I don’t care what flag you’re waving

War movies impact me a lot more now. It’s weird I know, and a pretty stupid sentence on top of that to be sure. I remember when America went to war after 911 (don’t worry, this isn’t a political post). A boss, and friend of mine asked me: “what did you do last night?” I responded: “I caught a movie with my girlfriend. What did you do?” He told me: “I watched war on TV.” I knew what he was talking about. I remembered coming home that night and watching the news to help me fall asleep… it was coverage of the war in Iraq. Baghdad was in flames after a major air strike. It was super distant from me and my life at the time. I thought about it some, but it hit me a little emotionally and that was it. Fast forward. I move to Burundi, and now down the street, there’s AK 47’s firing round after round. You feel a bit nervy, nothing crazy. But I wonder, somebody has a gun aimed at them, bullets are fired, people are getting killed… right down the street. It hits passed my emotions… passed logos… it hits the core of being human, and afraid, and living in complete fear… Not me, Burundians who live near me. I’m alive. Nobody is gunning me down. If I get killed it’s because I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m not an innocent by standard, and I've never been innocent. I just happened to be the guy down the street, who wasn’t getting gunned down. Cliché, maybe… true, definitely. More to it? I’m sure there is. I’ve been to four official refugee camps. Three of the of the four camps where Refugees from Congo, and one housed refugees from Burundi, in Tanzania 10 milles over the border... Mind blowing… Tragic… seemingly hopeless. I saw them in movies first (refugees)... Distant, almost fake, completely intangible… Now, living and active, crying, begging, disease infested, starving, unwanted, unwashed, in your face real asking you to save their lives, and the lives of their children (50 or more at a time). Dying right in front of you… I got money in my pocket as I shake their hands, talk with them, video them… hurt because I see their hurting. Angry at so many things… powerless. Part of me thinks everybody (especially if you have a biblical world view) should visit a refugee camp, and spend some time serving there. Realistic? No. Movies amaze me, I think that’s why I love making them, or trying to make them. They evoke emotions you didn’t know you had, and show you things that you’ll likely never experience. They show you the life that you wish you lived. The dreams you gave up when you graduated college. The dreams you had as a kid play out on the “silver screen” with actresses, and actors that are way better looking than you’ll ever be. “Children of Men” is one of those unbelievably well made movies. I can’t figure out how they shot most of that movie. Mind blowing film making... Great script... And… and!!! Michael Caine… come on! I actually watched the movie three times. It was “one of those movies” for me. It’s in my top five. I had to bump out one of my favorites. I’m still mad about it. Ever since I met Mark Lundeen, I’ve been into war movies. I used to hate them. Now, everything has changed.

How much do we serve? Check out this Rwandan Servant

I had the opportunity to visit a church volunteer, in NW Rwanda, close to the border of Uganda. There I met Franciose. We talked and she showed me her life as a volunteer at her church, and in her community. Take a look, at how a mom, who took in orphans, and whose income is less than 80 dollars a month (gross) no car, and no formal education, and she still joyously serves her church and community (I think she does have a cell phone though). It honestly put my most diligent serving years to shame.




for the full screen version you can follow this link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7939448987626925538&pr=goog-sl

Street Kids of the AGL

Some have been requesting the streetkids video as well as the Church Volunteer video. I wasn't able to upload the Rwanda volunteer video yet, but I was able to manage the streetkids video. Here it is for a quick view, but I think google, compressed the aspect ratio as usual. I don't know why they do that. Here is the linke to the full screen version:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1839572636683477315

a new video

A month ago, I visited a refugee camp in North Kivu Congo, and I was able to video a sort of snap shot of life there. I think it's a good piece to watch and meditate on a bit. It's also good to be aware of the Congo trajedy that's been going on now for over a decade on the international level. The link to the large version is here, but you can view the video below:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4412052351457972720&pr=goog-sl

Renegade general abandons eastern Congo ceasefire

Here's the most recent news on the conflict related to the refugees I've been talking to here in Burundi, though they've now been moved, and their number has increased in Burundi to 7,000. We're taking a team of Frontliners to them next month. This also has the documented fact that I think escapes most western audiences that aren't looking for this sort of news, and that is that an estimated 4 million have died do to conflict in this region between 98-2003 alone. This is one of the more beautiful regions in the heart of Africa, but the level of suffering is un paralleled. I'm hoping to have a video up showing one of the camps soon.

