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I hate this construction project, and I just wanted you to know. I am trying to learn French, a new city, how to drive like an insane person, and where to buy things while parenting two non-stop-action-packed boys… and then I come home to the banging pounding mess that is our house. Scratch that, we…
Whats in your cup? My parents blast through freshly ground coffee in their Bunn Automatic. 12 cups in just over a minute. While some snobbier coffee specialists may scoff at such heresy, I find myself every second year or so happily slurping down my second cup before registering that I’m fully awake and in the…
well done Anodyne in Milwaukee! Any hints at the washing station on the package Maggie? Ben
Ben,
I was excited to see the coffee my roommate bought is from Burundi. Not sure about the details but I am glad we are helping in some small way. The local coffee shop Anodyne in Milwaukee is the roaster. Praying for you guys!
Maggie
Oh my! I almost feel guilty about our Bunn! Dad gets heartburn when he drinks french press, at his office he has the more common home coffee system which drips through the beans a little more slowly-is that better? Doesn’t hot water pass through freshly ground beans for an espresso?As I measure our beans to grind I have considered the 5 x of sorting, each bean is special!
Ben, you and Kristy have our hearts and our prayers and our love. Because of your passion for the people of Burundi and their potential for a better coffee price–and our love for you and God (in what order is all of this?) we have them in our prayers as well. To God be the glory, and may many come to know and love Jesus!! We are praying now that some lots which you recommended will be selected as specialty coffees. If some gets chosen and makes it here (Joe knows a guy who buys Burundian coffee) we will try to brew it in a French press at least once!
Today I am sipping Antigua tea, specialty tea we were give by your friend who roasts, cups, and ships coffee and more in Durban. Dad had his coffee at Main Street, with the guys, today reading and discussing Mark 3.
Watching, waiting, for the news of how many lots you chose, after all that cupping,are accepted and bought at specialty prices!! Love, Mom in Bloomer,WI
KUDOS! Can I dido this whole page? I can’t help but to echo what’s already been said…Love the passion, love what you do, glory to God! My wife and I own a coffee house and digital printing lab. To relate to your situation even if it’s minuscule in comparison or impact…she’s the “Coffee Lady” and I’m the “Camera Guy”. Please forward any information you can so we can buy directly from your farmers or buy from those who do. My hope is two-fold, 1) To bring a better life to those who are making ours possible AND 2) To prove your work there IS making a difference!
Feel free to check out our website even though its in dire need of repair.
And Stephen, love the passion! Where do you source your green from? I would love to hook you up with some micro lots coming out of Burundi. I’ve been connecting with a couple co-ops here,farmer owned and operated that give purpose and real value to every cup.
Thanks for knowing what’s in your cup guys… makes a HUGE difference. And thanks for the love, it’s lovely.
I know what’s in my cup: Aida Batlle’s Finca Kilimanjaro washed, roasted 12 days ago in my garage. Simple aeropress brew, but I’ve got a decent grinder so all the character is there. Please, please, please keep doing what you are doing: origin is everything. 90% of the character in a fine cup of coffee comes from it’s origin: the people who grow it and process it, the varietal and where it’s grown. All roasters have to do is “not stuff it up”.
I love what you guys are doing! I drink fair trade coffee from Equal Exchange that we sell at our church, but that’s really all I know about the coffee. I may have to google it and see what else I can find out! I’d love to buy some of the great coffee you are finding!
I always drink my coffee warm, but I brew it in a cold press. I also always try to buy fair trade coffee, but living in small towns, it isn’t always so easy.
I know I don’t know you two that well, but I now think about you every time that I buy my coffee and say a prayer for all you’re doing. I don’t think you’re stretching at all; what you’re doing is important work.
What an excellent piece of writing to draw us in to what you’re doing and why! Your personality comes through; your purpose and your passion are strongly conveyed! As an English major, I give you kudos on your writing. As a friend, I continue to be amazed and excited at what God has in store for your lives! Keep it up, Carlsons!
This is the sister-in-law and I DO appreciate what you’re doing. I drink coffee many times a day and I only buy fair-trade but I still don’t know what happens behind the scenes or if buying fair-trade from huge corporations who aren’t attempting to fairly trade in other departments is helpful. Thanks for doing what you do and please keep up the good work!
It makes me wish I drank coffee! Though I will admit, I do try and buy fair trade coffee for family, especially when it’s being sold to help raise money for an adoption.
