Week 39
Progress Report for Hope Centre & More From the Benstead FamilyHow much activity can you pack into one week? This week we have a so many images to share with you. Hopefully we have chosen images that you will enjoy viewing. As well as this we have also included a few very short video clips.
Working with the Local Community in GatumbaAll along we have appreciated the importance of working with the community that surrounds the
Hope Centre Orphanage. In the future we intend to have a vocational school for the community but, in the mean time, we can still win them over by just getting alongside them and having some fun. This week, and particularly on Monday, we had the privilege of doing this.
One family in Aberdeen donated a large number of frisbees and these came out with the container. They have been well used this week. Here the local children from the community are playing with both our families just outside of the
Hope Centre site on the remaining part of the land which also belongs to Mission International.
Below is also a short video clip with the children playing with the frisbeeshttp://www.eulogia.co.uk/Frisbee_fun.wmvThe Burundi DrummersGatumba also have an award winning group of drummers. We were very privileged to have them come to the site on Monday to play for us and the community.
You will see house number three in the background. I'm standing on top of the wall, just above Dominic's head, so that I can get a good shot of the crowd that gathered to watch the drummers:
Here is the image taken from on top of the walls of house number three:
You may also be interested to know that this young man is also supported by Vincent, our site supervisor. Apparently his mother doesn't have enough money to look after him properly so Vincent helps out:
All our boys had a chance to play the drums along with the drummers:
I'm not sure what is going on here? Is Dominic levitating?
One thing is for sure. He is really getting into this drumming thing. He has also managed to get a large drum to take back home with him. He visited many craft markets to find one at the right price.
After playing the drums for a while all of our boys had large blisters on their hands with holding the large sticks:
Below is also a short video clip of the Burundi Drummershttp://www.eulogia.co.uk/Burundi_drummers.wmvCommunity Football MatchAlso prearranged for Monday was a football match between a young football team from Gatumba and the Hope Centre's Muzungus (White People).
As soon as the goal posts were erected children and adults started appearing from all directions. I guess the jungle drums were beating.
Once again I have given you a picture of the temporary playing field taken from on top of house number three:
Below is also a short video clip taken at the match:http://www.eulogia.co.uk/football.wmvOur friends from PTI (the church that we attend in Bujumbura) came and helped out with a little singing.
Below is also a short video clip of the children singing:http://www.eulogia.co.uk/Singing_children.wmv
So, What was the score then? If you really want to know then you will need to post a reply to this message and the score will automatically appear right here but only just for you. It's a good excuse to leave a message for Paul, Jill and the family. They only have this evening and then they leave early on Sunday morning.
The Score:
You will have to post a message here if you want to reveal the hidden content of this post...
Hope Centre Orphans at the BeachOn Tuesday we collected several of the Hope Centre orphans and took them to the beach for the day. Paul and I went to the site to continue working whilst the rest of our families stayed with the children:
Here are the children playing together at the beach:
Back to WorkThe Bensteads certainly didn't opt for an easy time of it here. The work must go on and work they did.
On Wednesday we returned to the site to work, however this time we left the younger boys behind as they were suffering with sunburn, the football match probably contributed to that:
Paul & Scot are looking very happy with themselves as they have finished enough trusses for houses three and four:
The woman were back at work second coating all the external paintwork:
The trusses that Paul and Scot made for house number three are already in place. Here Paul is having a good look at what has been achieved in the time that they have been here:
Visit to Gitaga OrphanageOn Thursday and Friday we packed our bags and made our way to Gitega which is located a couple hours away up in the hills of Burundi. In Gitega is the orphanage that gave us the inspiration for how Hope Centre should be built. Once again we were welcomed to their orphanage. We enjoyed looking around at what they have achieved so far and then spent some time playing with the children:
When we arrived all the children were sleeping, as they do here in the afternoon, so we made our way to see the clinic that they have just built for the community. This will open in the next few weeks and will be very important as there is nothing like it near by:
We also had a look at the schools that they are using and building for their children and the children of the community:
We made our way back up the road to meet and play with the children:
We were able to leave a marble run with the children:
The older boys and Pastor Leonard had a go at Volley Ball and it turns out that he plays well:
Some Other Things To ReportToday, Saturday we are going out with a bang and having another Ceilidh. We are inviting many Burundi and Muzungu friends but we can't add it to this report. If I can I will post some images before Sunday morning.
One other bit of news which means that we will not be able to provide you with our usual weekly report next week. After the Bensteads return to the UK we, as a family, will be driving to Uganda. This is a treat for our boys who have had to put up with all that Burundi has thrown at them and will be our last chance to do something together just for us before we return ourselves to the UK.
So no update next week I'm afraid but the work is still going on while we are away.
Last Sunday it was John's birthday so later in the evening we went out to a Burundian/Indian restaurant. We gave them the cake to bring out and all the waiters danced and sang as they came and presented John with the cake:
This particular game of Risk extended over three days giving Paul, Jill, Val and I a chance to spend some good times talking. We really did all get along so well and had a good few laughs together:
Talking of laughs. What are they reading. "Top Gear"... Need I say more???
