And all the heavens heard...

Vernust, always. always. a joyful spirit.

Our girls washing their sandals good, to visit family and friends!
Jimy and umutama (old man).

Eric and Evo with their older sister who cared for them for years...

Our director, Audrey taking a moment to encourage an older sibling of our children.

It's vacation time again! During the school year, our children have 2 short vacations and 1 long one in which they go to visit their villages and be with family members. It's a bitter sweet, as you witness the beauty in seeing our children with friends, family members or neighbors who took them in the midst of devastating circumstances... their kin. To then imagine that they are going back into a world of deep poverty and pain. We give our children the choice to be with their responsible's up to 2 weeks in July and then 2 weeks also in August if they want. Usually the responsible's are so happy too. They are grateful for a short time with the kids, and some explain that it wouldn't be a possibility to do a longer period as the conditions they live in are very bad and they wouldn't have adequate food to have the children visit for a longer period. Anywhere from 3 days to 14 days is what our children have chosen, and their responsible's have happily agreed. Usually it's older siblings or neighbors that have become the children's "responsible's" if their parents passed away or they were abandoned.

And all the heaven's heard, is all I could think about as I stood in awe last night. We took time with our children and staff to pray that God would give them peace, wisdom and strength to enjoy their vacation time and be a blessing to their families. The mama's prayed earnestly for God to protect them as they head back out deep into the mountains. Some walking 1 to 1 1/2 hours just to make it back to their village. Some of our children have had alot of fear lately as news has come from their mountains about people getting sick, dying and being bound by witchcraft. They explained, "if they are your enemy they will even give poison to the children in attempt to kill them; all because the families don't get along." One of our girls explained her younger sibling was killed in this way as an infant. And at this point, my confidence is firm that all the heavens heard the cries of our children. Two by two, they each grabbed a partner and began crying out to God praying for each other. Knowing all to well the struggles, fears and circumstances of what they were about to experience. One for another they cried out to God, and He inclined His ear. He listened to them in their desperation.

It's interesting, having lived in the mountains in the center of the province where there is more development then the bush and exterior mountains, I sometimes wonder if I know anything about this culture. It's as though many things are unknown deep in the mountains... from witchcraft to the children drinking banana beer even from infancy; from mind sets to understanding simple things. Through our children I am learning so much about the lives that they came from. Having lived in Burundi 2 1/2 years, I am just now understanding, just now, scratching what seems to be the surface. Extreme poverty, and it's vicious cycle has been all they have known, all their lives. Death, time and time again.

As I watched our children walk down the road with their responsible's a joy inexpressible came over me. How I wish they could remain together, but extreme poverty has taken this away from them. The children are so happy to have a "big family", they love that they can still have their old family and their new one too. They love that they have a bed, food to fill their bellies, they can go to school, and there is a family who loves them at the end of each day. They are supported and loved by a multitude who reminds them continually - You have a hope for your future - Jesus, our only hope. Please be praying for our children! I know their holidays will be great and God will be with them! All our love...

And all the heaven's heard.