Things aren’t as they used to be. Here in Bujumbura, Burundi, as well as other nations bordering Lake Tanganyika, we are facing flooding at levels that haven’t been seen in 40+ years. Today, the lake is at least 6 feet above what we would have considered to be normal just 3 years ago. You can’t push a lake the size of Lake Tanganyika aside with landfill. It is the second largest lake in Africa and second deepest lake in the world. Tanganyika will do what Tanganyika wants to do.
No matter the reason, these elevated levels have resulted in a lot of suffering. Entire villages have been evacuated as Tanganyika has taken her position. We’ve heard of hippos and crocodiles taking the lives of those braving the floodwaters in search of personal possessions. This is not life as usual.
If all of this wasn’t enough, we are, together with you, facing the all-too-familiar Covid crisis. Economically, Africa has taken a hit. While here in Burundi we have not faced lockdown as many of you have in other parts of the world, the borders to the country have been closed resulting in steep inflation. Burundi, prior to the pandemic, was already over 50% food insecure. We don’t have official statistics for what those levels are now but we know they have risen. People have asked us why we haven’t faced a lockdown. Simply put, the nation could not survive a lockdown as most people depend on their small businesses to feed their families on a daily basis. I’ve been told by many that they’d rather risk Covid than die of hunger. What a reality to live in.
The picture I have painted sounds bleak. It does feel as if we are in a city (or small country) under siege. Yet, in the middle of the siege we are witnesses to incredible blessing. We’ve seen hundreds of families fed, a Hope Center (community center) opened and lives changed by the Gospel. The Good News always shines brightest when the darkness closes in.