Hello Family and Friends,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for covering this team with your prayers. The nine of us who traveled together from Messiah have made it to Ouagadougou where Dr. Vader was waiting for us. Throughout our travels I have noticed that the western concept of the waiting in line does not hold the same weight in Africa. We as a team need to continue to remind our selves and one another that ‘different’ does not mean ‘bad’ it’s just ‘different’. We should not judge, but rather accept, adapt, and love.
One thing we need to adapt to is the time difference. When we finished our 36 hour marathon and touched down in Burkina Faso it was 1:57 am local time. By the time we got off the plane, went though customs, and collected all of our luggage, (every bag we checked made it) it was LATE of EARLY however, you want to think about it. A good number of Burkinabe men were eager to pile the bags into our pick-up truck. After we exchanged pleasantries in our broken French and their mumbled English the men asked for American money. We gave them a few coins we had left in our pockets and were on our way towards the SIM compound.
On the way to the compound I noticed there where a number of elderly women sweeping the road. I asked our SIM driver and a local missionary what they were doing. He explained to me that these women would sweep the road for money so they could purchase food. They would earn around 1000 fca which turns about to be around two dollars a night. When we arrived at the compound we placed all of our luggage in an alcove by our rooms climbed under our mosquito nets and quickly fell asleep.
Breakfast was at nine and consisted of fresh bread and a variety of jams that were purchased at a local grocery store. After washing, bleaching, drying, and putting away the dishes the team met together for a brief discussion of the do’s and don’t in Burkina Faso. We talked about the water, clothing, and the customary greetings of the Burkinabe culture. The team was informed about the local customs of entertaining guests and the hazards of giving one’s email away.
After the meeting there was a short period of rest followed by lunch. An Australian missionary who is working on translating the Bible into Fulfulde, a local dialect, took us to his favorite local restaurant. The team had the choice of noodles and sauce or rice and sauce. One could not go wrong with either of the two choices. Our meal was served with freshly baked bread as well as baobab juice. The juice was the consistency of a thin milkshake, had the coloration of chocolate milk, but had a very distinct fruit flavor. This fruit juice was tasty; however, I was glad I brought some water from the mission with me.
The walk back to the SIM mission was not to long and over dirt roads. Compounds lined each side and when it came time to crossing the intersecting road it reminded me of New York City road crossings. There were children playing with a partially deflated soccer ball and men working on mopeds (which are everywhere). Women were selling fruit which they were carried on their head in huge baskets, and people were calling out ÇA VA all around us.
When we returned to the compound we had roughly an hour and a half to rest, journal, shower, and chill before we headed out into the market place to purchase some food for our time in Mahadaga. The group split up into three groups each with a list each with a different store in mind. Prix-Bas was the name of the store that I went to and it had a little bit of everything. When we walked in we picked up a basket and started to look for the things on our list. In was not but a minute until one of the women working in the store had taken our basket and was following us around helping us find the things we could not. Once we paid a man put our groceries on his motorcycle and followed us for the ten minute walk back to the compound.
Tomorrow is filled with shopping, shopping, and more shopping. Not only do we need to finish picking up groceries that we did not get today, but we also need to purchase supplies for both the tricycle and summer enrichment programs. Please be praying for us as we attempt to communicate effectively the parts, supplies, and food that we need. If you could please pray for; patience in trying to find what we are looking for as well as success in the necessary supplies. On Saturday we will be driving to Mahadaga. We need your prayer for a safe and quick journey, as well as the health and unity of the team as we will be in a hot van over bumpy roads for a long time.
Thank you once again for your prayers.
God Bless,
Your brothers and sisters in Christ who are half-way across the world,
The Summer 2010 Burkina Faso Site Team
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for covering this team with your prayers. The nine of us who traveled together from Messiah have made it to Ouagadougou where Dr. Vader was waiting for us. Throughout our travels I have noticed that the western concept of the waiting in line does not hold the same weight in Africa. We as a team need to continue to remind our selves and one another that ‘different’ does not mean ‘bad’ it’s just ‘different’. We should not judge, but rather accept, adapt, and love.
