Bubanza embraces International Women’s Day today with the on-going work of securing identity cards for each women in the community – for the first time!  Just this week 84 more women got their blue identity cards showing that they have a name, they have a place, they are citizens of Burundi with all the rights that membership affords.  AMEN!

Claude walked into Bubanza today with more blue card stock in hand for more identity cards still in process… a little over 220 to go to see all our women with ‘blue roses’ in hand.

Today he and Little Claude will assist the women in filling out the cards and our friend and photographer, Arneau, will take all their photos.

But the most exciting part of the day is seeing the women with fresh cards in their hands for the first time.  They belong!  They are visible!  They are free!  They have rights!  What better way to commemorate International Women’s Day than to see women stepping from the shadows of society right into the bold sunlight to claim their place in the world… I can think of nothing better!

But our Burundian women thought of something… the most intuitive response to the good news of freedom and dignity for themselves…

DANCE with joy

PRAY with gratitude

SMILE with pride

This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice with our sisters in Bubanza and be glad in it!  This is the day He has made – to bring women into the light where He can reign down His favor on them.  Surely He has seen how they labor in their homes, in their communities and in this world to not just survive but to nourish goodness and raise a generation that will thrive!

We celebrate the women around the world… knowing God’s image is rich in each one.

From our corner of the world in Burundi we spend the day in celebration and solidarity with the strong and vibrant women of Bubanza.  They are moving mountains…