Just love a little deeper...

Just love a little deeper…

 

 

Just love a little deeper - I tell myself, as I remember the very day we submerged ourselves into such poverty.  The kind of poverty that brings old blind men to your gate for some food, desperate thief’s to your borders at night, the kind of poverty that never ceases to overwhelm you with its pain, suffering and hopelessness.  We root ourselves a little deeper, and deeper as time moves on… to only realize that what we have given our very lives for is but a drop in the vast ocean.  10 might try to deceive you and have ulterior motives, but 2 will stand for truth – and those two are enough.  We give, and give and give of ourselves and some grasp the sacrifice, while others expect it.  It tests and rips apart our very beings, and we hold on to yet another day.  
 

Our kids are born in this beautiful nation filled with shattered hearts; Burundi is in us, has become a part of us, as much as we may fight that “in times that just seem so rough”.  The deeper our effort, ministry and work goes, the more broken we become - the less we are of who we were.  In the midst of it all, I hear the whisper of a gentle voice… just love a little deeper. 

Embrace and hold on… if one doesn’t live for something to die for, they don’t live – I once heard.

Then a gentle spirit & “bursting at the seams” smile comes around the corner, and Marie embraces me (a genuine, I love you with all that is within me, kind of embrace).  Suddenly – everything seems just right.  I go from questioning the sacrifices made to trying to fathom God’s immeasurable love for these children that he ripped away from unspeakable trauma and pain; and the fact that he felt we were qualified enough to be a part of His redemption in their lives.  Well, we were pretty messed up ourselves, before He got a hold of us… and yes, He does take the weak things and turns them into beauty…  They have life.  They are alive.  They have redemption.  Their hope is ever-present, in Him.  Jesus, loved a little deeper.  They persecuted Him, rejected and killed Him… and still He chose to love a little deeper – even unto death.

 

 

Today, I say Lord “teach us to love a little deeper” to fight for the “one” and the next one, and the next 10.  Simply because you did.

Attempting to express...

Attempting to express…

The growth, excitement, exhaustion and unforgettable moments that have been lived through this last month seem to be somewhat (inexpressible).

As we moved deeper into the mountains, deeper into poverty… I could have only imagined that in that particular aspect - it would have clearly been more difficult.  None the less, it has brought many new joys and ways of life that we have grown to appreciate.  For example, the mile walk from the children’s homes to ours… down a dirty dirt road, being greeted by nearly 100+ people along the way to return home by foot walking in the light of the moon over the mountains.  We have more time, for more things… it’s odd, but rather comforting.

As we have welcomed friends and guest into our new house… with 8 bedrooms… we are many, and now having the space for guests, they are ever present throughout the weeks and bring so much life to our gigantic dinner table, in which a friend passed on to us.  A partner, who became a dear friend… Jenny from Imani-Africa joined us for a week in Burundi as we look towards our future together, helping those who are hurting.  The Global Health Corps fellows here to establish the management for our clinic and build partnerships in which we know the Lord is expanding our work, far beyond what we could of ever imagined. 

Having been blessed with an amazing transport truck from Switzerland, from once strangers who have now become a part of our big family… Malaki growing, with a hilarious and joyful character – and the lingering stubbornness that makes its entrance in the lives of many 2 year olds.  Isabella, the one who fights for attention, and much expected as we have not had the time we would have liked, to have enjoyed her first weeks of life – being so tied up with moving our family, office, children and staff to The Village of Jeremiah 29:11.  It’s been, well.  It’s been… fulfilling and overwhelmingly challenging all together. 

We prepared for the month of July for months… we lived it, it’s past.  Whew!  It was a tough one.  Isai for one worked night and day preparing the final things for the kids to move to their new home, along with the dramatic repairs of our new home.  Now, adjusting to the new security measures in which we must live by, and taking all preventive measures against the former co-inhabitants of our home sweet home - rats.  Late nights, early mornings… unpredictable situations, left and right.  Our move to Bukeye, from Muramvya has been just that.  Fully disclosed.  We rest upon the grace of God and remember His goodness and are especially thankful for His seasons in our lives; knowing that before we know it we will enter into our season of rest.

The Afterbirth.

Bella, in Burundi for the summer with her Mom, Stephanie from our home church OHOP! I asked her what was one of her favorite experiences since arriving, she asked me what did I like most about George Washington?!  Got to love the train of thought of an amazing 8 year old!

Kai, knocked out at the hospital.  Isai took some daddy time with him each day bringing him out for ice cream and playing at the park... I think he really loved the time with his Papa!  Alex and Tabea - you helped in such a big way... thanks for caring for our little boy!

