A few of you have asked why me to explain more on a line I wrote in our August family newsletter. Thank you to those who have asked. Life here in the heart of Africa is very different than in America or Europe. I at times forget that some stories or sentences may sound really strange as you do not have a reference frame to place them in. So again; thank you for asking. Let me share with you:
Based on the line from our August newsletter: “Our children do not have the freedom to play outside the walls of the compound.”
Our home is an older African style home. Our neighborhood is considered a safer neighborhood with a combination of middle-higher class Africans and some whites. Every house in our neighborhood has security walls about 8-10 feet, about 3+ meter around its yard. The walls have barb wires, metal spikes or thorny vines on top for added protection. Tall metal gates at the entrance of the compound, security guards and heavy metal bars in front of the windows of the house are norm. Heavy pad locks on the inside of the doors, secret closets, it seems so extreme, but very much needed.
There is no central home alarm system, no 911 emergency response, no home insurance companies, no justice system just enough to come to objective correct judgments without bribes involved. No finger printing no forgery proof ID cards and no Amber Alert.
Whites resemble money and resources. Whites are called Muzungu (moozoongoo) meaning anything from rich-man to foreigner to untouchable one. Any opportunity to take advantage of the white man will guarantee a better life to most people. Whether through job opportunities, car theft, robbery, bribes or kidnapping of a child and asking a ransom. After all the white man always has much money.
Burundi is the 3rd poorest nation in the world. 85% of its people have no guarantee to sufficient food or education for their children. Such excruciating need will cause people to do unthinkable things.
The police needs to be “motivated” to do their job. (meaning if they do not get favors or bribes from you they will not do their job). Even then, their resources are limited, the lines of people to see them uncountable and their priorities to where they think they can get the greatest personal benefit. They fling around their machineguns as a teenager her hand bag. Most of the police are former rebels integrated in regular life. Security has become an illusion.
People with wrong motives are all around the world and in all society levels of life. We cannot fully protect our children or loved ones from such people. In life, even in church, we will get hurt by other people. As Dietrich Bonnhoffer said it so well; Even “the church is not a comfortable place for idealists and humanists. Church is a community of forgiven sinners, a family of people who need mercy from those who have learned to forgive like Jesus.” Yet… I will not set up my children to get hurt or be violated to the benefit of others.
In the place I live, Burundi, I need to take great measures for the sake of the protection of my daughters. It would even be different if I had sons. This is a man’s culture where women satisfy the needs and wants of men. Where girls and women have legal rights, but no-one to help them fight for them. When those appointed to protect can turn on me and harm me in the blink of an eye… When security is an illusion…
How do I protect my girls from such evil? And also, how can I protect them from an over protective mom?All I can do is what the Israelites did time and again. Crying out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when their enemies were too great, they would call on the LORD and He would hear their cry and He would grant them victory on every side. I pray for my girls this way, it is after all the best security I have.
“Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord will hear when I call to him.”
Psalm 4:3
Jasmin, Yaida and Nani on the trampoline with friends, our home in the background.
Below- street to our house- large walls and iron gates.