One thing we need to adapt to is the time difference. When we finished our 36 hour marathon and touched down in Burkina Faso it was 1:57 am local time. By the time we got off the plane, went though customs, and collected all of our luggage, (every bag we checked made it) it was LATE of EARLY however, you want to think about it. A good number of Burkinabe men were eager to pile the bags into our pick-up truck. After we exchanged pleasantries in our broken French and their mumbled English the men asked for American money. We gave them a few coins we had left in our pockets and were on our way towards the SIM compound.
On the way to the compound I noticed there where a number of elderly women sweeping the road. I asked our SIM driver and a local missionary what they were doing. He explained to me that these women would sweep the road for money so they could purchase food. They would earn around 1000 fca which turns about to be around two dollars a night. When we arrived at the compound we placed all of our luggage in an alcove by our rooms climbed under our mosquito nets and quickly fell asleep.
Breakfast was at nine and consisted of fresh bread and a variety of jams that were purchased at a local grocery store. After washing, bleaching, drying, and putting away the dishes the team met together for a brief discussion of the do’s and don’t in Burkina Faso. We talked about the water, clothing, and the customary greetings of the Burkinabe culture. The team was informed about the local customs of entertaining guests and the hazards of giving one’s email away.
After the meeting there was a short period of rest followed by lunch. An Australian missionary who is working on translating the Bible into Fulfulde, a local dialect, took us to his favorite local restaurant. The team had the choice of noodles and sauce or rice and sauce. One could not go wrong with either of the two choices. Our meal was served with freshly baked bread as well as baobab juice. The juice was the consistency of a thin milkshake, had the coloration of chocolate milk, but had a very distinct fruit flavor. This fruit juice was tasty; however, I was glad I brought some water from the mission with me.
The walk back to the SIM mission was not to long and over dirt roads. Compounds lined each side and when it came time to crossing the intersecting road it reminded me of New York City road crossings. There were children playing with a partially deflated soccer ball and men working on mopeds (which are everywhere). Women were selling fruit which they were carried on their head in huge baskets, and people were calling out ÇA VA all around us.
When we returned to the compound we had roughly an hour and a half to rest, journal, shower, and chill before we headed out into the market place to purchase some food for our time in Mahadaga. The group split up into three groups each with a list each with a different store in mind. Prix-Bas was the name of the store that I went to and it had a little bit of everything. When we walked in we picked up a basket and started to look for the things on our list. In was not but a minute until one of the women working in the store had taken our basket and was following us around helping us find the things we could not. Once we paid a man put our groceries on his motorcycle and followed us for the ten minute walk back to the compound.
Tomorrow is filled with shopping, shopping, and more shopping. Not only do we need to finish picking up groceries that we did not get today, but we also need to purchase supplies for both the tricycle and summer enrichment programs. Please be praying for us as we attempt to communicate effectively the parts, supplies, and food that we need. If you could please pray for; patience in trying to find what we are looking for as well as success in the necessary supplies. On Saturday we will be driving to Mahadaga. We need your prayer for a safe and quick journey, as well as the health and unity of the team as we will be in a hot van over bumpy roads for a long time.
Thank you once again for your prayers.
God Bless,
Your brothers and sisters in Christ who are half-way across the world,
The Summer 2010 Burkina Faso Site Team
We are praying mightily for each one of you on the team and are thrilled to be able to keep up with you via the blog. Thanks for taking the time to write!! Know that the Lord has great things in store for you, ways to work in you and through you for His glory and Kingdom. Much love is coming your way ~
ReplyDeleteJim, Anne and Stephen Kimpel
1. Is Justin wearing a head band in that picture?
ReplyDelete2. Hi John.
3. I miss you guys & I'll be praying for you all :)
Enjoy the heat.
-jean (zipagan)
Everyone looks great! Praying for the next leg. On to Mahadaga.
ReplyDeleteGive my love to Franciose.
Ariela