KINSHASA, Oct 8 - Congolese renegade general Laurent Nkunda on Monday abandoned a month-old ceasefire in an eastern border province, blaming attacks by the government which in turn accused him of pushing the country towards war.
Nkunda's announcement heralded more conflict and suffering in Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, where fighting between his soldiers and government troops have already forced tens of thousands of civilians from their homes.
The province, has long been a tinderbox of ethnic tensions and clashes between the army and rival rebel and militia groups.
After fighting in the east in August and early September, the United Nations Mission in Congo (MONUC) announced on Sept. 6 a limited truce between the rebel Tutsi general and the army.
But fresh clashes between the two sides broke out last week and over the weekend, and U.N. military sources said fighting continued on Monday in several parts of North Kivu.
Nkunda accused the government army, which said it killed at least 35 of his fighters last week, of attacking his positions.
"There is no ceasefire. ... We have told ourselves we will no longer stand with our arms crossed while people are dying. We must react. We are soldiers," Nkunda told Reuters by telephone.
"MONUC thinks there is a ceasefire, but we've abandoned it."
In response, Congo's Defence Minister Chikez Diemu accused Nkunda, who says he is defending the interests of Congo's Tutsi ethnic group, of trying to "Balkanise" the country.
"He's playing a dangerous game. Now he's pushing us towards war," the minister told Reuters.
He added Congo would implement measures agreed with its Great Lakes neighbours Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. He did not spell these out but the states have been discussing cooperation to counter rebel groups operating in eastern Congo.

ETHNIC ENMITY
Some of the recent North Kivu fighting took place in Virunga National Park, Africa's oldest park, forcing rangers to flee and putting endangered mountain gorillas there at risk.

Nkunda, who led a 2004 rebellion, accuses Congo President Joseph Kabila's government and armed forces of supporting Rwandan Hutu rebels -- traditional ethnic enemies of the Tutsi.
The largely Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebels are accused of involvement in Rwanda's 1994 genocide that saw the slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus by a Hutu-led government and ethnic militias.
Kabila denies supporting the FDLR.
The North Kivu fighting has displaced tens of thousands of civilians and foreign relief agencies have warned of a fresh humanitarian catastrophe in Congo, which is still recovering from a 1998-2003 war that killed some 4 million people, mostly from hunger and disease generated by conflict.

Anniversaries

Moi belle femme et moi celebrated four years of marriage. We had our anniversary celebration just one month after the actual date. This is a gross improvement for us, as we used to be celebrating our anniversary with different people all together. I would go camping with Andy Whipps, and Trina would go camping with a bunch of High school kids. This year we had a team from a church visiting, and I was with them and Trina was busy with her new job, then we split off to different countries for a while, then we both landed back in Burundi, and committed ourselves to the idea that we should go out and celebrate our anniversary if we get some time and aren’t too tired. The day finally came, (though Trina was very tired) when we were both free (we had to make the choice to be free) and we went for an excellent steak dinner and talked about our lives, our plans, how we don’t feel like grown ups, and how we don’t really know what’s in store for our lives, because our plans keep changing, or we don’t have any plans. It was a good time, with some good food. Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of Trina and I. Usually we’re both behind the camera so we don’t have shots of ourselves (Trina, maybe you can send me the shot of us that’s on your desktop.) But this anniversary got me wondering. What do other people do for their anniversary? What was a favorite anniversary memory for someone? What do people like to do for their anniversary? Do most North American married people celebrate their anniversary, give me a percentage maybe? Go ahead, and leave a comment with your thoughts, or give me some suggestions on good things to do for anniversaries. I want some good thoughts and suggestions fellow bloggers. I want to hear from you single bloggers too. Lay it on me. I’m ready. Trina, we’ve talked about Zanzibar for year five. Let’s stick to that plan. Oh, and if any of you have pics of Trina and I together, you can email some to me if you like. You guys are a bit of alright.

Refugee Update

I've checked out Myal's blog and he's updating on the congolese refugees of North Kivu quite well, and unfortunately the situation is getting worse. There is a link to his blog on my blog. I actually have video from both refugee camps, and it's not easy footage to watch. It will take me some time to edit, and I don't know if I will be able to post it, but I will somehow get it out there. I thought I should update you on the Refugees from South Kivu who are coming over the border to Burundi. Many of you got a letter from Trina and I about these refugees, and I've been blessed to meet them and spend time among them. This crisis is continually making the news in my neck of the woods, so I just thought I'd report it to my friends and fam in the West. Here's the latest:




