Headed home

We have safely arrived back in Ouaga and just had our last meal in Burkina. We leave for the airport at 04:30AM, or as Sam says "O dark-thirty". Our last few days in Mahadaga were packed full, and saying goodbye this morning wasn't very fun. We celebrated Ian's birthday yesterday and last night he, the Swiss couple, Josh and I went into town to watch the Chelsea soccer game on a little tv in a hut "theater". We figured we would live up our last night in Mahadaga and stayed up late playing games and a prank on the men.... We took Ann (Swiss Ann)'s goat from the pasture and put her in the boys' cabin, where she bleated and cried so loudly!! Yes, this was done by our missions pastor. You can ask the guys for their reactions ;)

Follow-up on our projects:
We were able to finish a lot of the tree work and clear the brush around the SIM station. The large tree trunks will be used to make mortar and pestles for pounding grain and nuts.
Our team mechanics were able to fully repair 1 Rhino and determined the parts needed for the second. They also attached a trailer to the van which transported our luggage today.
The electrician group finished the wiring needed, and got electricity into 2 houses.
The ladies did a few odd projects such as cleaning and organizing the artisan store at the handicapped center.
And Doreen and I finished our time at the medical center with a discussion/debrief with the doctors and medical director. We were able to give our feedback and observations as well as discuss possibilities for future medically oriented teams. We discussed the barriers to improving the health of the community and breaking cultural traditions/superstitions. We were able to encourage them in their work and pray that the Lord would use physical healing to give way to spiritual healing.

I look forward to being able to post more pictures when we get back!! For now i hope this pic posts of the SIM team in Mahadaga. Thank you for following our blog and supporting our trip, and we look forward to sharing in person!

A Wild Safari and Toh

N'Douada! (now you say "Laaafia") Our evening is winding down and it's nearly time for bed after a fun-filled weekend.

On Friday after working in the morning we left on an adventure into the West African wildlife at "Parc W". Parc W is a large land preserve shared by Benin, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The place where we spent the night was right near the "triple point", and some of our cabins were Niger and some in Burkina! A park ranger came to pick us up in a beatup pickup truck, and then Sam followed with the rest of the team in Dale's pickup truck. Some people sat in the truck, and some in the back (with rags/scarves over their faces for protection from the dust!). The park was nearly two hours away and Sam (Swiss Sam) and Ian rode bikes to the park entrance and met us. I was amazed that the biked in this heat and sand. Once at the park we had fun bouncing along through the wildlife and searching for animals. The animals were scarce, but we did site some water buffalo, roan antelopes, gazelles, warthogs, and large birds. No lions or elephants however!
The "road" was barely visible and we were driving through tall grass and shrubs. As it grew darker we felt a little nervous about our guide finding the way. It grew darker and darker and it seemed as though were winding through the bush with no direction....left, then right, then swerve to miss a fallen tree, then backup and try again... Our driver was trying to overcome a very rocky section in the road when the truck stalled and would not restart. Some of the men grabbed flashlights and were trying to figure out what was wrong (besides everything) with the truck. We said a prayer under the beautiful starry sky and after a running pop start we were off again (think Little Miss Sunshine + wild African bush). After nearly two hours of driving in the dark we saw buildings and had arrived at our camp. We set out again at 5am to spot some early wildlife then came back to Mahadaga after breakfast at the camp. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness and for our awesome adventure!

This morning we had the choice of going to a French, Gourma, or Fuhlani church service. Most of chose the French church because Ian was speaking and Sue, Dan and I shared our testimonies.The service was a blessing to be a part of, sharing cultures and how God is working in our lives. Perhaps I will go into more detail on the church service in a later blog post.

Roan Antelope

Our evening activity for the women involved making a traditional Burkinabe meal of "Toh" and sauce. The women learned how to make the meal while the men when on a hike up some nearby cliffs. Toh is a thick porridge of sorghum flour or millet flour cooked with water. We learned the proper way of stirring the cooking toh and then ladling it our a little at a time using a dried gourd. The sauce was made from: dried okra, peanuts crushed to a powder, a white bean (perhaps black-eyed peas?), a local herb, and boiled petals from a flower. To eat it you use your fingers to scoop into a community bowl of toh and roll it into a sticky ball, then you dip it into the sauce and pop it in your mouth! We learned to make the meal from a group of about 10 women from the local church, and while we cooked we swapped cultural information. The women were very interested to know: A. marital status, B. number of children and C. our age. They cannot understand why I am 24, married, and do not have children yet! Once the meal was prepared the men were served first in a separate group. The men had their own cultural exchange with the pastor of the French church who was there. In a typical household the men are served first, then the children, and the women eat last. What a different way of life for us American women to try to understand.

