Photo of the Week | Meet our Staff & Missions Matriarch – Alice

Alice Sibomana is the queen of our office. The matriarch of public relations for long-term missionaries hails from Burundi and has been involved with Times Square Church for over a decade. We all go through hard times, but Sibomana’s story is especially unique. Transitioning from a developing country engulfed in genocide to a modern, corporate city would be enough to break the toughest character. Alice did just that when she was a teenager. She has emerged with character that only God’s hand could mold. Alice’s lovely sense of humor and caring personality are just two of her outstanding qualities…we are blessed to have the Burundian Royalty as a part of our team.

Burundi August 2011 – Our Last Thoughts

The kingdom of God is not with observation- There will be no huge billboards, marquees highlighting the works that have been completed in Burundi, or newspapers reporting on the miracles God done here. No, but the work of God fashioned in the hearts of these children is where the kingdom of God has advanced; their lives are writing the story.  Those who never clearly heard about why Jesus came to the earth now know because they experienced His love.  They saw a risen Jesus come to where they live and have compassion to touch their wounds, to heal their hurts, to forgive their sins, and show them another future. The kingdom of God has been built and is being established in their hearts; so much has been done in this past week that no worth could ever be assigned to…because a changed life is priceless. Do you want invest in something that cannot be lost, traded away, stolen, or be destroyed in some way…then invest yourself in the work of God. There is a treasure available to us if we will respond to the call to pray for these children.  God hears the cries of these kids and He also closely responds to every prayer lifted on their behalf.  Won’t you gain something that can never be taken from you? “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21- Won’t you pray for these?? It will be well worth your investment.

Burundi August 2011 – Day 13

Our last day with the kids and goodbyes!!!

This day was truly the highlight of time here! This was our last day with the street kids and our morning time of prayer led us to believe it wouldn’t be easy for those who had to share a testimony of their life with Jesus, but that it would be well worth the sacrifice. We knew the kids were starting to believe that they are loved but the work just didn’t feel complete until this day.

One of our French team members shared about the story of Gideon and that the Lord came to him, in a time when Israel was being oppressed by their enemies, and told Gideon that he would deliver Israel from all their hardships.   Because Gideon and the people of Israel were so oppressed by the Midianites it was so hard for them to believe that God could ever make their situation any different. Our team member shared that Gideon believed he was the least of all his clan, but yet God chose him to defeat the Midianites. She remarked that just like Gideon, God was able to able to set them free from their current situation; That it is not God’s will for them to always live on the street, that just as Gideon was called out before his current situation looked any different- God was doing the same for them.  God was calling them, through her, to believe that there is an awesome plan for their lives. After she spoke 2 more of our team members (1 from the French team and 1 of our Burundian translators) told the story of how they came to know Jesus and how He healed their broken hearts. Both spoke of losing one or more of their parents and the difficulty of ever believing that that pain could ever be changed. Through tears, they shared their personal stories of God’s miraculous power to heal their hearts and the ache that constantly echoed in their lives being replaced by God’s love.

As they spoke, God’s love filled the room- it was like a fragrance that permeates a room. We began to pray with the kids in groups and we felt the power of God’s word being spoken over their lives; That the life that they saw before their eyes was no longer the truth.  God was calling them into a life provided for and sustained by God Himself. The children and all the workers cried to Jesus in prayer. You could feel a faith in the room as we prayed together. Just as with Gideon, God began to break the lie that they could ever be free from a life on the street… Just as real as it was the days that Jesus walked the earth we felt these words being spoken over our children- “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach the good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…” Isa. 61:1-3. It is difficult to put words to all that transpired that afternoon but we felt and we saw God changing their lives by faith. We don’t how God is going to do it in each individual life but we’re trusting in the God who can never fail us. His power is unlimited and His love is without end. Truly these children belong to the Lord and their lives are in His hand. Our hope in writing in this blog is that you will be touched and join us in prayer for the lives of these precious children. Oh how God loves them! There is a hope let us pray in faith as God’s word comes to pass.

Below is a picture drawn by one of our teammates she was inspired after this days events.

