by Fenton Rees

On Monday, June 27th, we head out again for 6 weeks in Africa, but this time it will be Burundi and not Gabon. We were both in Burundi in 2011 and 2012, and Pat was there in 2013. Mostly we were then helping out at the “up-country” rural hospital that was a branch campus of the main Hope Africa University Hospital in Bujumbura the capital. Back in those days, the facilities at the rural campus (Kibuye) were challenging to say the least: sometimes no running water for the doctors to wash their hands before surgery (they used buckets) and electricity that was sometimes more off than on (and no backup generator).

But since then an intrepid group of 5 American doctors (and their families) that trained together decided they wanted to be missionary doctors together and landed at Kibuye. Somehow they also have access to more funding than ever seemed possible in 2011, so that their dreams for what the campus will eventually look like are quite amazing.

So why are we going there now seeing they have everything taken care of ? Pat will be substituting for the general surgeon (on furlough) and I will be working with his brother (a mechanical engineer who has also moved there) to help improve the electrical system and plan for future expansion.

Some of you might know that Burundi would easily qualify as a “basket case” country. Among the 6 poorest and most corrupt countries in the world, the 2nd least well fed country in the world (1600 calories per person per day vs. more than 3000 in the US), and a life expectancy of about 50. And on top of that in the last year there was a disputed presidential election that has resulted in sporadic political violence with a few hundred killed, mostly in the capital.

While most Burundians would classify themselves as Christian, many if not most are relatively nominal and have only a passing knowledge of what it really means; which of course does not help with all their problems. So one of the rays of hope that things will get better is Hope Africa University, a Free Methodist very evangelical institution that not only helps train health care workers but many other disciplines as well. Hopefully, they will inspire some of their students to become the Burundian version of Billy Graham or William Wilberforce; men (and women) who can lead and inspire their country to better things.

Between now and when we land in Kibuye, you can pray with us that we:

Get everything all packed up;- We are carrying a pile of stuff for others in Burundi including a repaired radio transmitter for the university’s “Voice of Hope” radio station.
Endure the “route from hell” to Burundi;- via LAX, fuel stop in Ireland, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
Can pass through the capital (“Buja”) without being accidentally in the way of the political violence.