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… because there is NO WAY I could have left with our air freight today if you have not said at least one little prayer for my underwear. God provided a way, in a land where there are no systems worth trusting. More than EVER before I have faith in my God. He protects. Loves….
We have 15 pieces of luggage being held captive against it’s will, and ours, in the Burundian customs office. It arrived two weeks ago… 15 bins full of kids toys, pillows, saucepans and very regrettably most of my underwear (yeah, I know). Every week that it is in “storage” at the Burundi airport we have to pay…
Hi,
We just recently were told By Sarah(Backstrom) Rinkenberger ( our daughter-in-law) that you are in Burundi. We have gotten to be friends we many Burundin’s ( Mostly connected with the Penetcostal Church in Burundi) but when we visited Burundi in 2009 we were meet at the airport by contacts that worked in the Airport. Because of this our luggage was just sent through without a problem. Our interpreter while in Burundi lives in Bujumbura and has many contacts. His email is manoscar2006@yahoo.fr . His name is Oscar Nkunsimana. I can contact him if you want or you can contact him direct and tell him Ken and Jill Rinkenberger from Cedar Rapids, Ia have asked him to help you. Let us know if we can help? Blessings, Ken and Jill
Dear God, I pray that people everywhere are treated fairly. Please send your blessings upon parents that are struggling and grieving, and oh, please send some wisdom to the burundi customs staff so they treat people fairly and that miss kristy gets her underwear home where it belongs. Amen.
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?
My mind goes blank when I think of ways to describe this world to you. Completely blank. There are no words, which is why it is my temptation to just go silent. I am fighting it. For me, for you, for everyone. Finding a way to communicate to you how different this life is from…
I know exactly how you feel. You are expriencing more of what I experienced when I was living in Niger. I was called “anasara” (white person) all of the time. Not knowing the language at first, learning how to bargain and talk down prices. I know exactly. I understand the staring, kids and adults touching me to see if my skin feels different. I was living in a very remote area and I can relate to all you are saying.~Christina
hi friends! hailey and i can COMPLETELY understand everything included in this post. our hearts greatly empathize with the language and muzungu-related frustrations and challenges. hang in there! like you said…it begins to feel, well, normal! i love the adventure you’re on, and appreciate the posts and the memories and emotions they spark in my heart. thinking of your family lots.
Thanks all for the compliments and kind words, it feels so great to have your support. And Marina, we look forward to taking you up on your offer
Thanks for the post!! I was missing them…What a different life! I am praying that the French will just come to you:))
Today I complained silently to myself that I didn’t have enough dishwasher detergent. I feel so silly now. Thanks for such a lovely post. Your words are carefully chosen…each one has to be there, and not using anymore than is necessary. Your writing reminds me of Jane Yolen (Owl Moon). Sending you prayers for strength and understanding. Also sending hugs….lots and lots. Love you all!
I’ve often wondered what it would be like if we moved to Burundi instead of just visiting 4x per year. My husband (@daninreallife) just looked up some interesting stats on Burundi – there are 3,000 white people living in Burundi. Mostly in Bujumbura. Not very many of them are American, mostly European. We have a friend from Florida who moved to Buja last year. She is going through many of the same adjustments that you are going through. On our most recent trip, we loaded up 2 suitcases with things she couldn’t find in Buja: ranch salad dressing, decent chocolate bars, pancake mix, decent office supplies, bird seed, just to name a few. Please let us know if there’s anything we can bring to you on our next trip (October). If it fits in a suitcase, we will be glad to bring it! Happy Birthday to Ben and I hope and pray you will find peace and joy in your circumstances.
What a wonderful post! I know that feeling of being the farangi or the gweilo. It definitely makes you look at yourself, where you are and where you’re from.
We have a great big hope. But this week it seems like a great big stinky bog is attempting to snatch away our hope and our joy along with it. Burundi can swoop in and make you question things. Things like your sanity at bringing your family… To where? Or, will our vision for holistic…
HI Guys, good to hear your’e coping Kristy, when it goes quiet thats when we get concerned, keep complaining about the construction etc etc, imagine the stories to tell the grandkids… Ben, what great news about the quality of the coffee, I’ve designed that roaster for the rocket stove so next season,the farmers can taste their own, wouldnt that be novel?
Ella doing great, her and Sasha are now firm friends, she’s picked up a little weight and she’s looking healthy, (my little puppy) On Susan’s comment, your mercies, but also your merci’s(yes)are also new and getting better every morning.
PS which honeycomb are you building? lotsa luv the Padts
Hadn’t counted on long term construction along with all the other adaptations. You guys are gonna do great. See the adventure through Myles’ eyes! I am thankful you have a few people around who speak English. Praying for honest interpretors for business and shopping, and a relatively quick adaptation to getting on in French.Each day is a new beginning-Lamentations, full of “laments” in the middle, 3:15 says “Your mercies are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.”
Burundi is mysterious, frustratingly beautiful with all its untapped potential, somewhat scary, and definitely crazy-cool. After every trip there, I vow to never go again. Yet, 14 trips later, I will return in October. We will continue praying for you and your family that your calling & vision will remain clear and that your hope is renewed daily as you trust not in man, not in coffee, but only in Christ-our-living-hope!
by longmilescoffee
vashti - SO SO SO SO SO HAPPY FOR YOU!
Karen - Whoo-hoo!! What a great picture to capture the excitement and relief of having those bins back in your possession!!! We’ve been praying for you – the kids are going to be so excited to hear about this magnificent answer to prayer! It must be like a mini-Christmas to open those bins and re-discover what’s inside! ENJOY! You’ve earned it!
Susan J Carlson - Grandma’s prayer group prayed again on Wednesday-the tricycle story was so pathetic. Your milkman is a treasure! $300, 7 trips, plus the $2,000 before. It isn’t just the stuff-it is some connection with normalcy from before and some small comforts plus toys for boys to be creative and content. Hallelujah!