"BUJUMBURA, 19 September 2007 (IRIN) - Hundreds of asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo who had been camping in a playground in front of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) offices in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, have been moved to Northern Ngozi province, officials said. "Starting tomorrow [20 September] no asylum seekers will be camping here," said Didace Nzikoruriho, the officer in charge of refugees in the Burundian ministry of home affairs. "The immigration service agents are present here to ensure that even newcomers get their papers." The Congolese who were boarding trucks early on 19 September, were being taken to Musasa transit site, said Bernard Ntwari, UNHCR information officer. Carrying their meagre belongings, some of the Congolese said they were happy to be leaving. One of them, Igumba Bine Bikwaya, told IRIN he expected better living conditions in Musasa. Some of the asylum seekers had camped in the playground for two months. Ntamatungo, a woman in her thirties, who had camped with her two children for 24 days said, "My children will go to school now". Upon arrival at Musasa, the asylum seekers will receive food, shelter, medical care and protection, confirmed Ntwari. Nzikoruriho said there were plans to set up a new refugee camp at Giharo in the eastern province of Rutana to host 30,000 refugees. "All the Congolese refugees will be moved there," Nzikoruriho added, saying the camp should be ready in two months. An initial plan to build another refugee camp at Samvura, in the southern province of Makamba, was abandoned after it was found to be too expensive, he said. Several hundred Congolese nationals started arriving in Burundi early this year, fleeing violence in the South Kivu region of eastern Congo. The numbers have since gone up. Nzikoruriho said 50 to 100 asylum seekers were now arriving each day. The asylum seekers, however, complain that they spend many days before being given papers that would entitle them to assistance. Nzikoruriho said granting asylum was not an easy task. "We take time to identify the asylum seekers, their children, and particularly the reasons for fleeing their country of origin," he explained. There were delays in being able to house the refugees at Musasa due to work being carried out to enlarge the camp. The site is currently at capacity with 5,000 residents. "

A so called life

I recently did a trip around the AGL region (Rurundi, Rwand, Congo). It was a media trip and the purpose was to capture media about the various ministries we are doing in the region. In fact all these pics are from Bryn who was on the trip, one of the pictures is from Myal who comes into this story later. While in Congo we were told to make a stop at a recently formed refugee/IDP (internally displaced peoples) camp just out side of Goma. We were able to talk with the Chief of the camp as well as the IDP's/refugees. We had with us a rep from World Relief headquarters, and a new friend Myal who is serving in Rwanda. Myal went to talk with some of the residents most of whom were teenagers, while I talked with the Chief. One boy, named Leik, was 16 he was living in the camp with his father and his older brother. But he was pretty much on his own. Neither, his brother or father were around, because they regularly left the camp looking for ways to get money or food, and his mother was, “in the ground,” his way of saying she was dead. He was staying in a small hut made out of branches and banana leaves. He sleeps on the ground, he has nothing to eat, has dropped out of school and has no one looking out for him.
In all, there were about 2500 families in the camp, which opened about a month ago. The residents of the camp were run out of their village in a different part of Congo by insurgent forces fighting in the on going conflict. As the conflict in the region is still ongoing, there is no predicting when they will return home. All of the inhabitants have to fend for themselves to find food, and there is no reliable source of water anywhere near the camp. There are no sanitary toilet facilities, and they were borrowing the bathrooms from a nearby school, but school started the day after we left (sept 1st 2007)so the school will no longer be an option. The kids in the camp have been pulled out of their schools, and there is nothing to do for work. Most of the IDP's walk 10 kilometers into Goma to beg, or carry bags for people or any number of menial tasks to get a buck. As we left congo our bags were searched, and once we cleared, a boy eagerly grabed my bag and carried it about 15 feet to the car. I tried to stop him because this happens all the time, and I didn't want to encourage this behavior. I knew he wanted money, and I was completely capable of carrying my bag, then I thought, he may be one of the refugees. I paid him, and said a quick prayer for these people. That is always a tension. One couple birthed a new child the same day we visited the camp. The husband approached me for food with about 50 others. I told him I didn't have enough food or water to give to everyone, and that it wouldn't seem fair to give food to just him. The others listening in said that they didn't need food or water as bad as him, and that it would be okay for me to give what I had to just him. I was shocked, mainly because this has never happened to me since I've been in Africa, starving people accepting the fact that I can give food to one family and not all the others. We gave the new father some food and water, and there was no rioting or fighting from the other refugees, they seemed a bit relieve that the man recieved some help though they were starving and without water themselves. It was a heart wrenching situation. Myal prayed openly with the people. I prayed silently, as I hurt openly for them.
Life there is about as hard as I have seen it in the AGL region so far. Everyone there has been completely uprooted from their lives and landed in a crowded camp with meager shelter, no food, no water and little prospects for being able to generate any kind of income to help provide for themselves. Refugees and IDP's also face the brutalities of being an unwelcome and unwanted burden on those around them, and consequently become severely discriminated against. They have little to rely on other than the basic human survival instincts and the hope that they will one day be able to return to their homes. I was told in a training program that Refugees are the fourth world. Currently in a province just across the boarder in Rwanda there are over 650,000 refugees because of this conflict. Here in Congo 4 million people have been killed in this region of Congo since 2003. The people in this camp just want to go back to their home in Rushuru which is about 100 kilometers west but the rebel faction leader NKunda and his troops are raping and pillaging all the towns in the area. So now they are displaced here, with little hope. Myal asked them for their prayer requests and promised them that he would have in in America join with in praying for them. So please pray for the following:

-for peace in their home area of Rushuru so that they can return home

-for food and clean water in the camp

-that the children would be cared fot

-God would show his love for the people in the camp and that they would be reminded of his care for the oppressed and the suffering.

