One, the weather on the side of my blog is often incorrect- so if you see that it's only 60 or 70 (especially during the day) don't believe it :) It's hot! See previous entry about what the temp has been like at night recently tho :)
Two, sorry for the format of the blog- I try and try to make it right, but it often just messes around with the spacing and placement of everything. It drives me nuts!
Thanks for your patience :)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
I’m dreaming of a red/brown Christmas…
Merry Christmas!! Joyeux Nöel!
I pray this finds you all in good health and that you had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family. It was definitely a different Christmas for me, but I think because of the lack of 100 in. of snow and the different way that Africa celebrates Christmas, I really did not feel homesick. I know, sorry to my family. :) Truly though, a friend of mine here really helped me to prepare for the Christmas season. I was worried this would be the hardest time of my year in Africa, but she reminded me that in a year, I’ll be spending Christmas the same way I always have and that I’ll be able to celebrate it in this way for the rest of my life. How often do I have the opportunity to celebrate in another culture and worship with Christians in a totally different way?
Well with 90 degree heat and dust storms swirling around, I celebrated Christmas with my new African friends and family. We started the evening of Christmas Eve with a family dinner at the orphanage. Most of the time, the kids get their food and will eat all over the courtyard and in little groups, but for the family dinners, we all pull together tables and benches and eat as a group. Many of the kids return home for Christmas or parts of their vacation- many still have some sort of family in the surrounding villages. This year though, about 12 stayed at the orphanage (as well as our babies and toddlers) so we ate Riz gras (Rice with a sort of sauce mixed in) and we each got a piece of meat and a piece of eggplant on it. It was really good! I was a bit surprised when they dipped their large cups into a big bin that came out with a bright yellow drink- very similar to Koolaid. A special treat for the holidays. I finished the meal by making the group “blonde brownies.” They absolutely love baked goods, so it was great to share this with them :)
The Christmas Eve service at our church was supposed to start at 7pm. Of course it didn’t, so Ruth and I didn’t even leave the house to walk over until about 7:45pm. With barely anyone in sight at the church, we went into the pastor’s home (connected to the church courtyard) and visited with him for at least another half an hour. He didn’t seem a bit concerned that the service had not started over an hour later than it was supposed to. :) The things to get used to here… The service was really good! In some ways so different than the States, and in some ways, so similar. When the children came in acting like little sheep being herded by the shepherds, I couldn’t help but picture our little ones in church dressed up in white, baaing like sheep- slightly different look, but so similar. And when the choir sang “Angels We Have Heard On High” in their heart language of Mooré, my eyes misted as I felt the familiar warmth of home- slightly different with the African drums playing along with the carols, but so similar. And when the children stood in a line and took turns reciting the story of Jesus’ birth, verse by verse, I had to smile at the same sort of reactions they had; some yelling the verse, some quiet, some rushing through, some forgetting their lines- in a language I could not completely understand, yet so similar.
The kids behind me singing- recognize the song?
A girl's group singing/dancing- all in front row probably younger than 10 years old, what dancing skills!! :)
The service went til 1:30am. Yes, you read that right. I left at the ‘official’ end of the service, but many stayed for more singing and dancing til 4,5, maybe even 6 in the morning. What a passion to praise God! What a celebration of Christ’s birth. And the commercialism of the season really is non-existent here. Gift giving really is not that common, there are not the big shopping malls and people rushing around stressed out over last minute gift purchases. What a refreshing difference and reflection on the true meaning of Christmas. Of course there were moments when I got tired or frustrated with not understanding the Mooré at our very long service, but I was just overwhelmed by the idea of how similar this could be to Christ’s actual birth. We picture our Lord being born on a snowy December evening, in a small but cozy stable with straw all around, the animals softly talking to one another. We picture the baby Jesus wrapped in soft, white clothes and sleeping soundly in a small but maybe slightly comfortable manger. We even portray the story in our own language, English, with our own greetings and cultural understandings. But how different it was. When I watched the story unfold in Africa, I realized that Jesus was probably in a hot, dusty, and dry stable. Dirt floors and animal… waste… all around. The donkeys do not quietly speak, but LOUDLY yell as well as the wonderful roosters making noise, animals moving around, etc. It was not comfortable. Mary and Joseph were probably exhausted by the trip, long lines all over the crowded village, and with her difficult birth with no doctors or nurses to help. They might have had a pange to wrap Jesus in, but it was probably the bright leftover cloth from one of Mary’s outfits (the cloth used here to make the clothing- many woman have a 3rd pange wrapped around their waist to use in case they needed to carry a baby on their back). And when I heard the people in our Christmas drama greet each other in Mooré. “Nayzaabree” “Zaabree kibari” “Lafi” “Lafi bala” “Zakrumba” “Lafi. Zakrumba” “Lafi”… I realized how different the greetings and cultural language would be in the little town where Jesus was born.