Power cuts are very common here and can happen at any time, however this was not going to stop Paul from reading his book:
In Gitega I found what they used to iron the clothes. I'm sure most of the older readers will immediately recognise this as a charcoal iron. I have seen so many of these here in Burundi:
Jill asked a local craftsman wood worker to carve some hippos. He was given a photo to give an idea as to what she wanted. We were so impressed with the results. This is about two feet long (600mm).
John has made friends with one of of our friend's new puppies:
House no 1 = funds already in hand for completion
House no 2 = funds already pledged
House no 3 = funds already pledged
House no 4 = £7,000
House no 5 = £10,000
House no 6 = £10,000
The actual cost will be more like £18,000. This is if we make all the blocks ourselves but if we substitute clay bricks for the inside walls then we may be able to bring this down a fair bit.
Total to Complete all of the Houses = £43,000
The following is also required:
Water to the site: MI has temporarily forwarded the funds for this
There is mains water available in Gatumba and to have this piped to the site will be = £2,200. Work will begin on this this week but we still need the funds to come in for this.
Electricity to the site:
There is mains electricity available in Gatumba and to have this delivered to the site will be = still to be confirmed.
N.B: We have been given prices between £1,500 and £10,000 by the electricity company so we haven't been able to confirm a realistic price yet.
The latest quote this week is £4,200
Workman's/Security Guard's Hut:
Basically everyone has employed workers that act as security guards and do general gardening and repairs etc. The cost of employing someone to do this is only a few pounds a week. They are normally provided with a place where they can rest and get cover from the rain and get cleaned up after a days work. We have already put the foundations in along with the necessary plumbing for a small workman's hut. We will still need to build this up above the foundations. It will be a very basic construction. This is over and above what we were originally requesting but now that we are here we see that this is an essential for Hope Centre security. Money required to complete = £1200
Perimeter Walls:
At the moment we have a temporary building site type fence surrounding the whole of Hope Centre. This has been very successful for providing some sort of security for the site however this can't be a permanent arrangement. We had hoped that Pastor Leonard would be able to try and raise the required finances to build a perimeter wall but, although he has been successful in getting trees and exoneration certificates etc, this one may be a bit of a problem for him. So we would also like to try and raise the additional funds to build a very basic wall built with stones and red earth. This is pointed with cement later. This is a system that is commonly used here and can last many years. If possible we would like to be building this wall now.
The estimated cost is reported to be: £2,800
Outside Cooking Area:
Cooking is normally done outside with charcoal on a small charcoal burner. It is not practical to do this inside so we will need to provide each house with a small covered area, just to the rear of each property for cooking. These will be very simple constructions and the cost of these will be = £300 each.
Outside Toilets:
Included within the area that we have built the houses on is a large piece of ground situated within the area where the trees have been planted. This will be a great area for the children to play ball games etc in the relative safety of the Hope Centre grounds. Each of the houses will have a toilet but we have already put the foundations in, along with the required plumbing, for an outside toilet block with a shower. This will stop the children from traipsing in and out of the houses. Outside toilets are more commonly used here than inside toilets. The additional cost for this will be = Still to be confirmed.
Non-GiftAid Donations: 
GiftAid Donations: 
Here are different ways to contact us in BurundiEmail:
Val Carr = vcarr@HopeCentreBurundi.com
Charles Carr = ccarr@HopeCentreBurundi.com
New Mobile Phone Numbers:
Val Carr: (00257) 79239810
Charles Carr (00257) 79239809
Our New House Phone Number:
Use this number sequence and you will only pay 4p per minute.
Dial: 08444 287287 & wait for a voice and then..
Dial: 00257 22259608Please email us and let us know if you don't manage to contact us on these numbers.
Pastor Leonard
Pastor Leonard's StoryPastor Leonard was born in 1971, the youngest of five children. His parents were killed in a mass killing of their ethnic group in 1972. The children struggled to survive and look after each other for many years.
As a teenager Leonard was full of hatred and wanted to avenge the killing of his parents, but he became a
Christian when he was 18 and was able to meet and forgive those who had killed his parents. He felt God told him clearly that he was to look after others who were orphaned as he had been.
At the time his circumstances did not allow him to do this, but he was ordained as a Pastor in 1996, and was able to take in his first orphan in 1997, just before he was married.
His wife partners him in this ministry and they now care for over 40 orphans in addition to their own three children.
Around about April this year Pastor Leonard's land-lord for the house that he was staying in asked Pastor Leonard and all the family and children to move out of the property which they were renting. Obviously this was an impossible situation for them. Latterly Pastor Leonard managed to negotiate a compromise with the land lord whereby his immediate family and a few of the orphans could stay in the property until his house was built. This meant that the remaining orphans had to be farmed out to friends that would be willing to take them. Pastor Leonard continues to provide food and clothing for these children which is now even more difficult for him. Thankfully though you have helped him greatly with your regular child support donations.
February 21, 2009, 02:49:41 PM
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