Letter 7 from Pat & Pam Brooks, April 2006

Letter No. 7                                                                         1 April,  2006

Dear  Family and Friends,

We’ve had a bumper crop of emails from Therese, “yonizeye” written from March 10th. - 30th! Also Elise “bakalyse” has sent five others. Many, many thanks. We will get someone to check at the P.O. before we leave for any aimails.  
I forgot to mention last time that Beatrice, William’s wife, for whom we asked you to pray, is much better. She’s on regular largactil and we’re arranging for someone to buy it in Bujumbura each month on prescription. Hopefully, if she’s able to go down in June, the Dr. will reduce the amount to be taken. 

Pélagie is slowly regaining her strength from malaria and typhoid and we’ve had some good times of discussion and prayer. 

Pat writes. 
 
“We finished our final session at Bururi on Friday, the 24th. I had taught a lot of I Timothy seated rather than standing because of the discomfort in my leg. The journey back to Matana over a bumpy road seemed to finish me off and I was helped to my room. I have been in bed ever since! I don’t want to remember the weekend! On Monday, the local doctor, Stansilas, prescribed some pills for me which dramatically improved my sleeping pattern – but I still can’t manage more than a hobble! 

The African brethren have been tremendously supportive and engaged in serious prayer. They don’t want me to come back to England as a cripple! After some feelings of frustration, I have seen my bed as God’s present place of appointment for me. I quite like it! Fidèle said, “Look on it as your Patmos. God has put you there to give you a fresh revelation! Letters to the seven (six) dioceses of Burundi??” 

So I am praising God that he has helped us to accomplish what he sent us to do, and that, whether we are ‘up or down’ God is still on the throne.” 
We’d especially ask for prayer for next Wed. (5th.) as we go down to Bujumbura and get on the plane at 12.45 BST on Thursday; wait in Nairobi airport for 7.5 hours, leaving at 22.50 BST and arriving at Heathrow at 06.45 on Friday.  We’ll be picked up by taxi. 

I went to a parish centre last Thursday to the monthly M.U. meeting. There were about 60 members there and it was a great time of praise and the Bible address was given by a lady who came with us from Matana. Elizabeth also included some of her testimony of how God had protected her and been faithful to her since she became a Christian as a teenager. Her husband, who was a church teacher, was killed during tribal reprisals in 2003, leaving her to bring up 6 children and 2 orphans that she has taken in. The church in Bujumbura supported her as best they could and then someone, of the opposite tribe, offered her the use of the family home and fields at Matana. What a testimony of what God can do! The Christians here have taken her to their hearts and she is working hard in the fields to produce food for the family. 

After the service I had 3 hours of eye testing finishing at 3.30 when we had lunch. The hot weak sweet tea was especially welcome. It was a terrible scrum at first, but once the pastor had got everyone seated on benches, there was some semblance of order. 68 people received specs. and 6 were put on a waiting list for when there’s an opportunity to send out No. 1. About a third of these were men who had heard that I would be there and had walked considerable distances to be tested. It’s not surprising that there is so much eye strain when the houses have virtually no light in them, even during the day. I tell folk that they must try to read their Bibles outside during the day – but how can they where there is so much to do – fetching wood and water, cooking, washing clothes, cultivating etc. etc.? 
We returned from that service to the end of the MU meeting here. All I could do was to greet the ladies and with Pélagie’s support I explained about the passion fruit and chilli project. 20 ladies agreed to give it a try. If half a dozen succeed that will be great and we can press on from there. Pélagie is enthusiastic about the scheme and will be contacting a friend in the Ministry of Agriculture, who is an ex- pupil of Pat’s. 

Yesterday I went to an MU Literacy class to distribute specs. These were older men and women, most of whom couldn’t see the blackboard! It was difficult explaining to them that the glasses I had would be of no use to them. However, 36 were helped. 

Travelling on these roads has only emphasised the great need here for a decent vehicle. The one pick-up the diocese has is elderly and only survives because of the excellent driving of the chauffeur. The roads haven’t been too slippery during our 2 months here, but so often we’re using the whole road dodging the rocks and gullies. I have seen a brochure and we are praying for a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. They are very common here, so why shouldn’t the diocese have one! We pray in faith. 

Thank you for joining with us here in your prayers and in your thoughts and in your emails and letters. We have appreciated your support so much and the folk here always ask us to thank all of those in the UK who are praying for them. It’s great belonging to the worldwide family of Christians but it’s always hard saying, “Good-bye”. Please pray for us in these last few days. 

With our love and our prayers,
 

Pat and Pam