You know the cliché “A friend that sticks closer than a brother”? We in the west have a certain mindset when the term friend is mentioned. Go ahead, allow yourself to go there. Think about your friends, think about the different depths of relationship that you have with those whom you call your friends. Those who know you more than your own family, the ones that have mutual interests, those that are there for emotional support, those that are there for social activity, those at work, and those who are just there to call friends.
You might find yourself having multiple different circles of friends, some of those circles might mix or maybe there is only one circle, this more likely not. In our friendships we find that there are different levels of emotional attachment. Is there not? None the less we put a great deal of emotional effort in our relationships. This is to say that when we lose a close friend or friend in general, it can be a very emotional and sometimes traumatic experience for us. When we are miss treated by a close friend the same can occur.
Our friendships are built and defined by our culture and or the way we have been brought up in our families. I have never thought until recently about the fact that people outside of my culture even outside my Continent might view relationship and building friendship different than I.
With the vast amount of time I have spent now out of my own culture (America) I begin to see that the above mentioned thought is in fact true. For example in America some people I would call or classify as friends, in my wife’s Culture (European) they would be considered as acquaintances. I have come to realize that what is norm to call friend to me is not the same for her.
It got me thinking about all the other many cultures I have been living in and around. What is a true friend to them? I was reminded of when I was in Costa Rica in 1995 doing ministry through YWAM (Youth With A Mission) I had locals approach me with photos of people whom they had meet 2 to 3 years prior to me being there. They were asking me if I knew them because they were also American and were doing ministry there through the same organization. They referred to the people in the photos as their good friends, some best friends. But come to find out even though these people had made some sort of obvious in pack in the locals life. They had not seen or heard from them for 2 or three years and most likely never will again. Yet they were called and considered as friends/good friends/best friends….
Are there people that I call friends that perhaps don’t consider me as a friend or vice-versa? This is highly probable.
I have recently been learning a great deal about friendship in my now host culture Burundi Africa.
Many of the cultures in the nations of Africa have similarities. Building relationship/friendships is one of those things. Of course you must be careful not to stereo type. None the less you will find many aspects that travel across the borders.
I started reading a book by David Maranz entitled “African Friends and Money Matters”. I consider this a must read for any one that is living and working or even considering to come to live or work in Africa. For those of us that have spent a good stretch of time on this continent (Africa) it will make you laugh, node your head and you may even have a lot of Ohhhh’s and Ahhhh’s in there as I know I have.
Reading this book has made the culture I am in come alive in ways that I cannot explain. I am so grateful to also have some great local friends that I always go to when I want true understanding and to bounce things off of. We have a great many laughs as we fumble around together trying to understand each other’s cultures.
Now back to friendships in Africa. In the following paragraphs I will be quoting and referring back to Maranz book a lot. As it has mostly all been confirmed through my experiences of living here.
“In African friendships there is a dimension of interpersonal behavior that Africans emphasize when describing relationships of equality or inequality, namely, obligations to give material goods, food, gifts, financial help, property, and babies. Relationships are frequently characterized by Africans primarily in terms of the type of material transaction involved: Who gives what to whom and under what conditions.”
I have had people I know who have wanted to give me their babies and they were very serious…
“In contrast with the western attitude (genuine or hypocritical) that the emotional component in interpersonal relations is more important than any transfer of material goods involved (the latter being thought of as something incidental), Africans are frankly and directly concerned with the material transfer itself as indicative of the quality of the relationship.”
“Friendships in Africa is much more than friendly relationships between two or more people. It involves concepts of solidarity, hospitality, sharing of resources, obligatory frequent interaction, and living as community is, practically as a large family.”
I guess you can say that to have a network of friend’s means to have a network of resources.
“Friendship and mutual aid go together. The more friends, the more security, A friendship devoid of financial or other material considerations is a friendship devoid of a fundamental ingredient: Mutual dependence. A disinterested friendship is something without sense. It is only natural to expect material benefit from friendships. To a westerner this comes close to buying friendship, or of seeking and having friends for what one can get out of them.”
When I have talked about this with my African friends they have disagreed very strongly to any suggestion that their way of friendship involves buying friends! How can we explain this then???
I have learned that in many African ethnic groups, within their languages there are different words used for describing the word “friend”.
Burundi,language Kirundi; Friend: Umugenzi, general friend, one that has less than a close relationship. Umugango, A friend that is like a brother, looked at and treated like family.
In the language Kiswahili, used much in east Africa they use the word Rafiki, meaning general friend. If you want to say more than a friend you would say Rafiki Mupenzi sana, one that is so close and loved like a family member.
“In Senegal the Wolof group has two words for friend, xarit, meaning general friend; and Wollere, two persons that have a long history of friendship, mutual help, exchanges of hospitality, and solidarity tested through difficult situations. A tie stronger than a simple friendship, a tie that requires each party to be ready at any moment to come to the defense of the other, even at the price of painful sacrifice. It is founded on reciprocal esteem.”
“Africans build friendships in somewhat different ways. Many westerners have the impression that because African friendship normally includes material considerations, it must follow that such friendships are devoid of significant emotional satisfactions. I don’t think this is true, when talking to them it is obvious that they take a great deal of satisfaction from friendships”.
I am positive that Africans have deep, close, friendships. To doubt this would be crazy.
“I have had many westerners ask me, “How can Africans get satisfaction from friendships when they know that money is a major component in them?” “How do people get satisfaction from having/visiting friends when they know that money is involved?” Westerners consider these kinds of relationships not as friendships but as self seeking manipulation. Real friendship (to the westerner) must have a balance between self and other, whereas in Africa, they believe, the emphasis is on what the self can get from the other.”
There is really much to say about this subject of relationship building in Africa. Honestly there is not enough space to fit all the good lessons.
I have learned that it is not impossible to have good close friends between the westerner and the African. But it requires a great deal of work, as the cultural differences are so great! I have learned as you observe the Africans you find that many of their friendships are with socioeconomic equals. Where the majority of the time this factor makes it an added difficulty between the African and westerner’s relationship. As more often than not the two are on very different socioeconomic levels.
Relationships are funny things, if I have learned one thing in all the cultures I have had the privilege of being in and around in my life it is this; we may all be human but we sure are different!
The singing group DC Talk has a song called “colored people” wherein it says “By God’s design we are a skin kaleidoscope”. This can’t be truer, we are colored people in more ways than one.
Open up your eyes, you may be surrounded by people of different cultures. Let’s not assume they are just like you. Who are they really??
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A Different Thanksgiving...
You know with the American holiday thanksgiving approaching, all I could think about was all the marvelous food that I would be missing out on. My mind then began to drift back to my childhood with all the Thanksgivings we spent at my grandparents. Oh it was always about the amazing food, I would stuff myself silly and pay for it the next day or two. It didn’t change to much as I got older and was on my own. Thanksgiving was always a time of stuffing myself until the point of popping but I also really enjoyed being together with my family. As this did not happen very often due to me being overseas so much doing missions. My celebrating thanksgiving got less and less, most of the time forgetting it completely. Out of sight, out of mind I guess you could say.
This year because of Face book it was brought back to my memory due to all the friendly chatter around it. I did enjoy readying all the comments, allowing my mouth to salivate thinking about all the yummy food. I must admit that I started to get a little sad, thinking, I wish I could go visit family.
My Thanksgiving took a different route though.
As you know the Lord has brought us to Burundi to start HTE (Heaven Touching Earth) “An Orphan children's village”. We also hope to be here when God begins to pour his spirit out on this nation and the so long promised and waited African Revival will start to become a reality. We spend a great deal of time encouraging the locals to not lose hope but to begin by praying it in.
We are very much aware that just like our time in Rwanda our battle here is not against flesh and blood. God has got some amazing things in store for this place. But as Satan knows what will happen when this out pouring of the Spirit takes place. He works more than over time to see that the Heart of Africa stays weak. This means that our times of thanksgiving are sometimes short lived. As soon as God begins to do something the enemy tries to snuff out any excitement by following the God thing with several bad things.
As you may have read in our last newsletter, this last month has been a very busy time for us. God has really showed up and some awesome things have been happening.
Now on the day before thanksgiving I got a phone call from the Minister of foreign affairs office. This is the office that all international organizations have to go through to get an agreement with the government to start working in the nation. I was asked to come in to see them. To make a very long story short, I show up and they share with me that we have been denied permission to start our organization here. So they are going to draft up a letter of rejection then we are expected to leave.
This immediately did not sit well in my spirit. I said one of those quick little prayers like “God this is not your will and it is not my problem. I am here on your terms not my own. Please fix this!”
Now what I have not told you is that in the last couple of weeks, more than once. We received the same message from God, yet from different people, from different nations. It went something like this “Don’t worry, God is in control and he is going to bring many different people into your path that are going to be there at just the right time to act as stepping stones to get you to the next spot that you need to be.”
