APPOINTMENT
Walk With Steve Into Missionary Appointment
Warm welcome by
the Nelson family upon
Steve's arrival at
the Bujumbura, Burundi
airport.
Are We There Yet?
What could be longer than a full year of itineration? How about forty-six hours of travel to Burundi without being able to lie down. At least it seemed that way.
I awoke early July 11th with a great sense of anticipation. After three-and-a-half years of dreaming about returning to Africa, it was about to happen. First stop-Detroit. Second stop-Amsterdam. Third stop-Nairobi. And-at last, Bujumbura Burundi!
Flying into Buja seemed surreal. I was physically exhausted, but keenly aware that I was about to set foot in Burundi! The Nelsons met me at the airport.
There is one, and only one arrival gate. The airport can accommodate one airplane at a time. And thank goodness because it took me over an hour to clear immigration. I can’t imagine how long it would take if more than forty passengers arrived at any given time.
The country is beautiful. Extremely hot and humid with lake Tanganyika so close. My first impression of Buja was the congestion of people. I have never seen so many people crowded into one place at the same time. Traffic was an absolute joke. There are no laws here. Thousands of bicycles and motorcycles. Unorganized chaos is the best way I could describe it.
After a short drive I arrived at the guest house where I will be staying, grateful for God’s protection and ready for some much needed rest.