Samuel David.

Our nephew. Safe, sound and in mommy's arms. 7.03 pounds, 20 inches and simply just... perfect. Samuel David Salvador, can't wait to see the plans the Lord has for you. All our love...

walker, sipper, repeat.

Malaki's first moments with a walker and sippy cup... and boy does he love it! Home sweet America, I can say! The first few days of transition for him were a little tough, but today his happy personality and sense of humor seems to be returning!... Thank God! Just wanted to share some beautiful moments with you all, enjoy! All our love...

Congo... oh Congo.

Congo River, Orlando Florida! Not the Congo we live next to living in Burundi! Interesting enough, Congo is just 15 minutes from the Capital of Burundi, Bujumbura. Isai and I took out our amazing niece and nephew to go miniature golfing... oh how we love them. Moments like this are memories written upon our hearts as we laugh and spend time with them. How time passes and they go from being children to.... the "double digits". As you may of noticed I am trying to refrain myself from using the "teenager" word as its still hard to accept! :o) But yes, children do grow up, unfortunately even in our absence. Sometimes I believe its the hardest on the kids, being so far away from them as they usually measure your love by the time and attention you give into their lives. I think the older they get, the more they can understand that even though we aren't at every football game or class presentation, we wish we were and love them nonetheless. However, its a hard place. May God grant us to be connected and loving in such a way that it will overflow the months and years we are missing in their beautiful lives as they go through joys, pains and just simply "growing up". It breaks my heart to know my niece is going to be playing soccer and I can't be here to coach her through it... oh how the Lord knows! Did I mention how much I love these kids! Today we get to love on my side of the family... truly. can't. wait. All our love...

Taste just like strawberries...

Taste just like strawberries, is what I used to tell my parents as I sucked on my finger... Malaki seems to think the same about his BIG... big toe! When I walked in on him sucking his big toe, he looked at me like "What?"! Malaki is loving on his Abuela in the top picture... so happy to be with the family!

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Its interesting to say the least that as days go by, I find the "American life" to be less and less normal to me finding comfort in the life we have grown accustomed to. This is a good thing though, as the reality is that Burundi is our home and we should make every effort to enjoy our lives even in the midst of living in a 3rd world country following the call of God. Although I have to admit, being around family is like a kiss from God. It feels so good to be a part of their lives once again, something we truly wish we could do always; counting our absence in their lives and theirs in ours as the biggest sacrifice and challenge we have faced.
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Beautiful days ahead of us, catching up with those dear, dear to our hearts. All our love...

Around the world...

We are off on our journey!

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Burundi!

Ethiopia!

Rome!

America!

We made it to America! What an amazing trip we had... When we arrived to the airport they changed our seating from the middle of the plane to the first row behind first class. Truly the favor of God. We were in the airplane for about 23 hours (in the airport for about 36 hours!) We had a 10 hour layover in Washington Dulles... don't thing we'll be doing that one again; really it was a bit hard at the end of our stretch! Malaki did amazing, and really exceeded any expectation we had... he slept, ate, played.... repeat!

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Some of the family has already seen Malaki and has fallen in love with him. This is a sad reality I have come to, to see how much Malaki loves being around the family and is smiling and smiling... and just cheezing away! I say its sad, because without experiencing these moments its alot easier to be half way around the world raising our son so far away from family. Now, having experienced a glimpse of what is to come; may God give us grace. There is a purpose to his calling upon our lives; calling us to respond to the cries of His children in Burundi regardless of the sacrifice. I hope we can appreciate these moments to the fullest and treasure them deep within our hearts. It sure does feel good to be back in the US as a family.... All our love...

What to hope for...

I am writing this post with a grin on my face as it has been such a hectic... unbelievably crazy week. From wrapping things up with the repairs on the houses, to signing for the land we will build on, to packing... and on top of that, Malaki and I have had a mean cold. To say the least, its been crazy, but we remain with so much anticipation in our hearts to return to the US to visit all our family and friends. .

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We had friends come visit a short time back and she told me... just a mommas luck that right when its time to fly around the world to visit the family... their babies are teething. Thank you Sara for the heads up...! Malaki is usually a really happy baby with a sense of humor just like his Papi; although for the last 2 days "he has been crying a cry he has never cried before!" Pretty sure those nice strong teeth of his are making their entrance. The interesting thing is, he's fussy all day except for when I put him on my back. Really, he loves it and feels close, calm and collected. Now the question is, walking through Washington Dulles International Airport will I give him the comforting possibility to go on my back.... I could only imagine the commotion it would stir! haha. We will see. Oh, the differences in cultures around the world! We will be flying from Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. until Thursday night. Excited for Malaki to get a small glimpse of Rwanda, Ethiopia, Rome and the US... All our love...

Like father, like son.

Watching "finding nemo" is how yesterday's looong day ended for Isai and Malaki. I had to take a picture of this because Malaki was fussy and the second Isai grabbed him to watch a movie, he throws a big smile on... literally.