cooking toh

and eating toh

Markets and Missionaries

N'Fanda, N'Toonda, and N'Douada from Burkina Faso! We have had a jam-packed week of work and activities. Yesterday Doreen and I took a break from the medical center to help the team with tree-work and projects here at the compound. Sam and Paul have cut about 10 trees down so far and the ladies in the group were involved with cleaning up the mess they've made :) Sam had me take a special picture of him looking manly with the chainsaw for Carlene to see, but I'm sorry I can't post it! Sam and Paul have been work machines taking out trees; praise God for protecting them both. Ed and Bob have been successful in the repairs of the Gators, and they were even able to drive one to market yesterday! Ian, Dan and Josh have completed the wiring and lights in the boys' cabin and have moved onto another house. Many curious children wandered onto the SIM compound yesterday while we were working to watch us and tried to help with moving sticks. It was fun to have them there even though we couldn't speak their language.

On Tuesday night we had dinner with Betty, the most senior missionary here. Betty is from Canada and felt called to missions as a new nurse when she was a young woman and has been here since 1954! She began the medical work here in Mahadaga and shared many amazing stories and miracles of how God answered prayer and showed in amazing ways. Her heart for the Fuhlani people here is contagious and we had a time of prayer for the church and for the people.

this is Betty!

Last night we had dinner with Francois, a missionary from France, who began the handicapped center work. A couple from France are here this week visiting her and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the handicapped center. Hearing her story of God's call on her life and her response was another amazing and encouraging story. She also came here as a nurse and did not have intentions of working with handicapped children, but God brought them to her doorstep and she began the work of reaching out to these children who truly are the "least of these".

dinner guests

Yesterday we had a wild experience of visiting the "Thursday market" here in Maha. Think Black Friday, plus 100 degrees, sweat, and dust. You can buy nearly anything from cloth, kitchen ware, produce, etc. The market was so crowded we had to weave our way through the crowds and items hanging down on display (ie. clusters of bras). Not to mention the curious people who were following us and watching us! Many of the team members purchased some colorful fabric to have a local tailor make clothing for us. So when we are dressed in bold African prints at church this winter, you will know why.

Everyone's health is keeping up with the activity here and we are being dilligent to drink plenty of water/gatorade! This afternoon we will be taking a time of rest to go to a national park for an overnight trip and we hope to see some safari animals.

Laaafia

Bonjour and N'Fanda from Burkina Faso! Those are the French and Gourma greetings. Greetings are a huge part of this culture, saying "good morning, good afternoon, good evening...." followed by "how are you?" "how is your work?" "how was your trip?" "how is your wife?" etc.... To which you reply "laaaaafia", or it is well. "Laaaafia" is the answer to all of these questions, even if you do not have a wife or perhaps your wife is very ill, you still reply "laaaafia".

Our projects are coming along and we are learning a lot in the process about local culture and the people. There are 2 main people groups here: Gourma and Fuhlani. We are learning how to tell the difference based on hair, jewelry, and dress. The SIM compound here in Mahadaga is located in literally the middle of nowhere. Hours on dirt roads and through the African bush, then you end up here. It is a small town with a market, a few shops, tailors, homes, the medical center, and the Handicapped Center. The SIM compound is made up of several buildings including a dining hall, the Johnson's home, the Walsh's home, other missionary's homes, and some dormitories for visiting missionaries or teams. The couple from Switzerland I mentioned earlier live here as well. The compound has electricity from solar power, and fresh water from a deep well that is safe for us to drink. The medical center is located just across the road and also has solar power, which is wonderful because previously they would be delivering babies by flashlight!

We visited the Handicapped Center during our orientation on Monday and learned all about the amazing work going on there. God is blessing these children, and they are such a blessing in return. The Handicapped Center includes a school and dormitories for children who are blind, deaf, or have physical and/or mental disabilities. Children learn to read, write, and do sign language or braille, as well as learning more practical skills such as trades to earn money. Other work done there includes physical therapy, prosthesis, home visits, and social work. This center is one of the only areas in the country to offer services for individuals with handicaps. People with a handicap are usually viewed as shameful, embarrassing, or even a curse/bad luck and their families may keep them hidden from the public eye. Much of the work being carried out here is to show that these children and adults have worth, are equally human, and can achieve higher levels of ability. Many children are able to return to a normal life after receiving perhaps a prosthetic or assist device. The prosthetics are made by a man with no formal training, but who has learned by experience and uses ordinary workshop tools. It is truly amazing work!

