May 13, 2015 - Burundi

Dear Family,  I thought I'd better dispel any worries for you in case you've been listening to the news.  Burundi is a country in our mission.  They are facing an election this year, and the current president wants to run for a third term (not allowed according to their laws).  Anyway, there has been some unrest and some loss of life.  The President Thomas made the decision to pull the young missionaries out - and they have just arrived here.  There are two senior couples - one humanitarian couple and an MLS couple - who had decided to stay.  However, today there was a military coup and the current president fled to another country.  The two senior couples were also told to leave, and so they will fly out tomorrow.  I feel really bad for the humanitarian couple because they have several unfinished projects.  Elder Bailey from the US had just visited them only a few weeks ago to help them.  I'm not sure but I think that they will both go home because they are scheduled to finish in September.  Anyway, don't worry about us.  The church is totally on top of things.  Congo has elections next year, and I'm really glad we won't be here - there is already tension brewing.  We love you all!  --Shellster