Christmas day was a bit different as well. We had breakfast with the kids- I really wanted to make them breakfast, so made pancakes, about 40! Brought out peanut butter, jelly, and syrup for them to put on the pancakes. It was so funny to watch as they took huge spoonfuls of the toppings- probably more than the pancakes, and quickly ate the 2 ½ pancakes given to each :) The kids all went to church, and Ruth and I planned on leaving about 10 to head to Ouaga for Christmas with missionary friends. A little bit of drama with one of the kids, so got out later than we had hoped. We arrived in Ouaga and had a GREAT meal with 4 of Ruth’s single, woman missionary friends. So fun. We actually got turkey!! We then sat around in their home and watched lights on their Christmas tree (they found it for only $30 in Ouaga- usually the western type of things are SO expensive here!), and then exchanged gifts. How nice to be included in this great evening of fellowship. The missionaries have all been here for 20 years or more, so the amazing discussions we had, and the prayers and fellowship shared was really great. We spent the night at their home, and are now at the SIM guesthouse in Ouaga til I leave for my New Year’s trip.
Christmas with some BF missionaries! 
The beautiful Christmas tree :) Almost like home!
We decided to do a shorter, less expensive trip to western Burkina Faso instead of Benin/Togo. I’m going with three other SIM short termers to Bobo Dialosso and Banfora- known for waterfalls, greenery, and a different sort of culture than the east side of Burkina. I’m real excited to see another area and of course spend time with the girls :) It’s funny though, I already miss the kids and know that two weeks away will be a bit weird after 2 months with them.
I pray this finds you all in good health and that you had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family. It was definitely a different Christmas for me, but I think because of the lack of 100 in. of snow and the different way that Africa celebrates Christmas, I really did not feel homesick. I know, sorry to my family. :) Truly though, a friend of mine here really helped me to prepare for the Christmas season. I was worried this would be the hardest time of my year in Africa, but she reminded me that in a year, I’ll be spending Christmas the same way I always have and that I’ll be able to celebrate it in this way for the rest of my life. How often do I have the opportunity to celebrate in another culture and worship with Christians in a totally different way?
Well with 90 degree heat and dust storms swirling around, I celebrated Christmas with my new African friends and family. We started the evening of Christmas Eve with a family dinner at the orphanage. Most of the time, the kids get their food and will eat all over the courtyard and in little groups, but for the family dinners, we all pull together tables and benches and eat as a group. Many of the kids return home for Christmas or parts of their vacation- many still have some sort of family in the surrounding villages. This year though, about 12 stayed at the orphanage (as well as our babies and toddlers) so we ate Riz gras (Rice with a sort of sauce mixed in) and we each got a piece of meat and a piece of eggplant on it. It was really good! I was a bit surprised when they dipped their large cups into a big bin that came out with a bright yellow drink- very similar to Koolaid. A special treat for the holidays. I finished the meal by making the group “blonde brownies.” They absolutely love baked goods, so it was great to share this with them :)
The Christmas Eve service at our church was supposed to start at 7pm. Of course it didn’t, so Ruth and I didn’t even leave the house to walk over until about 7:45pm. With barely anyone in sight at the church, we went into the pastor’s home (connected to the church courtyard) and visited with him for at least another half an hour. He didn’t seem a bit concerned that the service had not started over an hour later than it was supposed to. :) The things to get used to here… The service was really good! In some ways so different than the States, and in some ways, so similar. When the children came in acting like little sheep being herded by the shepherds, I couldn’t help but picture our little ones in church dressed up in white, baaing like sheep- slightly different look, but so similar. And when the choir sang “Angels We Have Heard On High” in their heart language of Mooré, my eyes misted as I felt the familiar warmth of home- slightly different with the African drums playing along with the carols, but so similar. And when the children stood in a line and took turns reciting the story of Jesus’ birth, verse by verse, I had to smile at the same sort of reactions they had; some yelling the verse, some quiet, some rushing through, some forgetting their lines- in a language I could not completely understand, yet so similar.
