Friday – “Love is in this Place”

I know this isn’t Christmas, but we met the little drummer boy today.  Joshua, son of one of the new students (looks about 4; could be 5/6) came to the center with his mom today.  She had told him that they did a lot of singing and dancing at the center, but they had no drum.  We have watched Mary, and others, resoundingly use the work table as a drum – with the dent marks to prove it.  But apparently his mom thought they could use a drum.  I venture to say that this drum is one of few possessions they have.  When his mom suggested that they give their drum to the center, he agreed….but he wanted to see where his drum was going.  Hence the visit

Apparently Joshua agreed that this was a good new home for his drum as he presented it today.  If you saw my post on Facebook today, you got to see Joshua and a short video of his proficient drumming skills!  He went on to say that if he and his mom needed a drum at home, Jesus would provide one.  Oh, the beauty of child-like faith.

That was just one of many “beautiful moments” we experienced today.

                                           

Again, the students were eager to share with us today.  We still marvel at how open and eager they are after being here for such a short time.  Testimony to the safe, loving environment that is instantly felt at Homecare.  Another young woman (this group seems to have more 17-20+ age group than before) shared that she lost both of her parents in the conflict when she was just six.  She was left alone, sometimes in a refugee camp, often without food or eating the scraps fed to pigs.  Someone brought her to Bujumbura where she met a man who promised to marry her.  Soon after she had his child, he began to spend most of his time with other women.  She found out that he had another wife and five children.  She returned to her village for a while, but was rejected. When she came back to Bujumbura to find the father of her child, she discovered he was in prison.  Hopeless, she went from house to house, surviving with whatever help she could find.  Other men wanted to marry her, but none wanted her child.  She would not abandon her daughter.  She declared that God rescued her, healed her and allowed her to meet a former graduate of Homecare.  God assured her that she would not have to beg.  “He brought me to this center.  Love is in this place.”  She said most people ignored her, but not here.  Now she says to the other students, “You are my sisters.”

 

Another shared that she was both an orphan and a widow….at only 19.  Her mother died when she was an infant.  Her father abandoned her during the conflict, so she was left to stay with an older sister and grandmother.  The grandfather didn’t want them, refused them food, and forced them away.  Her sister married, and she was left alone.  Other relatives also rejected her, and the brother-in-law didn’t want her with them.  She met a man, became pregnant, only to be left soon after.  Alone and without means, she worked in a plantation to have food for her daughter. Then she learned that the father of her child had died in a fishing accident.  Seeking help from her sister, but refused by her brother-in-law, she was desperately alone.  She met a graduate from Homecare who urged her to apply.  Though family would not accept her, she has found a new home at Homecare.  How she praises God to be here!  She tries to earn some money by hauling water from Lake Tanganyika (which is not that close).  In spite of all, she gleams as she says, “Now I know Jesus!  I know I will have a good future.”

 

Of the 48 students who began just three weeks ago, 24 have declared their faith in Jesus.  Seven accepted Him the first day at the center as Mary explained the gospel to them.  We can only imagine all that He has for them in the next nine months!

 

Several of our team brought supplies to have a fun, creative time with the women.  They took strips from old cups to make attractive bracelets!  Wrapped with scraps of fabric, wound with decorative wife and a dangling charm, they took “discards” and created something beautiful!  What a beautiful analogy of what God does with our lives.

 

Tonight we had the joy of going to Life Center Church for a night of praise and worship.  Several from our team practiced with their praise team last night and joined them on stage tonight.  Worship at Life Center is a celebration!!  Joy and thanksgiving pervade the entire neighborhood when you approach the church (which is an open air pavilion that holds 2,000+ people).  We were all encouraged by a dear Australian woman who shared her faith journey with the congregation.  Her opening statement was that God changed her life journey 16 years ago by connecting her with one man – a  village Burundian man - which took her on an amazingly new direction in her life.  What a great message on perseverance and enduring trust in God.

Several years ago the students began calling the Homecare Center the “Mountain of Love.”  We can see why.  Love is in this place; it is wherever He is, and we all feel privileged to be experiencing it here with our friends, old and new.

 

Tomorrow will be a great time of sharing with the children of the women!  Pray for this special time as our team shares The Good Shepherd and His amazing love – and protection – for them.  It’s going to be a great day!