Burundi is in a buzz at the moment with the elections looming. In 
Burundi we have a saying “slowly slowly”, this saying runs through the very fiber of this nation, I’m not saying this in a derogative manner but rather a teaching for us western cultures. My Burundi brothers are much more relationship orientated than task orientated. Which means that you should place a much greater value on relationships than attempting to challenge the status quo. I often think that God really had a sense of humor to send us here. Well the voting has been split over 3 months with 3 specific days for voting. (the 3 days is for different roles in government). Well the first day of voting was supposed to happen last week but have been postponed due to insufficient ballet papers delivered to the different locations but as we said “slowly slowly” everyone will be able to vote. Of cause I found it rather amusing when one of the 45 opposition parties blamed the government for being unorganized which caused the first delay. Now I am as confused as a chicken who laid a ball bearing? Please pray that the election process will continue peacefully.
Amongst the country’s propaganda campaigns we have started the 1st group of pastor’s training in Gitega during May!! 
We have started with a slightly bigger group than anticipated due to the huge demand for this kind of training. Our first group is 15 pastors (includes 3 ladies) from 6 different churches. This alone is a work of God to have different churches sitting around the same table, learning from God’s Word. We decided to run the training from our home as we have enough space and drasticly reduces the cost to train but we had some startup costs to buy 3 tables and 14 chairs + cups, flasks and plates. As we decided to also give the pastors a light meal (rice, beans & tea). There is a Burundi proverb that says that the ears of Burundian is in his stomach, when he receives food he learns much better. Anyway we just wanted to be a blessing, why not? But here is the testimony, God knew when we needed to buy this equipment and the day we needed to order the furniture and buy the catering utensils, the money was available in our account….coincidence or God? Someone once said coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. Thank you Lord!
Last week one of the pastors amongst the group, 
thanked us for coming to Burundi and our interpreter said “today I know that God was in this home”J When all odds are against you we can safely say that if God has a plan it will be fulfilled. We are humbled for what God is doing in and through us during this time, let’s thank Him! We also want to thank you for your prayers and financial support, we are doing this work together with you for God’s glory.
Diane enjoyed helping a team of youth who came to visit Ps Charles form Norway. What a blessing these young people were with such passion to serve Burundi. They asked Diane to help them arrange the logistics of the event in the local soccer stadium to reach the children of Gitega. The team worked hard on the day as there was just such an overwhelming response to their visit. This was a great opportunity for preaching the Gospel. Diane arrived home around 14:30 in the afternoon she did not even greet her waiting quests from Bujumbura properly, as she was covered with dust and dirt from all the activities, but nothing a bath could not cure.
My studies with SATS continues and completed two subjects – Book of Acts and Homiletics with distinctions for both (was really chaffed with myself) and now busy with the next two – Apologetics and Pentateuch. Please pray for me these two subjects needs much time due to the large quantity of study material and the preparation for the Veritas lectures must also be done with diligence. But I am loving it!
One Sunday early morning we woke up with rain of a different kind….it was the grasshopper “run”, 
like you see the sardine run in Scottsburg, SA so it was literary raining grasshoppers. It felt like I was in Egypt with the 10 plagues. They were everywhere, coming in under the doors attempting to escape from their hunters. Diane was almost hysterical as they wanted to join her morning bath. She just kept saying, wonder what Nats will say. Normally this kind of plague can be absolute disaster for the surrounding subsistence farmers but it was actually a blessing for both Burundian and crows. Burundians love these grasshoppers fried in a bit of oil, people were collecting bags and bags of these grasshoppers, while the crows had a feast in the air.
We are excited for Bernice’s visit to Burundi during June. Thank God for answered prayer as a lovely family have offered to pay for her ticket and someone else has given Bernice spending money. We are all counting the days in sleeps. Please pray for her safe travels to and from Burundi.
Today we had Holy Communion. Normally the ceremony is held after the main church. Everybody leaves the building except for the pastors. 
The table is prepared with the juice and the bread and covered with white table cloth. The church is invited back into the building before the ceremony begins. The pastors line up behind the table while someone prays an opening prayer. All the pastors wash hands in a basin with soap and water. The table cloth is removed and the bread loafs are broken in small pieces while the quire praises God. A short reading of the Word with a special reverence for God is observed followed by the serving of the emblems. Holy Communion is repeated once a month.
Spiritual Thought
Col 1:15-20
When Paul wrote to the brothers in Colosse there was a number of problems he wanted to address. One of the problems was the lack of Supremacy of Christ in the lives of the believers. Paul raised the superiority of Christ in the face of religion, tradition and philosophies. It does not matter how people may question the existence of God or what challenge you face when defending the Gospel, Christ has, is and will always be the first and the last. V17 In Christ all things hold together. Let’s take encouragement from God’s mighty hand of reconciling us to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. Our peace with God has been settled at the cross. Allow God’s peace through the Holy Spirit to rule our minds, tongues and actions. We serve the living, ruling and almighty God!
Prayer points
Please continue to pray as follow:
1. Peace for Burundi – for the upcoming elections while many political rallies are the order of the day, may God’s hand of peace prevail.
2. Pray for Gods Truth – the Gospel - to become known to all people in Burundi, from grass roots into the highest rank of government.
3. Bibles for Burundi – pray for resources to provide Bibles to believers. Thank God for 100 Bibles sponsored.
4. Bernice – pray for her wellbeing and God’s hand of protection.
5. Veritas training – pray for safe travels to and from Bujumbura and for the pastors who are attending the training with us, for understanding how to interpret the Word of God. Also for the continued training in Gitega every Wednesday from 9:00 to 14:00 for the next 5 months.
6. Kirundi Bible commentaries – please pray for finances and donors in order to bless pastors with this invaluable tool.
7. Our Kirundi lessons are ongoing – please pray for perseverance and understanding, we see huge favor with the local where we use the Kirundi.
8. Pray for us – protection for our health, relationships, that no weapon from the enemy against us will prevail.
9. Divine appoints – ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into all divine appointments He has created for us and to discern His words of wisdom.
10. Vehicle – pray for the settlement of the balance of the loan.
11. Studies – Pray for perseverance during the next two subjects – Apologetics and Pentateuch
Please stay connected with us on Face Book………
Also on our Blog you will find Twitter updates and real time news flashes for Burundi…..http://van-burundi.blogspot.com/
Much love
Anton and Diane
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