Doreen and I have been at the medical center this week observing, participating, and learning how things are done here. The medical center is managed by SIM and employees are local Burkinabe Christians who are paid by SIM. The medical center is recognized by the government as a regional dispensary and has been growing in size and capability. There are plans to add a surgical suite soon. Current services are: maternity (prenatal care and uncomplicated delivery), inpatient (ie. severe infection, TB, pneumonia, malaria), triage area, "ER", injection area, laboratory, primary care checkups, vaccination services, and a malnutrition center. I spent yesterday observing in the injection area, which was mostly treatment for malaria and infections, and today I was in the maternity center and the malnutrition center (which is a huge problem here). So much I could say about these things and so many thoughts are going through my head that this blog would be to big to post over satellite internet. The problems seem overwhelming, but the Lord is good and good work is being accomplished here in HIS name.

A few team members have been able to go out into the bush with the physical therapists/social workers on motorcycle to visit some families. They have brought back some amazing stories. Some families are very poor, and some do not seem to place value or importance on their handicapped child's life. Some families seem to love their child but are not sure of the teachings or instructions given to them. It is challenging work and I thank God for the therapists who go out to work with and teach these children and their families. Some children who are found lying still are able to stand at the end of the session with some range of motion exercises for their stiff joints.

The tree work is coming along and the men have taken down a huge limb which was hanging over Betty's, the oldest missionary here, house. Josh and Dan have done a lot of electrical wiring and this afternoon some men will be working on lights. Jewel did homeschooling yesterday and Sue was on today, blessing Julie and Flo and teaching the 5 children. The women on the team may spend some time in the afternoon working on projects for the Handicapped Center.

Josh and I have been feeling a bit sick these past 2 days, please pray for us and others on our team who may not be feeling well! We do not want sickness to impede our work during this short stay. Praise God for the work He has done and the plans He has for Burkina Faso.

102 degrees

I have tried posting to the blog the past 2 days and have had trouble with the Internet. Here's hoping this works!! Everyone is doing well and we have begun the work at each of our sites. Doreen and I are at the medical clinic, Sam, Justin, Ian, and Paul
Josh and Dan are doing electrical work, Ed and Bob are doing mechanical repairs and Jewel and Sue are helping with projects for the handicapped center as well as homeschooling with the Johnson children.
I will try to post later if the Internet will let me!!

Mahadaga

We made it to Mahadaga safely today! It was a long and bumpy ride, half paved half dirt (think off-roading). Josh and I rode with a young couple from Switzerland who are here in Mahadaga for a few months. We had the windows rolled down due to the heat and because of the amount of dust/dirt flying around in the dry season my hair turned red by the time we got here! The weather was over 100 degrees and we enjoyed the African bush scenery on the way here.

The couples (me and josh, Paul and Doreen) are staying in a house, all of the men without women are in a building with 3 bunk beds, and the 2 ladies are staying in another building further up the compound.

Tomorrow we will be oriented to the area and begin our projects! I will try to post pictures tomorrow.

Spiritual Life Conference

Bonjour from Burkina! We are still in Fada finishing up our time at the SLC missions conference. Friday and Saturday have been full I activities, games, singing, learning, and sweating. Here is what we have been up to the last 2 days:

7:30 breakfast of local fresh baguettes
8:45-9:15 corporate worship
9:15-10:30 kids program/Ian speaking
10:30-11:00 snack/tea time
11:00-12:15 kids program/SLC
12:30 lunch
Afternoon siesta
3:30-5:30 kids program/SLC
6:00 dinner
Evening socializing and children's film

The children's program has gone well and all the kids have been having fun while learning more about God. The SIM community has expressed how touched they have been by Ian's messages and it has been clear that the Holy Spirit is leading. The rest of the team has been able to serve with dish duty, filling water containers, and setting up for meals.

Please keep our team in prayer as we leave Fada tomorrow afternoon to make the 5 hour drive to the Handicapped Center in Mahadaga. Ed has been experiencing some GI upset and utilizes today to rest, pray that he will feel restored by the time we reach Mahadaga and begin our work projects. Pray for each of the missionaries as they return to their homes around Burkina, that they would be renewed by this weekend and encouraged in their work.

Below are pictures from:
A. Our "hotel" down the road
B. Some of the men at breakfast
C. Sam launching a water balloon
D. The group of missionaries here