Our visit continues…

Having been in Uganda on 6 occasions and once in Kenya I can honestly say that in Burundi, as on previous visits to Africa, I have experienced only kindness, graciousness, generosity and humility.

Following on from Elizabeth I pick up on Monday where we joined the Diocesan Clergy for their monthly retreat where they give time to consider how they interact with their community in real and meaningful ways. The big theme was that, in order to achieve this, they find out from the community what they need and want. They then invited the team to share our opportunities and challenges in parish ministry. As I'm putting this blog together I'll share here what I shared with them.

The opportunities:

·      to share with folk in their very worst times and to be brought in to the family to offer support and prayer;

·      to provide a safe space for honest sharing when people are seriously struggling; and

·      to let folk know that God really loves them and wants a real connection and relationship.

The challenges I cited were:

·      activities such as sport that keep folk away from meeting together on a Sunday; and

·      how the cost of living is impacting people’s lives and church giving in tangible ways.

The afternoon allowed us to visit The Burundi Drum Shrine for the most amazing display of drumming and dancing.  Let's just say that Keith and I being invited to join in left none of the professionals worried about their job! We also got a tour of the last King of Burundi's palace and the compound in which he and the Queen lived.Very much up my street!

Tuesday afforded us the chance to interact with Sunday School Teacher Training which supported leaders by offering practical advice and asked the question – what can be done to support children's work in the church?

Those in attendance shared the need for capacity building, tools, resources and support opportunities for whole-family fellowship.

Elizabeth shared her experience of Sunday school in Church of Ireland. She said: "Children are not the church of tomorrow. They are the church of today."

Teaching young people in church is a calling and an important ministry within the wider life of the church. The family service is to allow them to realise they are part of the wider church family.

Elizabeth spoke of the importance of safeguarding trust and outlined what this policy entailed. However, her key message emphasised the importance of Sunday School as the place where young people get to know God not just learn about God. Elizabeth shared her own testimony of accepting Christ as the result of her Sunday school teacher’s challenge. She encouraged all teachers to offer the same challenge.

Davina shared some of the ways  Mothers’ Union are involved in Sunday School at home, in Ireland.

Gifts were exchanged and then we were off.

In the afternoon we paid a visit to Gitega Bible School where catechists come for around 4 weeks of training.

Tuesday was such an encouraging and humbling day.

We have seen schools with 77 children in one class. We have been shown a wide range of diocesan relief projects: supporting improved agriculture; management of livestock; skills training for young people; improved water sources; and micro financing. All of these ventures have helped people to support their families. Indeed, the MU’s intentional assistance in raising literacy levels and supporting women affected by domestic violence was powerful to witness.

Thank you for your continued interest, support and prayers. It's great being here and as I write this blog there are traditional drums being beaten close by. Often a Lambeg...just a bit of a change. Lol