Mountains and Valleys…

There have been so many great things I have been able to report to you in the last 8 months. (Can you believe it has been that long?) Travels, adoptions, great relationships, etc. I have been thinking a lot about this though, and do not want to give a false picture of what all is going on here or even a false picture of mission work in general. Every day is not always a wonderful new day that great and exciting. There are many mountains and valleys with living in another culture and with being a missionary. I know that I don’t even know the half of them… I do know that one of the difficulties is that it is just so hard to convey even a portion of life here as it is so completely different from home. Therefore, I have thought I would try to share a little bit of the struggles I have been facing to help those at home see that life here isn’t always as it seems from my few quick blog entries…

One of the biggest things I have struggled with in the last month is saying goodbyes three months before closing my time here in Burkina… Our older kids are going to their villages this summer… Sometimes this is the case and other times they stay and continue to study and cultivate at the orphanage. This year, they are going home… I have realized, once again, so strongly, how God has completely surprised me in my time here. I have always loved working with younger children and I figured that would be one big part of my role here… It has, and I love it still, but I cannot explain the place in my heart that the elementary and high school kids have. I cannot explain the way I feel my stomach constantly churning and my heart aching at the thought of saying goodbye to these kids whom I love. I cannot explain trying to hold back tears in this culture where emotions are not expressed, and yet convey to these kids the enormous place that they have in my heart.

And so this time of goodbyes has begun… I really don’t like the word goodbye, so I am really not trying to say it… á plus, á bientôt, and many other “see you later” type of phrases are more common for me to say… I can’t imagine these next three months without these kids, let alone the rest of my life. More than any other short term mission trip I’ve done, I feel a strong sense and desire to return to this place that has become my home… Yesterday was the whirlwind day- kids coming to find me all throughout the day to say goodbye… And then today, Brittany leaves for Canada after finishing her six months here. The last high schoolers will leave this coming week after finding out the scores of their final exams for their last year of school. Primary school kids will all leave July 11… Most likely, I won't see most of them again before I leave as school doesn't start until October... My heart is truly hurting right now…

I know that God has a plan and I know that these feelings are ok. As Brittany said, if we weren’t feeling this, there would be questions of why we are here. God has blessed us so deeply with these relationships and the chance to get to know these kids with such incredible stories and love. I also know that Jesus took his relationships seriously. He wept over his friend’s death, even knowing that he could change the circumstances. He cared deeply for people, and I have to believe that he has made me this way-a sentimental 22 year old who absolutely hates change and has an extremely difficult time with goodbyes- because it is maybe just a portion of the way that He cares for us. I have a hard time imagining the vastness of this love that He has for us, but I believe I am feeling a little portion of this love that He has for me in the incredible love that I am feeling for these people . Wow…

So as I rest in this valley I know that God will continue to use me here even when it is difficult to see. Even as the tears flow (and I cannot begin to count the times that they have), there is a deep thankfulness in me for this time that I have been able to share with these kids here in Yako, Burkina Faso.

I pray that as we wait for God to rain down on this dry and dusty country, God will rain down on me in this dry patch. And until the rains come, I will forever praise Him. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers,

A servant for him,
~Liz

Describing a good storm... (and yes, that implies there are wimpy storms)

First it starts with a VERY hot day. Now that the weather has been slightly cooling (100's?) it's easier to tell an extra hot day. Funny to me that the heat can really predict a storm.

Sometimes out of nowhere the winds pick up. I can't even begin to describe the sounds- maybe I'll take a video next time. The tin roof gets unbelievably loud and ripples (weak word) and sounds, literally, as though it will blow OFF any second. The sand blowing (also weak word) across the roof sounds almost like rain, but we can usually tell a difference. Last night's storm I literally was covering myself hoping the roof above me wasn't going to blow away.

As you lie there in bed, you try to decide if it's really worth getting up to close windows, and then the smell of dust and the crunch in your teeth makes you decide otherwise. We have sort of shutter-like windows that you push up to close and down to open- no glass windows. This means that if you have lights on or it's during the day, you still see the dust blowing in- a sort of foggy look to the air for awhile. Inevitably it's usually the day after the house has been cleaned. A thick brown layer now covers everything.

Sometimes the winds stop for a brief moment, often the power goes out. At night, this leaves a deafening silence and the darkest pitch black dark that I have experienced.