When I say “afterbirth” I am simply referring to the moments after birth, not the placenta! 

The gratitude in our hearts is far beyond any expression as we welcomed a healthy beautiful girl.  The support we had through it all was unbelievable, friends coming together like family to help us when we simply needed help.  O.K, so we planned to give a quick and uncomplicated birth, and head back up to the mountains - as usual.  But I have to say, God turns all things to good for those who love Him, because in the midst of having to get a C-Section and to recover 3 days in the hospital we were lavished with so much hospitality, kindness and support; something we would have not experienced in such a way had things not become a little complicated.  Each day tons of people showed up to bring meals… (coffee!), to buy things we needed, friends to care for Malaki the entire time we were in the hospital (in which he loved and handled like a big boy, being a pleasure to have and easy going).  All in all, it was amazing.  You can imagine living in Burundi, acquaintances and friends are quite the necessity; a support system for the good and bad times.

The kids are in love with Isabella… the girls all take turns in holding her, making sure to hastily inform the next when their time is up.  I have been letting the girls come in 2’s in the afternoon to help bathe Kai and Bella… something to show them their important, something to show them they can be a part of her life; not to mention how young girls in this culture love helping with newborns and babies!  Kai is also shockingly great with her.  I had some thoughts prior to her birth that he would give us a little bit of a rough time, as he is so absolutely attached and 2 years old…  Interestingly enough, he is not jealous at all but loves to help and “pet” her in the most gentle of ways.  He also understands that I have a boo boo and hasn’t asked to be picked up or jump on my lap; his understanding and knowledge is amazing.  A few nights ago, I was in the kitchen with a friend and the power went out, everything pitch black.  Usually at this point, Malaki quickly finds his way to us “to secure his safety”, but that night he ran towards my room in the dark to go make sure Bella was ok.  I was so touched.

As for Isabella, it’s like night and day from the first few weeks with Malaki!  Malaki had a difficult time with nursing… and possibly it was even more difficult for me, (and we were new parents, living in rural Africa) learning so much.  With Bella, from a few hours after I woke up she was nursing with no hesitation.  She sleeps; she eats… and has a little whimper for a cry that is preciously girlish!  I stare at her often and imagine how we could have lost her, and understanding what that means… clearly 2 different roads paved out. 

This last week it’s as though a deep burden has been imbedded into my heart.  It is the burden to help women and babies, to help improve the devastating statistics of how many women and babies are dying during birth.  While in the hospital, I heard an overflow of story after story of babies dying… all within the last week.  Some, I can imagine could have been prevented with better training or the possibility for machines.  One of the stories was of a new government rule of giving better assistance for maternity care and women giving birth in a public hospital.  There was 8 women all waiting for one doctor to do c-sections on them due to complications, one of the mothers was friend of my friends as she explained that her baby drowned in the amniotic fluid because they weren’t quick enough to get her in.  Others explain that because there is no sonogram machine, it’s hard to know how the baby is responding to inducing and or labor pains in general in which when the baby comes out, they are already dead. 

A standard needs to be raised here in Burundi, and yes it could take an unimaginable amount of training in universities to students and giving further training to healthcare providers and hospitals; but I am hoping that things will improve here, because deaths are far too common and too many, preventable.  You can only imagine what the moral of the local people is like concerning births, especially up in the mountains; the pain, anger and the deterioration of the hearts of the people as they experience death over and over again in so many different depths.  Culturally, for many they don’t talk about it afterwards and according to them “they are just fine”.  The pains build up, the discouragement continues and each time they loose another precious one, a piece of them is taken.  I know women who have lost 7 children, 5, many 1 or 2 during birth, after birth… as toddlers from malnutrition and malaria.  Devastation is real, it’s rampant, and it’s everywhere.  May God give a vision and burden for people to respond and to help see the healthcare standard in Burundi raised, and mama’s and babies saved.  We can make a difference… we absolutely can.

Isai has been doing a crusade with a friend’s ministry here in Burundi and got to teach and minister in Bubanza and Makamba for 2 days each!  He was a little hesitant at first because of me getting a C-Section, but this opportunity was something he has been looking forward to and anticipating for quite some time… God is doing so many amazing things, and we can’t wait to have him back with us tomorrow!  We are so grateful to have Isabella with us safe and sound, ready to begin the transition of our home and also the children’s homes this coming month… with our very own transport truck!  We just got news that a wonderful church in Swiss wanted to buy a large transport truck for materials to assist us in saving on construction costs.  Isai has been praying for and needing something like this for quite some time, we were so touched at their desire to help!  Please continue praying for all of us here in Burundi!  All our love...