Why Electrocuting Children is Frowned Upon

As I sit here, poised to write the second entry to a blog which will surely gain worldwide fame, I must confess something. As it buzzed around my wrist with one sole intention, I politely told a mosquito that it didn’t deserve to live and, for want of a more delicate way of putting it, mashed its face in. You can’t be too careful out here.

Now, this blog might have a slightly different flavour to the last one, as I’ve been issued with a writer’s challenge, three words: ‘Keep it clean’. This statement means that I’ve had to alter my vocabulary significantly. The words ‘skinny’ and ‘dipping’, for example, are no longer allowed to be used together. I’m sure you understand. Sensitive content. 

New Jobs Galore

Those who read this sub-heading and wondered who would be crazy enough to give me a job, I’ll tell you: the parents of The King’s School. All of a sudden, I’ve become a professional music teacher, by which I mean I’m being paid – which doesn’t really mean much. In England, how much would you expect to pay for private guitar tuition? £20 per hour? £30? I’m charging 5,000 Burundian Francs. That’s about £2.50. And these are the rich parents!  

Maybe I should explain why I thought this blog’s title was appropriate. Last time I said that my main responsibility, alongside my fellow gappy Louis, would be ICT. That was true, and the two of us have spent a lot of time diligently planning our lessons; how should we separate the kids who have computers at home from the kids who haven’t touched one before? What shall we teach them first? How can we come up with a system so that the two of us don’t wear matching clothes by accident? All of these questions have been given serious thought, but we've hit a bit of a snag; The computers don’t work. I’ve been told by an expert that this is going to be a problem for ICT.

Actually, I lied. They do work, and we’ve run a couple of them. According to the electrician, however, we’re lucky to be alive after that. Due to the Burundian wiring of the building, which doesn’t include an earth wire, plugging in the computers makes all 17 live, pumping 340 volts through the first unwitting mug who touches one. Apparently this isn’t an experience we should be exposing 10 year-olds to.

When we finally get the computers up and running, we’ll face the ever-present problem that the power is off three mornings a week, and the generator can’t support 17 computers. I suppose ICT lessons will be on Tuesdays and Fridays!

A Visit to the Zoo

Some people might have seen my Facebook photos of some of the animals we saw in Bujumbura zoo. Prepare for a brief rant from an animal rights sympathiser who didn’t realise he was one until a week ago. We saw some beautiful creatures: a hilarious monkey, a majestic leopard, and a crocodile lass who, with her deep brown scales, hugeness and, of course, delicate grace, could have made a fine wife for Gustav. The Zoo’s resident pessimist, however (yours truly), will tell you that these animals are treated horribly. They’re kept in tiny enclosures, and they’re alone. Animals by their very nature want company and entertainment, the latter of which tends to come in the form of the occasional log or a tourist poking his fingers through your cage. The leopard’s situation in particular hit me hard, as she threw herself against the bars of an enclosure which made my bedroom look huge. That animal should be allowed to run, like God made her to.

The Jesus Column

On that note, it must be time for an all-out Jesus column. I’m not in Burundi because the weather’s amazing, or because the people are lovely, or because you can eat some wonderful things for very little money. All of those things are true, but I’m just rubbing it in – they’re not why I’m here. God called my family to Burundi, and we’ve seen His power so clearly present here. It feels incredible to be used by God in the ways in which we know we’re strong. Dad is managing a huge project in his post as principal of TKS, and finds himself snowed under with work, but coping better than most would with the constant challenges faced by the school. Mum is teaching RE without a syllabus or exams which, in a Christian school, means she gets to effectively lead a Bible study with groups of teenagers who happen to be in school. Such situations have seen her develop her gifting in youth work over the past years in England, so it’s exciting to see God using her gifts.

 For me, it’s seeing the kids’ passion for music which dispels my doubts as to whether I’m in the right place or doing the right job. I get to help children develop their musical gifts for worship, which is just incredible. There’s so much talent out here waiting to be brought to the surface, and if I can be a part of that, I’ll jump at the opportunity.

To Wrap Up

Unfortunately, I can’t rap, or I’d stick a verse in here, employing wordplay on the word ‘wrap’. Seriously, on a scale of good rap to bad rap, I’m not even Vanilla Ice. Sorry to disappoint you there. Instead I’ll just sum up with a couple of disappointments. Yesterday I discovered that there are Burundian cinemas, which is pretty cool. What’s not cool is that there's a rather concerning ratio of mosquitoes to people. I haven’t visited one of those, but did watch ‘The Amazing Spiderman’ at an embassy yesterday. Unfortunately, it was far from amazing. I also haven’t experienced Burundian night life yet, which I’ve been reliably told by a Belgian dude is ‘raving’. And, finally, we haven’t yet got our new Toyota Land Cruiser, which means that I get thrown about in the boot of the cockroach-infested hire car. The only way is up.

As I finish this blog, I can hear another mosquito as it flies around my head. Clearly it can’t see its mate’s shattered remains on the next chair. It’s in for a surprise.

My brain contains a substantial library of worship music, so once again I’ll sign out with some song lyrics which I hope will mean something to you as they do to me. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Never once did we ever walk alone.
Never once did You leave us on our own.
You are faithful, God, You are faithful.
Every step, we are breathing in Your grace.
Evermore, we'll be breathing out Your praise.
You are faithful, God, You are faithful. - Matt Redman, 'Never Once'

Until next time.