There is also a refugee camp forming about a mile from my house in Bujumbura. I am hoping to visit with them soon, and talk with them. They are returning from Congo, and are in equally desparate need. I will keep you updated on this situation as it is very near to my heart as I can't imagine the challenge of being a refugee, let alone being a refugee in one of the poorest countries in the world... I don't know.

Journaling isn't helping

I think blogging is starting to cause me to journal less. Journaling is less exciting for me now. I realized this the other day as I was staring blankly at my mosquito net. I wasn’t feeling very well, so I opened my journal intending to write, but instead I just started reading my journal. I was fascinated by my self. Excited all over again by my engaging thoughts which were recorded for my convenience by my own hand. Self affirmation of the purest variety. I also noticed myself thinking how smart I thought I was. For instance, this thought entered my mind as I read an entry from March 7th 2006: “Wow, this entry is over a year old! I can’t believe I knew all that about life back then. Incredible.”
It’s worth mentioning that I started journaling in the first place so that I could notice unhealthy thought patterns, or emotional habits that may be reoccurring so that I could start changing for the better once I recognized them. I don’t know if that makes sense. I wanted to see bad patterns in my thinking so I could then change once recognized. But as I read my journals, I found myself completely agreeing with my former self. In some cases cheering my former self on, excited about my thoughts at the time, and my thoughts in general about all things. Sometimes I wanted to edit some of my thoughts in some entries giving new insight that I’ve since learned, that further supports what I then already suspected. But before I made the edits, I stopped myself. It seemed weird editing my thoughts/journal entries (I wondered if anyone else thought about editing their journal… what are the implications of such a move)… but I didn’t want to make a new entry… So I just sat there. Staring. It was then I realized that journaling isn’t going to help me see those bad patterns I was looking for; it was only going to feed my self, and build even more narcisism. In addition to this journaling would then solidify my self in me. Oh what a wretched man am I. This could be my personal rendition of Rom 7, only completely different. Yes, definately different than Rom 7. I'm not going to give up on journaling yet. That's what I've just decided. I'll keep journaling, but I won't use it at a intervention for change.

Jack Franklin

A quick update before I get to my friend Dan Franklin. First, Paul and Bryn, from frontline are checking out the region, and it's great to have them with us. I'm taking them to Rwanda, then Congo, after spending a few days checking into our world relief programs in Burundi. I'm thankful they came to check out the work being done here, so they can strategize about how their church wants to work with child survival in Burundi, and how media artists can function strategically in the region.

Now about Dan Franklin. I've just started watching 24. Dan tried to get me into it when I was back in the states but I just didn't do it. Probably because I thought it would be like CSI... which I never really got into. So I decided to watch "lost" which i got sort of addicted to, I think because it was so crazy. Then I tuned out for season three. Then I come to Burundi, and as entertainment in the evenings we have a very limited selection of movies and tv shows. I finally caved after 4 months of being here and checked out 24 as it was one of three tv shows Sara had purchased a few seasons of. Instantly I was addicted. Every time I see Jack Bauer I think "dan franklin" not because they are the same guy, rather, Dan loves the character that is Jack Bauer. I myself prefere Tony, and I did really like Chase, as well. Season one... I thought Nina was the perfect person, like the only other perfect person to walk the planet. Even when I found out she was bad, I still thought... "man, what a woman." She still ranks as one of my favorite tv personalities." I have a few questions for Dan that I'm wondering if anyone knows the answer to. You know how pastors use stories from everyday life or things they are excited about and work them into their sermon whether it fits or not. I'm wondering: Has Dan ever used examples from plot lines from 24 and worked them into sermons? Has Dan ever dropped the name Jack Bauer in one of his sermons? Does Dan where a ctu badge when he preaches? I went to a church that did a whole series on the movie: The matrix. Crazy. These are the things I think about when I'm watching 24. I think one: is Dan using any of this material? I also think: Did Dan see that plot twist coming? I've predicted a few things, and I gotta also say; I'd never be able to watch this show on TV, to wait one week for an episode would be excruciating punishment to put oneself through. I also wondered if one could talk about attributes of God, and compare/contrast with attributes of Jack. Occasionally as I watch the show it seems like there may be some similarities. For a while I was tempted to Say that Jack was omnipotent until at the end of season one, he was stopped dead in his tracks by what... A faulty seatbelt in a ford explorer!!! If you don't believe me go back and watch the final episode of season one. Sherry Palmer of all people had to cut him free! Crazy. Sorry Jack, you're not God... but you are a very incredible fictional character. Faulty seat belts aren't a problem for the God of the universe. Another great thing about this show is many characters are very likable, even the Bad guys. Most of them I really like and identify with on several levels. Now I don't think Dan would really identify with many of the bad guys, he's to good for that so we may part ways there. Another thing I keep hoping as I enter a new season... I keep looking to see if Dan will show up as a character in CTU... like maybe he'll be Edgar's assistant. Or maybe he'll be the new director. I've seen Dan's acting abilities, and while I think he's got some talent, I don't think he's cut out to be the CTU director just yet, but I do think I might be able to pull it off. I do think Dan would do quite well as some minor character that works at CTU. All this to say, I can't separate Dan from 24, and when I watch 24, or see Jack Bauer, I'm thinkin: Dan Franklin. And that is something I don't think most people could boast about, and if they could... why would they... honestly. This is just a Seth thing. Just check out the picture of Dan at the top of this post. Now, when you look at that picture, are you thinking, Jack Bauer? I didn't think so. But I am, that's what I do... so you don't have to.