The kids behind me singing- recognize the song?
A girl's group singing/dancing- all in front row probably younger than 10 years old, what dancing skills!! :)
The service went til 1:30am. Yes, you read that right. I left at the ‘official’ end of the service, but many stayed for more singing and dancing til 4,5, maybe even 6 in the morning. What a passion to praise God! What a celebration of Christ’s birth. And the commercialism of the season really is non-existent here. Gift giving really is not that common, there are not the big shopping malls and people rushing around stressed out over last minute gift purchases. What a refreshing difference and reflection on the true meaning of Christmas. Of course there were moments when I got tired or frustrated with not understanding the Mooré at our very long service, but I was just overwhelmed by the idea of how similar this could be to Christ’s actual birth. We picture our Lord being born on a snowy December evening, in a small but cozy stable with straw all around, the animals softly talking to one another. We picture the baby Jesus wrapped in soft, white clothes and sleeping soundly in a small but maybe slightly comfortable manger. We even portray the story in our own language, English, with our own greetings and cultural understandings. But how different it was. When I watched the story unfold in Africa, I realized that Jesus was probably in a hot, dusty, and dry stable. Dirt floors and animal… waste… all around. The donkeys do not quietly speak, but LOUDLY yell as well as the wonderful roosters making noise, animals moving around, etc. It was not comfortable. Mary and Joseph were probably exhausted by the trip, long lines all over the crowded village, and with her difficult birth with no doctors or nurses to help. They might have had a pange to wrap Jesus in, but it was probably the bright leftover cloth from one of Mary’s outfits (the cloth used here to make the clothing- many woman have a 3rd pange wrapped around their waist to use in case they needed to carry a baby on their back). And when I heard the people in our Christmas drama greet each other in Mooré. “Nayzaabree” “Zaabree kibari” “Lafi” “Lafi bala” “Zakrumba” “Lafi. Zakrumba” “Lafi”… I realized how different the greetings and cultural language would be in the little town where Jesus was born.
Christmas day was a bit different as well. We had breakfast with the kids- I really wanted to make them breakfast, so made pancakes, about 40! Brought out peanut butter, jelly, and syrup for them to put on the pancakes. It was so funny to watch as they took huge spoonfuls of the toppings- probably more than the pancakes, and quickly ate the 2 ½ pancakes given to each :) The kids all went to church, and Ruth and I planned on leaving about 10 to head to Ouaga for Christmas with missionary friends. A little bit of drama with one of the kids, so got out later than we had hoped. We arrived in Ouaga and had a GREAT meal with 4 of Ruth’s single, woman missionary friends. So fun. We actually got turkey!! We then sat around in their home and watched lights on their Christmas tree (they found it for only $30 in Ouaga- usually the western type of things are SO expensive here!), and then exchanged gifts. How nice to be included in this great evening of fellowship. The missionaries have all been here for 20 years or more, so the amazing discussions we had, and the prayers and fellowship shared was really great. We spent the night at their home, and are now at the SIM guesthouse in Ouaga til I leave for my New Year’s trip.
Christmas with some BF missionaries! The beautiful Christmas tree :) Almost like home!We decided to do a shorter, less expensive trip to western Burkina Faso instead of Benin/Togo. I’m going with three other SIM short termers to Bobo Dialosso and Banfora- known for waterfalls, greenery, and a different sort of culture than the east side of Burkina. I’m real excited to see another area and of course spend time with the girls :) It’s funny though, I already miss the kids and know that two weeks away will be a bit weird after 2 months with them.
More updates to come in the next week or two! Thanks for your love and prayers and the various Christmas cards and emails. I feel your love from thousands of miles away :) Praying you all had a blessed Christmas season, and are staying warm in the snow, rain, ice, and fog. :) May God bless you in the closing of 2008!
A servant for him,
~Liz
Monday, December 15, 2008
Am I in Africa??
(Dec. 5, 2008)
So you are not going to believe this… I still don’t. I am COLD in Africa!