A crack of thunder, another, and then a downpour. Or at first, it sounds like a downpour on our (strong) tin roof, but a sprinkle sounds louder than a HUGE storm at home. As it picks up strength, the roof, again, sounds as though it will soon end up a mile away.

This storm, as I laid in bed listening (and laughing) I felt a sprinkle or two. As it got harder, I started getting wet!! A great muddy combination on the floors. I thought the roof was leaking (which does happen, and Ruth marks the spot with a big chalk circle on the cement floor so we can find it again) but turned out that the rain was pouring in my windows (the side of the house the wind was attacking at that moment). This meant that for the second time in a few weeks, my desk- all my books and papers and everything- were covered in water dots (on top of the dust that came first).

Soon, the winds calm, but if it's the middle of the night like last, it's too late. We're all awake and sitting in the living room. Can't talk because it's too loud though. Yelling cannot be heard. Ruth made some decaf coffee and settled in with a book.

The blessing of these stroms is the incrediblly cool temeratures the rains bring in. The irony is that all the windows have to be closed so once opened, takes almost as long to cool down the house as it does for temperatures to heat up again.

As the rain lightens, I fall onto my bed, too tired to be very annoyed (for more than a second) by the layer of sandy dust that covers my bed.

WAWA -- West Africa wins again...


A servant for Him,
~Liz

Updates

-350 Moringa trees were donated to the orphanage by a family who are here as missionaries in southern Burkina. The trees are extremely healthy and are especially good for treating malnutrition in babies and in nursing mothers. The most amazing part of it to me is how God provides--- on a map of the places in the world with malnutrition, almost the exact same countries are where these trees are able to grow. Such an incredible resource at our fingertips- need for education and awareness is so huge. See http://www.echonet.org/ for more info on these trees Planting the baby trees!
An overgrown tree, but can still harvest the seeds - the leaves and the seeds can all be used for healthy benefits
While planting, we saw an incredible thing- a rainbow AROUND the sun!! God's beauty is astounding

-Still have a few sick children- please be praying for them

-We had a huge storm last night- 2 children from the same family in our church died. We believe that a wall in their home collapsed with the intense winds and the rain beating at the foundation. This is fairly common for houses to be destroyed during rainy season as most are mud brick. An extremely difficult time for them. Not sure of other deaths, but the report was that there was a lot of damage in Yako…

On our road there were trees literally bent over completely from the high winds

-All kinds of funny things come out with the rains!

A snail found next to our house (really big!)

-Killed this in our house!! The people here call them scorpions, but they aren't what we consider scorpionsYuck!

-Our toddlers are talking more and more now!! :) Way to go Brittany and her toddler class

Tibnoma, Joseph, and Ibrahim

-A huge final soccer match in Yako this past weekend!! It was pretty exciting and I ended up sitting next to the younger sister of Yako's "Depute" (I think comparable to a senator). We even had some playful banter going on as she was cheering for the other team. Yako won 2-0!!

-We have one orphanage child at university right now- he (despite many issues with the university) finished his first year with flying colors. Unfortunately, in the last 2 years there have been many strikes with the teachers as well as students. This second year that he started has now been on and off with strikes since it began, and there is a possibility that this year could be a “l’annee blanc” which means a year that doesn’t count. He’s real discouraged and I just wish I could send him to college in the States to continue with his education. He’s studying sociology and has worked so hard… Pleas pray for the teachers and university to be able to come to a good agreement and plan for the years to come (soon!), and please pray for him in this tough time

Rain!!

I can’t even begin to explain what that word sounds like after more than of a month of 120*’s heat, a constant river (not a drip) of sweat running down every part of me and sleeping with a soaking wet towel every night. Every gust of wind is a beautiful gift and we pray the power doesn’t go out at night so we can sleep. I thank God for electricity, and after babies crawling all over me and their sweat mixing with mine, I sometimes have to take a break inside under the fan. The common phrase here immediately following “Hello” is “Il fait chaud (it is hot!).” Or in Mooré "Ya Toologo". I had considered sleeping in my shower when the heat came, but decided it was too much work. Plus the towel stays wet basically the whole night.

But with that said, I AM surviving! I never thought that 90-100* heat would feel like a relief, but we praise God for a few cooler days.

The other day, one of our workers (who was sweating MORE than me at that point- I always love to see the Burkinabé sweat, it shows I’m not crazy) told me 20-30 days til rain. I almost did a dance of joy right there. Harmattan winds, tons of dust and sand everywhere, 24/7 heat almost DONE? There have been points Brittany and I think we’ll get a rain- even the smell of rain in the air- and we make a deal that whoever wakes up first from the rain has to wake the other one up so we can run outside no matter what time it is. As very rare as it is at this time of year and the couple months past, there have been a couple 10 min rains.

