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Team Burundi SFC missionaries from UAE By Bro Fiacre Gahiro (SFC Burundi)

What a wonderful moment to experience Christ!

It was on August 31, 2017 that SFC missionaries arrived in Burundi. Considering their trip, they might be tired but at their arrival they immediately came to join old SFC members to share about the mission itinerary.

The next day, they woke up early to attend mass and also distributed flyers to invite for the Christian Life Program.  In the afternoon, we have Household with our brothers and sisters and the other CFC.

The third day was a busy day but full of joy. It was CLP day.  Those who managed to attend were very interested and they prayed.  All of us experienced something very important, the call of our Lord. The sharing, songs and actions, everything was invitation that belongs to Christ like the songs Redeeming Love, Shine Jesus Shine, Refiner’s Fire and many more.

Some brothers said it was a good moment that they realized that Christ called them to be part of SFC. Through the community, we can experience God’s love. We were able to see the missionaries giving their all, evangelizing and inspiring others. That it is not enough to have sacraments only, we are called to be with Christ and to do what He tells us. Participants were able to share with missionaries about their prayer life. I remember that when we pray, we surrender our all to God, He is a Great Provider and He loves us so much.

On the fourth day, it was Sunday. We arrived at the cathedral early for the music ministry workshop. It was a very wonderful experience. We realized that we often sing but sometimes not coming from our heart. Through this workshop, we learned a lot and experienced how to worship our God.

In the afternoon, it was another experience through the Household Training Series. We learned how to be a humble leader, to correct and encourage one another and it was a great lesson for us. We were also reminded that we should have our own Household meetings.

The fifth day was another great day for us. Missionaries with the suggestion of Fr. Hermes, were off to go at Bukwavu Parish in French (paroisse Marie mere de Dieu = Mary mother of God Parish).  It was far from Bujumbura and it was so cold. Despite the cold weather, missionaries were ready to proclaim the good news through conducting Youth Camp. The Parish priest was happy to see us and even followed the whole program. They welcomed the missionaries and thanked them for choosing to come in his Parish.

On their last day, I thought it was their second day only because I wanted to continue my journey with them and it was a very busy day. Early morning, we attended mass and went together for the Radio Maria Program.  Fr Hermes was with us and he introduced us to the radio staff. Before heading to the studio, we met Vicar General, the assistant of Archbishop of Bujumbura Diocese, Monsignor Anatol Rugerinyange. We greeted him and he was happy to see SFCs from UAE. He said it would be better for us to introduce the CFC in Radio Maria Program. The missionaries were given an opportunity to introduce CFC, the mission, and vision of SFC.  The journalist also asked what radio Maria could contribute to the mission of Couples for Christ, our answered was that Radio Maria could be an instrument to reach many people to experience Christ. In my heart I wonder that if I was requested a weekly program in that emission, I am ready to say yes, Christ would be calling someone else to come to make Him known through Radio Maria. I informed members to be ready to listen to the emission in the evening at 9:10 p.m. so that they could even record, we could share. I have seen missionaries were ready at any time to announce the good news.

Their last activity was the orphanage visit. They taught songs and claps to the children and gave school supplies. We experienced compassion and we realized that we should let these children experience joy and they are loved. We thank all the missionaries who come here and we love them.  

We ask our dear Lord to give us the grace to love, to desire Him, to experience His love and to answer His call. Thank you all.

After all, the lessons I got: humility, surrender to God while praying, trusting in God, singing from the heart, love one another, serving, spreading the Good News. In the misunderstanding, we learned to correct on another.

May God be praised!

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