Well this was one of those times, a local guy that we have been building relationship with all of a sudden was there and the next thing I know he is talking to the director of foreign affairs and the people in the office. The director agreed to let us have another chance. As for our new found friend he looked at me and told me that he is going to oversee this until we get our agreement with the government. All I can say is Hallelujah.
On Thanksgiving Day, no let me back up a bit more. Without an agreement for our ministry with the Gov. we can only get three month tourist visas, a visa is $240 per person. This is meaning that I have to pay every three months $1200 for me and the non Africans of my family to stay here. Divine and Yaida because they are Rwandan get to stay for free. We put in a few weeks ago for our new visas, I was back every other day to check on the progress of them being finished. I would not offer to pay any under the table money (bribe) this is why I was told almost every day for weeks, sorry try again tomorrow.
When one of my friends found out that we had still not gotten our visas he was there talking to them and on Thanksgiving day all of a sudden a few week process was finished in one day, imagine that….
So my Thanksgiving was spent with me taking my family out for Pizza as we praised and thanked God for his Sovereignty. He really is in control of things!
The way I look at it, every time Satan puts his finger in Gods path of our life here. We are going to chop it off. He’s bound to run out of fingers at one point.
This year because of Face book it was brought back to my memory due to all the friendly chatter around it. I did enjoy readying all the comments, allowing my mouth to salivate thinking about all the yummy food. I must admit that I started to get a little sad, thinking, I wish I could go visit family.
My Thanksgiving took a different route though.
As you know the Lord has brought us to Burundi to start HTE (Heaven Touching Earth) “An Orphan children's village”. We also hope to be here when God begins to pour his spirit out on this nation and the so long promised and waited African Revival will start to become a reality. We spend a great deal of time encouraging the locals to not lose hope but to begin by praying it in.
We are very much aware that just like our time in Rwanda our battle here is not against flesh and blood. God has got some amazing things in store for this place. But as Satan knows what will happen when this out pouring of the Spirit takes place. He works more than over time to see that the Heart of Africa stays weak. This means that our times of thanksgiving are sometimes short lived. As soon as God begins to do something the enemy tries to snuff out any excitement by following the God thing with several bad things.
As you may have read in our last newsletter, this last month has been a very busy time for us. God has really showed up and some awesome things have been happening.
Now on the day before thanksgiving I got a phone call from the Minister of foreign affairs office. This is the office that all international organizations have to go through to get an agreement with the government to start working in the nation. I was asked to come in to see them. To make a very long story short, I show up and they share with me that we have been denied permission to start our organization here. So they are going to draft up a letter of rejection then we are expected to leave.
This immediately did not sit well in my spirit. I said one of those quick little prayers like “God this is not your will and it is not my problem. I am here on your terms not my own. Please fix this!”
Now what I have not told you is that in the last couple of weeks, more than once. We received the same message from God, yet from different people, from different nations. It went something like this “Don’t worry, God is in control and he is going to bring many different people into your path that are going to be there at just the right time to act as stepping stones to get you to the next spot that you need to be.”
Well this was one of those times, a local guy that we have been building relationship with all of a sudden was there and the next thing I know he is talking to the director of foreign affairs and the people in the office. The director agreed to let us have another chance. As for our new found friend he looked at me and told me that he is going to oversee this until we get our agreement with the government. All I can say is Hallelujah.
On Thanksgiving Day, no let me back up a bit more. Without an agreement for our ministry with the Gov. we can only get three month tourist visas, a visa is $240 per person. This is meaning that I have to pay every three months $1200 for me and the non Africans of my family to stay here. Divine and Yaida because they are Rwandan get to stay for free. We put in a few weeks ago for our new visas, I was back every other day to check on the progress of them being finished. I would not offer to pay any under the table money (bribe) this is why I was told almost every day for weeks, sorry try again tomorrow.
When one of my friends found out that we had still not gotten our visas he was there talking to them and on Thanksgiving day all of a sudden a few week process was finished in one day, imagine that….
So my Thanksgiving was spent with me taking my family out for Pizza as we praised and thanked God for his Sovereignty. He really is in control of things!
The way I look at it, every time Satan puts his finger in Gods path of our life here. We are going to chop it off. He’s bound to run out of fingers at one point.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I Saved That One...
An OVC, (Orphan or vulnerable child) is child that has only one parent or no parents, one that is abandoned with no links to family! A child in extreme poverty, that is malnourished, and or with HIV Aides. A child that is 18 years or younger forced to live on the street.
This is an Orphan or vulnerable child defined by the culture I am now living in. They are everywhere! I see them every day and it is not easy! I used to see them from only pictures or on the TV screen or over the internet.
You know what I am talking about, all the children that look dirt poor with bloated tummies and flies in their eyes, rags draped across their bodies as cloths. These images and countless others are used to stimulate our sympathy and compassion. We see the pictures, video footage, etc. and begin to realize that we really don’t have it all that bad. Then it is brought to our attention that for so little money we can change the life of these little ones.
Many people then start supporting a child monthly, never really understanding to the fullest of what they are doing for this one little life.
Yet the number of people that do nothing is off the charts! I agree that it can be over whelming. The problem is way too big and what can one person possibly do? I use to think like this, I would then follow it up with a list of excuses like how can I be sure that my money is really helping or going to this child. This and other excuses like it were used to make me feel better for not doing anything.
I once heard a story that went like this. There was a man that decided to take a walk on the beach when he saw another man running franticly up and down the beach picking things up and throwing them in the water. As he got closer he saw that the things the man was picking up and throwing were star fish. As he observed he saw that star fish were in fact everywhere, hundreds if not thousands of them. He asked the man “what you are doing”? Without even slowing down the man yelled HELP ME! I am trying to save them, if they don’t get back into the water they will all die. The other man was taken back by this answer, how absurd, as he continued to watch the man throw one after another star fish into the water he said “this is crazy, you know you will never save them all” The other man stopped dead in his tracks, starfish in hand, looking into the other mans eyes he threw the starfish back in the water and said “I saved that one!”
Here we have two men one that is overwhelmed at what he see’s and thinks what possible difference can I make? The problem is way too huge. The other man who is determined to make a difference no matter how big or small it might be.
A while back I ran across a song from Beethoven’s last symphony done by a group called young Messiah. As I listened to it I cried and cried, it touched me very much. I want to share the words of the song with you.
Who is this child that I’ve never seen before? Who is this child that I’ve not seen till this day?
Who dares to fall asleep outside my door, if we should wait a while I’m sure she’ll go away.
To be involved with this would surely not be wise. For in the final words she means nothing to me.
I learn the trick is that we just avoid her eyes and the question what she means too….
What is this life? There will be other lives!
Soon to arrive, surely some will survive, she is but one and there are many more. She’s the same as any other.
Who is this child, what does she mean to me?
I close my eyes and still her face I see. She is but one, her kind is everywhere.
Can’t you see there’s no way I should care?
I need a moment now; I have to clear my mind.
Is there a limit law, just to being kind?
There is no way in life that each child can be saved.
Should I be looking with regret at every grave?
There are no guarantees in life, she should be warned. I’m not responsible for this child being born, I’m not responsible in any kind of way. For every child that life can gather.
What is this life? There will be other lives.
Soon to arrive, surly some will survive. She is but one and there are many more. Could this one life really matter?
Who is this child? What does she mean to me? I close my eyes and still her face I see. She is but one, her kind is everywhere.
Can’t you see there’s no way I should care?
Can you see it in the life; can you feel that it’s out there? It’s the harking of a life and it’s hanging in the air, though I try to close my eyes and pretend that I don’t know.
In my heart I just can’t let it go!
There has to be another way for me, a way that leads from this insanity. A way that leads from my destruction, as I say, can you see it in the life, can you feel that it’s out there? It’s the harking of a life and it’s hanging in the air, though I try to close my eyes and pretend that I don’t know.
In my heart I just can’t let it go.
Now here I am, I see these children every day they are no longer just photo’s or images on my computer and TV screen. I live with them, they are my neighbors. It does something to you when you look into their eyes and they wrap their arms around your legs or waist because they are starving for affection. They are filthy, many stink, but oh my goodness are they precious, It is impossible to close my eyes and pretend I don’t know when I am tripping over them.
Can you feel it that it’s out there? It’s a harking of a life and its hanging in the air.
In my heart I can’t let it go! Can you??? It seems crazy and over whelming at times but I want to be able to say,
“I SAVED THAT ONE!!!”
This is an Orphan or vulnerable child defined by the culture I am now living in. They are everywhere! I see them every day and it is not easy! I used to see them from only pictures or on the TV screen or over the internet.
You know what I am talking about, all the children that look dirt poor with bloated tummies and flies in their eyes, rags draped across their bodies as cloths. These images and countless others are used to stimulate our sympathy and compassion. We see the pictures, video footage, etc. and begin to realize that we really don’t have it all that bad. Then it is brought to our attention that for so little money we can change the life of these little ones.
Many people then start supporting a child monthly, never really understanding to the fullest of what they are doing for this one little life.
