I’d like you to join us on a ride today. Hop on in our SUV, we have somewhere important we’d like you to visit with us. We’re going to stop at the bottom of the mountain to pick up our translator and friend, Lambert. Then we take a short drive to Mweya where we pick up an amazing woman of God and social worker, Leocadie. We continue driving on the paved road about 15 minutes until Leocadie tells us to turn left onto a dirt road. Oh the dirt roads. Yes, hang on for this ride, we call it the African massage.

Josh is driving and does a great job navigating the giant ditches caused by the hard rains from rainy season. You hear those precious voices as we drive by? Those are kids yelling “muzungu” as they see us pass by. You also see the motorbikes and bicyclists, it always makes me nervous when the motorbike drivers turn their heads to look at the muzungu driving, I tell them to watch the road not the muzungu in my head.

It’s taking a while, I know. At least we have the warm African air flowing through the car. I hope you went the bathroom before you got in, if you’re a male, don’t worry we’ll make a stop, if you’re a female, well, you just get used to holding it. Oh Lambert is telling us to pull over. Someone is going to get in the car with us. Don’t worry, it’s another Sister Connection widow, obviously a sponsored widow because she is dressed so nicely and greets us with a warm, contagious smile. Where we are traveling to is pretty remote, but she knows the path well.

We actually took predictions for how long it would take to get there. I realize I am about to lose as we pass the 1 hour mark. The winner gets to pick which Dude Perfect we watch tonight. What was your prediction?

Oh look, there’s a beautiful waterfall. We’ll stop to get a good photo!

Perhaps it’s time to tell you where we are headed. I know this road is brutal, your back hurts and your butt is numb, but let me tell you, these are important people you’re going to meet. You see I met them in 2010 on a trip to Burundi. We made this long trek in a bus to visit an unsponsored widow. We went to her home which had been recently built, but she still had no sponsor. She was so happy to receive guests. She had 3 young children, when the translator told us their ages I couldn’t believe it, they looked half their ages. Then I realized it was because they were so malnourished. Her youngest son tried to smile, he was 3, but he looked around 1. He was different, but he tried to make eye contact and smile. It was like he was so hungry he was too tired to smile. He stole my heart. I couldn’t leave the country again without knowing that family had a sponsor. I talked to my favorite boss, Denise, and she said if no one else on the team steps up to sponsor her, I absolutely could. I began sponsoring this precious widow and her 3 orphans in 2010.

Oh Lambert told Josh to turn right, maybe we’re getting closer. Hmm….I’m not sure this is a road.

Yes, this is definitely a walking path we’re driving on. Oh there’s a “bridge”. Don’t worry, Lambert is getting out to make sure Josh doesn’t drive off the sides! Don’t worry, you’re in good hands…because, we’re all praying!

Whew! We made it, no problem! Uh oh, do you see that up ahead? Neil says it’s his worst nightmare. It’s a school! The kids are out of class and when they see the muzungu, we will be followed and surrounded in no time. Josh tries a new tactic to help get them off the back of the vehicle. He turns on the back windshield wiper as the water squirts and the wiper moves they are terrified! They jump off the back and the rest of the 20 kids are in such shock they stop chasing us and have looks of disbelief, wondering where that water came from. Lambert is laughing so hard, he loves Josh’s new tactic so much.

Oh look, there’s Thiery! Look at that smile! He’s welcoming us and showing us to his mom’s home. Thiery is the precious little boy who looked 1 year old and I honestly wasn’t sure how long he would survive. Look at him smile, walk and run! Don’t mind my tears, I just honestly cannot believe how healthy that young man is now.

We’ve arrived! Well, I think so. Sheesh, Josh is going to have to turn the vehicle around. Yep, how in the world is that going to happen? Oh good, a friendly neighbor man comes up and says there’s plenty of room. I wonder if he’s ever driven a car? With the direction of Lambert and the neighbor Josh slowly turns the SUV around, we might have taken out a few corn stalks, but at least we didn’t get stuck.

The strong Krumenacher boys grab the gifts we’re bringing from the car and we begin walking.

Watch your step, there’s goat droppings and chickens running around. Don’t worry it’s not far. Oh dear, I’ve turned into a Burundian saying, “it’s not far.” We actually have no idea how far it is, but we say it’s not far to keep visitors happy!

Just about 5 minutes later we arrived. Check it out! She has a pig!

Come on in, it’s time to introduce you. This is Jacqueline! An amazing woman I met in 2010 and have sponsored since. Her daughter-in-law is here too. We brought her gifts of a blanket, pillow and clothes. We try to be discreet because we know it can be dangerous if neighbors see and get jealous. They could come attack her and steal from her. Everyone assumes if the muzungu visit they must have given you gifts and money.

She gave us a beautiful basket as a gift and a huge bag of potatoes from her garden. I know it’s hard to accept a gift like this when you know it would benefit her family, but it’s a privilege that she gets to give us a gift.

We talk for about 20 minutes, we can’t stay too long, because it may not be safe. We pray together before we depart and we ask God to bless this family and if it is His will to heal Theiry. He is mentally handicapped, no one knows what is wrong. He is 17 and strong now, but his mind is different than others. He’s so precious, I didn’t know it at the time but before I was even a mom and understood a mother’s love I had that love for Theiry. I’m so happy to see the young man he is growing into.

We walk back to the SUV and begin the very bumpy drive back. Samuel won the prediction with an hour and a half drive, so we know it will be a long, slow and bumpy drive back. But it was worth it wasn’t it? No doubt. We have a small surprise for the boys and our friends, some Oreos we bought while in Kenya! Oreos are a big treat while in Burundi! Enjoy the scenery, sit back and try to rest a little as you bump along for the next hour. Soon enough we will be back to the house and we can rest and watch a Dude Perfect chosen by Sam!