Friends of Burundi Annual Meeting 2007  

The 2007 annual meeting of the Friends of Burundi took place at t 2.30pm on Saturday 17 October during the Mid Africa Region Conference. High Leigh Centre, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.

FRIENDS OF BURUNDI  

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 17 NOVEMBER 2007 HIGH LEIGH CONFERENCE CENTRE,  HODDESDON

Present: Trustees: Keith Anderson (Treasurer), William Challis (Chairman), Andrew Maclay, Hugh James (Hon Sec) and Sue Finlayson (Minutes Sec) plus Committee members: Pat Brooks Pam Brooks and Georgette Butura (8). Also 26 members and 3 non-members

The meeting opened in prayer.

Apologies  were received from Paul and Lucy Bell, Geoff and Jackie Bishop, Sally Ffoulkes, Alison Gill, Ian Leakey, Mavis Spiers, and Steve and Anne Stordy

1.       The Minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2006 were approved by the meeting and signed by the Chairman as a correct copy.

2.       Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

3        Charitable Status

Andrew Maclay reported that the Friends of Burundi (FoB) is now a registered charity and complies with charity law.  Under the aims and objects we are free to support church growth in Burundi in a broad way.  There are four trustees who carry financial responsibility for the charity and for making decisions aided by extra Committee members.  We can now reclaim tax on giving.

4.       Numbers required to revise constitution

It was agreed that there should be 10% of the members present at the meeting at which the constitution was revised.

5.       Questions on the Annual Report (Report attached)

There were no comments.  William Challis commented that we now have an improved, independent and subscribed website.  It is easier to locate through Google and has a number of links. The website was demonstrated to the meeting.  On behalf of the Trustees and all present William thanked Hugh for his considerable work on the website. It was PROPOSED by William Challis and SECONDED by Keith Anderson with all members in agreement that the Annual Report be adopted.

6.       Questions on the Financial Statement (Statement attached)

Keith Anderson commented that since the end of September one person has de-registered leaving 40 subscribing members.  The amount available for distribution is £1,600 plus tax reclaimed.  Keith encouraged non-members present to subscribe for 2008.

7.       Election of Trustees, Officers and Committee

It was PROPOSED by Pam Brooks and SECONDED by Jill Singyard with all members in agreement that the four current Trustees be re-elected.  It was PROPOSED by Margaret Leverment and SECONDED by Vivien James with all members in agreement that the Chairman, Hon Secretary and Treasurer be re-elected.  It was PROPOSED by Ralph Hangar and SECONDED by John Philipson with all members in agreement that the current committee Members be re-elected.

8.       Visits to Burundi

Steve & Anne Stordy (SALT), Kayanza (3 year term) Hugh read out letters from Steve and Anne.  Steve is helping the Food for the Hungry team in planning several agricultural projects particularly coffee production for export. Also support for associations needing assistance with commercialization of livestock and food crop production to generate income and provide local employment. FHI programmes are at an early stage and they are awaiting funds to become available early next year for an integrated programme of agriculture/health/micro-enterprise in Kayanza Province .

Anne is visiting primary schools with national colleagues in the child development programme and helping out with some of the translation of letters to sponsors.  She is hoping to find opportunities for health education and AIDS awareness with parents and children. There are many health problems due to extreme poverty. There is a Bible Study group at the local High School where 60 young people gather on Saturday afternoons. Worship at the local Baptist Church is dynamic and there is a hunger for God’s word.

Praise God for:

-         their Christian brothers and sisters in Kayanza and their warm welcome

-         their house and garden

-         the good rains, green crops and beautiful views

-         Gervais, who has helped them settle in to the house and given good advice

Pray for:

-         Peace and good governance (peace talks with the outstanding rebel group are at a standstill)

-         God’s protection (armed robbers stole a pastor’s bag with a computer from the adjacent house in the compound)

-         God’s guidance and blessing on the work of Food for the Hungry in food security, health and child development

-         Steve and Anne’s family (Philip, Andrew, Anita and Justice) and improved internet links with Kayanza (due to arrive soon)

William said that a float of £100 had been given by the FoB to the Stordys for their use in the short term.