Today (5/7) though… RAIN!!! And rain like I’ve never seen before (minus the huge tornado and storm last year in Manistee). I had a Mooré class in the afternoon and went out with clouds in the sky, the smell of rain, and thunder in the distance. We’ve had this a few times though, so I didn’t expect anything too spectacular. After about 20 minutes of class though, we heard a few sprinkles on the tin roof. I looked at Nongewende (my teacher) and grinned- RAIN! He didn’t seem convinced it would be too much, but five minutes later it started to downpour!!! I said excuse me a minute and ran outside to catch a few drops (I think he thought I was crazy)- Brittany was walking over with Therese to do the same :)… I headed back in after a minute expecting to get back to class. The rain continued to intensify though, and we couldn’t even hear each other to work. The classroom we were in was outside under a tin roof with straw walls. Luckily there was one desk with a lid, so I stuck my books inside. We sat around for over an hour waiting for the rain to stop!! It was absolutely pouring; thunder and lightning too! The rain changed directions three times so we ended up moving all around the classroom trying to avoid getting too wet. I even had goosebumps at one point. I think it was the first time I’ve had goosebumps since December or January. The winds were crazy too- I looked outside a few times to see the branches being blown so much I thought we might have hurricaine winds coming up ;)… It was absolutely incredible. The thing with tin roofs here is that even a slight sprinkle makes a ton of noise. Imagine not being able to talk to one another when you are right next to each other- that’s what it’s like with a downpour.

The storm!!

Following the rain was just crazy as well. The once dry sand/dirt everywhere had turned into huge brown lakes and rivers. Flip flops get stuck very easy and you end up walking right out of them into the mud. Have you tried walking with weights attached to your feet? That’s kind of what it feels like to walk in the mud here. The kids, of course, couldn’t wait to start a game of soccer in the mud. Britt and I set up a bench to watch the slipping and sliding (and falling) in the mud. Very funny. It was so great to see the joy on everyone’s faces- rain after so long! Ruth says we’ll probably have a bit longer before the rains truly start and cultivation can start happening (it’s better for everyone if the rains start a little later for planting too). To me, this was a beautiful day (as I sit in the cool temperatures writing this), but I guess you’ll have to ask me how I feel about the rain after a few months more of it.
After the rains!

A servant for Him,
~Liz

(Side note: Friday night (5/8) we had HUGE swarms of termites flying all around the windows and doors. Interestingly enough, about an hour after they started, they all died. There were piles of them everywhere. The kids informed me that this always happens in rainy season and that they only get bigger… Wonderful… And yes, Pastor Pat, they eat them in soup when they’re bigger. Thanks for the heads up!)

A trip to the desert!

Last weekend I made the trip to the desert in northern Burkina Faso. Along with Brittany and five other SIMers, we drove up to Djibo. We passed through Kongoussi, and from there til Djibo it was just dirt roads- washboard roads is more like it. I swear cars aren't meant to shake that way.

The first day we relaxed a bit and then headed out to a Touareg camp to ride camels and see their way of life. The Touareg people are refugees from Mali- a nomadic people group. They look almost Arab and their language also sounds similar to Arabic. We arrived and sat and had Fulani tea (similar to chai tea, but done differently) which was SO good. We got to ride camels- not a far distance, but very cool. They get up and sit down very differently, lots of jerking around. Turned out to actually be sort of comfy- who knows, maybe next I'll ride through the Sahara on camels! The village also had a well 30m deep that we got to see- so cool! There isn’t a pump on it though, so they attach a rope to a camel and ride him out a distance to pull the water up. Did this a number of times just to get water for all their cows!! Then got to eat a traditional meal- rice with sauce, pintade meat (yum!), and believe it or not, Camel's milk! I didn't even know they were milked. Warm, but good. I have to say, I REALLY miss dairy here. It was a very cool experience to sit on mats under the stars and talk with these very interesting people. They were very welcoming and seemed to be such a different culture than many of the Burkinabé.

A typical Touareg home

The Touareg people

Riding a camel!!

Video of me on the camel as it stands up- hold on tight!