Yet the number of people that do nothing is off the charts! I agree that it can be over whelming. The problem is way too big and what can one person possibly do? I use to think like this, I would then follow it up with a list of excuses like how can I be sure that my money is really helping or going to this child. This and other excuses like it were used to make me feel better for not doing anything.
I once heard a story that went like this. There was a man that decided to take a walk on the beach when he saw another man running franticly up and down the beach picking things up and throwing them in the water. As he got closer he saw that the things the man was picking up and throwing were star fish. As he observed he saw that star fish were in fact everywhere, hundreds if not thousands of them. He asked the man “what you are doing”? Without even slowing down the man yelled HELP ME! I am trying to save them, if they don’t get back into the water they will all die. The other man was taken back by this answer, how absurd, as he continued to watch the man throw one after another star fish into the water he said “this is crazy, you know you will never save them all” The other man stopped dead in his tracks, starfish in hand, looking into the other mans eyes he threw the starfish back in the water and said “I saved that one!”
Here we have two men one that is overwhelmed at what he see’s and thinks what possible difference can I make? The problem is way too huge. The other man who is determined to make a difference no matter how big or small it might be.
A while back I ran across a song from Beethoven’s last symphony done by a group called young Messiah. As I listened to it I cried and cried, it touched me very much. I want to share the words of the song with you.
Who is this child that I’ve never seen before? Who is this child that I’ve not seen till this day?
Who dares to fall asleep outside my door, if we should wait a while I’m sure she’ll go away.
To be involved with this would surely not be wise. For in the final words she means nothing to me.
I learn the trick is that we just avoid her eyes and the question what she means too….
What is this life? There will be other lives!
Soon to arrive, surely some will survive, she is but one and there are many more. She’s the same as any other.
Who is this child, what does she mean to me?
I close my eyes and still her face I see. She is but one, her kind is everywhere.
Can’t you see there’s no way I should care?
I need a moment now; I have to clear my mind.
Is there a limit law, just to being kind?
There is no way in life that each child can be saved.
Should I be looking with regret at every grave?
There are no guarantees in life, she should be warned. I’m not responsible for this child being born, I’m not responsible in any kind of way. For every child that life can gather.
What is this life? There will be other lives.
Soon to arrive, surly some will survive. She is but one and there are many more. Could this one life really matter?
Who is this child? What does she mean to me? I close my eyes and still her face I see. She is but one, her kind is everywhere.
Can’t you see there’s no way I should care?
Can you see it in the life; can you feel that it’s out there? It’s the harking of a life and it’s hanging in the air, though I try to close my eyes and pretend that I don’t know.
In my heart I just can’t let it go!
There has to be another way for me, a way that leads from this insanity. A way that leads from my destruction, as I say, can you see it in the life, can you feel that it’s out there? It’s the harking of a life and it’s hanging in the air, though I try to close my eyes and pretend that I don’t know.
In my heart I just can’t let it go.
Now here I am, I see these children every day they are no longer just photo’s or images on my computer and TV screen. I live with them, they are my neighbors. It does something to you when you look into their eyes and they wrap their arms around your legs or waist because they are starving for affection. They are filthy, many stink, but oh my goodness are they precious, It is impossible to close my eyes and pretend I don’t know when I am tripping over them.
Can you feel it that it’s out there? It’s a harking of a life and its hanging in the air.
In my heart I can’t let it go! Can you??? It seems crazy and over whelming at times but I want to be able to say,
“I SAVED THAT ONE!!!”
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
What....I'm not a Christian??
Last week I was at the market place in my usual hang out spot. Every Tuesday I go there for practicing my language skills, meeting people, and ministering /praying for people if possible. Although most people I meet have the desire to practice their English and I usually end up speaking more in my mother tong than in the local language. I normally let the conversation be lead by those around me which is very interesting to see where the subject’s always end up. I am there just to hang out, build relationships, and love on the street kids. Yet every Tuesday for the last few months it never fails, the conversation always drifts to the subject of “what does it mean to be a Christian, and what does that look like?” Most of the questions purposed to me are around this topic. I say questions because the conversation usually goes like this. I am surrounded by 20to30 locals from various denominations also including non Christians (or as they say in Africa pagans). They continue to fire away questions at me about religion, God, church, and what it means or looks like to be righteous (aka Christian).
In many if not all African counties, knowledge/ information is viewed as valuable. (Example) when driving in Africa and you get lost or are looking for a certain location. If you stop to ask for directions from a local, many times they will want to jump in the car with you to show you instead of just telling. It is looked at as I have valuable knowledge or information that you don’t have, therefore I should possibly get something for it in the end. This principal works on many levels, hence the people are very thirsty for knowledge/information/education.
The other day my good local friend told me that everyone around the market is talking about me. I asked him what he meant. He is a 25 year old guy that I met on one of my first visits to the market and now has been going with me every week. We have developed a great friendship. He said “I am there every day as I am passing from school and many people come to me, asking who you are and what you are doing in Burundi. They want to know why this Muzungu (white man) is coming every week just to sit at the market. They tell me that you must be an amazing man and love so much the Burundi people.”
When he told me this I was shocked, I never thought that this action would affect so many people. He began to share with me how so many people were touched with me coming and just being around them. That you don’t see bazungu (white people) doing such things. They are always in there cars or walking from here to there with their agenda’s very little or no interaction with the people. He said “Travis you just hang out, you come just to be”…
So last week I was at my usual spot, I was talking with many people on the usual subject. It was getting late and about time for me to be going when this woman broke through the crowd and with an angry expression on her face asked me, where is your bible? I tried greeting her as this is customary in the culture. She again asked me where is your bible. Followed by, are you a Christian? I said “yes I am”. She yelled “No, that is not true! You are not Christian. Where is your bible?” I told her that I have it in my home. She fired back, “how can you leave your sword at home? You are not a Christian, you are a pagan! Look at you… you have ear rings; you don’t carry your sword with you. I turned to the even larger group of people that I now had around me due to her unusual outburst and rude comments and made the comment that I was feeling a little bit judged at that moment and thought it was time for me to go. She then blurted out again “you are not a Christian, you are an antichrist!” At this I turned to her and told her that I was sorry she felt that way. Then I turned back to the crowd and told them good bye, I was going home now. Then sarcastically I said “I have to go home and repent because I just found out that I am not a Christian and this has deeply affected me, so I must go think about this and repent for not being a Christian.” Many people laughed and said their good bye others confirmed that they would see me later.
While I was driving home I was thinking about what had just happened and was very sad. It made me realize that it is incidents like this that keep people away from the church and God. I saw how we so called Christians are so darn good at ripping apart, chewing up and spitting out even our own. It is no wonder that Non Christians want to stay non Christian with public displays like this and countless others no doubt. It has made me ask a lot of questions myself. What the hec is wrong with the body of Christ?
Some picture of Christ we represent. It is so sad to see this happen. The more I thought about this the more it has disturbed me. That we brothers and sisters of Christ can bet so darn ugly to one another. What kind of bride was he coming back for again?? Then I had a strange thought come in my head and I had to laugh. It was “In every family you have a few nut’s!” All of a sudden I felt such a love and compassion come over me when I thought about this woman that was hireling the judgments and insults toward me. I got this picture of a little sister standing in front of her big brother and yelling at him over silly things. Now I can just laugh…
Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, daddy says “Love one another, and play nice”
In many if not all African counties, knowledge/ information is viewed as valuable. (Example) when driving in Africa and you get lost or are looking for a certain location. If you stop to ask for directions from a local, many times they will want to jump in the car with you to show you instead of just telling. It is looked at as I have valuable knowledge or information that you don’t have, therefore I should possibly get something for it in the end. This principal works on many levels, hence the people are very thirsty for knowledge/information/education.
The other day my good local friend told me that everyone around the market is talking about me. I asked him what he meant. He is a 25 year old guy that I met on one of my first visits to the market and now has been going with me every week. We have developed a great friendship. He said “I am there every day as I am passing from school and many people come to me, asking who you are and what you are doing in Burundi. They want to know why this Muzungu (white man) is coming every week just to sit at the market. They tell me that you must be an amazing man and love so much the Burundi people.”
When he told me this I was shocked, I never thought that this action would affect so many people. He began to share with me how so many people were touched with me coming and just being around them. That you don’t see bazungu (white people) doing such things. They are always in there cars or walking from here to there with their agenda’s very little or no interaction with the people. He said “Travis you just hang out, you come just to be”…
So last week I was at my usual spot, I was talking with many people on the usual subject. It was getting late and about time for me to be going when this woman broke through the crowd and with an angry expression on her face asked me, where is your bible? I tried greeting her as this is customary in the culture. She again asked me where is your bible. Followed by, are you a Christian? I said “yes I am”. She yelled “No, that is not true! You are not Christian. Where is your bible?” I told her that I have it in my home. She fired back, “how can you leave your sword at home? You are not a Christian, you are a pagan! Look at you… you have ear rings; you don’t carry your sword with you. I turned to the even larger group of people that I now had around me due to her unusual outburst and rude comments and made the comment that I was feeling a little bit judged at that moment and thought it was time for me to go. She then blurted out again “you are not a Christian, you are an antichrist!” At this I turned to her and told her that I was sorry she felt that way. Then I turned back to the crowd and told them good bye, I was going home now. Then sarcastically I said “I have to go home and repent because I just found out that I am not a Christian and this has deeply affected me, so I must go think about this and repent for not being a Christian.” Many people laughed and said their good bye others confirmed that they would see me later.
