As many of you know, two summers ago I had the opportunity to travel to Burundi, a country in Africa. My mom’s church, Community of Faith, has been working alongside with a tribe called the Batwa for a few years now. From the moment I met the Batwa, my life was changed. Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world. The Batwa were constantly judged and mistreated just because of who they were. When the first group of people from COF traveled to Bubanza (an unfertile village in Burundi) they met a man named, Ntazina. When asked what his name meant, he replied, “No Name.” He said his parents named him this because he was born a ‘twa and had no future.' He went on to say, “We are the forgotten people. Everyone has forgotten us. Forgotten by the world, even forgotten by God." It was that day that Pastor Mark Shook told the Batwa that COF would not forgot them, and more importantly God would not forget them. The beautiful friendship began there! Fast forward a few years and imagine the complete opposite of the Batwa being forgotten. They have become noticed and flourish in their community! COF partnered with the Batwa of Burundi and purchased land for 30 families to move from Bubanza to the fertile land of Matara. It was there that God’s work began. We were able to teach and learn new skills, build relationships, learn from one another, and share God’s love with these wonderful people. This partnership has led to a better life for the Batwa. The once “forgotten” people are now entrepreneurs, selling soaps, crops, milk, shoes, and pottery. Many men and women have committed themselves to each other through marriage ceremonies! Women and children are now able to receive identity cards and children and adults are now enrolling in school and becoming literate! Now that the village of Matara is booming, we have begun work in Bubanza. The land in Bubanza does not have the best living conditions. Trees have been planted to provide shade for this dusty, vast land. The trees will produce medicine that the village will be able to use. This past December, desks were purchased and donated for the students. These desks have led to the construction of a new school, where the government will hire new teachers for the classrooms! Due to the land conditions, building will take longer than normal but, God will provide what is needed for the village. He has done it before and He will do it again! The most beautiful thing of all is how grateful the Batwa are. All of their thanksgiving and praise goes straight to God. They sing and praise for everything they have. The Batwa have been a true inspiration for me and for many others. I hope to travel back to Burundi this June to work with the Batwa and see my friends once again. We will spend valuable time working, playing, singing, and dancing…lots of dancing! Whatever we spend our time doing, lives will be changed. I hope you can find a way to help me. The trip costs $3,800.00 and so far I have come up with $2,000.00 on my own. I am still in need of $1,800.00. Any and all donations help! Give what God grants you to give, but no matter what, share the story of the Batwa! This precious group of people touched my life and made an impact of who I was, am, and who I will become. Please pass on this information to anyone who would be interested in learning about my beautiful friends. Please pray for my place on this trip and continue to pray for the great things that God is doing with the Batwa of Burundi. LOVE. For more info and updates on the Batwa: http://communitiesofhope.tv/wordpress/