Thursday evening

tonight, we gathered as an entire team (minus the ALARM team who is still in Gitega) to discuss our experiences this week. Here's a glimpse of what was shared:

The Video Team (now known as The Paparazzi Team): We were originally concerned what the Burundians would think about them coming in with their expensive equipment taking pictures of them. Have felt nothing but welcomed and have received great smiles and warm handshakes. We are happy to be telling the Burundians story so that others will know about them and may be willing to help.

Discovery School: The children are just adorable and we love to see them smile but there's also a sadness in them. Teachers have all seen miracles, including experiencing the war. They live in homes with dirt floors yet are so trusting in God, so full. We feel that we have nothing to give them. When you listen to them sing, see how much they love God and how authentic, natural and unpretentious they are. It's humbling to teach them when they already are so full. We feel almost envious for what they have in their spiritual lives. We know have the chance to be inspired and transformed by this experience and share it with others.

Tent Team: Going to the tents where we had to park and walk in to the villages and see where they live was truly humbling. It also made us thankful for what we have when we see how others live. Our relationship with God is so much stronger having come on this trip.

Orphan Care: We are so struck by how great the Burundians faith is in comparison to ours. Also struck by how similar we are. We have had discussions here with Burundian women similar to those with other women in the states, like raising our children, managing a household. We are much more similar than we are different.

One of the challenges we all share is how we will see things differently when we return to the US. We are called to continue our spirit of service to folks in our own country. We all want to try to be inspired and hopefully emulate the Burundians great faith, especially when they have so little and we have so much.

We are so grateful to our Burundian hosts for the hospitality, their generosity, their sharing of their faith and their value of presence. We have learned so much from our brothers and sisters.