how anyone who uses these terms here finds someone claiming that "they promised to help them, they promised to do this, but... you promised". How we quickly learned to be as specific as possible talking to anyone and everyone. Absolutely no grey areas.

That's just a few thoughts, interesting enough... I have grown to love Burundi and the people regardless of always having to be on alert and often having to deal with deception and manipulation. I was recently talking to my friend explaining in the US we would maybe have a negative situation or two arise throughout the month... nothing to stressful. But somehow, here in Burundi it manages to happen everyday! Maybe to truly grasp to the extent I am speaking you would have to live here, but I would love to attempt to give a visual... We are beyond confident that the Lord has called us here (it feels good to say that!)... as we have endured so many trials and difficult times, yet we love our life here and we see the need in the hearts of the people. A hurting hurting people in need of restoration and hope. All we can do is take this life here in Burundi day by day. I love these pictures taken in 2006 exactly 4 years ago in Burundi... it reminds us of many amazing memories here; surly it gives us a hope for the future. Tonight I am speaking straight from the heart and upon meditating on things... I just felt the need to give you a glimpse of what life is often like here in Burundi! All our love...