final goodbyes

My last night in Burundi I spent on the beautiful Bujumbura beach with those who are closest to me.

...And this morning I'm getting on a plane!

Friday

Today I got to spend a good part of the day with my dear friend Deanna. We started out shopping in the morning on the busy streets of Bujumbura which is always an adventure.

I had lunch with Melli and Ken Johnson and their fun family...
...Then it was back to Hieberts' for dyeing eggs with Maddy!

And I finished off the day with an evening out with the girls. Our friend Tanya is visiting from Oregon.

Thursday

Yesterday Trina and I went for a celebration feast with the ladies of Amahoro and I said goodbye to Gorethe and her family.

Wednesday

goodbye to the ladies in my Bible study
my friend Audra

goodbye Danny boy

and the nannies at the Rainbow Centre

goodbye to friends at World Relief

Tuesday

Tonight I had dinner with my World Relief colleague and friend Sophonie and his family: his wife Lydia, their twin sons David and Samuel, and their daughters Doreen and Edwina. I'll miss being the recipient of this man's warm smiles and hugs and the outpouring of his great big pastor's heart.

Final Week

Well, one week from today I'll be boarding a plane that will take me away from Burundi and back home to Oregon. There's a lot to say about my (almost) three years in this place of complexity and beauty, but instead I’ll tell you about some of those to whom I’ll be saying goodbye in a few short days.

Tonight I was invited to the home of Emmanuel and Asele. Emmanuel and I have shared an office at World Relief for over a year now. He is the former Africa director for a large organization which ministers to university students (Intervarsity in N. America). Asele is among the leadership of a ministry that disciples and trains women as leaders in their churches. Their kids Jolie, Lewis, and baby Elsa are intelligent and delightful. Emmanuel has recently left his position at GBU with the blessings of his superiors to pursue his dream of deepening his fellow Burundians’ understanding of scripture and what it means to live out the gospel.

I’m grateful for friends like these.


ps. Asele wins best hair in Burundi

New Years

Kigoma, Tanzania-Brandon, Duncan, Seth, Dave, Sarah, Matt, Rebecca, and I (Trina's taking the photo) enjoying New Years Eve dinner overlooking Lake Tanganyika.

Christmas

Enjoying the benefits of the tropics- badminton in our back yard on Christmas day, and stocking-stuffer goggles for snorkeling on New Years.