When we first lived in Burundi years ago we had the pleasure of living with an Irish girl, Nicola, who was also new to the country. We became close friends and it was not too long before she met and married her amazing Burundian husband, Ezechiel. They have worked hard to care for ‘the least of these’ by founding Yada. Yada takes care of some of the poorest families in Bujumbura, by providing tutoring, hygiene skills, medical care, and above all, the Gospel. They feed the children a meal every day, provide follow up visits with their school teachers weekly, focus on family discipleship and visit the families in their homes regularly. I had the pleasure of spending the morning at Yada this past week and seeing this outstanding work for myself. What struck me most was when the children began to play. When the barefoot kiddos grabbed a jump rope and began to play and giggle, all the heaviness of poverty broke away for a few minutes.
This past week there was an 8 year old girl named Greta who came to tuition and collapsed unconscious because of malaria – an easily curable disease currently raging senselessly throughout Burundi. Her mother, who begs in the city, had said goodbye to her that day knowing she was leaving her to die. Praise be to God, the male teacher in the photos below grabbed her, rushed her to the hospital – a courageous act in itself, as he was afraid of the girl dying in his arms and the community blaming him. The doctor struggled to get enough medication into her for her to be revived, but in the end, she lived! All of her medical expenses and food for her and her family during this time are covered by Yada and those giving towards their ministry. This is a testimony of hope told all over the community this week. Bless organizations like Yada who are doing it right, in a world where many NGO’s struggle to actually help those they claim to love. If you have any desire to bless them and their work, please let me know. I would love to pass on any gift. You can see some pictures of the children they have sponsored below. They are doing so much, but there is much left to be done. Please be praying for them as they continue to care for the oppressed and the broken as Jesus does.
FAM Photography 