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.
