When I jumped on the first plane headed to Burundi, Africa, I had no clue of what adventures were ahead! Traveling with four other dental students, we set out on a two day journey to meet a dental missionary, his wife, and the full-time resident missionary in Bujumbura, Burundi. After missing a couple of plane flights and bags, we knew we would have to put our full trust in God throughout the whole trip! Upon arriving at the airport in Bujumbura, the poverty was already painfully evident. Although the land, lake, and mountains were breathtakingly gorgeous, the people were living with very little to nothing. The average salary is equivalent to less than $30 a month, and the average lifespan is 45 years old. We then realized that this mission trip would be much more than simply removing painful teeth. It in fact would be a life-changing experience.
Simon Guillebaud, the full-time resident missionary and author of “For What It’s Worth: A Call to No Holds Barred Discipleship,” greeted us at the airport and welcomed us to the newly constructed “Kings Conference Center” in Bujumbura. This facility is a hotel, restaurant, and meeting location created by and for the Protestant community of the surrounding area. After receiving a tutorial on the “do’s and don’ts” of African culture, we were ready to do some dental work!
We set out to our first location in the mountains, Muramvya, Burundi. Historically this was the province where all of the royal kings lived. Therefore, the people worshiped the kings more than God, and much of the population is involved in witchcraft. There is not a dentist within hundreds of miles, and oftentimes the witch doctors would try to relieve an ailing tooth to no avail. Needless to say, it was a little difficult to gain their trust in the beginning. Our team quickly set up and provided three and a half days of dental care, while a local Burundian group, “Harvest for Christ,” translated for us and evangelized to the people waiting for treatment. They told us that these physical acts of kindness helped to validate the love and faith that God has for us (who knew that pulling teeth would be a miracle?). It helped them to understand that we may be able to relieve them from dental pain, but Jesus Christ can take away pain from their hearts. Many of the locals truly believed that we were actually sent from heaven!
Our second location was in Muyinga, Burundi. This area is heavily influenced by a Muslim population, but the people were still very receptive to us. We provided dental care for two days in the heart of the city, and one and a half days farther up in the mountains. On one day several busloads of prisoners were brought for treatment, and their stories amazed us. One young man had been imprisoned on false charges that he owed his neighbor only $4! We also heard several other accounts of faulty government and negligence. The prisons were in terrible shape, and the prisoners were lucky if they were fed once a day. Many of them rely on family members to bring them food and clothing. Even though we initially were afraid of treating the prisoners, they were by far the most appreciative of our care! In the more rural location, we saw the greatest need of anywhere we had been. In fact, more people showed up every day than we could even dream of treating. However, every person that came was able to hear “The Good News” spoken by our translating group, New Generation. New Generation is an organization that takes in orphans from the war and raises them in a Christian atmosphere and emphasizes discipleship from an early age. Their hope is that they will groom Godly leaders to bring peace to Burundi. The following are several, but not all, of the groups helping to shape Burundi’s youth to follow Christ: Youth for Christ (http://www.burundiyfc.org/), Scripture Union, Harvest for Christ, New Generation, Generation 21, and many more. Financial support and powerful prayer for these organizations is a constant need!
Our last day on the mission trip, we visited a prison in Bujumbura and provided dental care. Again, our experience was that of surreal safety and love. Our main goal in the prison ministry is to let each of them know that they are not forgotten! Although they may be separated from family and comfort, nothing can separate them from the love of God. I believe that this one day on my mission trip was by far the most rewarding!
As a group, the work that we provided is simply amazing. Of course we do not take credit; rather, we attribute our success and safety to the Lord. Over the course of two weeks in Burundi, it is estimated that we helped to treat over 2500 people! Each person received a couple of extractions, pain pills and gauze with post-op instructions, and antibiotics if they needed them. The evangelists of the group reported that around half of the attendees said they had given their life to Christ! As one of the leaders of Harvest for Christ reports of our time in Muramvya,
“…I do understand that God worked in your lives during your trip to Burundi. But, I want to let you know that your presence in Burundi also changed many lives. How great is the joy of the 952 persons who used to be painful because of their teeth and who now have peace! How great is the joy of the 420 persons who gave their lives to Christ during your work! How big is the joy of my team and I to have got an opportunity to enter in that province with an awesome work like that. Now, the doors are opened for Harvest for Christ. I praise God for your visit and I am praying to see you back.”
Reading the above quote makes me quickly remember our impact in the communities we visited. However, the impact they had on us will certainly not be forgotten either. My mindset of volunteerism has changed drastically. Instead of simply providing free or low-cost dental care, I have learned to really care about the individual and listen to their story. Every person is of worth and has something to give! I also learned that many times we will have to completely trust that God will provide our needs. Several times on the trip we could not take any credit for things that went smoothly! Finally, the country of Burundi has quickly been proven to be the heartbeat of Africa. Even in a world that has never heard of this tiny country before, Burundians are praying every day that people will come and bring hope. They welcome their visitors with open arms and make you feel like you are at home instantly! I truly believe that God has a special plan for Burundi, and it is beginning before our eyes today. We can only pray that these wonderful programs that have started will continue to blossom and nurture the youth of their country.
My final thoughts of the people I met will forever change who I am. Their simple way of life teaches us that peace and joy can be found in the most destitute of situations. Their hope in the midst of fear, hunger, and pain reminds us that God’s grace is sufficient. Their passion for Christ in a land that rejects Him prompts us to reevaluate how we are living for Him every day!
Posted on
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
by Sanford