Burundi August 2011 – Day 12

Today, we visited “The Good Shepherd”, one of our translator’s church. It is one of the largest church in Bujumbura. We had a very warm welcome and they quickly found translators for 15 people. The pastor was delighted to have us.  The worship songs in Kirundi were beautiful and what a blessing to celebrate God’s mercy, love and faithfulness with Burundians Christians.

The sermon was about seeking the kingdom of God by serving with love, courage, diligence , putting aside distractions and be willing to embrace suffering. It was a reminder that we are Jesus’ disciples in our society and that the kingdom of God is our first pursuit. Often, I’m amazed to see how God desires us to use us for his purposes and plans.

During the day, my heart went to the kids. I was wondering where they were. We’ve been spending 6 days in a row together, but today we didn’t see each other. Deep inside, I thought of a kids church where they could be taught the Bible, singing songs to God, rejoice and also be fed on Sunday too. I’d love to attend this kids church and be in the presence of God with them. For their prayers and songs from the heart are, I do believe, precious in God’s ears and heart.

Later in the afternoon, we had a time of discussion with the translators, we shared about challenges in our daily lives and how Jesus gives us strength to overcome. One translator said that he was touched when he heard us encouraging the kids with applause and cheering. He himself grew up as an orphan and for years he was struggling with a lack of affirmation. He always wanted his mom to congratulate him.  He told us how much our trip was impacting the kids and that they’d know that they were able to do great things.

Laila

Burundi August 2011 – Day 11

Field Day! Today we had a wonderful time of levity and laughter with the children. We joined them for an afternoon of soccer, relay races, jump rope, tug of war, and an impromptu game of tag. If you could only see the excitement on their faces as they ran up and down the field chasing the ball or hopping around in a sack. When we arrived at the field, there were probably only 40 or so boys….within less than 1 hour, the group of boys ballooned to approx 60! Of the 60 boys, we recognized maybe only a quarter as regulars at the home. We knew these boys not simply because we recognized their faces, but the Lord’s work in their hearts was clear. They are peacemakers, loving, joyous, and full of laughter. The other boys that came (who do not come to the home) brought a different tone from the streets – fighting and provoking one another. However, once Mama Alice began to pray, chaos was immediately transformed to order. It was awesome.

In the evening, our teams enjoyed dinner and shared testimonies of the day.  After dinner, the levity of the day continued and we all broke out into a tickle fest. You’d have to be there to understand this. We all ran around the veranda shouting “ticky ticky!” No one was spared and the laughter was infectious. “ticky ticky” then morphed into singing the song about the ‘itsy bitsy spider’ in English and French. Seriously! I think we all needed an outlet to help us to be silly, relax, and exhale. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.

Burundi August 2011 – Day 9

The kids are becoming more comfortable with us, which is allowing us more of a freedom to share Jesus with them. Although they could be out in the street working (as they call it- which is searching for food) they return each day to our services; yes they come for a meal but they are also coming to be loved. They are responding to the love of God because they hear it through the word of God and they feel it.  The boys come to us when they need prayer because they are believing that God hears their cry and loves them. Instead of seeing fighting we are seeing smiles. Today we made pinwheels with the kids and the outbreak of joy was tangible. They began running to see the wind turn the blades- it was so awesome to see them just be kids. A boy named Ferdinand remarked to Elvis, one of our translators, that he knew Laila (one of our team members) loved him. As they are being loved they are loving their friends. Now we see kids taking care of each other- praying for each other, cleaning each others clothes when they get dirty.  The love of God transforms and we are beginning to see this change in their faces and their actions.  We leave in a week’s time and it is hard to gauge the lasting effects of our efforts, but what we do know is that we’re not sharing our own love we are simply giving to these children what God has given to us- God’s amazing love. “…while we were yet sinner’s Christ died for us.”  Jesus who died and rose over 2000 years ago is still loving the hopeless, forgotten, and unloved. I praise Him that He invites all into His kingdom.  Even through all of their suffering these kids are starting to believe what Jesus says “…whosoever will…. come…”  They are all welcome and the angels of heaven are rejoicing to see them enter the kingdom of God. Please continue to pray for them, they are so worth every moment of your time that you extend.

P.S. Remember some of the kids are attending literacy classes each day?? Here is a picture of them writing their names!!!!  