While I was driving home I was thinking about what had just happened and was very sad. It made me realize that it is incidents like this that keep people away from the church and God. I saw how we so called Christians are so darn good at ripping apart, chewing up and spitting out even our own. It is no wonder that Non Christians want to stay non Christian with public displays like this and countless others no doubt. It has made me ask a lot of questions myself. What the hec is wrong with the body of Christ?
Some picture of Christ we represent. It is so sad to see this happen. The more I thought about this the more it has disturbed me. That we brothers and sisters of Christ can bet so darn ugly to one another. What kind of bride was he coming back for again?? Then I had a strange thought come in my head and I had to laugh. It was “In every family you have a few nut’s!” All of a sudden I felt such a love and compassion come over me when I thought about this woman that was hireling the judgments and insults toward me. I got this picture of a little sister standing in front of her big brother and yelling at him over silly things. Now I can just laugh…
Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, daddy says “Love one another, and play nice”
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
For the love of Balance
I remember the days when I was in grade school, yes I can remember those days, I am not that old…
As I let my mind wonder to that time I could see the play ground of the school. It was filled with children busy playing, trying to get the most of the moment before having to go back to study. One thing unparticular caught my eye. It was children playing on a seesaw or some call it a teeter totter. It is like a big log or pipe with places to sit on each side. In the middle is what we call the fulcra point. The side that is the heaviest sets on ground, leaving of course the other side sticking high in the air. The challenge for the children and what made it fun was to see if they could get each side to be equal. Both sides having the same weight, the funny thing is what do small children know about weight? Kids would be jumping on and off of either side trying to get the thing to balance. It would go from 2to1, 3to 4, 4to4, 4to2…
When they would be successful they would all cheer, everyone would get off and they would start over again all of them taking turns at who was on what side and who would be the first to sit down.
Ounce in a while you would find one of the children that was either a bit older or obviously had great organizational and leadership skills. They would be standing on the side telling who to get on and who to get off. It was their job to help those involved to find a quicker and easier balance.
In my life I have seen a parallel to this story. I, like the children above have been scrambling around trying to find a balance. My challenge of Balance is between family and ministry.
The vision is clear, the plan is set, the passion and desire are raging… the needs are beyond comprehension, the hunger or should I say the starvation is easy to see both in the physical and even more so in the spiritual! If I wanted I could be speaking in a different church every week. Ministry is knocking on the gate of my compound when I get home. Everyone I meet has a story they all seem to need me…If I am not careful I can find myself on the ministry side, sitting on the ground of the ministry/family seesaw, it is all too easy to become content with what I am seeing…..everyone seems to need me everyone wants me, ministry is good and things are really happening. How do you turn it off? How can you make it work 9to5? Ministry is ringing nonstop on my cell phone. But on the other side sticking high up in the air is my family. Exposed, alone and out in the open to be preyed upon. What do I do? If I jump up and drop everything on the ministry side, my family will come crashing down from that high place where they were exposed and I risk deeply wounding them or even losing them.
Let’s turn it around; Say I have a chance to be part of an awesome ministry! God gives me incredible vision; he shares with me his plans, starts giving me strategies of how I can go about getting there. It is huge, it is scary, yet the Lord shows me over and over again that it is obviously obtainable. It is about a nationwide revival sweeping through my land (Burundi/Rwanda) and in the end effecting whole continent’s.
Where am I? I am sitting on the ground on the family side… I enjoy very much being a Dad! I love my Children more than life and it brings me great joy watching them grow up. My Wife is the greatest gift that God could ever give me besides his son. She is not only the love of my life but my best friend. I often think about how I ever lived before she was part of me. I can honestly see how over the years that Christ is really making us one, just as he says that he and the father are one. I never knew it was possible to love someone so much and only have it grow through time. Yet as I look on the other side I see this incredible ministry protruding high in the sky. It is out in the open easy for people to see it. Many learn about it and want to be part of this amazing vision but have no idea how to get up there to it. I am looking and nothing is happening, ministry is not and cannot be done because it is sitting up to high on the balance for anyone reach. I have the fear, to bring it down means I have to give up some on my family side. So I sit and nothing gets accomplished on the ministry side.
Where is the balance between Family and Ministry??? Where are the Kids (coaches) to stand on the side to help direct what to put on and what to take off in order to find that quicker balance, to make the both equal?
I have watched a great many men and women of God whom have fallen hard on both sides of this balance. One is devoting their all to the ministry with their family falling to pieces and on the other side there are many men and women that have the calling and the possibility to have the most powerful Godly impacting ministries and even may have tried to get started but have never been able to let go enough of the family side. So in time the ministry dissolves into only memories of what could have been. It is sad to think that in this instance many people would quote the scriptures out of the bible that would talk about if any one does not leave his father and mother for my sake, or anyone who puts their hand to the plow and turns back is not fit for the kingdom, or let the dead Barry their own… I have heard these terms thrown around and used a great deal to justify some ones horrifying actions as they abandon their family to run off for the sake of doing ministry, partaking in ministry events, conferences, schools, trainings, etc. These things are not bad in themselves yet are often abused and it is the family that pays the price while daddy or mommy are gone yet another week or month all in the name of working for the Lord. Sad to say but the above terms have even been used for grounds of divorce. This of course all shows an extreme lack of understanding of God his word and the context of which it is to be used and interpreted.
You see I have been on both sides of this balance but only for short times. Yet long enough to see and know that I had the balance way off. As I said above I have watched countless others with huge marvelous powerful ministries, people with an amazing anointing on their life and ministry somehow fall off the ministry/family seesaw and lose both their ministry and their family.
To be quit frank this scares me! I have asked the lord over and over to use me. I have prayed for his anointing to saturate my life and ministry. I have had numerous people with a special anointing and awesome ministry pray for me, as I wanted a double portion of what they had. I learned that it all flows out of intimacy with god. Many of these great men and women spend literally hours in the presents of the lord.
Recently I had a very hard rebuke that came to me through someone close to me who moves very much in the prophetic. This someone was my wife, bless her heart. She told me that my family had become my idol, and out of my fear of losing them, they became my excuse not to move forward in doing ministry or spend the time I need with the God in his presents. She was right!
Yet my struggle still remains, where is the balance between Ministry and family? I want to see God move so badly! I want to see him pour his spirit out on this nation! I want to see revival break out in the heart of Africa! I want to see the dead rise, the lame walk, the blind see!!!
But my first and for most command from God is to have godly offspring, I want my 4 girls to know him and become amazing women of God. I want my marriage to be the perfect mirror image of Christ and the church, the marriage of the lamb. I guess you say that I want to have my cake and eat it to…
I believe that it is possible to have a healthy vibrant marriage and awesome godly family. An at the same time have the anointing of the living God flow through me to see what most call the radical supernatural become the norm. The lord knows how hungry I am to see this happen! He also knows that I have 4 of the most beautiful girls that want time with their daddy, and a wife that desires to have quality time with her husband.
I do not want to see what happened to others before me happen to me. There must be another way…. I don’t want my family to have to pay the price to see the glory of the lord move forward and revival break out.
For the love of balance, there has to be a way….
Please pray for us as my wife and I continue to work out what this looks like, to see God move powerfully through both our family and our ministry.
As I let my mind wonder to that time I could see the play ground of the school. It was filled with children busy playing, trying to get the most of the moment before having to go back to study. One thing unparticular caught my eye. It was children playing on a seesaw or some call it a teeter totter. It is like a big log or pipe with places to sit on each side. In the middle is what we call the fulcra point. The side that is the heaviest sets on ground, leaving of course the other side sticking high in the air. The challenge for the children and what made it fun was to see if they could get each side to be equal. Both sides having the same weight, the funny thing is what do small children know about weight? Kids would be jumping on and off of either side trying to get the thing to balance. It would go from 2to1, 3to 4, 4to4, 4to2…
When they would be successful they would all cheer, everyone would get off and they would start over again all of them taking turns at who was on what side and who would be the first to sit down.
Ounce in a while you would find one of the children that was either a bit older or obviously had great organizational and leadership skills. They would be standing on the side telling who to get on and who to get off. It was their job to help those involved to find a quicker and easier balance.
In my life I have seen a parallel to this story. I, like the children above have been scrambling around trying to find a balance. My challenge of Balance is between family and ministry.
