Jan 2, 2004

The really crazy thing is that I’ve never seen this level of expressed peace in Burundi. People are celebrating openly and traveling without intimidation or fear. And then, last week, an ambassador to the pope gets shot to death right here in this little country. Thousands upon thousands of Burundians die and the world hears very little and then one diplomat dies and world’s attention turns in shock.

This morning, I had a conversation with a couple Burundi men who are standing for the country’s impoverished citizens of every ethnic background. Of course they were looking for some sort of promotion or sponsorship and commenting how the country’s political atmosphere has never been better and how I could tell all my friends to come visit without fear. I had to tell them that our media has a much different approach to what is “safe”. I told them of the emails I received just the last couple days if I was OK or in danger of the same kind of fate that came to the papal ambassador. Even the streets of downtown Bujumbura are safe at night.

It’s such a good feeling here.

More later….. eric