Category: GLO

“Please, please we need Bibles! And not just any Bible, but a new version. The old one I can hardly understand!” I could have been offended, but I’m not. You see, my great-aunt, Rosemary Guillebaud, was the person who brought God’s Word to Burundians in their own language, after twenty years of hard graft working on it. But that was a long time ago – 1967 to be precise – and language evolves steadily. You’d understand the King James Version in English better than Burundians understand Rosemary’s 1967 Kirundi translation! For example, ‘imbata ya Yesu’ meant ‘slave/servant of Christ’ back […]

There’s no social security out here. When your husband dies, beyond the normal grieving it’s a total and utter disaster for the widow, further compounded if she has children. So here’s a hope-filled story for widowed mother-of-three Virginie, who has just got her house through the ministry of J-Life. Justin, Tanya and my Lizzie helped in the process at the beginning of January, and it is now complete. Total cost: $1,000 (so a little more than I advertised last week, because prices have gone up and the standard of house we are building is also better). Enjoy the pics and […]

Sometimes fairy tales actually come true. Alain was the ugliest, most disfigured boy in the whole of Burundi. His face, tummy and hand had melted in a fire after he passed out with an epileptic fit, so from them on he had to hide his horrific features underneath a hood. With his father, before the first round of surgeries Suffice to say, two decades later, after fifteen plastic surgery operations totalling several dozen hours, he’s recently completed his degree, got a distinction no less, is employed at a health centre, and wait for it… is engaged to be married to […]

I thought I’d just give you a quick update on Eva’s work following on from our encounter last month. The response to that blog was beautiful, meaning that we could provide Eva with seed-funding and help her give out lots of sanitary towels and soap to vulnerable women over the Christmas and New Year period. These ladies, as you can imagine, were very happy indeed. Also, a number of folks have come alongside Eva in terms of helping with business plans, encouragements, advice, and connections. It’s a beautiful example of what GLO loves doing, and we hope and pray that […]

It happens each year at about this time. Tharcisse, faithful long-term Scripture Union accountant, writes me an emotive plea to intervene on his and the rest of the staff’s behalf: “Hello Brother Simon! Christmas is coming. Many of us in Burundi only eat meat, chocolate, and biscuits on this one special day. It’s also the only day of the year my kids and wife hope to get a new clothing. Because of the economic situation, I as a father and husband simply can’t afford anything again this year. I don’t want to disappoint my wife and kids, so I’m asking […]

I never thought I’d be writing about sanitary towels or tampons. Today I met Eva. She’s a 32-year-old entrepreneur. She blew me away, for two reasons: Firstly, because she got a Masters degree in France; and then, against everyone’s wishes and common sense, she returned to Burundi because of God’s call on her life to make a difference in her nation. Very, very few people do that. Leaving the safety, opportunities and affluence of France for the instability, mass unemployment and rampant poverty of Burundi. Wow! That has to be God… …And secondly, because she pursued me. She wrote me […]

I’m sat in a dimly-lit venue with about four hundred hard-working and dignified rural folk as they strain to hear the voice of the trainer at the front due to the rain pelting down on the tin roof above. The odour of the man next to me is thick in my nostrils. Some have walked for several hours to get here. These are poor industrious people who are trying their best to provide for their loved-ones, and they know being part of this savings group is their best chance of making it work. The methodology is beautiful. First, it involves […]

Freddy, dear friend and founder of Burundi Youth for Christ, just posted this on Facebook: “Thacien and Olivier, the two young men you see on this photo above (from right to left), are our oldest children at Gitega Orphanage under BYFC. They are currently studying at Gitega International Academy. They have just received a full scholarship to go study at Waterford United World College of Southern Africa in Swaziland. It is one of the best high schools on the continent. 60 nationalities are represented there from around the world. It is a very expensive school and connected to some of […]

I wrote a cheque a few days ago for school fees/uniforms for a group who were praying/fasting for just that, and in walked their boss with the money! There was much joy and celebration for God’s faithfulness. I love it that we get to be a part of this! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! The response to my raw missive has been huge, and we have been able to help over a thousand children with what they needed to get back to school. What a privilege! God bless you all, thanks for standing with us. Above is the second […]

Aaarrgh! I write this incensed and sad and seething. And I want to write now whilst I feel deeply raw. I’ve said before how I love and hate Burundi in equal measure. I love the people – their faith, generosity, perseverance; but I hate the poverty, injustice and suffering. I’ve just had a horrible conversation with a wonderful woman. September is the hardest month of the year for folks here, because it’s back to school for the kids – or not, as the case may be. Through tears she pleaded with me on behalf of her staff: “Simon, we can’t […]