HopeBurundi - September Newsletter

French bread fresh from the bakery - good for the soul and stomach, maybe not the waist.

 

Le Pain et La Prière du Jour

Daily Bread and Prayer

Give us this day our daily bread...
Given that life has only ever occurred one day at a time, it is embarrassing that I am still surprised to find daily inspiration so necessary. With that said, I have to be grateful that French language school is in Albertville. The facts that this small town has relatively few English-speakers, that hiking, biking, and panoramic vistas are easy to find, and that one buys bread daily remind me of God’s many blessings. It is good to be here.

In times of chaos, transition, and change, remembering past benefits can serve as a tool for steeling the resolve to move forward. In all honesty, I feel awkward mentioning the hardships of living in France and studying French, precisely because it is so nice here and Burundi is going to be so much more difficult. But here it goes anyhow:

Please pray for humility. Rapid language learning requires students to make a million mistakes and look like an idiot for months on end. I can handle looking foolish for short periods, but there always comes a time when you think you should be better than you are and pride, frustration, and sometimes envy of other students can start to set in. It brings a lot of comfort to remember all the times I’ve started as a novice - and they all seem to have turned out OK.
 
Please pray for memory. I have the distinct privilege of studying not only a new language but also for my emergency medicine board examinations in November. Graduating from medical school grants you a medical doctorate. Passing the three parts of the licensing exams (and in California, completing an internship) allows you to apply for a medical license. In order to practice in a specialty like emergency medicine, one has to pass “the boards” - tests created by the professional organization to determine competence in the field. For me, that means a written test in November, and, presuming I pass, an oral examination in May.

John MacArthur praying for France & Burundi after evening
service on 19 Aug 2012 (photo courtesy Kevin Stulp 2012)

“Pardon My French”

I Just Started Language School

Lastly, I would appreciate your prayers regarding a young lady in Kenya, Amanda Young. I debate how much to divulge in these newsletters, especially as you know the last girl I introduced via a newsletter promptly decided she was not called to leave California. But I count that as prayers answered (better to know before France/Burundi than after) and wish to employ my supporters in supporting me where I feel the greatest needs. Amanda is in Kenya for a year working in a child sponsorship program and doing HIV education. I don’t want to seem capricious or string you along, but when God keeps puts a great girl in your path, you keep pursuing the best relationship you can with her. If it doesn’t work out, c’est la vie, as my French counterparts would say. But if it does, the benefits are multiplied. So please pray for us as well.

Immediate: a study buddy for French & boards
Ongoing: Eric McLaughlin & I met with an IT specialist before leaving to discuss Internet connectivity for Kibuye and a possible med student library, which will need building
Followup: thanks for your prayers re: visas, mine came in a record short time (1 wk) from the Los Angeles Consulate (everyone else’s took at least 2 wks)

            Merci beaucoup,
            -Carlan