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2 nights ago, Malaki was sick with a high fever and vomiting alot; in the morning we decided to bring him to our German doctor in the next province over about an hour away. Living here, when a fever arises its not always just a simple cold or virus but can be much more complicated like Malaria or Typhoid Fever; in that case, its always good to have a good doctor around. Malaki just had a virus and is feeling much much better now. Thank God! The doctor even called today to see how he was doing... this was nice.

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In the afternoon, we had some friends come over who wanted to record some testimonies to help us bring awareness of the condition Burundi lies in, while we are back in the US. As I could of already imagined some of the things we would hear... I never could of prepared myself for the stories and experiences they went through. One of the girls on the worship team at the church was compelled in heart to speak her story and how God is doing a miracle in her heart.

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She shared about when she was 1 1/2 years old, rebels came into her house and killed her 4 siblings with machetes. They slashed her face 2 times thinking she was also dead. She survived this massacre and remained with her parents who also were alive. Throughout this time, she expressed the hatred and anger that grew rapidly in her heart... looking at herself in the mirror believing she would never be loved by anyone. 5 years later, more rebels came and shot her father to death right in front of her, also shooting her in her legs. Once again, she survived. As they raided her house, removing the metal sheets from the roof and taking away everything they owned; the rebels brought everything to the forests in which they lived. A short time after, they exiled them from their land leaving her and her mother with nothing in a state of hopelessness. At this point, she was broken, confused and angry... wondering who could do such a thing to their family. Just three years ago, she began attending a local church and saw hope for the first time. She began to love people and in return be loved. She knew God would give her the grace to forgive those who did those things to her family. Today, she is being restored to the beautiful child of God, she was created to be. She wants to be a doctor, and believes in her heart she is beautiful beyond the scars left from the past. She has an attitude for the future and knows God has done a true healing and miracle in her heart.

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Really, her story blessed me and once again reminded me of the unthinkable pain and circumstances these people have passed through. The Pastor was even telling us about how people used to dig holes and put little children into them, then pounding the sticks into the holes to kill them, by stabbing them over and over again. Out of the 3 friends we had over, 2 of them watched their father's being murdered and to this day have to bear that memory. There is such a need for restoration and hope even though these days most ethnic problems have ceased. Truly God is making a way for them and responding to their cries... All our love...

My heart about dropped...

We had some guests over just a few days ago and boy was it refreshing to just hang out with friends. We journeyed through a steep path through the valley to go to the market and show them the few "nice things" about our home province. As we were in the market, I was swamped by maybe... 50 people or so, and then 50 more, and so on as I walked up the steps to the next level. (I haven't brought Malaki to the market yet, and they were SO excited to finally see him). To get away from all the commotion, I left Isai with Gary and Sara and went to the top of the market that they wouldn't be in the midst of all those people. About 3 minutes later, I look down at the level they were on and see hundreds of people rioting, screaming and running. I'm thinking.... oh no... please let that not have anything to do with Isai or our friends (who are visiting us for the first time!)... I run down there with Malaki looking for them anxiously, yelling "umugabo wanje ari hehe?"! After asking about 5 people, one calming points to the top of the market up the hill and I see Isai plain and clear... thank God. So many things ran through my head, as I could imagine if someone tried to steal from us or our friends, Isai would of surely picked the person up over his head... and so on. Always protective, which is a comfortably beautiful thing to have someone like that around living in Burundi!

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Anyhow, it was a boy who had stolen a girls metal box with her money in it; once the locals saw what he did, they ran him down, beat him down, and I didn't see the ending... although I can be sure that he won't do something like that again. Sad situation as it is, how happy I was that all that mess had absolutely nothing to do with us, or our friends who we invited to the mountains for a good time!
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Today, I am simply happy that the power is back after a day and a half.... once again I find an appreciation for electricity...! All our love...

Busy.... no....

1. Malaki is ready to go to the US....! He is learning to sit while leaning on things.

He's all packed up, sitting inside his suitcase.

2. Lia Sofie Anderson, born November 5th; 7 pounds, 7 ounces.

Officially the youngest German in Burundi. :o)

Beautiful and precious as ever!

3. Malaki laying next to Lia, so interested and calm.

As she flipped her hand close to his mouth,

he made every effort to stick her hand,

in his mouth to suck on it!

4. Malaki enjoying the expected heat of Buja,

and seeing Sabine after giving birth.....

So happy Lia is out, Safe and sound.

5. Our friends visiting us in Muramvya and enjoying the cool mountains.

Gary and Sara used to live in Alaska... I can only imagine

their appreciation to the climate and altitude.

And some good times, with friends. :o)

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So Yes...., It has been absolutely some busy times,

great times, memorable times. All our love...

Break, sweet break.

Break, sweet break... in our homeland sweet America. Malaki is growing, and eating, and eating, and growing... :o) Really, he loves food. I tell you, we are looking forward to our time in the US as we leave in just under 2 weeks. It has been great finally working, and doing what we came here to do... Its a bit hectic trying to get everything prepared for the coming weeks while wrapping up everything here in Burundi. Surely God will make a way. All our love...