Our exit from Burundi was like molasses falling steady from a spoon, sticky and slow. Lifting ourselves from the land was a process full of attempts to stay. After several years of struggling to call Burundi “home,” now I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the place that had taught me so many of my best life lessons. Oh, the irony.
The day of Burundi’s coup d’état my kids were at school. I had heard heavy gunfire all morning but after weeks of violent protests, that was nothing new. We had been sending them off to school with the sound of tear gas bombs as their soundtrack. This day was somehow different; suddenly I felt my gut turn and I just knew- the time to get to school was NOW. The women in my family pride themselves on these moments, moments when an “other sense” kicks in with extreme clarity. I think it can also be called common sense but on this day, whatever it was, it served me well.
As we drove home from school, a street to our right was full of protestors heading for a police line. They were chanting and shouting, unleashing themselves in the energy of potential change as police in riot gear steadied themselves for conflict. When we reached the bridge to our neighborhood the police assured me that we could not pass, I assured them that we had to. Panicked motherhood won. What followed was a citywide celebration like nothing I’ve ever witnessed. For the next four hours the city roared with cheers as Major General Godefroid Niyombare rode through town on a tank announcing the end of the current presidency. The following morning there were no cheers, not a sound, besides the heavy artillery of tank fire. Our kids jumped on their trampoline as RPGs sounded off in the background. Eventually, the coup failed.
“Too many things are occurring for even a big heart to hold.”
— W.B. Yeats
Clarity had arrived. We wouldn’t be able to make life in Burundi work for awhile as a family. School could not possibly try to re-open after the coup, and even if they did I knew I wouldn’t be sending my kids. Most of the families at the school had already left and the ten-minute drive to school now felt like a country away, too much could happen between the “here” and the “there” for us to justify school. It was becoming evident after weeks of protests and living day to day, we all craved some stability and routine. We left the city to visit our friends at a mission hospital in the country. We attempted to work and live there for a few days, but it was clear that we couldn’t stay there long term either- as much as we all wanted to.
With dragging feet, we made the decision to leave Burundi for a few months. With coffee harvest still going strong and an entire team of people devoting themselves to producing our amazing Burundi coffee, we felt broken by our own wise choice. Ben would go back to Burundi after the kids and I settled into our previous home city of Durban, South Africa.
We landed with a thud, and since that thud my kids have taught me what true resilience is. They have jumped into new schools and new routines in a new country without any complaints, which is more than their mother can say. So here we stay, rooted but not, until the dust settles in Burundi and our baby girl (did I forget to mention that?) arrives in August.
Lately we’ve gotten a lot of emails asking where to buy Long Miles Coffee, thank you for the support. This list is not exhaustive at all, and availability is always changing as our coffees are produced in small lots and only seasonally available. Happy hunting!
USA
Olympia Coffee Olympia WA
Herkimer Seattle WA
Dogwood Coffee Minneapolis MN
Fika Grand Marais, MN
Eiland Coffee Dallas, TX
AUSTRALIA
Cartel Roasters Melbourne
EUROPE
Wild Kaffee Germany/Austria
I’m sorry that you had to leave just as Burundi was starting to become home.
Thank goodness for the resilience of children. And HUGE congratulations on the new babe!!!
Hope that the transition goes smoothly. Considering.
Know that the courage, the hard-earned lessons, the tears and the investment in the land, economy and people of Burundi will not go to waste.
You are beloved.
Be kind to yourself as you process this change.
Much love,
xoxo
You are in our thoughts as are all our dear friends in Burundi. Luckily Kigutu seems to be isolated from the immediate gunfire, but the violence in Bujumbura touches across family lines and cannot be ignored. The disruption of children’s lives hurts us the most. May your family stay safe in South Africa and may the coffee get harvested and to its rightful home. I stopped in Olympia and bought two bags. Both were beyond excellent.
Wishing for peace.-Katherine
Congratulations on the new bean soon to be arriving! If you want to pop down to Cape Town, we are waiting with open arms and guest cottage! Sorry about the upheaval – I can’t imagine how stressful it must have been. I know how bad a planned move is – an unplanned one must be dreadful! We love and miss you guys. Me, Andre and the girls xxxx
Stunning story… my best to Ben.
I am thankful to read this update, as have been praying for your family for many days. God bless you as you open this next chapter in your lives.
Glad that we could share some of those transition days with you and look forward to reconnecting with your growing family in the months ahead. As we look at Turacos this morning, I think of you guys.
First of all Olympia Coffee is my home! I have spent so many of my afternoons there!!! What a small world we live in. :)
Secondly, wow. I just can’t even imagine. What a difficult time this is. It is so very cool to see how God is protecting you and your growing (wahoo!) family through this. My prayer is that you are all able to settle into Durban well and that God can use you there to create such a big impact for Him.
Thank you so much for sharing this touching story! (love your photography!)
This post moved me deeply. Thank you for your vulnerability–the entire specialty coffee world is rooting for you, your family, and the wonderful people you’ve impacted through the Long Miles project.
EWM
We’ve been praying for all those we met in Burundi – their safety and that of the kids. So glad to know you are in S Africa and about the baby girl!! From a parent and grandparent perspective, it is difficult to have loved ones so far away. I’m sure your parents feel the same. I hope you know if you are ever in Colorado, you should look us up even if R & D aren’t here.
Hello,
this is Gerlinde, mother of Fien who was in school with Miles in 2011-2012. We enjoyed a fantastic birhtday-party in your house with blue cake and jumping contest in coffee bags. Greetings to Ben, we worked a bit together with the coffee cooperatives of CNAC.
Take care, we all hope things work out in Burundi so you can continue your project and Burundians will be able to build up a better future.
Gerlinde, Sugar, Roel, Fien and Lars
We shared this beautiful post at Velvet Ashes’ “Have You Seen?” today. http://velvetashes.com/have-you-seen-june-14-2015/ A sisterhood of global women are feeling the ache of goodbyes, and the strain of transition with you…
Greetings from Peru. Yrma & I send our prayers and well wishes. This too will pass. Hugs to all.
(The other) Ben
How this must hurt…..I work (or did, until the coup) a great deal in Burundi and called it my second home. All our international staff relocated to Kigali – and my heart aches for those left behind. We call regularly, so that I am up to date on my friends and colleagues, and how they are surviving. One barely escaped being murdered by the police…. I’d sent an e mail before reading your story – I’m in Bukavu, working on a coffee project, and Boudy van Schlagen suggested you might know of a trained coffee cupper who could help us out with a training here in Bukavu….obviously, you cannot do much from RSA, but if by any chance you know of a Burundian who would be capable of and willing to come to Bukavu to lead this training, we’d be extremely grateful if you could let us know. CRS is a faith-based organization which accepts and respects the dignity of lives of people of all religions, races, and ethnic identity. We are trying to help vulnerable coffee farmers in South Kivu – any assistance you can provide would make a difference in their lives. Best of luck to you, the new arrival and all. Sincerly, Anne Turner, Regional Technical Advisor-Agriculture, Central Africa Regtional Office, CRS.
I miss you on Instagram so came here searching for news. Relieved to know you are safe and well, and by now enjoying the new addition to your family. xxx