The Casava Conservationists

Casava is bigger than life in Burundi.  In most neighboring countries a few people eat the root when nothing else in available.  But not in Burundi- here it is a prize delicacy! People sell it on the sides of the road at the bus stands in just about every imaginable form- cooked, baked, fermented, boiled, raw. 

Yep-  just about anything goes when it comes to Casava.  Casava for breakfast, casava with deep-fried fish, casava with spinach, casava with beans, and casava just for casava's sake simply so one can say that they ate casava that day with a good cup of Burundian tea! 

This week we purchased a piece of land to be used as the site for a new church building we hope to build next month.  The congregation of about 50 people have been meeting in one of the most dilapidated houses I have ever seen.  They are so excited about having their own piece of land with a steel tabernacle on it to be used as their sanctuary. 

We requested the members of the church to begin leveling the land so that we could lay the foundations.   There was great excitement to begin the work! As they started to clear the land- several irate Burundians suddenly showed up to cause trouble.   The  former watchman of the piece of land was the primary instigator.  Shouting and carrying on a scene he made it clear that no one was doing anything until the casava that had been planted was harvested! 

By the time I heard the story it had become quite a complicated scenario.  The former owner was screaming and yelling in good Burundian fashion in our head office that if we wanted to clear the casava we would have to pay his former watchman compensation money.  I was totally confused so I asked: "who owns the land now?"  "the church does of course!" came the response.  "err...help me in my state of ignorance and naivety....doesn't that mean we can do whatever we want with the land?"  "Oh no! Of course not, this is casava we're talking about!!"  

And so the battle for casava conservation continues to rage just south of the city on a piece of land that I think we own, but apparently can't touch.....so that a former disgruntled employee can have a share of his casava harvest.  

Absurd?  Oh yeah....totally absurd! (I'm still shaking my head on this one).   However, as I thought about it more, I was struck by this  former night watchman's courage and persistence to have a share in the casava harvest.   He knows what's valuable- at least in Burundi! And he's willing to do just about anything to make sure that it will be his. 

 And I have to ask myself: "am I that eager to have a share of the Lord's valuable harvest?"  We're dealing with something of far greater value than casava- ours is the business of men's souls.  Their eternal destiny is at stake.  John 4:24 comes to mind: "Do you not say 4 months more and then the harvest?" Jesus is trying to help his disciples understand what's really important.   A whole village is ready to receive Christ. It is the day of harvest.  My heart's cry today is "oh God give us passion for your harvest no matter the cost!" 

Hypothermia on the High Seas

This past week I traveled to the hottest inhabitable place on planet earth.  During the summer months the temperatures regularly soars above 55 (130 +) degrees Celsius.  Situated right along the coast of the Indian Ocean, the humidity is also really intense.  Fortunately, it was the cool season and the temperatures where only in the upper 30s (100 ish).  

The country is mostly desert.  However,  just off the coast of this mostly desolate country side is some of the most spectacular marine life I have ever seen.  Being an avid fan of nature, I went snorkeling.   The sight was almost inexplicable:  Hundreds of tropical colors.  Fish of every imaginable sizes and combinations.  Coral formations that stagger the imagination.  Sea turtles and octopus and all manner of strange sea-faring critters.  I became so engrossed in the underwater adventure that I lost track of time.  Minutes quickly turned into hours.    

Surprisingly, the ocean does not share the same intense heat as the arid land next to it.  On the other side of the reef, the water was down-right frigid!  And for those of you who know me....let's just say I don't exactly have a lot of body fat....  I knew I was in trouble when I lost feeling in my hands and started shaking underwater.  Quickly, I made my way back to the beach to try and warm up.  Upon leaving the water, my legs were trembling so much that I could hardly walk.  The sight must have been hysterical--  It's well over a 100 degrees, the sun is beating down, and I'm trembling uncontrollably as if in the Rocky mountains during a snow storm.  

I went to go sit in the searing heat of the vehicle that was parked in the direct sunlight.  After a good 15 minutes in the 130 degree heat of the "sauna" I was fine. My friends were laughing at me the whole time: "it's the first time we've seen anyone get hypothermia in the desert!" 

Moral of the story: Some things in life are worth paying the price for!  God's creation is breath-takingly stunning! So after I had warmed up- I went back out for another hour :-) It was so amazing!  Hypothermia or no hypothermia in the middle of the desert, I want to live with no regrets!  I couldn't imagine leaving that place without getting at least one more glimpse of God's incredible creation.  

 

The Nyanza Lac Special

The steady downpours everyday for the last several weeks have left the roads in a disastrous state. Mudslides are frequent and the pot-holes are like craters on the moon. We were travelling to a place called Nyabigina- the middle of the middle of nowhere. After bouncing, shaking, and rattling for several hours it was decided that we should spend the night in Nyanza Lac. Nyanza is the closest major urban center- a thriving metropolis of some 15,000 people on the shores of the lake.

Pastor Laurent found us a brand new hotel with 6 rooms. Three of them were already taken by some engineers working on the road- as to what they have actually accomplished in the last 3 months I can't even guess. But that is another story for another day. However, there were three rooms left- the exact number that we needed.

Upon entering my room, I was greeted by a friendly flock of Burundi's finest mosquitoes. They seemed excited to see me. I promptly emptied half of a can of bug-spray. I couldn't go back in the room for 3 hours due to the smell--but the flock was no more. Once the cloud of poison finally disapaited, I fell asleep. About 5 AM, I awoke due to the heat and decided to use the little restroom.

As I walked across the floor my foot landed 2 inches from the stinger of a scorpion who was not at all amused by my nocturnal visit. The spray had clearly taken effect as it violently trembled trying to get close enough for a sting For some reason, I decided against Mark 16's admonition to tread upon scorpions-- when barefoot and quickly found my way back to bed praying to God that it wouldn't follow me.

The next morning as I setteled the bill for all three rooms I was astonished. Room #1 10,000 FBU, Room #2 10,000 FBU, Room #3 7,000 FBU. Yet, all three rooms were identical . The thought flashed in my mind: "It's a special rate they are offering." Regular rooms are 10,000. However, if you make it through the night in the scorpion room then you get a 3,000 FBU discount. Ha! As I laughed I suddenly realized how serious the whole situation really had been. Two inches isn't much.

I have been studying Zecheriah. In chapter two the promise for the city of Jerusalem is that God will be a wall a fire around it and the glory within it. This promise is reiterated by David in Psalm 3- thou oh Lord are a shield for me. You are the glory and the lifter of my head. During the past few days I have sensed God's incredible protection over my life. There's nothing like knowing that God has your back. His presence surrounds us protecting us from the enemy. To all of those who faithfully pray for me and this little country- thank you!