Meet Cassien

Cassien is the director of Help Channel Burundi, the non-profit, Burundian NGO to whom I am seconded from MCC. Cassien is my neighbour and close friend. He is also a big businessman here in Burundi, although he has relinquished prosperity and instead works for the benefit of the poor. With the revenue from their various businesses, Cassien and his wife, Beatrice, care for 40 relatives orphaned from the war or from HIV/AIDS. He strives to ensure that each has food and clothes, can attend school, and can remain in the house of their parents. On top of all of that, I have just learned that Cassien is also building three schools in the east of the country; I don’t doubt there is more. Cassien has a wonderful laugh and a good sense of humour, and is very fun to spend time with. Even though it is very fun to spend time with him, it is always very humbling. How is it that I find myself in Africa, surrounded by undignified poverty, and in the presence of people like Cassien who have renounced false security to live for something truly worthwhile, and yet I am still selfish? Sure, in a sense I have given up comfort and security, and have dedicated the next several years to become somewhat like Cassien, but it is such a slow process and daunting in scope. Do I have what it takes to let go of ‘me’ and so to truly realize the potential of who I am meant to become? Honestly, I don’t know; but I am glad to have a friend like Cassien whose life is a constant encouragement to ambitiously pursue the good of those in need. I would like very much for you to meet him someday.

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10.39)