Today we went to Pastor Josephs house to spend sometime with them and it just felt good. It felt good to be cared about, to be asked "how is it living in a country so different from your culture?", to just sit back with a friend, smile, laugh, and know that their was no other motive in their hearts besides simply getting to know us better. It just felt good. .
What didn't feel so good (to my pride) was to find out that we just paid way to much for chairs while furnishing the houses. Usually you can buy the simple ones for 8,000 fbu or so, and we ended up paying 15,000 fbu. This pricks my pride simply because I love to bargain. You tell me 50,000 fbu, and I will end up paying 10,000 fbu in the end, no doubt. This "chair purchase" somehow got under the radar.... Although I invited the carpenter to the house today and had a nice firm talk with him in such a gentle voice informing him that he did us wrong, took advantage of us, and would have to change the price for the chairs or he is out of work for us. I stated, It's not hard to see you saw us as a muzungu and thought you could charge us alot... unfortunately, for his sake he was mistaken. All our love...
Today was an amazing example of love walked out... One of the local churches we partner with joined us today in repairing and fixing up the houses in a "community day". There were men, women and youth who came out to sacrifice their time in hoeing, cleaning, planting flowers; really, anything asked of them! Today pastors took up tools and got to work, in a physical way for the Kingdom of God. Surly they will see the fruit of their labors in the months to come. 
Living in a 3rd world country always causes you to keep your guard up, be aware at every moment. The last few nights there have been many shootings with Ak's and grenades. Our friends gathered all their family and went into the safe place in their house. It could be political, or just simply thief's, many rumors are spreading through the country. Buja has been quite tense since before the elections and it comes and goes. Its not necessarily the shootings that concern me, its possibly the lack of justice therein and knowing without justice things can always scale and escalate. Here in Muramvya, things are relatively peaceful as usual. Just simple people, trying to make a life. Continue praying for Burundi; this is the type of country that can be at peace one day, and the next in complete chaos. I am optimistic that the people desire peace from enduring so many years of political and ethnic wars; may they take hold of their nation and stand for peace and justice. 
Our little wiggle worm, he is. Today, I was cooking and cleaning to preparing for Isai to come home for lunch... and I put Malaki on the couch to play. I came back minutes later to a big smirk on his face as the cushion that was under him when I left somehow was thrown to the side. Got to love it. Hes been doing this thing lately where he'll cry and then smile big in between when he sees us, to then crying again. Smile - cry - Smile. He's definitely old enough these day to consciously know what hes doing. No doubt. For Malaki's sake, time to introduce some discipline! Time is counting down, just 3 weeks away until we see all of you. All our love...
Malaki. Growing fast, being grown, wanting to sit, squirm and even stand. He is just over 5 months going on 2 yrs...! It has been an amazing few weeks with him as he has been changing so much and even beginning to teethe. Truly, he is just like his Papi... Isai and myself are often talking about how much we treasure the gift God gave us. I used to think that after years passed of our son passing away, we would think of him less and move on with life. Somehow, in a good way we remember him often; especially when I see children that are around 2 years old.
Kirundi, a wonderful difficult tonal african language. I was in the market a few weeks back and was confused at a situation that happened; thankfully during dinner at our friends house a few nights back I can now understand the depth to the story!
We started with 2 workers and next thing you know... the property is filled with them! Its amazing to see Isai at work as "the boss"...! He has a true gift of delegating and getting things done! Today we have fence builders, brick carriers, flower planters, a translator and a pair tree! Work is getting done. As I was chipping off paint in the houses yesterday, I was thinking to myself; it would have been so much easier to just get houses that are already in good condition (not that we could find any... but the idea sounds great!) But then I thought, this is a time that we can gain experience in running big groups of workers to prepare us for building in the future. Talking prices, organizing schedules and workers etc! So. I am grateful for this time and it is going great. Today we put in a request to the electric company to get light; they came immediately. This is a miracle for being in Burundi, although I can't imagine they have that much work with only half the population having electricity. I have to admit, I have been having some fun in fixing up these houses; today I bought little breads for all the workers and they were so happy (huge smiles on their faces!). The little girls carrying the bricks are Maria and Arriana 8 and 13 years old. I am torn between looking at brick carrying from children as a bad thing. One minute I hate it and believe that these kids should be in school and playing like children are supposed too, and the next minute I see it brings food to the table. I can only imagine that without the small amount of money they bring home that they would be that much more hungry. In that, I try to love on them; talk with them; and pray for them that their future is full of hope. We are here to give opportunity's to the children of Burundi, opportunities that we all deserve.