The vision is clear, the plan is set, the passion and desire are raging… the needs are beyond comprehension, the hunger or should I say the starvation is easy to see both in the physical and even more so in the spiritual! If I wanted I could be speaking in a different church every week. Ministry is knocking on the gate of my compound when I get home. Everyone I meet has a story they all seem to need me…If I am not careful I can find myself on the ministry side, sitting on the ground of the ministry/family seesaw, it is all too easy to become content with what I am seeing…..everyone seems to need me everyone wants me, ministry is good and things are really happening. How do you turn it off? How can you make it work 9to5? Ministry is ringing nonstop on my cell phone. But on the other side sticking high up in the air is my family. Exposed, alone and out in the open to be preyed upon. What do I do? If I jump up and drop everything on the ministry side, my family will come crashing down from that high place where they were exposed and I risk deeply wounding them or even losing them.
Let’s turn it around; Say I have a chance to be part of an awesome ministry! God gives me incredible vision; he shares with me his plans, starts giving me strategies of how I can go about getting there. It is huge, it is scary, yet the Lord shows me over and over again that it is obviously obtainable. It is about a nationwide revival sweeping through my land (Burundi/Rwanda) and in the end effecting whole continent’s.
Where am I? I am sitting on the ground on the family side… I enjoy very much being a Dad! I love my Children more than life and it brings me great joy watching them grow up. My Wife is the greatest gift that God could ever give me besides his son. She is not only the love of my life but my best friend. I often think about how I ever lived before she was part of me. I can honestly see how over the years that Christ is really making us one, just as he says that he and the father are one. I never knew it was possible to love someone so much and only have it grow through time. Yet as I look on the other side I see this incredible ministry protruding high in the sky. It is out in the open easy for people to see it. Many learn about it and want to be part of this amazing vision but have no idea how to get up there to it. I am looking and nothing is happening, ministry is not and cannot be done because it is sitting up to high on the balance for anyone reach. I have the fear, to bring it down means I have to give up some on my family side. So I sit and nothing gets accomplished on the ministry side.
Where is the balance between Family and Ministry??? Where are the Kids (coaches) to stand on the side to help direct what to put on and what to take off in order to find that quicker balance, to make the both equal?
I have watched a great many men and women of God whom have fallen hard on both sides of this balance. One is devoting their all to the ministry with their family falling to pieces and on the other side there are many men and women that have the calling and the possibility to have the most powerful Godly impacting ministries and even may have tried to get started but have never been able to let go enough of the family side. So in time the ministry dissolves into only memories of what could have been. It is sad to think that in this instance many people would quote the scriptures out of the bible that would talk about if any one does not leave his father and mother for my sake, or anyone who puts their hand to the plow and turns back is not fit for the kingdom, or let the dead Barry their own… I have heard these terms thrown around and used a great deal to justify some ones horrifying actions as they abandon their family to run off for the sake of doing ministry, partaking in ministry events, conferences, schools, trainings, etc. These things are not bad in themselves yet are often abused and it is the family that pays the price while daddy or mommy are gone yet another week or month all in the name of working for the Lord. Sad to say but the above terms have even been used for grounds of divorce. This of course all shows an extreme lack of understanding of God his word and the context of which it is to be used and interpreted.
You see I have been on both sides of this balance but only for short times. Yet long enough to see and know that I had the balance way off. As I said above I have watched countless others with huge marvelous powerful ministries, people with an amazing anointing on their life and ministry somehow fall off the ministry/family seesaw and lose both their ministry and their family.
To be quit frank this scares me! I have asked the lord over and over to use me. I have prayed for his anointing to saturate my life and ministry. I have had numerous people with a special anointing and awesome ministry pray for me, as I wanted a double portion of what they had. I learned that it all flows out of intimacy with god. Many of these great men and women spend literally hours in the presents of the lord.
Recently I had a very hard rebuke that came to me through someone close to me who moves very much in the prophetic. This someone was my wife, bless her heart. She told me that my family had become my idol, and out of my fear of losing them, they became my excuse not to move forward in doing ministry or spend the time I need with the God in his presents. She was right!
Yet my struggle still remains, where is the balance between Ministry and family? I want to see God move so badly! I want to see him pour his spirit out on this nation! I want to see revival break out in the heart of Africa! I want to see the dead rise, the lame walk, the blind see!!!
But my first and for most command from God is to have godly offspring, I want my 4 girls to know him and become amazing women of God. I want my marriage to be the perfect mirror image of Christ and the church, the marriage of the lamb. I guess you say that I want to have my cake and eat it to…
I believe that it is possible to have a healthy vibrant marriage and awesome godly family. An at the same time have the anointing of the living God flow through me to see what most call the radical supernatural become the norm. The lord knows how hungry I am to see this happen! He also knows that I have 4 of the most beautiful girls that want time with their daddy, and a wife that desires to have quality time with her husband.
I do not want to see what happened to others before me happen to me. There must be another way…. I don’t want my family to have to pay the price to see the glory of the lord move forward and revival break out.
For the love of balance, there has to be a way….
Please pray for us as my wife and I continue to work out what this looks like, to see God move powerfully through both our family and our ministry.
Friday, July 31, 2009
wait for it....wait for it....
By dictionary.com they describe the word (vision) as follows:
| 1. | The act or power of sensing with the eyes; sight. |
| 2. | The act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur. |
| 3. | An experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency. |
| 4. | Something seen or otherwise perceived during such an experience. |
| 5. | A vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation. |
| 6. | Something seen; an object of sight. |
Vision what a beautiful thing! I really understand why it says in Proverbs 29:18, where there is no Revelation, (vision), divine guidance. The people cast of restraint, perish, run wild. (Quoting KJV, New KJV, and New living)
The crazy thing about a vision, dream, foresight, or whatever you want to call it, when given by the Lord, there are many times when he doesn’t seem to give the whole puzzle if you will, allowing you just to move with him piece by piece as he gives it to you. This of course is called living by faith. Having to just trust in him and what he says to do, when he says to do it and how he says to do it. I have pondered why it is that God does not always give the full picture right away. Of course one of the main things I can come up with is the building of our faith, learning to trust him in the leading of our lives. God also loves to test our hearts to see if we will in fact obey him in his leading. Obedience is a very important facture to him, more important than any of our sacrifices being made.
In my case I have found that the Lord has been spending a great deal of time testing me….A while ago when I was questioning the Lord on things that I was going through and the things that were going on around me and our ministry. He answered me through Deuteronomy 8: (2) Remember how the Lord your God lead you through the wilderness for forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would really obey his commands.
A testing or shaping and molding to prepare for what he really has in mind for the future of those he knows will obey.
The whole chapter really spoke to me at that time but verse two jumped out and slapped my face! I have past that testing and the Lord has seen my heart, my character has been proven! It was a beautiful moment! The Lord then decided to let me in on a whole other level of his vision, I say his vision because it was never really mine in the first place he was just feeding it to me in bite size pieces so that it was easy to digest. During the digestion process I could enjoy it and therefore take ownership of it. God’s plan the whole time!
So now God decides to show me the big picture! On April 4th 2008 God gives me a dream; you can read the whole story and watch the dream so to speak by clicking the link I have. It is on my Dec.19, 2008 posting entitled (Dreams/visions/tears…let there be God). This was a very overwhelming experience; in my looking back I did not handle it very well. My response was much like Peters in Matt 17 when up on the mountain with Jesus and watching him being transfigured before his eyes. Then sees Moses and Elijah show up and start talking to Jesus, Peter without really understanding the meaning of what is going on or waiting to find out is next, in his excitement blurts out “Lord it is good for us to be here”! (open mouth, insert foot) My take on how the story goes that he is then rebuked but none the less had a very serious encounter with God the father…
I like Peter did not have a full understanding of what God was showing me, nor did I spend time after seeking him on what was to follow next, or what to do with the info I received. No, in my excitement I ran and started blurting out with my big mouth to everyone what I saw and my interpretation of it. Not realizing at the time that God wanted to share more with me. At that time my vision was still a bit limited and I only saw what God wanted me to see. I am learning to be patient and allow the Lord to work things out in his time.
In the past I have written on what God is doing and wanting to do here in Africa, Rwanda, Burundi to be specific, known very well as the heart of Africa.
The Lord spoke to me through Habakkuk 2 (new living) then the Lord said to me, ”Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else. (v3) But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surly, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surly take place. It will not delay.”
It will not delay!! It will show up exactly when the Lord intends for it to….
The truth is, there is something happening! There is a real stirring in many of the Africa Nations. There is going to be a Revival that is going to sweep through Africa! An out pouring of the glory of God has only been seen on small scales until now. The Lord is preparing his people all through this continent! When it hits, world watch out! Africa is not longer going to be known as the Dark Continent, but as a Continent of Light! The beauty of it all is I am not standing here on my soap box shouting these things. In the last 5 to 8 years there has been countless people that God has raised up from all over the nations to come here and proclaim, prophecy, and say the exact same things. God is getting ready are we?
