Week 28Each week we introduce you to the children of Hope Centre Burundi. We upload a picture of one child and give you their story.
Nadia
Nadia's StoryNadia is 12 years old.
Her parents died when she was only 3 years old as a result of ethnic fighting in Bubanza province.
Pastor Leonard has a church in that area and met her when he was there. She had absolutely no-one to look after her and, after checking she was an orphan with no family, he took her to live with his family in Gatumba.
She missed many years of school as there was no money to send her, but started in 2007 when primary education became free and is now in primary 2
Work on Hope Centre May Have to Stop at the End of February:Although work is progressing steadily on site we now anticipate that the work may have to stop at the end of February until more funds come in. This isn't because of a lack of giving. On the contrary the giving and support on this project has been amazing. However, we haven't yet achieved the required estimated target for funding and on top of this the recession has hit us in several ways. Cement costs have risen. Because of the poor exchange rate we are not getting as much for the British Pound. In July 08 we were getting
2,230BIF to the £1 but now we are just getting
1,772BIF to the pound. As the cement is primarily the most used material on site this is now very expensive.
There are other contributing factors such as the deeper foundations and the container taking so long to arrive that we were forced to purchase materials and tools that we had already purchased and stored in the container.
For now we are only working on four houses and primarily concentrating on two and Pastor Leonard is seeking out additional funding, if possible, from other recognised funding sources within Burundi. We will also see if the Burundi president has anything to offer when we meet with him next week.
For us it's not a problem if the work has to stop temporarily but we would rather have continuity for the workers who have shown great commitment to the project. Please keep this in your thoughts and prayers.
The working day begins:This is how the site looks first thing in the morning with the workers collecting tools and materials:
Houses 2, 3 & 4:
On house two the concrete columns for the house and veranda are being poured:
Most of the windows and doors for house 2 are ready to be fitted:
Here you can get a feel for what it will look like inside. These are the doors to the children's bedrooms and the beam over the lounge/dining area:
The brickies are now installing the last four rows of blocks and air vents on top of the concrete beams ready for the roof trusses.
The Roof Trusses:The roof trusses for house number 1 began this week. We need ten for each house and I will have enough ready for the first house by Tuesday next week. Actually Pastor Leonard has committed himself to being my helper whilst making the trusses. These are being made from the timbers that we shipped in the container. Thankfully we have most of the timber that we need for all six houses and enough nails so this will keep me busy for a while:
Pastor Leonard was quick to spot that the formation of the truss webs represent the letters of Mission International:
Non-GiftAid Donations: 
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GiftAid Donations: 
Here are different ways to contact us in Burundi
Email:
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 22259608
Please email us and let us know if you don't manage to contact us on these numbers.
1. The whole site now has a temporary fence around its perimeter.
2. All six main foundation walls for each house are now in place.
3. The four main Septic tanks have been built and mostly finished.
4. The nine man holes servicing the houses have been built.
5. The foundation walls for both external toilet blocks also containing showers and sinks have been built.
6. The four large soak-a-ways have been built.
7. One very large shed for block production and workers shelter has been built.
8. One 20' container for storing tools and materials has been bought.
9. The foundations for the 40' container have been built.
10. Two workman's huts have been built.
11. One workers pit latrine has been built.
12. 4 block presses have been purchased and thousands of blocks have now been manufactured.
13. One large truck has been purchased and is being used daily.
14. Work is progressing well with facing brick-type block walls on the houses.
15. We have provided steady work and an important source of income for the families of this very poor community.
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.
Here is an indicator for where we are with the funding for
Hope Centre Burundi. Every little helps.
February 07, 2009, 11:02:42 AM
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