The Last Big Move (for a while)

Transition chaos strikes again! And yet it’s freeing and peaceful to realize that it will likely be years before we load most of our belongings into suitcases and stuff them in a vehicle or prepare them for 50lb airline limits again. And it’s unlikely that 17 of us will move all at the same time again either. We are finally installed at Kibuye (pronounced kee-boo-yay)! One of the kids asked yesterday, “Are we really going to live here for 20 years?” Well, we have no idea what God has ahead for us, but we are approaching this move with that perspective - putting in the effort in language learning and relationship building on the front end to invest longterm in the community. 

Paradoxes always abound with goodbyes, but we were reminded through our farewell party at Banga that Africans do goodbyes really well. We had the opportunity to thank those who welcomed us so warmly, our first Burundian friends, and our excellent Kirundi teacher and language partner. And they also appreciated us and expressed their gratitude for us being involved in their community for three months. Gifts were exchanged and sodas and cake were enjoyed by all. While there were certainly challenges about our time in Banga, I see now more and more how extremely valuable those three months in the guesthouse were. We had the opportunity to get accustomed to the physical challenges of limited and unpredictable water, electricity, and internet - but without the added difficulty of trying to prepare meals under the same conditions. We learned about what foods were available locally and what stores sold more American foods in Bujumbura. We began observations of Burundian culture through our interactions with our neighbors every day in Banga. And we got a good start on Kirundi language learning with more time to study as the guesthouse prepared our meals for us. Transition, culture shock, and other stressors were significant for me and yet Banga provided a beautiful & peaceful setting to work through those things without the housekeeping chores that often prove quite difficult in Africa. 

Opportunities to speak Kirundi abound here in Kibuye - much more than in Banga. In other words, we can’t communicate with most people in any other language! Vendors at the market, church members, people who help around the hospital compound, construction workers building our homes, neighbor kids playing soccer - it seems that almost none of them speak French or English beyond “Good morning [all day long :)], how are you? I am fine.” I can’t imagine how we would have survived had we moved here 3 months ago unable to even say hello in Kirundi! It seems impossible even now, though hand motions help and halting toddler-like speech works buhoro-buhoro (slowly). The exception to this is the medical students and other doctors at the hospital who do speak French and some English, but we won’t have a lot of interaction with them for these first few weeks here while we get settled and continue studying Kirundi. I’m hoping for a steep Kirundi learning curve! 

Utilities are still limited here, though thus far they’ve been more available than at Banga. Unfortunately, though, the internet situation is much worse and thus we must drive 30 minutes to Gitega (2nd largest city in Burundi) to put up blog posts and load webpages. We do have email at Kibuye, though, so that’s a blessing as there was not even email available here when we first visited. And, since I’m in Gitega with decent internet, I wanted to share some pictures with you of our farewell to Banga and “amahoro” to Kibuye! 

 Last sunset in Banga

 Our language teacher/helpers

 McCropder kids and childcare helpers

 Morning Kirundi class

 The nuns saying farewell

 The kids sang a Kirundi song for the guesthouse staff and our teachers

 Even with the goodbyes and moving, we managed to find a couple costumes & candy on October 31 - 2 Indian princesses (per Elise's request) :)

 One last walk over the rickety bridge

 A helping hand 

 Packing up the car

 One last hike down to the river

 And we're off!

 Arrival in Kibuye!

 always need a crazy pic :)

This last picture is of Kibuye rock. The word “Kibuye” actually means “big rock” and this picture is of Heather, Jason, & I on said rock 2 1/2 years ago. I stood on that same rock yesterday and remembered my excitement of looking down on Kibuye from those rocks on a hill and thinking of all God was preparing for us in Burundi. What a joy it is to be back here finally! And as we wait for the day when life here will seem “normal”, I’m encouraged by the reminder that my foundation is on the Rock of Jesus - the Rock that is a firm foundation no matter where I live or what storms I face. 

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

“Uwumva ayo majambo yanje wese, akayakora, asa n’umuntu w’ubgenge yubatse inzu yiwe ku rutare. Isegneya iragwa, inkukura iratwaza, igihuhuta kirahuhuta, bisurira kuri nya nzu, ntiyagwa, kuko yar’ imase ku rutare.” Matayo 7:24-25