Greetings from the heart of Africa! Alexander and I arrived last Wednesday, while Kieran joined us the next day. Except for a few hours delay at DIA, travels went smoothly...long and exhausting, but generally uneventful.

It has been wonderful seeing our friends here again and renewing the friendships started over the past few years. The love and trust for each other is growing, slowly but surely. Everyone is doing well. Felicien and Dina have been very active in their ministry and the fruits of their labors are evident. They have started another church to minister to a gatheringof refugees near the border with Congo. We were able to give them some clothing donations, as well as a bit of funding to start their efforts at putting a roof on the church to keep out the rain. The pride they put in their building is quite evident with a bright, beautiful banner at the front,and a tiled pulpit to preach from.

Rosine is engaged- to be married in December to Deo. Rose is doing very well- heavily involved in the church ministries. Bosco's business does well overall, and he has started a ministry
at the local hospital. We are going to go with him on his visit on August 4. Bonte (Felicien's eldest daughter) is still flourishing. She has another seven years before she begins university, but she already has dreams to become a doctor. We have not seen the other children yet, but hear they are quite well. according to Dina they have quite ambitious goals as well...Heaven has dreams to be a pirate and Don wants to become a soldier.

We are very excited about the Vacation Bible School we are planning. For the past two years we
have done a day camp for the children of the community around the church. We play games, do dramas,tell stories, and sing. We are also able to to bless them with a large lunch. Dina has told usabout all the parents that have come to the church because of how excited the children were last year. She likes to say how "childern are great preachers". The church board has asked that we give the children school supplies this year to help save money for all the parents, instead of a meal that disappears after it is eaten. We hope to find enough funds to give a meal as well. Let us know if you are interested! The members of the church are being very active in helping this year. We have had a planning meeting, and will have a training day next week.

There is evidence of rebuilding throughout Bujumbura. The roads are much improved from the obstaclecourses they resembled last year. New buildings are going up around the lake, and it seems like the number of internet cafes has multiplied over the past year. Our favorite one from last year, Tropicana, has new, not so friendly, ownership. We are searching to find a new favorite...

The most encouraging part of the trip so far has been understanding our partners. Felicien and
Dina are truly rare individuals in this land. There is an overwhelming sense of fatalism here-
why try because another war may rip it away from us. But Felicien and Dina both have a strong
vision of a better future for their country. Felicien treats his wife with honor and respect- a strong example for the members of his congregation.

He still surprises us in many ways. When we were talking to him about the knitting classes we
were planning, we thought he did not really care about them. However, when he announced them in church,he emphasized the importance of learning this skill, how it could become a business, and even said that he has plans for those who showed the most skill. It was a great encouragement to see that we have the same goals- for nothing we try to accomplish here will succeed unless we share the same vision with those here.

Overall, we are very excited about what is going on here. Progress is slow in many ways,
but to make a lasting change things must proceed slowly and carefully. Felicien mentioned his
desire to start a school, something that we very much desire as well. It is only through education
that we can really hope to impact a culture that is still deeply indoctrinated by harmful leftovers
of colonization. The rich white man brought his money, set up an easy life here, and hoarded it
over those less fortunate. In the same way, many Burundians that have come into money would rather lord over the poverty around them. Education is the only way to get at the root of these problems.

Blessings,
Liz