I am more than privileged and honored that the Lord of host would ask me and my family to come and help prepare his heart for what he has planned for his people. The heart of Africa, the abandoned, the lost, the forgotten… Not any More!!! For the world will see the glory of the Lord shine from his African Heart!
Slowly, steadily, surly, it will be fulfilled!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Burundi & Brazil...
Last Sunday I had an opportunity that came my way that I could not refuse!
Some of the players from the former Football (Soccer) team of Brazil were here in Burundi to play against the national team. You know the former world cup champions...
They were traveling around different African nations playing some games, handing out foot balls, and raising some awareness on some issues. At least this was my understanding of what was happening. Now I understood why it was when we had taken are girls to the pool on Saturday that it was so busy and everybody was freaking out about these guys...
Let me, let you in on a little secret, I am not like most guys. Don't get me wrong I do like sports. But I am not the kind of guy that knows all the names of every team and who is playing on each team and where they played before they were on that team...etc... You wont find me doing what ever it takes to make sure that I get to see every super bowl or every world cup...
With that said, I do like the game though, I am just not what you would call a die hard. How was I suppose to know who I was saying hi to on that hot Saturday at the pool, or who Jasmin and Yaida were waving at as we walked past them on the beach. I did not know these were the guys that I would be watching play foot ball the next day against the Burundi National team.
Now that I look back at it, it's kind of funny. I got some nice photo's of the game. I guess this goes to show, you just never know who you might meet or who is that stranger you sat next to in the plane. The man or woman that smiles at you in the store or on the street.
All this made me think of something even deeper than that important person who we may have met or got to talk to. The celebrity that maybe shook our hand, etc...
I began to think, I wonder how many times that I have had an encounter with one of the Lords angels or messengers and didn't realize really who was helping me or directing me at that moment. One music artist says it best in one of his songs when he sings "maybe we are entertaining angels unaware"...
I know, you might think, Gosh Travis that is a far stretch from meeting some professional football players, how the hec did you get that one??
But that is how my mind works. One of my mentors once told me that to be a disciple, you should be able to go in to any conversation or situation and come out of it gaining something learning something. You see the word disciple means (learner)! So I guess to be a learner is to be a disciple, one that is always learning and always growing is one who is a disciple.
The question is what are you learning and what are you growing in??? I hope the answer is the ways of the Lord!
Some of the players from the former Football (Soccer) team of Brazil were here in Burundi to play against the national team. You know the former world cup champions...
They were traveling around different African nations playing some games, handing out foot balls, and raising some awareness on some issues. At least this was my understanding of what was happening. Now I understood why it was when we had taken are girls to the pool on Saturday that it was so busy and everybody was freaking out about these guys...
Let me, let you in on a little secret, I am not like most guys. Don't get me wrong I do like sports. But I am not the kind of guy that knows all the names of every team and who is playing on each team and where they played before they were on that team...etc... You wont find me doing what ever it takes to make sure that I get to see every super bowl or every world cup...
With that said, I do like the game though, I am just not what you would call a die hard. How was I suppose to know who I was saying hi to on that hot Saturday at the pool, or who Jasmin and Yaida were waving at as we walked past them on the beach. I did not know these were the guys that I would be watching play foot ball the next day against the Burundi National team.
Now that I look back at it, it's kind of funny. I got some nice photo's of the game. I guess this goes to show, you just never know who you might meet or who is that stranger you sat next to in the plane. The man or woman that smiles at you in the store or on the street.
All this made me think of something even deeper than that important person who we may have met or got to talk to. The celebrity that maybe shook our hand, etc...
I began to think, I wonder how many times that I have had an encounter with one of the Lords angels or messengers and didn't realize really who was helping me or directing me at that moment. One music artist says it best in one of his songs when he sings "maybe we are entertaining angels unaware"...
I know, you might think, Gosh Travis that is a far stretch from meeting some professional football players, how the hec did you get that one??
But that is how my mind works. One of my mentors once told me that to be a disciple, you should be able to go in to any conversation or situation and come out of it gaining something learning something. You see the word disciple means (learner)! So I guess to be a learner is to be a disciple, one that is always learning and always growing is one who is a disciple.
The question is what are you learning and what are you growing in??? I hope the answer is the ways of the Lord!
Anyways, enjoy the few good photo's that I got of the Brazil & Burundi game. It ended at Brazil 1 and Burundi 0, It was impressive to see that the Burundian's had control of the ball the majority of the time...
This almost looks like a Christmas tree outside one of the stadium gates, I counted at least seven guys.
This almost looks like a Christmas tree outside one of the stadium gates, I counted at least seven guys.Sunday, July 19, 2009
Jesus in a three year old...
The other day I saw Jesus, and he was only three years old!
Summer break has hit us, the kids are now having way more time on their hands than Mom & Dad would hope for. This means finding things to keep them from being on each other’s nerves, not an easy task in a place where the pool and beach are the only past times…
We have or I should say that Astrid has been very hard at work in the office, aka (our room) getting everything lined out for our registration and upcoming ministry events. Bless her heart; she is so good at admin and planning!
This means that I am on daughter duty… It is my job to try to keep the girls occupied long enough so that Astrid can focus on the work at hand. It is not so hard, Nani & Zoey are old enough that they come up with all sorts of things to play and keep themselves busy, only once in a while do I have to intervene and pull them out of boredom. Jasmin & Yaida are at that stage where they love to run around and play but also love to do stuff they should not be doing. This means that I am keeping a little closer eye on them. They have in turn become daddies little traveling buddies. Because I am the one to do most of the running around in town and take care of the majority of the shopping, Jasmin & Yaida are my side kicks, oh man do they love it! The car cannot start without them running out to join in the adventure, or at least that is what I believe it is to them…
As we live in Burundi, which is considered to be the third poorest Nation in the world, you can only imagine what we are surrounded by from day to day.
As me and my two traveling buddies are busing around town, I can help but to snicker and laugh a bit as I am picking up on the conversations that are taking place in the back seat between my two three year olds. I begin to ask myself what does this place look like through the eyes of a three year old? What does the poor, maimed, crippled, and blind, look like through their eyes?
I hear things like, “Oh my gosh yaya, (Yaida) look! This poor boy has no legs! He’s sitting in the dirt!” or “Jassy (Jasmin) Look this lady’s arm is weird! Every where they turn it is “look at this, oh my gosh that!” Yet with every statement there is compassion in their voice… Then the questions come… Daddy what happened to them? Why is he look like that? Why does she walk like that? I try my best to explain in a way that a three year old would somehow understand. All of a sudden the questions stop but the statements continue, always drawing one another’s attention to the next big sight. This happens day after day. The girls started asking me for money so that when they come to such poor people they can help them.
Jasmin has been growing in her compassion for the poor and the needy, every time we step out of the car and there is a crippled or someone with withered hand or deformity, she is there… One thumb in her mouth and with the other hand she is greeting them and touching their Ouchy… Yaida is usely right behind or beside her.
One day I had to go to the main market place…. The only way to explain this place is crazy city!!! If you don’t have a problem with Closter phobia then when you’re done you will… almost every beggar in the city is there, pick pockets galore, etc. etc. I usely send one of our local workers so that I don’t need to bother with the insanity. But I really needed to go myself for some reason that now escapes me, anyhow Jasmin and Yaida are with me and I am telling them how crazy it is and that they must hold on to Daddies hand the whole time. As we start in through the small, skinny, overcrowded isles I am having the girls hands and walking as fast as I can (I am focused on where I need to get to...) I feel that I am almost dragging the poor girls so I look down and I see little Jasmin in her own little world, walking as fast as she can to keep up with her fast pace daddy and trying to touch and see all the poor crippled people that are all around us. I tell her to stop touching everybody and just follow me. Ok daddy is her reply. The next thing I know I look over and I don’t have two kids any more but three…. Walking next to Jasmin as fast as he can go is this cute little boy about three or four years old. He doesn’t have any feet, only two little stubs that stop at the knee. He doesn’t have any hands earthier , his arms stop about at his wrist. Yet this little guy was keeping up with us, walking along side Jasmin and jassie had a hold of his little stumpy arm. I almost started crying right there in that crazy market.
A day or two later we are out and about in town again and I park somewhere outside a shop to wait for something. Of course as soon as the car stops the people start coming. (If you stop, they will come…) I see a young boy leading this older blind Muzee (old man), they approach the car asking for money and I try to ignore them. But what do you know jasmin’s window comes down and immediately she is telling Yaida about the poor man who has no eyeballs. The man approaches close enough that Jasmin reaches out to touch where his eyes should be. I stop her and tell her to sit down! Her reply is daddy this poor boy has no eyeballs, what happened? The Lord then spoke to me and said pray for him! I said “ Jassie do you want to pray for the man,to pray that Jesus will heal his eyes?” She was quite a bit with thumb in her mouth then said “yaya (Yaida) you pray for him…” Yaya response very quickly no thank you. Then Jasmin puts it back on me, You pray daddy! I refused that offer and after felt horrible. Did I grieve the spirit of God? Did the Lord want to do a miracle there? I guess I will never know!
