In this week's edition of Jym Shorts, Greg Meadows shares about his trip to Burundi.
April 1st, I began a trip with eleven other people to Burundi, Africa, that made an imprint on my mind and heart and has caused me to reflect on the things that matter most in life. Burundi is rated the poorest country in the world. Eighty-seven percent of residents live on less than $1.90 per day and are considered fortunate if they get one meal a day. Due to a 12-year civil war the population of Burundi consists of 50.3% women and 41.5% young people under fifteen. The widows were left without status and without support.
Sister Connection, the organization that we went to partner with, has been caring for widows and orphans in Burundi for over 18 years. Their desire is to help widows and orphans rebuild their lives after decades of war. While the memory of war is fading, the economic prospects for widows and their children remain bleak. The goal of Sister Connection has shifted from the immediate needs of charity to a push for self-sufficiency and sustainable development. James 1:27 says “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Sister Connection offers hope to women and their children, not only through sharing the gospel of hope, but by ministering to them and their needs.
The thirteen days we were there we worked alongside men, women and children who are learning to be self-sufficient by growing and harvesting crops, raising chickens, pigs and rabbits, on Hope Mountain. The three crops they are currently growing are coffee, pineapple, and cassava. We helped by running water and electricity to a hammermill made from a shipping container, where the women will be able to process their crops and sell them. This will provide them with an income to support their family. We also helped to build a brick wall around the home that the Krumenachers will be living in, as well as, run a water supply and electricity to the house. It was a real blessing for Keith Smith and I to be able to lay brick for the base of the kitchen table that the Krumenachers will be using in their home. We hope to one day enjoy a meal with them at that table.
Land has been purchased in Bujumbura to plant thousands of moringa trees and where four widow homes will be built. These widows will care for and harvest the crops, providing a steady income for their families.
It was a privilege to work with members of Sister Connection from Washington state. The body of Christ has many members, each with their own gifts, and God used us to accomplish much.
This is the ministry the Krumenachers will be serving alongside. Life will be hard, but the rewards will be great. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to answer God’s call.
When I take all these things into consideration, it causes me to ponder and be convicted. We are to be unstained before God. Have the things of this world polluted my heart and desires? One thing that remains ingrained in my mind is that while the women were working so hard, they were singing and laughing. Some of the poorest people in the world seemed to be the most joyful.
To learn more about Burundi and Sister Connection:
https://m.facebook.com/sisterconnexion?wtsid=rdr_0IQp5RQhPEGKlNI5W
To follow the Krumenacher’s journey:
https://carriedbylivingwater.com
With a grateful heart,
Greg Meadows