Living in Burundi required constant finances. Money in. Money out. We continually needed Burundian Francs which are known as Frambu for short. The exchange rate fluctuated all the time. And when exchanging large amounts of money a differential of even 5 Frambu per dollar made a big different. There was one sure person to contact to get the best rate in town. Jesus. He was the best moneychanger in town.
Well, actually his name is Isa which is Jesus in Arabic. A Burundian entrepreneur, Jesus, had started his own forex business years before we showed up on the scene. When we did show up on the scene though, he gave us preferential customer treatment. Five frambu more per dollar on any offer in town. We had his cell phone and would call him up. "How much can you give us today Jesus?" He would always answer by saying: "How much are you bringing?" And so the negotiations would start.
When we had to purchase large pieces of land he would be especially thrilled. I remember one specific occasion. We were buying a piece of land in the heart of downtown Gitega to plant a new church. I know, I know, for most people it's not exactly a thriving metropolis, but for Burundi it is big stuff. The second largest city in the country no less. And the price of land costs a pretty penny, or maybe I should say Frambu, comparatively speaking of course. Donors from the US wired the money to the mission account.
I withdrew US dollars and made the call.
"How much can you give us today Jesus?"
Same old reply. "How much are you brining?"
I coughed nervously before answering.
"How much???" Jesus responded rather shocked.
"In that case I'm going to give you the best rate you've ever had."
Off I went to downtown Buja to find Jesus at his favorite spot, the Forex Bureau. I brought two duffle bags and a backpack with me to carry out all the money. As I walked in, the guy behind the counter greeted me: "Hey Steve how are you?" before yelling: "Jesus Steve is here."
"Send him back."
The iron gate opened that protected the inner sanctum of the Forex Bureau where all the money was stored. I headed straight towards Jesus' office. After the usual pleasantries, I produced the cash- $100 dollar bills. Some of Uncle Sam's finest. Jesus went to the safe and opened it up. Out came the Frambu. Stacks of it. I filled my backpack. Then I filled a duffle bag. And half of another one. It was a lot of money. I felt like the little boy with his five loaves and two fish giving so little to Jesus and leaving with so much more.
As I walked out, Jesus asked if I needed help carrying the bags out. "Nope, I should be fine. I parked outside on the street." In hindsight i realize how stupid this answer must have been. I walk in to Forex Bureau in one of the most crime ridden cities in the world with 3 empty bags only to remerge a half hour later with all of them stuffed to the hilt. Nevertheless, I made it home safely, drove to Gitega a few days later, made the transaction, purchased the land, hosted a construction team, built a tabernacle, finished the walls, and started a church that runs several hundred to this day with 8 church plants, all because of a man named Jesus. Literally and spiritually.
I think of our conversations fondly. "How much can you give me today Jesus?" And I wonder if that's not how many of us approach the real Jesus. "What's in it for me today Jesus?" Or to be more crass, "If I serve you today what will you give me?" And while I think there is more to it than the simple answer that Jesus the Burundian gave me, I like to think that it's a really good starting point, "How much are you brining?" In other, words how much are you willing to surrender? For most of us we maintain the majority stock option in our investment- our lives. And so we experience precious little of Christ's presence and power. I've found that as I surrender-- my will, my plan, my life, wholly, or at least as much as I know how in any given moment, Jesus responds by pouring far more into my life than I ever could have imagined.
"How much can you give us today Jesus?"
"How much are you brining?"
Everything!
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