the bujual

We are back in Burundi and have been back for about a week. Things are going well. I'm thankful for the Frontliners, Mars Hill team, and Good Shep as well for their continued encouragement, info, support, and prayers. It's great to have you all aboard with us on this venture. I must include my family as well, and of course, Mark Peter for all his encouragement kind words, prayers, and interest in the region... I do hope you can make it out someday, Mark, and know that you are always welcome at our Burundi abode. I like naming names sometimes because you guys are so great and supportive. I will be traveling to Rwanda in just over a week, then hoping to go to Congo before heading back to Burundi. I will be documenting some of the things we are doing in these two countries in addition to Burundi, and I will be taking two others with me, Paul, who is from frontline and will be doing some videography, and Bryn who will be doing photography. So that will be happening soon. Ciou for now.

The Last Day

This is our last day in Kenya. We had a great time with the country director Jean Paul, and we did a lot of video photo and had several meetings, and Trina did some Grant proposals for the Child Survival and VST (vocational skills training) programs. Though we have hours of video and hundreds of photos, I think it will be a week or so before you see media pop up on Trina's blog. I'll see what I can do to make video available. I haven't got that hammered out yet. Also, to our wonderful, and fantastic support team Trina and I will be updating you with our monthly update very soon. Within the next two weeks for sure. We've discovered that the electricity is far superior in Kenya as are the roads, but that's no suprise. The class gap between the rich and poor is staggering in Kenya. I'm told Kenya is in the top 4 worst coutries in the world for income gaps. Nairobi is also home to the second largest slum on the continent. The largest is in South Africa. I'm confident I will be back in this neck of the woods for future projects. World relief is working in one of the slums partnering with churches helping provide moms with orphans jobs to allow their kids to eat and go to school, they also help AIDS victims with medicine and education, and income generation. There is also an orphans and vulnerable children program for kids in the slums. There is a lot more in the works, and we'll keep you informed with what all we are doing in Kenya. Trina will in fact update you on that very soon. So tomorrow we're off to the airport.

Back to the grind

Well, some very big transitioning is happening in our African Great Lake region. I'm still in Kenya back to work with the country director Jean Paul. We will be going to the slums of Nairobi today or tomorrow I believe. Back in Burundi I am confident that there is no internet still so I'll try and get back to as many people as possible today. The good shepherd team is back in the states, and we had a successful visit to a refugee camp in Tanzania, and the team preached and worked with youth in Nyanza Lac. In the midst of their visit the Brose family left the region. It was a difficult departure for many but the staff seems to have adjusted back to work same old same though I think Dan's office is empty, I'm working on putting a life sized cardboard cut out of Dan behind his desk with the classic Dan smile.
In my world, I moved my editing suite to a different room, but it's still incomplete, there is much more work to do. It was great to hang out with Troy in the middle of all the transition. We are both surfers though my skills have suffered these passed 10 years where Troy has grown to new levels of ability. But we had that surfer connection and had great fellowship. I can't thank the good shepherd folk enough, in addition to all our friends and family for all the gifts and goodies you brought out and gave to us. It's huge. We feel the love. I think in two days we will be back to Burundi to sort out all the suit cases and I'll organize my new office, and we'll start setting up our abode and getting back to the daily grind in the heart of Africa. I want Greg from Mars Hill to know that I got 5lbs of green Burundi coffee, I will be sending his way with the next mars hill team or possibly sooner with a front line team. So get ready to roast some Burundi beans, we'll see what we can come up with... micro enterprise baby!!! Get your four wheelers ready.
Okay, sorry about those personal messages in the middle of blog posts. I don't even know if Greg will see it. Anyway, I'll keep everyone updated as much as possible.