So you are not going to believe this… I still don’t. I am COLD in Africa!
I know, I know, many of you are suffering in the cold and snow right now, and this is nothing compared to that, but either my blood has already changed , or it really is cool here.
At might is when it is cooling down, as it is the “cold” season. Cold, right? 90’s.. Hm.. But evenings I would say lately it has been 60’s. For people used to 90-120 heat, it’s cold! All bundled in parkas and hats and warm clothes, it’s rather humorous for a Michigander like me.
But today… Oh man. I woke up early for a run and it was cold! Last night I used a sheet and a blanket and was still cold. Tonight I wear pj pants, tshirt, sheet, blanket, and get this- SOCKS. IN AFRICA! It’s funny because people always say it’s cold or ask if I’m cold and I laugh and say, oh no, it’s hot for me!
But today… I actually had to agree and say yes, it’s cold! Crazy. And I thought I’d never use the sweatshirts I brought- I used a zip up today until about 11:30am!
So as you are bundled up and getting ready for Christmas, think of us here in Africa- all of the little ones bundled for the evenings (and even daytime sometimes) and do pray for health for the people here as well- just like you, they’re more susceptible to colds and sickness when it’s cold.
I didn't think that a cold shower in Africa would ever feel bad, but you should hear me squeal as I get in- I've quit taking showers in the morning and evening, but only when it's the hottest mid-day. Really, I laughed as I put my warm clothes in my suitcase, but I'm so glad I did!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thank you!
In the spirit of being thankful...
Every so often I will post different entries like this to thank you for certain donations gifts to the ministry here :) I'll also include these in my email updates- sorry for the repetition!
I am SO grateful for the generosity of all of you...
Today, thank you to KMart in Manistee for their donations of Children's Tylenol and Ibuprofen, as well as cloth diapers for the babies!
The babies and toddlers with their NEW diapers- bright white if only for a few hours :)
Every so often I will post different entries like this to thank you for certain donations gifts to the ministry here :) I'll also include these in my email updates- sorry for the repetition!
I am SO grateful for the generosity of all of you...
Today, thank you to KMart in Manistee for their donations of Children's Tylenol and Ibuprofen, as well as cloth diapers for the babies!
Me with our nurse Bea and the new meds for the clinic
The babies and toddlers with their NEW diapers- bright white if only for a few hours :)Thank you!
A servant for Him,
~Liz
I am thankful for…
~Running water
~Electricity- fans!
~Water filters
~Clean and healthy food
~Good access to medical care and the money to treat illnesses
~Mosquito nets
~Technology for communication
~The love and support of family and friends
~Prayer
~God who holds me up when I do not have the strength to stand
In the past few weeks I've realized how grateful I am for all of these things, as well as many little things. When it gets tough I try to thank God for all of the little things that I don't necessarily think about in normal daily life at home. How lucky I feel when I realize how much I have. Simply the fact that when I have a stomach problem, I can afford $1.50 worth of medicines that many people here cannot. Or that when I feel feverish or am just tired of the heat, I can turn on my fan and lay on a BED to cool down. And when I am able to talk to family and friends on Thanksgiving and while I'm in the city, I realize how wonderful this technology is (especially considering missionaries even 10 years ago could not do this). And when I'm tired and wish I could talk to my family and Dave and friends, I realize how precious my support system at home is.
But I also realize how awesome GOD is and how amazing that even when I don't have that same support system here in Burkina Faso, thousands of miles away from home, I still have God's love and support. How awesome that even when I am alone, I am never alone.
Happy Thanksgiving!
A servant for Him,
~Liz
~Electricity- fans!
~Water filters
~Clean and healthy food
~Good access to medical care and the money to treat illnesses
~Mosquito nets
~Technology for communication
~The love and support of family and friends
~Prayer
~God who holds me up when I do not have the strength to stand
In the past few weeks I've realized how grateful I am for all of these things, as well as many little things. When it gets tough I try to thank God for all of the little things that I don't necessarily think about in normal daily life at home. How lucky I feel when I realize how much I have. Simply the fact that when I have a stomach problem, I can afford $1.50 worth of medicines that many people here cannot. Or that when I feel feverish or am just tired of the heat, I can turn on my fan and lay on a BED to cool down. And when I am able to talk to family and friends on Thanksgiving and while I'm in the city, I realize how wonderful this technology is (especially considering missionaries even 10 years ago could not do this). And when I'm tired and wish I could talk to my family and Dave and friends, I realize how precious my support system at home is.
