Bok-bok!

Just for some humor . . . recess time. Never be surprised at what happens here.

H20 = LIFE

Ahhh...the sound of sweet rain. So long-awaited.

In three days I will have officially been here for one month. I'm thinking the adjustment time is coming to a close. Things are starting to be figured out, and a routine is forming which I kind of like. Sometimes. It's a completely different world than the one from which I came. One of the greatest differences I've noticed so far. . .WATER.

A serious necessity. It's just now turned to wet season. Before that, it was dry season for several months. I've been to Burundi twice before and spent entire summers here. Never have I seen a drop. Everything changes when there's no rain:

Change No. 1--Electricity

The electricity here is hydroelectric, hence, leaving you in a guessing game as to whether or not it will stay on as you try to take a shower (no fun in the dark), write emails, etc. Sometimes businesses are affected and can no longer be as efficient. (Except for that Chinese restaurant I ate at one time in the dark. They kept cooking by candlelight. Only took them two hours to bring me some sweet and sour chicken. Well, in Burundi, I say it's worth it.)

Change No. 2--Faucets

Sometimes you turn a knob on the faucet, and nothing comes out. Suddenly, little tasks--washing your hands, taking a pill, waiting to wash your clothes whilst hoping the water comes back within two days because there's only two more clean pair of panties in your drawer--all become much bigger. Hm. Maybe this is why Jesus compares salvation to water and says, "Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink!*" instead of comparing it with electricity: "Does anyone need a shock or the internet or televisions? Come and browse!" Yeah...just not quite the same thing. Life here puts a whole new meaning to the words "living water." Needless to say, everything takes more time and energy here. It's quite a provincial lifestyle sometimes.

Change No. 3--I think we call this one an epidemic.

Unfortunately, it gets worse. Since water provides sanitation, there has been a cholera outbreak in the country. Just in August, there were 245 cases of it and 7 deaths. Wow. I wonder what the news would say if this epidemic was happening in the States. I wonder how many days the newcasters would talk about it and if it would make world news. Today I went online to check the news and discovered that the most popular read headline on usatoday.com was "ESPN's Jaworski curses live on Monday Night Football." Whomp whomp whomp. Is this issue really what we care about America? I'm glad for the rawness of this place. It forces people to live urgently.

Change No. 4--Me

So there's not much I can do about water issues here, except grow those young minds in my classroom so that one day maybe they can do something about it. I've relented just to be thankful for the water when it is here and to go with the flow (still deciding if that pun was intended). Anyway, I'm going to go lie in my bed now and listen to the rain.

*Isaiah 55:1 in case you were wondering.

First Day!

Today was the day that I got to meet Jesus Mary Laurette, Saint Augustine, and Queen G. Love! All the students were such a delight to teach! They are trying their best to learn English and are excited to have a "muzungu" teacher! (muzungu=white person; It is not uncommon for people, especially children, to shout at you, "Muzungu, Muzungu!" on the street because they are excited to see a white person. For the most part, they know that if you are a rare white person in Burundi, you are probably here to help the country, and they welcome our help.) Anyway, these pictures tell it best:

The students are excited to have their picture taken as not many Burundians have cameras.

Lyse Bernice, the precious girl who led us in the Lord's Prayer at the end of the school day.

Happy to learn and be at school!