Burundi 2007 Team Blogs

All His Energy 05-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja This is my first missions trip. I was raised in a Korean Christian family, but I got saved only two years ago in NYC. I was worried because I didn’t know what I could do in a mission field. I don’t have any specialty or experience, but I had just one thing- I was determined to do what I was asked to do. Today, my job was perfect because people were asking me to do things. I was the one assigned to run errands between the clinic, the doctors, and the pharmacy. I would walk the patients to different places. I looked for drugs in the bags. I don’t know if they were blessed, but I was so blessed. If I smiled to the long lines of people, or just waved my hands- the people waiting were so happy. At one point the leaders in the team were telling me stop for a few minutes and rest. They feared I would become dehydrated and something would happen. But I didn’t want to stop, because the people in the lines needed me. Just a week ago before I left for Burundi and even yesterday I was sick- but today everything was gone. There was this incredible energy that kept me going and focused. I was hugging people with all my heart and that fed me. I don’t know where the energy and love came from, but it replaced everything that had been wrong before. I am so happy- this has been one of the most blessed days of my life. Juby- medical team worker Completely Healed 05-Jul-2007 Team: Buja A It’s been an awesome first day! Coming into Burundi, I felt inadequate—like I had nothing to offer. Even as we rode to the outreach, I struggled against fear. I was afraid that I would be useless. Toward the end of the day however, I received encouragement straight from God. A baby girl was admitted to the clinic and was so sick that the doctors were afraid she would die before the day was out. Seeing her made me feel even more incapable of helping, because there was nothing I could physically do for her. Just then, a team member grabbed my arm and said, “Let’s pray.” As we prayed, one of the things I asked God was to heal her before she even saw her. Later in the day, I found out that God had answered my prayer! The same baby who was on the brink of death was completely healed, even before the doctors tried to help her. I have no doubt that God could have healed her even without my prayer, but I know that He allowed me to pray for her and see my prayer answered. I was so encouraged to know that God had, in the midst of all that was going on, taken the time not only to heal a little girl, but also to minister to me by letting me be apart of what He had done. I can’t wait to see what else He has in store! Greetings 05-Jul-2007 Team: Buja B Greetings from Burundi to all our praying families and friends from the Buja B Team. Just to let you know God honored your prayers for traveling mercies for us. Our journey was long, but “blessed”. After the bus ride to Washington DC, we had three take-offs before landing in Burundi. All we did was eat and sleep and eat and sleep. The flights were smooth as glass, barely a ripple of turbulence. Upon arriving at the Burundi airport we were greeted with an awesome dance and drumming demonstration. What a welcome! We were so honored. Everyone on our team is healthy and joy-filled (praise God!). Today was our first outreach day. In a word: it was awesome!!! North Kamenge 05-Jul-2007 Team: Buja B Hi everyone! Thus far we have spent the whole day in an area called North Kamenge [kah-man-geh], which was the site of great violence during the genocide. Many killed; houses burned. They live in abject poverty. Compared to us, they have nothing! It was a humbling experience for the entire team. We just wanted to show them the love of Jesus. They were mostly women and children who were cautiously shy but came to trust us and eventually let us pray for them. The children would put our hands on their heads and were lining up for prayer. Awesome! Many team members played games with the children. Their squeals of delight were a blessing. Jesus was passing by here. Even the plastic balls we brought to play with them spoke to them of God's love for them (smiley faces!) In the afternoon a local church welcomed us with wonderful songs, dancing and shouts of praise: "We welcome you in the name of the LORD". How truly beautiful indeed are the feet of them who bring good news from a far away land! Our team leader shared a Word and prayed for the congregation and for Burundi. Diane, a first-time missionary gave an encouraging word. We were honored. We then broke into small groups with church members and went back to visit many families. Everywhere we went, these precious people would light up when we spoke of Jesus. Their worship is truly glorious -- especially the children. They will be a mighty army for God one day! Our team was so humbled, honored and grateful to God that He intends to bring new life to this suffering nation. We have many praise reports to share. Stay tuned! God bless you from all Buja B in Burundi! A prison in Burundi 05-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry Today our team went to our first prison in Burundi. For a few of us, it was the first time in any prison. It was an all-male facility. The men were clamoring on the gate and climbing on windows out of eagerness. When worship began, His presence fell into that courtyard. We brought forth the word and a testimony. We prayed for those who wanted to accept Jesus in thier lives...at least a hundred hands went up! We left the prison, but our glorious God is still there raising up an army for His namesake. Kill the unbelief in our own hearts 05-Jul-2007 Team: Gitega B We began the day asking God to kill the unbelief in our own hearts. Some ways He did: part of the team met a widow who carried her lame nephew miles on her back to the medical outreach. She was the only person in her family to believe. BUT today her nephew received Christ. Our faith was encouraged by her faith. Her name is Rose, but we nicknamed her 'Iron Rose'. Hundreds of men, women, and children turned out for the