Pictured above are pictures that speak for themselves, pictures with a voice... compliments of our friend Gin who has returned to China! Burundi is an amazing place, with endless possibilities. all our love...
Miracles can happen! We had a meeting today with the Governor of Muramvya speaking concerning our land and finishing up the process. He told me that there used to be a woman's soccer team that had started for just a short time in Muramvya, but the culture naturally is quite harsh against woman rights. Getting better as the years pass, I must add! The soccer team ended quite shortly after it began, but he expressed how he desires to see athletics increase more in his province. I played on a team about 4 years ago in the city of Bujumbura; quarter Kinama (our team, pictured above). We had an amazing team, amazing coacha and the week I had to depart to the US they went off to nationals! The city is usually far ahead of the up country mountains when it comes to development and adapting to new things; along with letting go of some of the traditions! We will see what comes of this as I would absolutely love to coach a woman's soccer team here. I always dreamed of playing in the world cup and playing soccer as a career and through a chain of events I ended up in Africa helping orphans... God is good and was so faithful to reveal to Isai and myself what he created us for! Nonetheless, I love soccer; everything about it. 
We just got a new mailing address today as we have made our desicion to do phase 1 in Muramvya & it will also be the location of our office. Here it goes:
As we walked through the church doors this morning, almost immediately Malaki was grabbed out of my hands into the arms of one of the ladies who serves as an elder type figure... (someone respected). I thought, this will be nice.... I can sing, dance and pay complete attention to the message; as I am usually with Malaki in service. No childcare in the churches here...! Next thing you know about 30 minutes into worship, Malaki was on her back... in a deep sleep! I thought to myself, this is one of the first times I have ever seen a woman with high respect and status in their culture have a baby on their back... usually it would be the older siblings and or worker that would take their baby on the back. I was shocked! The message today was on abandoning all for the Kingdom of God. That all efforts in life should be to further the kingdom of God even if it costs you your life. For some its abandoning simple things... and for others much more; nonetheless, to gain your life you must loose it in some way. One of the scriptures that was used today always seems to bring a beautiful comfort to me. Luke 18:28, 29. 
We enjoyed a nice couple of days in the city as we had some meetings to attend to, along with continuing to purchase more things for the children's home. Today we purchased 60 meters of fabric to make curtains, bed sheets and everything else imaginable! Isai, I and Malaki along with our 2 friends also went to the big market to search out some items and I found a great new outfit (pictured above) for just $6.50! Its nice to get something every once and a while, as here there really isn't much you can do to pamper yourself! Last night we had a meeting with the American Community as they discussed the security situation currently in Burundi. These nights are great as we love to connect with new people. There are so many people here doing great missionary and or humanitarian work and sharing ideas and working together we can be so much more effective! We are officially approved for the land in Bukeye and are proceeding forth with the paperwork for the deed.... yes! As we look back over the last 2 years, there is no doubt we have seen a true miracle of God and a beautiful example of His faithfulness. Busy days ahead of us as we take it day by day! All our love...
Malaki and Sabine (at 36 weeks pregnant!); nice day, nice friends and an interesting church experience! Only in Burundi; and some other third world countries with massive language barriers would something like this happen.
Well, maybe not all that minor! Malaki and I took a nice walk today as it has been simply "wonderful" to get out of the house after being sick and having so much work to do on a daily basis. Just going on a walk here in the mountains of Muramvya could give any one a culture shock if you didn't know what to expect as far as the culture here in Burundi! Not to be improper, although realistic... just going on a walk you could see your share of breasts and its just (normal!). Isai and I were speaking last night on how as Americans, we have become so desensitized as far seeing a woman's breast; as here in Burundi the breast aren't viewed as a sexual enticing body part on a woman as much as the upper thigh would be. No unrated XXX cautions here, they are just simply breasts with no other purpose then to provide milk for the littles! Hints, why the majority of women are almost always wearing long wraps and or skirts to the ankles. Women here are breastfeeding left and right, and there is simply no shame. Sometimes... we are walking down the road and a woman forgets to put her breast back in her shirt after feeding and its just hanging out! Other times, we have even been greeted and hugged with women who have their chest right "out there"! For the more educated locals and those of the city... these circumstances change a bit, although keep in mind I am usually referring to country people in the mountains. Just things that are normal here, far far from what we know in our home country of America!
