inspired to do something yet?

hey everyone... i'm gonna need some help. Augustin just emailed me a long email explaining the drought in burundi, and that many people are starving because they don't have food, because they're crops need water. he said he's heard of 70 adults already dead because of this, and he wonders how many more children there have been/will be. Augustin feels very connected to the children of his country, and trying to do something to make a difference there, he's trying to collect money but the government took 5% of everyones salaries and 8% of govt salaries to help get food to these people... so when augustin asks people for money in his country they say "i'm already helping through my salary".

i mean, lets face it, we all have a lot more money than many of these people do in the first place. Lots of people don't have jobs, they're "job" is working on a farm and getting food and bringing it to the market.


i know this seems like a far away thing, like sure, people are always dying, who are we to step in? i've avoided donating money to many different charities because "you can't give to them all".... but for god's sake, i stayed at augustin's house, his family spent hours cooking up extravagant meals for us, he sat down and played guitar with me, and people a few miles into the countryside from him are dying... and he wants to do something about it, and he's asking us to help. and i think we can. i really hope we can. i've never felt this passionate about wanting to help people in the world, and i'm just hoping you will catch this "fire" and contact as many organizations (NHS at high schools... churches... organizations), to first inform them that this country is in need, and then start raising money.. it's a long email but i'll put most of it here for you guys:


            Normally, we have street children here at Bujumbura city. Some of them are helped by some N.G.Os, but others are without help, then they become hopeless. And you know that it is normal for that to happen in a country like ours which still in war until now because there is one rebel group which keeps on fighting. But in addition to that, northern provinces of Burundi (Kirundo and Muyinga) are declared to have a great and terrible problem of hungriness.  70 persons have already died away because of hungriness. People from that area are becoming thinner and thinner. If you see them on T.V. or if you see their pictures in news papers, you can really have pity. The government has decided to take out 2% on the salaries of all workers and 8% on salaries of government, senate and parliament members in order to come in help to this people. NGOs and churches are trying also to collect food for this people but it still not enough. So if adult people are dying like that, what will the situation of children of these regions  look like? As you can imagine  yourself, they suffering and dying more than adult people. And this is what is touching my heart so much. I feel that it is time for me to help these children using what I learned in Uganda. This is why I created an association called ‘’Street Children Hope’’. But the problem I have is financial fees.

            Jodi, what I’d like you to do first is to think seriously about these children as if you were living the situation. Before I deal with street children of Bujumbura who are careless, I must come in help to those who are dying up in the country. And I want you to help me in this project in this way : Try to become the ambassador of these children in your region. Share this situation with your family, your friends, your neighbors, and you church members (especially the youth) and so on …What you will ask them is not to give a lot of money to put end to this hungriness. But it to ask them to give just what they can get easily, and in the way they are guided by the holy spirit. Even if someone gives you 10$, do not refuse.  However it is, we will start with the help you will send us. I could do it here, but when ask people they tell me that they help them monthly with their salaries. Others say: I will take it myself to them.

           Once money is collected, send us e-mails and names of givers. We will take time to pray for them day after day and we will send them also mails in order to thank them. We will also send you not only pictures, but also VCD on which you will see the way we are helping them. Please Jody, take this project as serious in order to save lives who are perishing.

             After this special case of northern provinces, we may probably begin to deal with street children of Bujumbura who are careless. If it arrives for one of those givers to wish to come in Burundi, you can make us know. We will be ready to receive him and guide him in what he wants until he is back. If there is something that you don’t understand or if you need some further information, you can ask me. I am sorry for writing you a so long letter, it is because my heart is very touched by this situation. And I felt that I can not keep silence in font of a such situation. What I do is to ask, then God will do the remaining things. I am praying for it and for you so that God can touch your heart first and secondly hearts of people you will contact. Thank you for receiving this message, God bless you. I am waiting for the answer.


                                                                                                         Sincerely yours, Augustin






So this might sound a little crazy. but it's VERY REAL. and i dont care if you're christain, ppl in burundi really are, it's like they're hope in the world... but the issue is, they need help, and we can help them! i'll give you more details once i get them... and if you have ideas of how we can help please email me or post a comment or get talking.


my personal reflection: i called my mom and told her about it and she said "well THATS very nice of you!" very happily and encouraging... and i was like "mom, did you see that movie? (hotel rwanda), people just don't care... and i really do" and thats all i could say and i just started crying but managed to say goodbye... and when i hung up i kept crying for a while just because i KNOW there are real people in the world who are in need, and we have so much, and so many people just dont care, and i'm not trying to make myself look good by starting some charity, i just know it needs to happen if we wish to do some good in the world, it's things like this that come around and you just have to do what you can.

spread the word. i'll figure out a way to let ppl donate online, and otherwise might just start a collection bucket or something (not sure yet), i'm not much of a business person, but i hope you're convinced. and if you haven't already, please go see Hotel Rwanda... its got some serious truth in it, we all need to be aware.