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We're "Home" for three months!!

We put "home" in quotes because while Missouri is where our roots are, and where our family is... we also feel at home in Burundi. While we are happy to be here in our Missouri home, even for a short while, we also remember that our real home isn't on this earth...

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
-2 Corinthians 4:5

French class Video!

"Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire?" means "What do you like to do?" You won't hear about video games, movie theatres, museums, or bouncy houses... but these kids sure do know how to have fun.

Watch this short video Julie made of the 1st and 3rd graders at Kibuye Hope Academy to find out what they like to do! If you don't speak French, enjoy a quick lesson on the must-know verbs among the kids at Kibuye!

Graduation!!

Hope Africa University held its graduation ceremony in January just before we left. It is so exciting that 79 new doctors graduated!

This means 79 more physicians to care for the poor and needy in Burundi, and also in neighboring countries of Rwanda, Congo, Uganda, and Cameroon. Please pray for them as they get started in their careers. It is still a long road ahead for many of them as they seek internships and/or look for job opportunities.

L'Histoire de la Création du Monde

Julie and the kids recently presented the story of God's creation of the world to the local school children. It was an fun operetta with one song per creation day, almost like a human puppet show with the kids popping up from behind a covering with fun props and lots of silliness. Over 1000 Burundian children crowded into the local church to hear and see the fun program. It was interactive as our kids took turns saying what God created each day (in Kirundi), then taught the local kids the words in English.

Our kids made paper props, learned danced moves, and practiced for hours to do the best job they could, with the resources available, to show the local kids the beauty of God's creation. The local school children were so excited, they crowded around to get as close as they could to the action.

ALSO in Burundi for the first time!
Logan was excited to be able to offer the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) course to the generalist physicians that he works with at Kibuye Hope Hospital. They all participated and did a great job. Hopefully these skills will help advance maternity care for the patients at the hospital!

While we are in America...

We would love to see as many of you as possible! Unfortunately three months just isn't enough time to see ALL the people we would want. If we saw one friend and supporter everyday we are in the States, we still couldn't see everyone! But we want to try and see you, give you a hug, answer any questions you have and most importantly, say THANK YOU for your support of our ministry in Burundi.

Here are some chances to meet with us:

If you live in the Irondale, MO area:
We will be speaking at the First Baptist Church of Irondale
Sunday February 25, 10:40 service, with a potluck to follow at 12:30.
If you can't come to the church service, feel free to come to the potluck!

If you live in the Springfield, MO area:
Julie's sister will host a Meet and Greet with the Banks family
Sunday March 4, 2-5pm*
*please REPLY to this email so we can send you the LOCATION

If you work at Cox:
You might see Logan around CoxHealth, teaching at the Residency for six weeks, between March 12 - April 20. Text him at 417-319-6111 to grab coffee or lunch.
He will also be speaking at the Cox FMR 30th Anniversary dinner, Friday night, April 20, 2018

Physicians who want to get some great CME:
Logan will be speaking at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (MAOPS) conference in Branson, April 26-29
He will be giving an update on our work in Burundi on Friday, April 27th, 2018 at 10:15am.

If you teach Family Medicine:
Logan will be at the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Conference in DC, May 5-9, and he will be presenting about our work of rural clinical medical education in Burundi.

If you, or your group, would like to host us, please let us know! We would love to share what God is doing in Burundi.

House construction is moving along!

It has been fun to watch the process step-by-step as the work on our house moves forward. We are going to take a break on construction during our time in the States, so we hope to finish sometime this fall.
If you'd like to be one of the first to come visit Chez Banks, let us know!

We want to say thank you to the many people who are helping make this calling a reality. We couldn't be doing this without your ongoing support! THANK YOU!!

Prayer Requests:

That we would find rest and rejuvenation for our bodies and souls in the next couple months
That our house construction site, and our things in Burundi, would remain safe and secure while we are gone
Our boys and Julie as they will homeschool throughout our busy time in the States
Good and meaningful connections with family and friends