My sister-in-law appreciates it most. I know she would appreciate this coffee.
There are moments of regret… When the evils of my humanity eclipse my most precious task, motherhood. Sad, so sad. Why will I not just.embrace.it.all. Stop fighting, loosen up! They are transitioning too. Have you forgotten? Your uncertainty becomes their fear. Woman, they know you. They feel it all. Embrace them, be their safe place….
Incredible, inspirational, beautiful heart!
thank you for this!!
Thanks amazing women!!! It’s an ongoing battle to remember! The stresses of living here, not knowing the language, and having a place full of construction workers makes it my daily battle to stay smiling. We’re getting better at it though 
Beautifully written….I am going to print it and put it up on my fridge to remind me to relax and have fun with the kids! I will site you of course:))
Being an at home mom is HARD in the easiest of situations. I’m proud of you for stepping back and remembering what motherhood is about and being present in it. You are an amazing gift to your children and your hubby:)
You are awesome. and that image? awesome as well. sending you love over the ocean
This post has touched me to the very core! An amazing post & a mantra to live by as a mother!
You guys are amazing. Stay strong!
Love you and your precious munchkins. Loves from Uncle Christy
Let me begin by saying… These are the people, this is the moment, here.we.are. I have been feeling as if I owe you, big time. I feel like I owe you lots of images like this one. Images that allow you to see for yourself what the families who grow coffee in Burundi look like. Here’s…
Thank you all! We need your encouragement. Really, we do! And Abs, I think Mzungu is universally the African word for white person, not sure if it’s everywhere, but everywhere we’ve been. They speak Kirundi here.
Mzungu! They speak Swahili in the hills?! Reading that word sent me straight to Kenya being chased by the perfect little kiddos there!
You guys are doing amazing things! Keep the pics coming!!
Love and miss you all!
Thank you for moving to Burundi. The coffee from Burundi is some of the world’s best, but there are too few advocates for Burundi. Bring on the Burundi coffee!
Thanks…your photos continue to bring joy to my heart…..they show such a pure quality…amazing. Love you guys!
How is that only the price of coffee? So much coffee is consumed and we pay so much for it…even Folgers, I feel like.
Please don’t tell any of the AK47 toting police officers in town that we did this. They don’t seem to like our cameras. At all. What you are seeing is me dropping Ben at a government coffee cupping lab, driving around and then picking him back up. Quality isn’t great, but hope you can still get…
Thinking of you guys and cant help to wonder what it’s like for you inwardly as you process this battle. I try and imagine what it’s like but I fail with flying colors, the world is not as friendly as we want it to be sometimes. The world is quick to if we as people had a choice we would never leave our comfort zone, but it is impossible. There is a calling inside all of us and there is this thing within me that says this world belongs to you, and i should not feel like a foreigner any where! at least that what i hope or dream off. Diversity is beautiful, but we do not always see it that way we are quick to see differences then what we have in common. My hearts goes out to you guys and praying for you right now. I pray that we’ll be able to visit you soon. love uncle Mthoko
Thanks Taryn!
I’m sure all the taxi’s made it feel like Durban! I would find that reassuring – something living in Durbs so long you would be familiar with. Thanks for sharing that, praying for you and the fam!
I think ten years in Durban sort of prepared us for it a little… we were already used to a not-so-many-rules driving policy. But, it is still stressful!
I’ve always marveled at the lack of stop signs and traffic lights. Is it intimidating?
by longmilescoffee
Daniel Berryman, daninreallife - Love your stories. It is amazing how brand new construction in Burundi looks 20-years old. Even the paint job that was completed the day before. UGH!
Eldon Carlson - Praying for grace to see it through.
Danielle Carlson - I think we need to send some people over there and get that project down in a week:)
Missy B - Oh Kristy! Although you are having a hard time with all of this change, your blogging is great! It helps keeping us praying for you four over there.
My mind is telling me that you should fire those people fixing your house and do it yourself. But that’s me coming from MN and watching a bunch of DIY Network and home improvement shows (and having a Menards and Home Depot within 30 minutes of my house). I’ve never been to Africa but I imagine that where you are, you aren’t able to just up and do that sort of thing for yourself. But I know if you could, that you would.
Thoughts and prayers are with you guys! You are making a difference and helping those boys of yours see how amazing of a mother you are! God Bless!