no internet warning

There is no internet so I apalogize for not responding to emails. If we get internet again I will get back to everyone. I am with Ken and Sue Newcomb currently at a grocery store\resturaunt\ with a few computers attempting to post this message. We will travel to Kenya tomorrow. Possibly Kenya still has connectivity. If so, I will fire off some communications. I hope all is well with everyone. Possibly sombody can tell Jeremy Pietzold to come to Burundi and help us get back online. You can do it Jer.

we're off... sort of

We're off to Tanzania with a short term mission team from Good Shepherd. At least we're in process, there are always complications to be worked out. We fueld the vehicles this morning (there is a gas/diesel shortage in the country) and the lines were crazy. I'm packed as is Trina, and we will be working with youth in Southern Burundi, and then traveling to a refugee camp in Northern Tanzania or possibly the other way around. We will return on Wed July 11th. Be well till then, and I will update you later this week. Big happenings in Country with our little NGO. Dan Brose and family are leaving, and will be officially back State side on Thursday (after a brief stint in Israel). We had several fairwell parties, and it's been a difficult time for many. Life shall go on however, it must. Many don't realize the pivitol role Dan Brose plays in the region, and since I haven't done any videos on him, you may never realize how important this man is to the heart of Africa, so let me just tell you. He's very, very, very, very, very important. Just ask any local from Burundi, Rwanda, or Congo. They'll tell you. Often it's that way, the heroes story is never told, possibly via oral transmission, then maybe someone tries to make a movie or write a book years later, but by then, well, by then it's just different, and the "heart of it" is seldom captured well. So, all this to say that this week is a very big week in the history of World Relief Burundi. I think that's all for now, simply because we must go pick up the team from Good Shepherd, and travel south for 8 hours or so... should be an adventure. It's been a while since I've done a road trip. I suppose I'm do for one. A la prochaine.

Struggling with Internet

What shall we say, then? Is "web surfing" sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have wasted so much time on the internet except for email. For I would not have known what time wasting really was if not for blogger. For I would not know what "surfing the web" really was if internet marketers had not said: "This is the internet, spend countless hours here!" But email, seizing the opportunity afforded by the internet, produced in me every kind of desire for aimless reading and internet communication. For apart from the internet, email is dead. Once I was alive apart from the internet, but when the internet came, wasting time sprang to life, and I died. I found that the very websites that were intended to bring knowledge actually inspired an endless trail of too much information and mindless entertainment. For blogging, seizing the opportunity afforded by the "listings of friends blogs," deceived me, and allowed me too much temptation to read an endless slew of friends blogs. So then, the internet is convenient, and internet communications are practical, effortless and good.
Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Unfortunately it did! But in order that internet might be recognized as simply too much of a good thing, it produced death in me through what is good, so that through cyber space, time might become utterly wasteful.
We know that the internet is useful; but I am addicted, sold as a slave to web browsing. I do not understand what I do. For when I mean to return emails, I do not return emails, but simply read various news and movie sites. And I do whatever is the most inefficient activity on the most efficient communication tool of our time. I agree that the internet is effective. As it is, it is no longer I myself who am effective, but rather the internet living in my computer. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my desires to waste countless hours on the web. For I have the desire to return emails and blog effectively, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is read about why garlic is the worlds healthiest food, or why Venezuela strengthens ties with Iran, or downloading songs and media, or on-line shopping! For what I spend time doing is not what is the efficient thing to do, no the wasteful pointless reading and purchasing of random things, this I keep doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but cookies living in my web browser facilitating the return to time wasting websites that I am slave to.
So I find this law at work: When I want to return an email or blog, conveniently cool entertaining websites are right there just a click away. For in my inner being I delight in high speed internet; but I see another law at work in the members of my cyber space habits, waging war against the law of efficiency and effective use of time and money, making me a prisoner of the law of aimless perpetual web browsing, blog reading, and internet purchases. What a wretched man am I! Who will rescue me from this age of information and consumerism? Thanks be to Africa -through complete lack of good internet connectivity!

