Honestly

Honestly. Little girl at Nemba refugee camp, East Province, Rwanda.

What can be said? Must one elaborate on a face so beautiful, or are there words eloquent enough to better explain a life so obviously precious? Such would be the case regardless of context; yet, to mention that this little girl is a refugee, living with her family under a small plastic sheet in a country they do not know, one is able to perceive much more in the glimmer of her eyes or in her infectious smile. Need one portray the pitiful conditions in which she lives? For, surely that would be providing part of the truth that her face does not betray. But no- the truth is that this girl has nothing other than what one can see in her face: she has Hope. And if she has Hope, after what she has encountered in her few short years, there isn’t anything that will be able to take it away.

If you come to visit, don't expect to leave with your heart intact.

Click here to see photographs, or here to see Ed and Ed's blog of the trip.

Meet Emmanuel

Emmanuel is my Burundian roommate. He is 30 years old and has a wife who is currently several months pregnant. She has been pregnant in the past, but due to complications they haven’t yet been able to have a child. Because of the importance of having children in Burundian culture, we are all hoping and praying that they will this time be successful. His wife lives in their home upcountry, while during the week Emmanuel comes to the city for work; due to lack of employment outside the city, many Burundians do likewise. Emmanuel graduated from the university as a civil engineer, and is always busy drawing up plans for houses and buildings. He is presently responsible for a large building project of the Scripture Union, with whom he is also employed as a contributing author and editor for various Christian publications. One of my favourite moments in Burundi so far was watching Emmanuel laugh hysterically to the film ‘The God’s Must Be Crazy,’ which in a very humorous way depicts the strangeness of both ‘Western’ and African cultures when they encounter each other. Indeed, there have been some interesting moments in our own cross-cultural encounters, and my friendship with him has been important to help me gain access and understanding in regard to Burundi and its people.

mcc.org

Hey again! Check out mcc.org for their February feature slideshow featuring my photographs! Go to www.mcc.org and click on the slideshow thumbnail in the right sidebar, or click here.

mcc.org

Hey! Check out an audio interview and slideshow with yours truly at mcc.org! Click here to go there.