Renewing water

The climate in both Congo and Burundi is much like Arizona, although not quite as hot and more humid. They have two seasons--rainy and dry.

In Lubumbashi when it was the dry season everything was parched and dusty. The plants had layers of dust on them that were there for months until the rains came. The plants appeared to be dying by the time the rainy season arrived. Then, with the beginning of the rains, things were washed and sprang back to life.

Burundi is 3 degrees south of the Equator, so it's hot and humid all year round. Because of the high humidity, and the sandy soil, things were never as dusty as in the Congo, but the arrival of the rainy season still brought the world to life.

Our yard, which was dirt with a few sprigs of grass when we arrived in late September, was lush and beautiful by early November, after the coming of the rains. Brent loves the straight lines and crisp edges that the gardeners are creating.

The gardeners are really just two teen-age boys with little eduction. We know that because they speak little French, only Kirundi. It's hard work and they do it with limited tools. They have a machete, a crude hoe and a push mower. Our gardeners are working very hard to get landscaping done.They are really nice young men and good workers who seem to take pride in their work.

From our balcony the neighbors yards are a beautiful sight. In a few years our yard will be too.

Everywhere that there were dry, grassy fields the people have cleared and planted corn with beans under it. The corn seemed to grow overnight and is already as tall as a man.

It rains almost every day and often several times a day. The saying "when it rains, it pours," must have been originated in Africa. We have deluges for a few minutes and then it's gone. It

even makes Arizona August thunder storm rains seem mild.

Everything is in bloom and the vegetation is quite beautiful. We see oleander, vinca, bougainvillea, and many other beautiful flowering plants. The foliage here is much more lush and beautiful than in Lubumbashi.

One of the plants that we've not seen before we came here is this beautiful, but very unfriendly looking plant.

It's called the Crown of Thorns, or Christ plant. Our friends in Kenya, the Foxes, told us that tradition has it that the crown of thorns fashion for the Savior was made from this plant.

The trees in Burundi are unique and very interesting too. There are many, many varieties of palm trees. The one on the left has a prickly trunk that you don't want to bump up against. It's razor sharp. In the middle is a fan-like palm with branches going in a side-ways row. Then there is the palm "pine tree."

There are banana trees, papaya and mango laden with fruit everywhere.

My two favorite trees, the huge banyan tree in the middle of the street in downtown Bujumbura and the funny looking Dr. Seus papaya tree across the street from us that's shown above.

Nature has been kind to the land of Burundi. Its beauty is a stark contrast to the sad things and lack of progress we see in the lives of many of the people brought on by war and financial struggle. But just as the rains bring needed renewal to the earth, so the gospel rains down hope and rebirth to this land and its people. Already new growth is visible and in a few years we pray that this part of the Lord's vineyard will blossom from the blessings of the living water of the restored gospel.