Burundi Praxis team 28 June – 13 July

Ian Elliot, Jen Gray, Anne Grimwood, and June Walker had given their impressions of the country at the earlier plenary session in the conference. June added that she was impressed by the work of the Mothers Union in teaching literacy and numeracy skills, HIV/Aids awareness and supporting widows and orphans and meeting their physical needs; also seeing the Barundi learning to live with those who had wounded them. There are returning refugees from Tanzania involved in the Nyankanda Agricultural Projects where sharing of produce is encouraged.

Ian introduced a video of Bishop Jean Nduwayo of Gitega Diocese who had been in post for 22 years. William commented that he had proved to be a consistent witness to the Gospel.

Ian also reported that the Praxis team had met the SU team in Bujumbura and visited the new SU Conference Centre with which Simon Guillebaud is so much involved. 

Mary Sharpe gave an update of the publishing and distribution situation concerning her father’s book “Great Truths from God’s Word”.  Originally published in the 1930s/40s, an enlarged edition was published in English in 2004 in India .  It had been translated into Kirundi by UK Barundi and launched in Burundi on 24 September.  Only 1000 of the 2000 published have been imported. 

An extra fee is necessary to cover import, storage and distribution expenses in India and Burundi .  Some copies could be available in UK for distribution to Barundi here.  Currently, translations are being made into Russian, Pakistani and an Indian dialect.

Pray that the remaining 1000 copies can be imported by the end of the year.

Steve Burgess reported that he will be in Burundi at the beginning of December with Denis Tongoye running a Samaritan Strategy Vision workshop and a holistic discipleship training for Officers and Leaders. He will be involved on 7 December in a one day workshop by Viva Ministry with Isobel Booth-Clibborn, a Mission Partner in Uganda .  This will be a gathering of those involved in children’s ministry, from all denominations, developing an integrated ministry.

Pat and Pam Brooks with Anne Grimwood are going out in Jan 2008 for 2 months. They hope to spend 2 weeks in Buye, staying with the Stordys, and the remainder of their time at Matana.  There has been much famine and flooding and they hope to support those who have suffered.  

Geoffrey and Georgette Butera reported on Herridge Technical School , Karuzi. The School was their God-given vision 2 years ago and it is now up and running. It was opened by the President and US Ambassador. Georgette showed slides of the School and commented that the School is attended by 60 pupils who had passed the Examen Nationale as a criteria for entry. They wear uniform and are given a main meal each day.   The School was blessed by the Praxis team visit. 

Praise God for the provision of the funding for the School and pray for future funding of science labs and a playground.

Jane and Ralph Hangar (African Pastors’ Fellowship (APF)) reported on their 2 visits to Burundi . They spent a week at the Ngara Refugee Camp encouraging the Pastors – there is unofficial starvation there. Pray for the Pastors who continue to serve God.  They also worked in Buhiga with Pastors of the Episcopal Moravian Church returning with refugees. They were able to hear both points of view of the Church split. Pray for the church to have a broad view.

APF work with the organisation, CEPRODILLIC, in Bujumbura .  There is an increase of literature ie six Swahili NT commentaries now translated into Kirundi with the seventh and final due by the end of the year. A small contribution per copy is asked.  A National Committee has been set up to manage the literature.

Pray for translation, co-operation, promotion and effective distribution of the literature.

William Challis reported that he, Roger Bowen, Pascal Bigirimana and Archbishop Bernard had met with the heads of all the Bible Colleges , the Theological Institute and the University of Light to discuss policies to unify curricula  in schools and criteria for University selection for potential ordination candidates. It is hoped that Pascal Bigirimana will follow up the meeting which had been well planned and led.

Sally Botteley had made 2 visits to Burundi to work with Theodore and Francois of Rema Ministries to help repatriation from Refugee Camps in Tanzania . There were testimonies of the resolution of land issues.  A Health Clinic is being built in Rutana, Buye and HIV/Aids awareness will be carried out from there. 

Pray that refugees will have a phased return

Roger and Miranda Bowen are leading a Praxis team to Burundi in July/August for people over 25. The team will undertake some decoration of the Matana Institute and take part in Parish life including Home groups – and be tourists too!

9.                 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Pam Brooks reminded us of the 1^st December meeting at Highfield Church , Southampton with Simon Guillebaud speaking on “Faith under Fire”.  Simon has asked us to pray for the fragile political situation in Burundi .

Pam reminded us to write messages in the letters to Alison Gill and the Stordys

There being no other business William Challis thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting in prayer.