But I also realize how awesome GOD is and how amazing that even when I don't have that same support system here in Burkina Faso, thousands of miles away from home, I still have God's love and support. How awesome that even when I am alone, I am never alone.
Happy Thanksgiving!
A servant for Him,
~Liz
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Chicken dinner
So this morning (Friday) I was literally ready to learn how to kill a chicken- ok, no, a rooster. It wasn’t for survival needs because I was starving, but for the need of SILENCE.
This rooster friend of mine decided that with the Muslim call to prayer at 4:15/4:30 this morning, he would alert us of the fact that it was morning. Only, it WASN’T morning. And he decided that the ideal place to announce this would be under my window. Did I mention that he sounded very sickly and had a sort of two-tone call that rattles the bones?
I was ready to march downstairs to either learn the art of killing dinner, or having a little chat with this bird.
“Now, is it really that you are this confused about what time of day it is and your duties to wake us at SUN-UP, or is it that you just want to annoy the white visitors who stare at you funny as you walk down the street or when you interrupt their French lessons with your crowing in the middle of the day?”
Needless to say, the morning doves decided to join in right after the rooster’s 45 minute wake-up call, the Muslim “Sabbath” is on Fridays so the call to prayer seemed much louder and longer, and I got a very SHORT night of sleep thanks to my blind and sick rooster neighbor.
A servant for Him,
~Liz
This rooster friend of mine decided that with the Muslim call to prayer at 4:15/4:30 this morning, he would alert us of the fact that it was morning. Only, it WASN’T morning. And he decided that the ideal place to announce this would be under my window. Did I mention that he sounded very sickly and had a sort of two-tone call that rattles the bones?
I was ready to march downstairs to either learn the art of killing dinner, or having a little chat with this bird.
“Now, is it really that you are this confused about what time of day it is and your duties to wake us at SUN-UP, or is it that you just want to annoy the white visitors who stare at you funny as you walk down the street or when you interrupt their French lessons with your crowing in the middle of the day?”
Needless to say, the morning doves decided to join in right after the rooster’s 45 minute wake-up call, the Muslim “Sabbath” is on Fridays so the call to prayer seemed much louder and longer, and I got a very SHORT night of sleep thanks to my blind and sick rooster neighbor.
A servant for Him,
~Liz
Christmas Gifts!
Another quick detail-
Sheltering Wings sells a few different items here to raise money to help with the various costs of running the orphanage. Ruth has hired two young women to weave for the orphanage. They were in the child sponsorship program through the orphanage and did not have the opportunity to go to school- Ruth picked them specifically to give them a trade so they would not end up on the streets or in poverty. There is also another woman who comes in to weave for us and someone else who makes who makes soap.
So here at the orphanage we sell soap and little sacs to put it in (but the sacs are great for other uses as well), and placemats too. The soap is $1 and the sacs are $1 as well (so obviously for the two, $2). The placemats are $2 each as well. (Postage costs will need to be added to each order).
I attached a couple pictures- they make great Christmas gifts! If you’re interested in buying any or even selling them for the orphanage, I’m going to ask you email my parents at tomrichert.richert44@gmail.com – my mom will compile a list for me and send it all at once to save on postage. Please include specifics of what you are ordering- type of item, number, etc. We can’t really honor color choices at this time because we take whatever we can get sewn fastest, but the soap can either be scented or non-scented (the scented is just a light floral smell).
The issue is that we’re trying to figure out if there is even an interest for this because the postage will cost quite a bit. We’d have to plan on a fairly large order to make it worth it for all of you! If you can let my parents know by NOV. 29 we can get the order out to the States hopefully in time for Christmas. Again though, if there isn't enough interest, it probably wouldn't be worth it to send a little order- sooo don't plan on this for your only Christmas gift until we confirm :)Another great opportunity is Sheltering Wings’ online Christmas catalogue. See http://www.shelteringwings-gifts.org/index.htm . This is a fun gift to give in someone’s name or even as a family in place of a Christmas gift.
Thank you for your interest!
A servant for Him,
~Liz
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