Surronded by smiles
Céline RIHOUX, a young Belgian nurse, volunteered in the community of Gitega, Burundi Bujumbura 9pm: The plane touches down on the tarmac. This is it, after almost a year’s wait, I’ve arrived in Burundi. After a Covid test (does that still exist?!) and the crowds, I meet Sr. Yollande and Roger at the airport. These two formerly virtual friends are now in the real world. After a night’s rest at the PAR (Procure d’Accueil Religieux) and a few zigzagging roads through the magnificent Burundian hills, we arrived in Gitega and more precisely at the home of Srs. Marceline, Maïté, Anastésie and Yollande. As soon as I entered the property, I found myself surrounded by smiles and words of welcome. It was very comforting after a long and tiring journey. Over the next few days, I worked in the dispensary run by the Missionary Sisters of Africa in Gitega. The…