Its been nearly 3 years since our trip to Burundi--dentistry, helping at the missions hospital, fellowship with our friends--we're here in Idaho long term, but we left a piece of our hearts back there. How can we help, what can we do to serve the poorest of the poor? While it isn't in the plans for us to live and work in Burundi, we can be advocates for the work and revitalization that is happening there, bringing the needs of this poorest of countries to the attention of others.
Let me back up a bit. Burundi? Where's that? A small country in East-Central Africa, South of Rwanda, Burundi is the poorest of the poor. Ranked the "hungriest nation" by the IMF/World Bank, Burundi has struggled to climb out of and heal from a horrific genocide/civil war in the late 90s and early 2000s. Peace and stability is tenuous and uncertain--there has been an attempted coup, rioting is common, grenade launchers and gunfire can be heard in the capital at night, unemployment is unimaginably high. Malnutrition and a short life expectancy is the norm.
And yet, there is hope.
While we were in Burundi we got to know Simon Guillebaud, a British missionary who has been in Burundi for nearly 20 years, working with Great Lakes Outreach (GLO) on helping the people heal and grow into the vibrant nation that they can be. Simon has helped develop a program to empower street kids, an English speaking boarding school to train and teach the next generation of Burundian leaders, a high-yielding dairy cow program to tackle malnutrition, among other efforts and programs. Check out this video.
In an effort to raise awareness of the great needs in Burundi, and as a fundraiser, Simon also coordinates a 450 mile bicycling "Tour Du Burundi" in which I will be participating. From May 26th to June 2nd I and about a dozen others from Europe and the US will be cycling through the hills of East Africa, covering 450 miles and approximately 49,000 vertical feet. Due to the political instability in Burundi the ride will be held in Rwanda.
Burundi needs your support. My goal is to raise $10,000, all of which will go to the development projects led by Simon and GLO. I'll pay my own airfare, lodging, and meals. Donations are tax deductible.
You can donate by sending a check with "Hank Willis, Bike Tour" in the memo line to:
Great Lakes Outreach
PO Box 2379
Mt Pleasant, SC 29465
Alternatively, you can donate online through my youcaring.com site:
https://www.youcaring.com/greatlakesoutreach-769532
Thanks for your support and I plan to bring periodic updates as the date draws closer. I may not be able to update during the tour, but I'll certainly post a report with photos afterwards.
Here's a great PDF with more details on the ride and where the support goes.