medical clinic. We had the privilege to sing praise songs and speak with the beautiful people as they touched us with their gentleness, quietness, patience and song. Many team members preached the Gospel with boldness and led many to Christ. It all started with devotion time 05-Jul-2007 Team: Gitega A We met this morning at 7am for prayer and devotion. Edith lead devotion with Proverbs 4:12 as a reference verse. Afterward we ate breakfast and prepared for the local church members to arrive. We left for the local church and upon arriving we were greeted and brought into the Church. Sandra, our group leader, spoke for the group and opened the floor for each of us to give our testimonies. We each, with an interpretor, gave our testimonies. Paul shared a vision he received before arriving in Burundi. Sandra gave a spoken word (message) to the loal church in Gitega. We broke up into 3 groups ad went into 3 areas of Gitega to do street evangelism, many got saved. After returning to the Church, we all went back to the hotel, ate lunch, and practiced the skit for the evening service. We returned to the Church and was brought into a worship srvice in progress. after being introduced to the congregation, we preformed the skit. Sandra gave a sermon to the congregaton about the skit and God's calling on the nation of Burundi. an altar call was given where 80% of the church attenders responded. Serving the women and children 05-Jul-2007 Team: Gitega A Today we had individual devotion time with the Lord followed by breakfast. We then embarked on our trip to the Clinic Compound which was quite vast - the ride took approximately 45 minutes. The crowd was large, consisting of many young and older women and many children. After setting up the Pharmacy and triage area we proceeded to see 81 adults and 35 children. We were able to fill all the prescriptions written. Clinic 05-Jul-2007 Team: Gitega A Today we had individual devotion time with the Lord followed by breakfast. We then embarked on our trip to the clinic compound which was quite long; the ride took approximately 45 minutes. The crowd was large consisting of many young and older women and many children. After setting up the pharmacy and triage area we proceeded to see 81 adults and 35 children. While patients were being seen, some of us were able to fill all the prescriptions that were written. Gitega Church 05-Jul-2007 Team: Gitega A We met this morning at 7am for prayer and devotion. Edith lead devotion with Proverbs 4:12 as a reference verse. Afterward we ate breakfast, and prepared for the local church members to arrive. We left for the local church and upon arriving we were greeted and brought into the church. Sandra our group leader spoke for the group and open the floor for each of us to give our testimonies. Through an interpreter we each gave our testimonies. Paul shared a vision he received before arriving in Burundi. Sandra gave a spoken word to the local church in Gitega. We broke up into 3 groups and went into 3 areas of Gitega to do street evangelism, many got saved. After returning to the church we all went back to the hotel, ate lunch and practiced the skit for the evening service. We returned to the church and were brought into a worship service that was in progress. After being introduced to the congregation we performed the skit. Sandra gave a sermon to the congregation about the skit and how God is calling the Gitega church and Burundi as a nation. An altar call was given and 80% of the church attendees responded. Iron Rose 05-Jul-2007 Team: Gitega B We began the day asking God to kill the unbelief of our own hearts. In some ways He did. Part of the team met a widow who carried her lame nephew miles on her back to the medical outreach. She was the only person in her family to believe but today her nephew received Christ. Our faith was encouraged by her faith. Her name is Rose but we nicknamed her Iron Rose. Hundreds of men, women and children turned out for the medical clinic. We had the privilege to sing praise songs and speak with some and touch many of the beautiful people there. They touched US with their gentleness and quietness. Many team members preached the gospel with boldness and led many to Christ. God Answers Prayer 05-Jul-2007 Team: Buja A There were many women with their children waiting to see doctors. Whenever we started worshipping in Kirundi: voices chimed in and smiles exploded while the presence of God created such peace and order amidst the fear and impatience. Karen A boy was crying hysterically. His mom tried everything to quiet him down but he just kept on crying at the top of his lungs. I went over to him and laid hands on him while I prayed. He was quiet afterwards. Linda There was a woman who came for prayer after the outreach in the morning. She described the two ailments; a cloudiness in her eyes specifically when she tried to read the Bible, and abdominal pain. Linda, through the help of the interpreter, began praying for healing in the woman’s eyes. Then in the middle of prayer the spirit prompted her to ask several questions to the woman. The woman kept on reiterating that her major problem was the darkness she saw when she tried to read the Bible. Linda continued praying for her. Finally after three sessions of prayer the woman said “I’m well, I feel so good, It’s not bothering me anymore.” She smiled and rejoiced. There was no more mention from her about the cloudiness in her eyes. Linda and Glenny Bujumbura 05-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Gitega We arrived in Bujumbura after a long bus ride and a long but very good flight. Then a 2 hour or so ride to Gitega where we would spend the next few days doing medical outreaches in a local clinic. Thank God for a safe journey. And we were not really very tired or exhausted. The weather here in Gitega is cool and comfortable. The people are friendly and humble. Our hotel is small but cozy. Not all of us have hot water but we are learning to take cold refreshing showers. In everything we give thanks to our great and mighty savior.

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