Summer break has hit us, the kids are now having way more time on their hands than Mom & Dad would hope for. This means finding things to keep them from being on each other’s nerves, not an easy task in a place where the pool and beach are the only past times…
We have or I should say that Astrid has been very hard at work in the office, aka (our room) getting everything lined out for our registration and upcoming ministry events. Bless her heart; she is so good at admin and planning!
This means that I am on daughter duty… It is my job to try to keep the girls occupied long enough so that Astrid can focus on the work at hand. It is not so hard, Nani & Zoey are old enough that they come up with all sorts of things to play and keep themselves busy, only once in a while do I have to intervene and pull them out of boredom. Jasmin & Yaida are at that stage where they love to run around and play but also love to do stuff they should not be doing. This means that I am keeping a little closer eye on them. They have in turn become daddies little traveling buddies. Because I am the one to do most of the running around in town and take care of the majority of the shopping, Jasmin & Yaida are my side kicks, oh man do they love it! The car cannot start without them running out to join in the adventure, or at least that is what I believe it is to them…
As we live in Burundi, which is considered to be the third poorest Nation in the world, you can only imagine what we are surrounded by from day to day.
As me and my two traveling buddies are busing around town, I can help but to snicker and laugh a bit as I am picking up on the conversations that are taking place in the back seat between my two three year olds. I begin to ask myself what does this place look like through the eyes of a three year old? What does the poor, maimed, crippled, and blind, look like through their eyes?
I hear things like, “Oh my gosh yaya, (Yaida) look! This poor boy has no legs! He’s sitting in the dirt!” or “Jassy (Jasmin) Look this lady’s arm is weird! Every where they turn it is “look at this, oh my gosh that!” Yet with every statement there is compassion in their voice… Then the questions come… Daddy what happened to them? Why is he look like that? Why does she walk like that? I try my best to explain in a way that a three year old would somehow understand. All of a sudden the questions stop but the statements continue, always drawing one another’s attention to the next big sight. This happens day after day. The girls started asking me for money so that when they come to such poor people they can help them.
Jasmin has been growing in her compassion for the poor and the needy, every time we step out of the car and there is a crippled or someone with withered hand or deformity, she is there… One thumb in her mouth and with the other hand she is greeting them and touching their Ouchy… Yaida is usely right behind or beside her.
One day I had to go to the main market place…. The only way to explain this place is crazy city!!! If you don’t have a problem with Closter phobia then when you’re done you will… almost every beggar in the city is there, pick pockets galore, etc. etc. I usely send one of our local workers so that I don’t need to bother with the insanity. But I really needed to go myself for some reason that now escapes me, anyhow Jasmin and Yaida are with me and I am telling them how crazy it is and that they must hold on to Daddies hand the whole time. As we start in through the small, skinny, overcrowded isles I am having the girls hands and walking as fast as I can (I am focused on where I need to get to...) I feel that I am almost dragging the poor girls so I look down and I see little Jasmin in her own little world, walking as fast as she can to keep up with her fast pace daddy and trying to touch and see all the poor crippled people that are all around us. I tell her to stop touching everybody and just follow me. Ok daddy is her reply. The next thing I know I look over and I don’t have two kids any more but three…. Walking next to Jasmin as fast as he can go is this cute little boy about three or four years old. He doesn’t have any feet, only two little stubs that stop at the knee. He doesn’t have any hands earthier , his arms stop about at his wrist. Yet this little guy was keeping up with us, walking along side Jasmin and jassie had a hold of his little stumpy arm. I almost started crying right there in that crazy market.
A day or two later we are out and about in town again and I park somewhere outside a shop to wait for something. Of course as soon as the car stops the people start coming. (If you stop, they will come…) I see a young boy leading this older blind Muzee (old man), they approach the car asking for money and I try to ignore them. But what do you know jasmin’s window comes down and immediately she is telling Yaida about the poor man who has no eyeballs. The man approaches close enough that Jasmin reaches out to touch where his eyes should be. I stop her and tell her to sit down! Her reply is daddy this poor boy has no eyeballs, what happened? The Lord then spoke to me and said pray for him! I said “ Jassie do you want to pray for the man,to pray that Jesus will heal his eyes?” She was quite a bit with thumb in her mouth then said “yaya (Yaida) you pray for him…” Yaya response very quickly no thank you. Then Jasmin puts it back on me, You pray daddy! I refused that offer and after felt horrible. Did I grieve the spirit of God? Did the Lord want to do a miracle there? I guess I will never know!
All I can say is lately I have been seeing Jesus in a three year old!!
My prayer recently Is lord help me to be more like my three year old!
My prayer recently Is lord help me to be more like my three year old!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Survey Say's..... God!!!!
Wow.... You know my last entry about my story coming back from Rwanda to Burundi??
It has been very interesting at peoples responses when I tell that story, I already knew that the Lord had to have helped me but little did I know how God it was...
In just the last week or two I have had more than three different people tell me either their own story or ones that they have heard about having to stay the night on the side of the road or having to turn around and going to find a hotel or guest house somewhere. I have a real understanding now that it is really not easy to get through that road during curtain hours of the day....Also of the dangers that have been known to happen along the same road.
Thank you God for your Angel's that helped guide me through that almost impossible task. With you Lord all things are possible!!
It has been very interesting at peoples responses when I tell that story, I already knew that the Lord had to have helped me but little did I know how God it was...
In just the last week or two I have had more than three different people tell me either their own story or ones that they have heard about having to stay the night on the side of the road or having to turn around and going to find a hotel or guest house somewhere. I have a real understanding now that it is really not easy to get through that road during curtain hours of the day....Also of the dangers that have been known to happen along the same road.
Thank you God for your Angel's that helped guide me through that almost impossible task. With you Lord all things are possible!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
To pay Fanta or not to pay Fanta...
I know this one is a long read, but please take time! I hope you enjoy it!
I would like to share with you about my trip back from Rwanda to Burundi a couple of weeks ago. But first I have to go back before that, about the time we first entered Rwanda in 2005. Let me first set the precedence so that you will have a better understanding when I tell you the story of my trip from Rwanda to Burundi.
Title’s here in Africa are of huge importance, by your title the populous will respect you reject you and or judge you. By your title they will set the standard for how you are looked to live your life. From the cloths you where to the car you drive to the house you live in.
Here the favorite titles that I hear so often are pastor and man of God…..Both of these I am not too quick to call myself. But this is the chosen title that the locals prefer. Now by this one is judged very seriously and held to a high standard. It is not really a special title, it is what they call all missionaries who are working with or alongside the church. Every so often you will hear the title Apostle or evangelist. Really any way to put you in a box, then they will know how to look at you.
As I sit and talk with the other men of God (missionaries) one of the common pieces of conversation is about the bureaucracy and corruption that is slapping you in the face day in and day out while trying to do the Lords work. At times it seems that you can’t get anything done. As the discussion unfolds there is talk about standing for righteousness, truth, and justice. Never telling lies or paying bribes, for that is the way of the Lord.
This how we Men of God start out, or for the most part. Let me give you an analogy, picture a big stone or piece of marble. As the artist chips away at the mass it slowly gets smaller and smaller all the while taking form and shape to become something that is so beautiful a piece of work that will cause every one that see’s it to marvel. (And God Said let us make man in our likeness.)
Now take this beautifully carved image that has taken so long to make. Something that is such a piece of beauty reflecting even the artist (masters) very likeness. Now it is put in a place where it is being hit and chipped on once again. Yet the chipping is not like before, it is not being done little by little there is no grace in the movements or carving for that matter. No standing back for moments of reflection or planning. No; the one who has the tools now, is one that seems to have no vision or goal to what he wants the beautiful piece of work to become. As time goes by the hits become harder and more frequent. It is as if someone is standing over the piece of work with a very large Hammer swinging wildly hitting it repeatedly. Now what was once something of marvel, something that was altogether lovely reflecting the very nature and likeness of its maker, begins to lose its form.
I like many before me have and do stand, in the midst of the calling that God has put on my life, I at all times want to uphold righteousness, truth, and justice. Never to lie to get what I want, never to pay a bribe so that I can see things move forward at the pace I desire.
I have been greatly disappointed in the last four years of living in Africa. As I start to hear things coming out of some men of God’s (Pastors, Missionaries) mouths like,” it is necessary to give a fanta or chi every once and a while”, (fanta & chi refer to giving money or paying a bribe)of course this is done in the name of building relationship, so that is ok… Or “this is the African way”,“If you want to get anything done here then…..” or “it is Africa there is bound to be some corruption”.
