Out of Quarantine!

We are so thankful to report that we finished our time of quarantine with no symptoms, and we are all doing well. This period has been a special time of rest and recuperation at Julie’s aunt’s house in Florida. We are all adjusting back to life in the United States.

We continue to realize that our children have a unique life growing up in Africa, especially at times like when our 9-year-old, Zeke, didn’t understand how to open a can of soda because he had never done it before. But he knows his way around a glass bottle! (In Burundi, Coke and Fanta come in glass bottles that we must return.)

Housing Need

We will soon be heading back to Springfield, Missouri, which will be our base for the next 8 months or so while we are on Home Assignment. Because of COVID-19, our initial plans for housing are no longer feasible. We need to find a “home” for the next 8 months, and are praying and trusting that God will open a door for us to stay in a house or apartment in the Springfield area. If you, or someone you know, have an extra property or know of a housing opportunity, we would love to hear from you. We are hoping to move in by June 1st.

News from Burundi

ELECTIONS
Despite the pandemic, Burundi is in the middle of a national election campaign season. Historically, this can be a time of increased political tension in the country. Right now, things are moving forward, and without concerns about social distancing (see photo). Burundi has registered only 19 cases of COVID-19, which puts them in the bottom five of African countries. But with limited testing capabilities, cases may be going undiagnosed. At the hospital, they are continuing to prepare and have built a triage tent outside the ER to screen patients for COVID symptoms. My colleagues tell me that they haven’t seen a dramatic uptick in patients yet. Please join me in praying that the hospital and community continues to be protected from this virus, and that the election season will continue without violence.

GRADUATION
Since arriving in Burundi in 2016, we’ve seen 173 med students graduate from Hope Africa University, but recently we had a very special graduation at Kibuye. The first five interns have just finished the 12-month “Stage Professionnel” internship program at Kibuye Hope Hospital. This program is modeled after a traditional rotating internship, and is the first of its kind in Burundi. They started last May and have had a great year of growth — personally, professionally, and spiritually. For me, it’s been refreshing to be a part of post-graduate education again, as I spent many hours working with the interns, especially on the concept of Evidence-Based Medicine. It’s been great to see them grow in their spiritual walk as well, as Julie and I hosted a book study in our home every week. We have read “The Gospel-Centered Life,” “Crazy Love,” and “Promises in the Dark.” It’s been an honor to serve as the Director of Medical Education at the hospital, and I plan on continuing to assist with this role as much as I can even though we are back in the States. I’m so proud of their hard work and the care they provided to our patients. Read more about the program on our team blog here.

(L-R) Drs. Olivier, Christiane, Emmy-Prince, Moïse, and Cesarine, the first five graduates of the "Stage Professionnel" at Kibuye Hope Hospital

End of Our First Term

This summer marks the end of our first 5-year term with Serge. As we reflect back on this first term, we have been blown away by all that we have experienced in these five years. We can look back on wins and losses, successes and defeats, dreams realized and dreams shattered, proud moments, embarrassing moments, times of peace and contentment, and times of frustration and loss. New countries, new languages, new friends. And a new normal.

We can look back on God’s miraculous provision, as He helped us raise support and get to language school quickly in 2015. We see how through the Church, through people like you, God has accomplished so much at Kibuye. From “big” things, like building our house, or installing a solar field for the hospital, to the seemingly “little” things, like helping a struggling patient buy their medicine, supporting a child in the feeding program, or helping with school tuition for a local friend or neighbor, we realize that we have simply been a conduit for God’s blessings to flow from one person to another. And in the end, it is hard to know who was more blessed, the giver or the receiver.

But in all these moments, in our successes and our defeats, God was walking with us, and He has shown us time and time again that He is faithful.

By The Numbers
Since we arrived at Kibuye in 2016, we have witnessed:
12 major construction projects completed
42% increase in hospitalizations at Kibuye Hope Hospital
173 medical school graduates from Hope Africa University
5 new graduates from the "Stage Professionnel" internship program
12 interns currently in the program

Support Need

During these five years, we have seen God care for us in unbelievable ways, rescuing us in a time of need, showing us that He loves us and will always provide for us. We have seen our faith grown and stretched in amazing and often uncomfortable ways. We want to say a big thank you to our monthly support team because it is through your faithful giving that we have been able to witness these miracles, that you are a part of.

We also want to say thank you if you gave in response to our last email. God provided, through your gracious giving, more than double our shortfall for last month. However, due to some changes in our donor base, we realize that we need to increase our monthly support base. If you have supported us in prayer, but have never given financially to our ministry, or have made a one-time gift, we would love the chance to talk to you about becoming a part of our monthly support team. We will be back in the US for about 8 months, and hope to raise enough monthly support that we will be given the “green light” to return to Burundi in 2021.

Praise Reports:

Our quarantine is finished and we are all doing well, and we have had wonderful in Florida as a family
After our request for financial help last month, many of you answered and helped meet that shortfall and we are so thankful
The first doctors graduated from the professional internship at Kibuye Hope Hospital
Reports from colleagues back at Kibuye are that they have not yet seen an uptick in COVID-like illness

Prayer Requests:

For safety as we drive back to Missouri this week
For good reunions with family, friends, and supporters during this 8-month Home Assignment
For continued good health during this season of coronavirus
That God would lead us to the right home or apartment for our family
That God would raise up supporters to join our team and help us return to Burundi in 2021
That the elections in Burundi would take place peacefully, and that COVID-19 would spare this country