Dannyboy

Well, my latest flick (not my latest, but at least the latest viewable video... the rest are stuck here, until I can figure out how to get them to the states) made it onto the web, and I thought you all should see it (only if you feel like it). The flick is called "dannyboy" and it made it's way up into one of my favorite little short diddy's. So I'm going to give you the link to view it. After clicking on the link, just click on "dannyboy" and the video will play (don't worry, it won't cost you anything, it plays for free). Danny was our favorite little orphan here in Burundi, and now he is at least temporarily, adopted. Go ahead and leave a comment to let me know if you can see it. My internet connection has been pretty bad lately so nothing is working right especially links, so I want to know if the link is working. Okay, here's the link to the "Dannyboy" video:

http://www.sermonspice.com/listings/producer/276/concept-81/

All dried up

Dry season is here, and there's nothing you can do about it. A constant haze has settled all around the city hugely limmiting visibility. Also, vegitation is drying up, so it's just not looking near as lush anymore. Forget about seeing Congo, it's simply not possible through the thick haze. It's also more windy, which is good and bad. Bad for filming, but good for feeling a little bit cooler. I'd have to say, I definately prefere rainy season... and, if you're thinking of visiting Africa, I recommend rainy season, if you want to see the beautiful lushness.
Summer teams are in full swing, and there is lots happening. We did our last food distribution, and that is a bit sad... but we are moving on some HIV aids projects, and Church Mobilization (mobilizing local churches to better serve the community and the communities needs)will be taking off in the not too distant future. Also, a Mars Hill team is here, and they are actively pursuing building capacity for Microfinance, and HIV Aids programs, and training pastors for effective counseling of people who have suffered great trauma and are suffering with aids. This is in addition to already building conflict resolution training into the Microfinance programs. In addition to this, our largest goat distribution happened a month ago, and we should be seeing some results by now. Dolla is also building more houses for returning refugees and IDP's (internally displaced people). I will be putting films together in the future to communicate in greater detail everything I'm ranting about.

On this rock I will build Burundi

"When I am in church, I pray and devote myself exclusively to God. And when I am in politics, I do the opposite"
Pierre Nkurunziza

President: Pierre Nkurunziza

Pierre Nkurunziza, a Hutu former rebel leader, became the first president to be chosen in democratic elections since the start of Burundi's civil war. His father was Catholic, as well as an elected member of the National Assembly in 1965 while his mother was an Anglican nurse. When Pierre was 7 years old when his father was assassinated in the 1972 ethnic massacre.
After he finished primary school in 1979, he joined Gitega Secondary School where he left in 1987 to enter the University of Burundi. He had applied to enter the Faculty of Economic Sciences or the High Military Institute but, instead, he was admitted to the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports. Students were at the time admitted to different faculties depending on their ethnic and regional origins. Some faculties were more highly prized than others. Hutus were not admitted into the military institute.
Four years later, Nkurunziza left the university holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education and sports. He started his sports teaching career at the Vugizo and Muramvya secondary schools before returning to the University of Burundi as an assistant lecturer. At the same time, he lectured at the military institute and coached a football team. Before joining the rebels, he was a teacher, not known for his political activities.
"I was pushed into rebellion by the inter-ethnic massacres that were taking place at the university in 1995." At that time, ethnic clashes at the university targeted Hutu students, prompting him to flee the country. Nkurunziza remembers that he escaped assassination by his own students. "It was no longer possible to live in Bujumbura," he said. He joined the Hutu rebellion in 1995 and rose through the ranks to become head of the FDD in 2001. He sustained a serious mortar injury during the conflict.

'Pre-destined'

He narrowly escaped death in combat in 2001 in the central province of Gitega. Injured in battle and with the army in hot pursuit, he says he saw those who had gone to kill him were eaten by crocodiles near the Maragarazi river, in central Burundi. He says the experience is proof that he was pre-destined to lead the FDD.
Now a born-again Protestant, he is described by those close to him as "religious, cool and a gentleman devoid of religious fundamentalism". He says he is against tribalism and fought for peace, justice and security for all. "When I am in church, I pray and devote myself exclusively to God. And when I am in politics, I do the opposite while at the same time acknowledging that God is everywhere," he once said.
Although Mr. Nkurunziza preaches peace and unity, his rebel group staged several ambushes along major roads killing many travelers, mostly Tutsis. In 1998, he was sentenced to death by a Burundian court but he received an amnesty under the peace accords.
The FDD now boasts many Tutsi officials, which some say is proof of Mr. Nkurunziza's national outlook. However, others point out that under the new constitution, parties were obliged to have members from both major communities. The constitution also shares out government posts on an ethnic basis. Thus, the pro-Hutu FDD was obliged to seek Tutsi members who in turn could fill the posts reserved for them under the peace deal.

