Dukomezi Bikogwa Means “Keep Working Hard” in Kirundi. Writing has been such hard work for me in the last few weeks, as anyone following this blog may have noticed. We have been consumed with the details of making the coffee washing station here in rural Burundi a reality. Mix that with motherhood,writing for the always lovely Babble, and launching (with our friends at Dogwood coffee) a Burundi roasted coffee that gives back to this washing station project… and you have one wordless momma. I’m sorry, because there is so much I want to say. Uff da, well… it’s not too late, right?
Yesterday (and today… because in Burundi of course it takes much longer than just one day) we purchased the land for the washing station. A little piece of Africa. Getting to this point has been a cultural lesson and a journey of total chaos. When we shared the vision for this community owned washing station with the leaders of the area, they’ve began having weekly meetings on every surrounding hill about delivering their coffee to our (not yet born) coffee washing station. They are the ones who paved the way within the community so that the land purchase could happen. 
The land we have purchased has a deep history. Before the war(s) the land WAS a washing station. Now it’s covered in eucalyptus trees for firewood and long flowing grass. I love the idea that we are returning this beautiful piece of land to what it once was. 
Since the war in 1992, the farmers in this area have been getting HALF of what they should be for their coffee, mostly because of the distance from them to the nearest station.
Hope, in my mind, is change for the better in this community WITHOUT giving short-lived free aid. This project is about long term, generational improvement for the coffee farmers of Burundi…. THAT is worth so much.
Please buy Burundi coffee from Dogwood to support this project. They are giving an amazing $4.00 a lb. back to the construction and operation of this washing station. You can buy online here, and yes, they ship countrywide if you in the USA.
We so believe in you, God’s plan for you and this mission. Warrior on!
Love it. Also, I love that you are the only other blogger I know to use uff da. Go Midwest.
You my friend are amazing. so excited to see the dream unfurl. i was praying for you guys and the project the other day and God gave me a picture of a fern. When it is growing its tightly curled in on its self, unfurling as it grows upwards. I really believe that God is guiding this project, He is watering it and shining on it and as it unfurls it is going to become something even bigger and even more beautiful than you and Ben ever dreamed.
Love you and 100% believe in your dream.
xxx
Good morning Long Miles Coffee Project,
My sister Carmen, living and doing her PHD at Clemson University South Carolina, stambled across your website and said I should check your website and when I got around to doing it I was compelled to getting in touch with you.
Elsa Nibigira, Country Director of Akilah Institute for Women in Burundi opening in Burundi in september, married and christian woman living and interested in empowering our nation to greater things and I would love to meet you and hear how you landed in our beautiful country, your vision for your project, and possibilities of partenships in our community. I would love to hear from you via email elsa@akilahinstitute.org or 76222444.
Thanks and blessed day