Saturday – What is your Goliath?

Can you imagine a cramped space full of little children, quietly and patiently waiting for visitors to arrive? The ministry center was crammed with little ones, moms, babies when we got there.  There was no chaos, the floor covered with little bodies sitting expectantly.  I’m trying to imagine that in the US…..

As usual, when we arrive, the worship begins!  They can praise and worship as well as any of the adults!  Some of the women in the project work on sewing in the front, completing items we ordered and were measured for Friday.  We see that some of them are already finished and hanging on the wall!  As the singing subsides, Connie begins to share the story of David and Goliath with great enthusiasm.  You can tell some of them have heard this story before, but they sit quietly, giving rapt attention.  Only the squirming of infants interrupts the story of God’s provision for the young shepherd about to be king.  They listened well, for they retold the story in detail and answered many questions about the meaning, and they knew how to apply the lesson, too.  Several shared how they felt lonely, afraid, wondered if they would eat, but that they trusted that God was with them.  Hunger and poverty are familiar Goliaths here, but these children “get it” and are depending on God being there for them just as He was for David.

 https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnACrews/KidsProgramSaturdayBujumbura

After lots of hugs and pictures, we were invited for a very special occasion and treat….a traditional wedding!  Carine, one of Peace’s helpers, invited us to her brother-law’s wedding reception, a “small one” she said.  “Small” is relative since African weddings typically involve 1,000+ people; the whole community participates!  This one was in a covered patio like setting, which did limit the number and movement of the guests, probably about 400 or so.  There is nothing like a wedding to experience the customs and traditions of a culture!  The bride and groom were seated in the center of the hall; greetings and presentation of gifts began.  Blessings bestowed, a stream of people, young and old present presents to the couple. Then a girls’ dancing troupe appears to perform traditional dances for the newlyweds.  At the conclusion of the gifting, the bride and groom prepare to leave and the tribal drummers provide the grand finale…..and GRAND it was!  We were within inches of them, beating on enormous drums, sticks flying in every direction, jumping and dancing as they played.  Spectacular!!  What a dramatic exit for a couple!

 https://picasaweb.google.com/JohnACrews/BurundiFunShots

We end the day with dinner and enjoy sharing about the day.  The more we see and hear, the more we are understanding what it means to be Burundian.  We also see how difficult life is, the enormous challenges, but also the firm faith of these who are standing on His promises.  How we can learn from them!  Everyone has at least one Goliath in their life; do we recognize ours?  Do we tremble in its presence?  Do we complain, give in, wallow in self-pity?  Or do we stand firm in the knowledge that our God is greater, like David? Do we attempt to slay our Goliath’s in our man-made armor, or do we rely on God’s strength (and method) to win the battle?  Indeed, that is the question.