Entering into our promised land...

This blog, along with our April newsletter I will be sending out this week are all focused on our soon to be transition to The Village of Jeremiah 29:11 and our hopes for you to jump on board and help us have an amazing transition... as we enter into our promised land.

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I remember about 5 years ago or so the two very heartbreaking and vivid visions the Lord gave me, that forever set a path before us as we do our best to follow what we know and believe to be the will and plan that God has laid out for our lives as a family. I can imagine that one vision was a continuance of another - as we were resucing many broken and abandoned children from a locked building in the midst of a valley surrounded by mountains, followed with a second vision of leading them all to safety over a lush green mountain top - leading them towards love, restoration... towards the Father. God is faithful to lead and amazingly enough, we are building a children's village with children's homes, a clinic and trade school right on top of our very own mountain top, surrounded by a deep beautiful valley on 3 sides. On our land we have tall breezy eucalyptus trees that blow in the mountain wind, staff that amaze us time and time again with their open and commited hearts, and a surrounding community that is by far one of many communities in the mountains that is suffering in countless ways from the viscious cycle of poverty that manifests itself in hopelessness and swollen worm infested little bellys.

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In July we are going to be transitioning all the staff and children to the children's village upon the completion of the 2 homes, a kitchen, police hut, storage and basic staff housing. Our family, along with a couple from Switerland (coming for a period to help Isai in construction) and also 2 new staff from Global Health Corps will also be joining us in the transition to rented housing near the land; until we are able to build volunteer housing on the land. Please be praying as we are currently in the process of finding a new compound with multiple homes for all of us to transition into Bukeye. We are so excited and have been talking, praying and planning for this moment for quite some time. Now is our time, to head into our promised land.

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I am taking time to write on our family blog, to give you all the opporunity to help us in this time of transition. The needs are many, and we want to do our part to bring forth the chance for you to say "Sure, why not... I'd love to help in any way I am able". Together, we can indeed make this happen, and friends - we are reaching out. If you are reading this blog, I ask you - would you consider today how you can help us and the children transition in any small or big way? Below are some things we could sure use your help with, shoot us an email at thecriesofachild@yahoo.com ; encouraging words are always sweet to the soul.

• Pray - That we would have the wisdom and discernment in all situations as we make key decsisions in this transition; and for the joy of the Lord! May we look unto Him.
• Give - There are many projects we are still raising sponsors and funding towards that are vital to our transition. We need to raise $9,300 towards the kitchen, $8,500 towards the girls house and $6,000 towards basic staff housing. We also need some solar panels to bring basic electricity to the land for lighting at night etc.
• Bring awareness - You may not be able to help as much as you would like at the moment, but you could be a voice. Tell your friends, your family, your co-workers about the opportunity at hand, to help us, the kids and our staff begin our transition into The Village of Jeremiah 29:11. Where the heavens open, and a community will be transformed through the love and power of God.

Thanks, friends and family for taking time out to read this... we wanted to share our hearts and efforts your way. Even all the way in the US, you too can make a huge difference in the life of one hurting and in need of a helping hand... all the way here in Burundi, the heart of Africa. All our love...

Moments to remember...

Last week, we welcomed some dear friends to Burundi for just under 2 days and yet filled with so many moments to remember. Mike and Dollea (bottom picture) were so encouraging to have with us, the words they spoke impacted our hearts and brought us smiles and joy. Dollea, 51 years ago - this month left Burundi with her family who had been serving as missionaries up country in mountaineous Gitega for 4 years. She had always dreamed to come back, and somehow - by the grace of God we were able to find the missionary school deep into the mountain where she lived and studied. We sat with anticipation as we listened to her stories of what Burundi, not to far from our house was like (50 years ago). Hay huts, one way dirt roads (often washed out, having to wait months to travel to the city for supplies), simple people with a simply beautiful love. I stood in awe as she still maintained quite a bit of Kirundi... the kids and staff loved it (of course wondering how she could know such a vocabulary). It was a wirlwind of a time, trying to cram everything into just under 2 days; yet, unforgetable.

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This month, is a tough month - no question. Our good friends Tom and Jana (2nd to bottom picture) are leaving Burundi and transitioning into their next steps of life; really, they have such profound and loving hearts - it has surely ministered to ours. Our family, away from family (Sam, Sabine, Noamie and Lia) are heading back to Germany for a year at the end of the week. Honestly, we can't imagine life without them here. They have been here right by our side, day in day out from the start... and to have that in a foriegn country can be somewhat rare at times. Isai and I are both at a loss for words... but the Lord knows...

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In April, we are welcoming a couple who is coming for 3 months + to help us in building "The Village of Jeremiah". Handy work and practical hands on help, just what we have been praying for! We are excited to get to know them better and to see all that God has in store. Malaki is talking up a storm... speaking so much kirundi, I tell you one day he might be able to translate fluently from Kirundi to English! There have been moments, after moments that have been molding, transforming, enjoyable and challenging all together; we are so blessed to experience it together, as a family. Burundi life, and the moments we hope to never forget. All our love...

We look to Yahweh.

Today, yesterday and all the days that are before us we look to Yahweh - our God, to see us through. Life as we could of never imagined is on a continual roll forward, without a pause in view. So we confidently look to Yahweh, and know that He will make a way, and His glory will come down and transform the hearts of His people.

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These next four months, that is, until sweet little Isabella joins us (baby bump pictured above) we are giving it all we have to give through the grace of God. I recently started teaching our staff english, after months of requesting, we have made a firm tight schedule that I am willing to commit to - with the purpose to believe and pour into them that they in return can give all they have to give to our children. Some can't write, stopping to study during elementary school... but they love to be in a school setting, and more so to be challenged. Who is to tell them, they can't better themselves... just because they were overtaken by poverty at such a young age? With the staff, there has been an unbelievable transformation of transparency, humility and unity... openess and expressions of the heart - culturally, not normal and most times not accepted. I can only beleive it's the love of Christ working in their hearts, and as they are shown more and more love... they love more, they love deeper.

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On to the interestingly funny pictures of Kai naked on our blog...! Yesterday, I was in a meeting with the staff and one of our girls was watching Kai. In the mountains, many times the babies go without diapers - so I can only imagine that when his diaper was full, she took it off and put his clothes back on without one. :o) When Isai came after work, we headed home and he put Kai on his shoulders as a proud Papa would... until he realized a stench, secondly pee and poop all over his neck! We then stripped Kai and they both showered, but it gave us one good laugh! Malaki loved it and found humor in it all, more so than his Papa I can imagine! All our love, from Burundi!