Our Lent Appeal: Bujumbura

Thierry Bahizi's present ministry is in the Department of Missions and Evangelism in the diocese of Bujumbura in Burundi, on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Here are some photos of him, his family (his wife Telephonse and their children Chris and Batel), and colleagues, and the places where they work. Thierry asks: 'Keep praying for us as hunger is increasing in Burundi because of heavy rains that are causing havoc, sweeping all on their way, including crops which are the mainstay of life here, since 90 per cent of Burundians live from agriculture. Your partnership with us is a great encouragement. We are determined to keep serving the Lord and welcome your support in whatever way the Lord enables you to give it.'

The city of Bujumbura on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Thierry writes: It is a small city that is not developed at all. Even the beautiful houses that were built were demolished during the war. People want now to rebuild it but are hindered by financial restraints. Bujumbura is therefore made up of a few good houses and many shack-like houses with very crazy roads. Its population amounts to nearly one million. Bujumbura is hot, but enjoyable as it is situated on Lake Tanganyika.

'Our country re-entered political and civil war in 1993 when the first democratically elected President Melchior Ndadaye was killed. The country was in total chaos and people killed each other to an extent that more than 300,000 Burundians lost their lives. My father and some of my brothers and sisters were among those who were killed. Most of the remnants of the population were displaced within the country, while others became refugees, mainly in neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. I dropped my studies and fled to Tanzania where I survived in a refugee camp for two years.'

Thierry and Telephonse and their boys Chris and Batel. Thierry was born and brought up in a rural village of Rutana Province (in the southern part of Burundi) which is among the poorest provinces of the country.

'God spoke to me in the refugee camp in an amazing way and I went to Kenya in 1996. I joined a University to do law

but could not go further as the Lord compelled me to serve Him. I was then called to do Theology at Carlisle College,

Nairobi, from 1998 to 2000 when I secured a Higher Diploma in Theology. 

'From 2000 to 2002, I went on field and engaged with Christian communities in Tanzania among both Burundian refugees and Tanzanians.

'It as then that I met Telephonse. We were married on March 2, 2002.'

Batel (left) and Chris at the door of the family's home. Thierry's monthly income is equal to £50, which hardly pays a rent of a one-bedroomed house with electricity and water, plus basic family needs.

Thierry at work in his office. He is completed two project proposals that have come
out of his visiting, sharing and exchanging with parish communities. One is on the
training of Religious Education teachers in primary and secondary schools. The other
is about the training of Sunday School teachers, helping the children who will be the
church and national leaders of tomorrow.

Thanks to a generous family in Britain, Thierry's office has been equipped with two computers.
It had been non-functional for more than ten years because of technical problems and the war.

Thierry arriving for work at the Cathedral offices. Thierry was called on in 2003, by the Church Missionary Society's Interchange Program to share his experience for three months in the Welcome Project in the Leicester Diocese.

He then I returned to Nairobi where he enrolled with the University of South Africa, where he secured, early last year, an Honours Degree of Theology in Missiology.

Thierry and the diocesan Coordinator of Evangelism and Education, Rev. Emmanuel,
visiting one of the villages in the diocese. They are studying the possibilities of holding
evangelism rallies in the archdeaconries of Rumonge and Bitare, which are far from
Bujumbura, especially during the dry season when there are no rains.

The Archddeacon of Rumonge welcoming Thierry and Emmanuel. On his right in her
Mothers' Union tee-shirt is the Diocesan Secretary.

Here's the church of the Rumonge Archdeaconry...

and this is the church of the Bitare Archdeaconry. Thierry works in both...

...as well as in the Bujumbura archdeaconry where he is based. This is Holy Trinity, Bujumbura
Cathedral, where Thierry works with the Mothers' Union, and fellowships of Youth and Men.
There is now a class which meets on Friday evenings in Bujumbura. Led by their bishop,
a group of thirty members of the church visited the Diocese of Muyinga to preach the Word
as they took part in the celebrations of its first anniversary.

Thierry is from Kenya. Here are three pictures from his home village.

Burundi is a small country of 27,834 sq km. Its population is nearly seven million. Though classified by the former colonial power (Belgium) as part of Central Africa, Burundi is more a part of East Africa. Economically, Burundi is classified as the third poorest country in the World. Socially, it has three tribes: Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. Politically, the country has undergone a series of civil wars for more than a decade. But it is now picking up since last year as there is a newly elected President, a confessing Christian. The new President with his Government are having a tough task as the country was seriously torn apart by the civil war and people’s needs and expectations are immense. Unfortunately, the newly elected president begun his mandate, last year, with a wilderness that was caused by drought throughout the country such that nothing was grown, yet more than 80 per cent of the population in Burundi live from a

agriculture. From the end of last year when it was time to grow crops again, it rained so heavily such that floods swept all in their way, destroying houses and roads and killing people, animals and crops. 

Consequently, the Country is currently undergoing a serious hunger which is making people literally die and be buried! A good number of the survivors (including myself and my family) eat once a day just for survival. Moreover, the country is undergoing some political unrest mainly caused by the challenge of Muslims and some misunderstanding between political parties. There is also an ongoing talk between the Government and the remaining fighting faction FNL ‘Front National pour la Liberation’-National front for liberation.

<"font face="Arial">The Church was seriously affected by the war that it is recovering but in a very hard way. Christians are mainly returning refugees whose homes and parishes have been destroyed. They are badly affected by hunger. Issues of peace and reconciliation are at the forefront in mending both Christians and non Christians’ spiritual sphere. A good number of pastors, evangelists, Sunday school teachers, teachers of religion are not trained at all but serve because of the vocation and zeal for God’s work. The Church is trying very hard to attend peoples’ needs but is very much limited because the needs outnumber its means…