Family tragedy

Mr Nkurunziza is married with two sons, aged nine and 11. He had a sister and six brothers, two of whom died during the 1993 killings which followed President Ndadaye's killing. Three others died in the bush. Now only he and his sister remain. He was reunited with his family in December 2003 after the signing of the peace agreement with the government.
After 10 years of war, Burundians hope they can now rebuild their lives
Mr. Nkurunziza relinquished the FDD leadership post after being chosen as a presidential candidate for the forthcoming elections. His government will also face the hard task of engaging the only active rebel group, the National Liberation Forces, in talks and then reaching a peace agreement.
After so many years of conflict, he will also have to reassure the minority Tutsis, through actions as well as words, that their future is secure in a democratic government led by the majority Hutus.
He was the sole candidate in the August 2005 vote in the National Assembly and the Senate after his Force for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) won parliamentary elections in June. The FDD was until recently the largest rebel group fighting the Burundi government.
After 10 years of conflict between ethnic Hutu rebels and the Tutsi-dominated army, the FDD joined the peace process in November 2003 paving the way for its entry into government. The vote was one of the final steps in a peace process intended to end years of fighting between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi-controlled army.
Mr. Nkurunziza, 41, arrived in Bujumbura in November 2004, to take up his post of minister for good governance. He belongs to the younger generation of Hutu leaders, whose political and military careers started after the killing of Hutu President Melchior Ndadaye by disgruntled soldiers in 1993.
Mr. Nkurunziza, who pledged to strive for unity, faces the pressing challenges of reassuring the Tutsi minority and of reviving the economy. At the end of 2005 he unveiled a $2billion rejuvenation plan, most of it to be funded by foreign donors, targeted at the agricultural sector.
As the nation's leader, he faces the challenges of elevating the standard of living of millions of Burundians, which have plummeted during the 12 years of civil war, compounded by endemic official corruption.

A brief history of Burundi

The earliest inhabitants of the area were the pygmoid Twa. They were largely replaced and absorbed by Bantu tribes during Bantu migrations.
Burundi existed as an independent kingdom from the sixteenth century. In 1903, it became a German colony and passed to Belgium in World War I. It was part of the Belgian League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi in 1923, later a United Nations Trust Territory under Belgian administrative authority following World War II. The origins of Burundi monarchy are veiled in myth. According to some legends, Ntare Rushatsi, founder of the original dynasty, came to Burundi from Rwanda in seventeenth century; other, more reliable sources, suggest that Ntare came from Buha, in the south-east, and laid the foundation for his kingdom in the Nkoma region.
Until the downfall of the monarchy in 1966, kingship remained one of last links that bound Burundi with its past.
From independence in 1962, until the elections of 1993, Burundi was controlled by a series of military dictators, all from the Tutsi minority. These years saw extensive ethnic violence including major incidents in 1964 and the late 1980s, and the Burundian genocide in 1972. In 1993 (I was a sophmore in highschool), Burundi held its first democratic elections, which were won by the Hutu-dominated Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU). FRODEBU leader Melchior Ndadaye became Burundi's first Hutu President, but a few months later he was assassinated by a group of Tutsi army officers. The killing plunged Burundi into a vicious civil war.
In retaliation for Ndadaye's killing, Hutu extremists massacred thousands of Tutsi civilians. The Tutsi-dominated army responded by massacring similar amounts of Hutus. Years of instability followed until 1996, when former president Pierre Buyoya took power in a coup. In August 2000 (I was graduating college), a peace-deal agreed by all but two of Burundi's political groups laid out a timetable for the restoration of democracy. After several more years of violence, a cease-fire was signed in 2003 (I began grad school) between Buyoya's government and the largest Hutu rebel group, CNDD-FDD. Later that year, FRODEBU leader Domitien Ndayizeye replaced Buyoya as President. Yet the most extreme Hutu group, Palipehutu-FNL (commonly known as "FNL"), continued to refuse negotiations. In August 2004 (I was celebrating my first anniversary with Trina), the group massacred 152 Congolese Tutsi refugees at the Gatumba refugee camp in western Burundi. In response to the attack, the Burundian government issued arrest warrants for the FNL leaders Agathon Rwasa and Pasteur Habimana, and declared the group a terrorist organisation.
In May 2005 (I was planning my first visit to Burundi), a cease-fire was finally agreed between the FNL and the Burundian government, but fighting continued. Renewed negotiations are now under way, amid fears that the FNL will demand a blanket amnesty in exchange for laying down their arms. A series of elections, held in mid-2005 were won by the former Hutu rebel National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD). On September 7, 2006 (I was prepping to live in Burundi), a second ceasefire agreement was signed.
Currently, The president, Pierre Nkurunziza met in Tanzania for peace talks (yesterday) with the last faction of the FNL. Their moving forward, and releasing some FNL political prisoners. The president plays rugby outside our headquarters in town, just across the street. Three weeks ago, Trina was driving to french class, and didn't pull over when Pierre drove by with is motorcade... and we got reprimanded by a moto cop... and I'm shooting a documentary about a boy who was a child soldier, and is now a pastor, who is building a house on the lake. We'll see what happens. It's been a week of challenging shooting, but today, the police didn't pull me over! I was so happy. This place is wild. There's too much to say.