Burundi August 2011 – Day 10

Today was the second to last day with the boys; we were all feeling the exhaustion of the week but thank God  -He gave us strength to do His work.  Two lessons were shared (from the French & American teams) about lying/ stealing and the ability to trust God with the secrets of our hearts.  One of our team members shared about her own life and of anger that resulted from a difficult childhood experience.  We then went into a time of prayer for the boys. What a change we saw from the first day we began to serve these boys; they were so willing to be prayed for and had specific prayer requests. One boy asked for prayer for his sins to be forgiven- he didn’t attend our sessions yesterday and he committed many sins and wanted prayer. Another boy asked for prayer because he wanted to leave the streets and return home! The tenderness of God is able to reach past the deepest layers of our hearts. “The entrance of your word brings light…” As we sat with the boys during lunch they began to open to us and share their life stories. One spoke to me about not knowing his father, another wondered if there was a future for his life- would he ever be able to go to school. These boys are opening the deepest parts of their hearts to us but more importantly to the Lord.  Despite their current situation God is near to them, he hasn’t forgotten them, he hears their cries. “For the needy shall not always be forgotten; The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” Ps. 9:18 As you see the pictures above, them crying in prayer to God, remember them and pray for them. He will never turn a deaf ear to their cries, surely He will glorify His name and deliver them. God is still a father to the fatherless. He cannot deny His own promises. Let us believe as we pray!

Burundi August 2011 – Day 8

This is Pascal. I was able to speak to him, more in depth, during our afternoon session of activities. During the morning one of our French team members taught a lesson about forgiving our brother or sister. The children who live on the street often get into fights over disagreements so when he shared about forgiving our friends it touched many children. There was a time of prayer for this and many kids asked Jesus for forgiveness. Later that day, Pascal shared with me that it is very difficult for him to forgive so how could Jesus forgive him? He told me he had so many deep sins- How could God accept him? I explained that no matter how deep the sin, Jesus is able to forgive him and make him clean- that Jesus
died on the cross and that is why He can forgive the depth of our sin because he took our debt for us.  Pascal sat quietly for a while then he said “I think it is good that you come here to be with me. I wish you would be here longer because then more of my sins would go away?”  I answered him by showing all the mommas (what the married woman are called here) and brothers who work with them when we’re not here. I told him they loved him and they are here to take care of him and he just smiled. “You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought….” Ps 139:2 God knew the questions on the heart of this young man and provided and answer- Praise God we serve such a God that is near and not far from us.

Larissa

Burundi August 2011 – Day 7

Today was an awesome day because we spent it with the children who live on the street. In our morning time of prayer we asked that God would allow the children to feel His love and embrace throughout the day and He did. During the day we first shared a time of worship together, then a skit illustrating the word of God, preaching, sharing a meal together, an activity, and various groups (singing, acting, and learning
to read).

We simply enjoyed spending time with these children and seeing the hand of God touching them in the simplest of ways… A smile, an embrace, making beaded bracelets, singing to Jesus, eating a meal with them amongst so many other ways.  During our time of literacy class the kids were perfectly attentive and so excited!!! They began learning the letters of the alphabet and you could literally hear a pin drop. Afterwards the kids began telling each other that they wouldn’t miss this program tomorrow for the world because they wanted to learn how to spell their names. One of the children turned to one of the translators and said “Do you think we’ll get to graduate and go to the 2^nd grade?” How precious are the thoughts of God toward them. These children who seem so forgotten and abandoned are being given a future and hope. Their future lies in the miraculous hands of God!

Burundi August 2011 – Day 6

What a joy to visit a Burundian church for the first time. As we arrived, the church congregants were waiting for us with a warm welcome. Songs in Kirundi –national language- were beautiful and full of life.
The sermon was so challenging: trusting God in our times of impossibilities or problems which require a miracle.

The day before, we prepared some songs in French, English and Kirundi. What a glow on the peoples face when they heard a new song in Kirundi composed by the French team. Later in the day, we went back to that same church and shared some of our life experiences with God from forgiveness, integrity at work, staying pure until being married, and more. The young people who heard our testimonies were amazed to see that young people in western countries have the same life issues as them.

Day by day, the Burundian people are becoming more and more dear to our hearts.

Laila