June

June brought a team from Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We were so thankful for their hunger to learn and love. It was inspiring! They led a couple of retreats; one for a small group of people from Kayanza who are living with HIV and Aids whose lives, I'm convinced, are more filled with God's love because of the few days we all spent together. The second retreat was for some of the staff of our microfinance branch in Gitega. The team was able to encourage them in their difficult daily work and bring them also to a deeper understanding of the love of God. It was both a joy and very humbling for me to be a part of these and other activities during the trip and I look forward to staying in touch with many of my new friends from Mars Hill.

we had a surprise visit from this baby croc in the waters of
lake tanganyika where trina and i swim on a weekly basis!

June also meant saying GOODBYE to our dear friends the Guillebauds. Simon, Lizzie, and Zac went home to England for their usual summer home leave but this time they won't be back to Burundi until January 2008. They are staying longer to await the arrival of their second child which will be born in November.

Thankfully, this month also meant saying HELLO to the Hieberts who returned from their four month home leave in Canada where they also welcomed their second daughter. It was wonderful to meet baby Elise for the first time and to have Doug, Deanna, and Maddy back in our daily lives. I'm so grateful for the Guillebauds, the Hieberts and others here who have become such dear friends.

the Hiebert family

Maddy and Elise