In the beginning many start strong but the system begins to chip away at you first slowly then harder and harder. Then the morals and beliefs begin to get weakened. Before you know it a year has gone by then two it gets harder and harder to fight. You get weaker and weaker, you just want to see progress, something has got to move forward or it is going to kill you. At what time does it become ok to buy a fanta or give chi? Finally you give in, you tell that little lie or give that little money and bam things move forward you see progress. Your paper work moves up to the next step, your able to get that package out of customs without paying all the taxes, you get through the military or police check point without being harassed. It is truly the African way, before you know it you find yourself just part of the system. It doesn’t take long; you don’t even realize you’re doing it daily now. Amazing that all it takes is a little untruth here and a little fanta there and your right where you want to be in the time you want to be there.
What has happened to that beautiful piece of art work that once reflected the artist, does it still have the same form? Does it truly reflect the likeness of the maker? Can it be looked at in marvel as it once was or has It lost something?
Please hear me out; I am not stereo typing missionaries or pastors on the mission field! I am simply saying that I have seen and heard these things more than I wish to. Not to mention it has been a serious battle and road that I have been walking myself.
Now; the trip from Rwanda to Burundi…..
I will start from the moment that I arrived at the border. Everything was going so good, the police registered the car to come back in the country, they stamped my passport and I had no problem at customs. To my surprise they didn’t even want to look at my stuff and I’m telling you the car was packed. I had our washing machine, stove/cooker and at least 15 boxes filled with cloths, toys, books, kitchen items, gardening tools, etc. then sitting in the front seat with me was my dog Komera.
I started the car, the police man walked to the gate and started to open it. As I pulled forward another police man walked out of the building said something and the gate was lowered again. They motioned for me to pull back and park. After approaching the car they asked if I had the passport for my Dog. I shook it off, laughing, Ha, passport that’s funny…. Then I realized they were serious! Confused I asked them for clarification. They wanted to see the dogs immunization card to be sure that it was up to date on it’s shots. I explained to them that I knew the dog had shots as a puppy but I had no record to prove it. It was very simple to them, no papers no crossing. It was aggravating yet in a way I was impressed. I tried everything from begging to asking for forgiveness. At one point I even asked them if I could talk with their chief of police. The officer agreed and told me that he would call him for me and explain the situation maybe the chief would have mercy. Unfortunately the officer had no phone credit in his phone to make the phone call and asked me for money so he could help me talk to the chief. I thought ok I guess that is ok, perhaps the chief will be more understanding. The officer then told me that $10(ten) dollars would be enough. I instantly knew what he was getting at and played stupid, telling him that $10 of phone credit was far too much to make a phone a call and gave him about $2 to buy a phone card.
He bought the card and talked with the chief who also rejected me, telling me to go back to Rwanda. I finally after talking with them for three hours got them to agree that if I could get a doctor form Bujumbura to come out and give the dog a check up and some shots. They would then release us to move on.
I called every one that I knew in the Bujumbura to ask for help. After waiting another two hours a Vet. (doctor) arrived. By now it is after 4:00 in the afternoon. The Vet. goes and talks to the police then signals for me to bring the dog behind the building. With the police watching and I of course holding the dog, he takes his temperature, checks his teeth and says “ok no problem”. At this the police tell me sawa (it’s ok, good). Now I am told to rush along because the road into the capital (Bujumbura) will be closing at 6:00. It is already after 4:30 and the drive is at least 2 to 2.5 hours without a over loaded heavy car.
The doctor and the people with him tell me to follow them so that I will not have any trouble at the check points on the road as it is getting close to road closer time. This worked wonderfully for the first 20 or so km, we flew pass the first of the check points. After reaching the first major town they stopped and told me that we could not continue because it was getting late. They were planning on spending the night and getting a fresh start in the morning. They tried to convince me to join them but after being gone from home for three days and waiting for five hours at the border in the hot sun the only thing I wanted was to get to my family. I kindly declined and told them that I must continue and God will make a way… Now it is well after five and I think I still have about 100km to go. I quickly phoned everybody and told them to start praying for God to do a miracle. What I didn’t know was I had 4 to 5 military/ police check points to still go through.
This is where it gets hard! I am flying in my loaded car as fast as I can without driving like an idiot asking the angel’s of the lord to hold on to the stuff.
I come to the first road block and sure enough they tell me to turn around that the road is closed. I argued with them at first telling them it was not six o’clock. That didn’t work, I then started pleading with them telling them that my kids and wife were waiting for me and I must make it through. They of course wanted to see what it was worth to me, so he simply raised up his fingertips rubbing them together as to say (money….) and told me “sorry the road is closed”. I lifted up an emergency prayer to the lord at this time saying “ok Lord, now what??? I have a pocket full of money and it would not take much to get these guys to open the road. But it is wrong!!! I would rather sleep on the side of the road! Please God, I don’t want to pay a bribe….”
After that emergency prayer I looked at the soldier and just said “please”!! To my surprise he turned and motioned to the others to open the road block and I was off again… Praising God all the way!! But lost ten minutes of my time…
Then bam I came around a corner almost running right through a road block. The officers not being amused at all with me almost crashing into their stuff told me again that the road was closed and to turn around. I started being very apologetic and tried joking with them a bit to get them to lighten up thank God it was working. I told him that I had still ten minuets before the road would close and if he would open for me I promise to go very vuba vuba (really fast!!) He laughed and told me “you will never make it”. I told him I know because you guys are always stopping me. I said “me I want to go, go, go, but now all I get is go stop, go stop, go stop..” I thought at this maybe I said to much..oh Travis you ruined it now! He looked at me and said “give me a fanta (money)!” All I thought was God…..Please…. what do I do???? Oh man…. Again he ask me for fanta, I looked at him and said “please, I promise, I will go vuba vuba (really fast)”. He laughed and motioned to them to open the road block and away I went. God you are so good!!
Now number three road block, the two military officers cut right to the chase of course assuming that the only reason I was there at their road block was because I gave some fanta. They were not hesitant a bit to ask, after of course giving me the lecture that the road was closed and that I need to turn around. I knew what was coming so I thought and prayed quickly. Then he said those beautiful words do you have fanta? You see fanta is meaning money but what it really is, is a soda pop drink. There are different types orange, lemon, passion, pineapple. So playing dumb I told him that I had none of the above mentioned fanta. He then rubbed his fingertips together saying fanta, fanta… Again I played dumb telling him that I had no fanta. Then I decided to take it a step further, I asked him why he was asking for fanta when it is a cold night and he should ask for chi (also meaning money but is really tea with milk). The officers both laughed so hard and the one said “Oh yes” still laughing “chi, give us chi.”
At this I responded “I am sorry I have no fanta and I don’t have any chi either, all I have to offer is water, would you like water?” They seemed to get a little agitated at this and I thought Travis you idiot you took them too far. Now they’re mad and you will never get through. The one officer finally tired of playing games, called it what it is. Amafaranga (money) give us amafaranga!! I could not play dumb any longer and it would not be smart at this point I thought. God I said, these guys are serious!! And this stinking money is burning a hole in my pocket! It is wrong!!! God what can I do?? Do I have a choice?
I looked at the officer and said, “oh you mean money! I am sorry I can’t give you money, but please my wife and my four kids are waiting for me and I must make it home to them”. I think this is where I held my breath for a while…. He turned and told the other officer to open the road block, and away I went…
I drove hard and fast and just when I was thinking I must have made it through all the road blocks, I saw a car stopped ahead of me. I thought oh no not again is this ever going to stop??? After a few minutes of talking to the car in front of me they opened the road block just enough to let him pass then closed it again. I knew that I was not to far away from the city at this point. By now my faith was built up and I was determined not to give any money no matter what. The officer came to the window and told me “ the road is closed, you stay here!” He just stood there and looked at me. I tried to plead with him and say something but he interrupted saying again the road closed, you stay here!! Again he stood at my window just staring at me… So I said “ok I sleep right here, thank you”. At this I turned off the headlights of the car, put the window up and stopped the engine. He then walked off, so I put my head back and closed my eyes (to pray of course). When I did this I heard some of the other people at the road block shouting and yell something obviously to this officer. But I kept my eyes closed, I was praying so hard!! God you have got me this far, don’t stop now!! I cannot stay here and I will not pay a bribe!!!
Oh I forgot to mention that this road block was in the middle of a village center, so there were a couple hundred people standing all around the crazy white guy’s car. I know this because I was squinting with my eyes so I could see out of them yet have it appear that I had them closed. Don’t ask me why I did this because I don’t know….
About five minutes later there was a tap on my window and there stood another officer who spoke better English than the first. Again he told me that the road was closed and they could not let me pass. I told him that the other officer had already given me that message so I knew that I had to sleep there.
I then pleaded with him, telling him that I know I am very close and all I want to do is get to my wife and children so please just let me go. He turned and motioned to them to open the road, then told me to go but take it easy. I thanked him and was off.
I arrived in the city about 7:30 in the evening, finally into the arms of my wife and four beautiful daughters who were all very happy to see me and our Dog komera.
Believe me or not it was all done without paying a fanta!
God’s word stands true, Do you??? (He will make a way where there seems to be no way!)
Thank you Lord!!!!
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