Sparklers

Last week’s prompt for the Comeback Bloggers: write about an event (or events) that revealed to you the world was not simple, that moved you from being a child to being an adult.

During my younger years in Burundi, I sensed the tension between different Burundian groups at times, but just in small ways. I’m not really sure when I realized the enormity of that conflict, which ultimately led to many killings and caused neighbors and friends to flee to other countries.

One event which remains especially vivid in my memory is finding out soldiers had taken away our African pastor and his sons. They were never seen again, and presumably died at the hands of the government. Such happenings made me wonder, “Why them and not me?”

Initially, my poem started out with a fun image, lighting sparklers in the back yard, and then evolved to include thoughts on “vanishing.”

FOURTH OF JULY IN BURUNDI


At twilight
the sly Southern Cross
beams,
convinces us
it’s brighter than
our Northern
constellations.

Mother takes us outside
to celebrate America’s Fourth,
continents away
from grandparents
uncles, aunts,
cousins.

Sparklers fizz.
Our tilted faces
here
and gone
there
and vanished.

How many faces
vanished
over the border
into Tanzania
just across
rows of mountains
filling our picture window?

Each of us
children
screams
“Light another!”

Night closes in.

We clutch
the thin wires
as sparklers
sputter
and fade.

Het Cadeau (The Gift)

This morning I found a brown package on my doorstep, containing the Dutch copy of my picture book! Anno Domini sold the rights to publishers in the Netherlands, and so I expect it will be out there this winter.

Now all I have to do is take a quick course in Dutch... Betsy, maybe I should call you up?

Strength In What Remains

You can bet I'm snatching this book up the day it comes out from the publisher.



Deo grew up in the mountains of Burundi, and survived a civil war and genocide before seeking a new life in America. In New York City he lived homeless in Central Park before finding his way to Columbia University. But Deo’s story really begins with his will to turn his life into something truly remarkable; he returns to his native country to help people there, as well as people in the United States.

Strength in What Remains is a testament to the power of will and friendship, and of the endurance of the soul.

Drummers of Burundi

I had the chance to visit with many Burundian refugees at a church event in Oregon this Sunday -- and that got me thinking about my first home.


This clip gives a glimpse of the Burundi Drummers in action. I especially liked the older drummer at the start and the group's amazingly athletic performance 5:25 minutes into the video. Watch for the littlest drummer -- he looks to be all of 4 years old and steals the show!

* Photo from Encyclopedia Britannica (Bruno De Hogues—Stone/Getty Images)

Burundi Coffee

This is a typical view of someone's home in Burundi, with banana trees, a garden, and maybe a few coffee trees on the property. When I walked into our own front yard at Murore, Burundi, I'd sometimes find big squares of brown sack-cloth with coffee beans drying on top of them. And then later, I'd smell the coffee beans roasting. What a great aroma. I remember begging Mom and Dad to give me just one cup of coffee...please! They finally promised I could try it when I turned ten years old -- hoping, I think, that I'd forget their promise or eventually lose interest. But when June rolled around, I claimed my cup of caffeine, filled to the brim with strong brew and milk. Good memories.

Photo Blogging--From Two Continents

Brandon lives in Burundi and Leah lives in Vancouver. They've never met (except in cyberspace), but decided to start a photoblog: Leah Meets Brandon. For the next 12 months, they'll take pictures of their daily lives according to a monthly theme and post several times a week.

If you know me at all, you know that I love photographs and I love Burundi--so this is an irresistible combination! I'm curious to see what happens with Leah and Brandon's blog over the course of a year.

Ichabod Crane

For your viewing pleasure, a photo of Ichabod, the Crested Crane. He lived on our mission station in Burundi and followed us around. I just have a few memories of Ichabod. Here he is, paying a royal visit to our sandbox--that's me in the back and Annie Stewart (with curls) up front.

These birds are beautiful, with a golden corn-tassel type of adornment on top of their heads and striking black, white and red facial features. My photo's not in color, but look here for a glimpse of the Crested Crane's full glory.

Burundian Drummers

I grew up watching drummers and dancers like these on Burundi Independence days and holidays. They could get anyone moving.

My Brother's Blog

My brother and his wife started a blog, telling about their work in Burundi with World Relief. The link is http://brosefamily.blogspot.com/ . My father just flew to Burundi to see them after spending a few days in Paris with my sisters and me and Danielle.

Dan and my dad plan to drive to Murore, the place we lived when my parents were missionaries--wish I could hitch a ride. There will be singing and dancing and much happiness when Dad greets old friends from the sixties and seventies.

The Rainbow Centre

I added a new link today, to the Rainbow Centre. In their own words, the Rainbow Centre Project is a Christian ministry in Burundi, Africa, whose mission is to provide care, treatment and safe keeping of orphaned, abandoned and HIV positive babies. The ministry was started in 2001 and continues to grow and expand as God blesses and leads. Check it out, the site has pictures and newsletters. In a nutshell, all about Christians making a difference! I know the Johnsons and visited them briefly when I made a trip to Rwanda and Burundi in 2002 . They're some of the best people around.