Burundi Team Update (7/6/09)

Sunday night 7/5: THE GREAT CELEBRATION My name is Ruth Kemper and I am with team C from Mid America. I am giving an update for July 4th and 5th. So far this has been a wonderful experience.

Yesterday, July 4, 2009 we (team C) traveled up country to Gitega to join the other teams for the beginning of the 75th Celebration. We ate lunch, stowed our bags in our rooms and then headed to Kibimba to join everyone for the Friends Women Night of celebration. There were many people at the

celebration. We bagan the evening outside watching the Kibogoye Drummers/Dancers. They are incredible! They “told” a story with each dance.

It was so interesting to see how strong yet graceful these men were in their dancing. Most of us on the teams attempted to video them. After the dancing, we were invited to a craft fair put on by the Friends Women. We were given the opportunity to purchase baskets, table clothes, bark pictures, aprons and other African crafts. I was really excited about seeing what the Friends Women of Burundi had to make. Many of us purchased items. After a little more drumming, we went to the church and several Friends Women Dancing groups danced and sang for the celebration. It was a wonderful time. I was ready for bed when the evening was over and had no trouble falling asleep. We had no electricity so found our flashlights very helpful.

CELEBRATION DAY

July 5th began early with a knock on our door for the delivery of hot water for our morning bath. It was wonderful to have hot water!! We arrived at Kibimba around 9:20A.M. There were around 2500 -3000 people in attendance.

We were seated under a tarp “tent” as part of the honored guests. The soccer field where the celebration was held was beautifully decorated, with a center stand decorated in white, red and blue. The Burundi flag was hung on the front of the stand. Everyone was dressed in their best.

There was much drumming to begin with. Then there were many many introductions of important people who all gave a short greeting (2.5 hours of this). It was after 12:00 noon before the big speeches began. David Nyinzima challenged the church to not forget what God had done for them in the past and to seek God in the future just like they have in the past. David also shared how his father, met Arthur, Edna and Rachel Chilson when they first came to Burundi and lived in tents on the Kibimba hill. David Robinson, our superintendent continued the challenge where David left off. We then presented our gifts to the Burundi church. Dalene Hutson presented our gift of booklets of women-of-the-Bible to each of the Friends Women groups in each church. The $7000.00 for Vacation Bible School was presented to Fidel, the superintendant of Burundi Yearly Meeting. Also each pastor in the Burundi Friends church will receive a new suit. Then Matt Macy told the Burundi people how much the youth of Mid-America loved the youth of Burundi. Then team members from Mid America 40 years and younger went to the crowd and laid their hands on the children’s heads and blessed them in Jesus name. It was very touching to see the children be shy at first then they lined up to have their heads touched. After the morning and early afternoon events, we traveled to the Kibimba church and ate a wonderful meal. After supper, we met as a team with Josias and Rachelle the pastors of the Kibimba church. We had a wonderful time of sharing, mainly they shared with us how God was with them during the war. There were not many dry eyes in our group when they finished their story. We ended the evening singing and praying. I am so glad that I have been able to be on this trip.