Brittany and I with our tea

The second day we got to visit a hospital in Djibo that specializes in surgeries. Don’t worry, squeamish Liz didn’t watch any surgeries (or pass out on the floor). The hospital was started by a missionary couple (not with any organization) about 30 years ago. The husband is the only doctor (and the only person in the Djibo area that does the kind of surgeries he does) and the wife works in the lab there. We got a basic tour and got to chat a bit with this awesome couple. Afterwards we went to visit the pastor of the only Fulani church in Djibo. Remember me talking about Betty who works with the Fulani in Mahadaga? Well SIM has also worked with the Fulani in Djibo for a long time, and recently, a Fulani pastor has moved to Djibo with his wife and son to pastor the church there. A difficult job which is a definite prayer request! After our visit, we learned a little Fufuldé- “Djem Wali (Good morning, how are you?” “Djem tun (I’m fine!).”

The third day we went and climbed Djibo “mountain.” Every big hill here is called a mountain as most of Burkina is fairly flat. It was really beautiful (interesting how the desert can be beautiful)! Near one of the hills was a Muslim gravesite that had been beat up by the winds and sand so that many things were exposed now. All of the bodies were buried in clay pots facing Mecca. So interesting to see! Afterwards, we headed out to a Fulani village. This was actually a really incredible survival story. Friends in Action (same people who tried to dig our well 2x) put in a well just outside this village. Before the well, they had to walk a huge distance just to get water each day. The people were very very sick and had many diseases- the village was basically dying. After the well, they went in a year later and everyone is very healthy (except for a recent measles outbreak- happening over w.africa right now) and even complain that they’re hungry all the time now (which is because they are actually healthy and have an appetite). You can see the joy in their faces as they pump water for their animals and their families. We sat in their only mud-brick home (most Fulani sleep outside under a straw house) and had a traditional Fulani meal. It was basically Toh like we eat at the orphanage (or that I try to eat), only I actually really liked it. It was made of millet flour (we normally use corn four at the orphanage) so was more of a grayish color and much more sticky. The sauce was similar to one we’d have, but whatever that was in it (or not) that was different from the orphanage made it pretty good! After this, we were given Bouillie. This is a sort of cream of wheat made out of millet flour as well and usually sugar is added (much better with sugar). Our kids here at the orphanage eat this every morning for breakfast. Was a fun afternoon! The gravesite

Djibo Mountain

The toh of Fulani (Nirie)

Me showing kids pictures of themselves

The Fulani village (in the middle of nowhere)

Finally, Sunday, we went to the Fulani church before heading back to Ouaga. It is a very tiny church, and the only church in Djibo done in Fufuldé. It was really neat to sit there and listen to a very different sounding language and music than I am used to in Yako. There is something so beautiful about all of the different cultures that mix here in Burkina. Just as the landscape is incredibly diverse, so are the people.
The pastor and his family

I know I mentioned before going that it was going to be HOT. It definitely was hot, but I am so thankful that my body has really adjusted to the heat. It really didn’t feel much warmer than Yako or Ouaga. The only thing that was different was that there weren’t the same breezes that we’ve had down in Yako. It was really great in Djibo, because we slept outside under the stars and it cools down a lot at night, whereas in Yako it basically stays the same all the time now. My trick for this has been soaking a towel and laying it over me- actually have been sleeping pretty well with this! When we left Ouaga Monday Brittany and I noticed an outdoor temp gauge saying 49*C (121*F). I’m surviving the hot season!! Thank you for your prayers :)

Our bedroom :)

A servant for Him,
~Liz

Happy Easter! and Reflections...

Just wanted to say Happy Easter to all! I was, once again, excited to celebrate with my African brothers and sisters and see how they celebrate here. We had a great evening service Saturday night that was very similar to Christmas (only HOURS shorter). It was interesting to me how in the States we often have a Good Friday service but nothing on Saturday, and here that didn't have a Good Friday service but one on Saturday. There were many special songs sung by different groups- some GREAT numbers by the kids- as well as reciting the story of Easter (all in Mooré). I absolutely loved hearing the songs that are so familiar to me, just in a language I am starting to learn. Sunday's service was also similar and again, very short!! What a surprise! :) It was also interesting to me that people would say, "bonne année et bon fête de pâques (happy new year and happy easter)." Bonne année because it is a new year in Christ... An interesting way to look at it!

Brit and I in our new Assemblies of God (Assemblies de Dieu, AD) outfits. With Edward and Evance from the orphanage in their Manistee tshirts!!

Brit and I with Adiara, our social worker who has lived with us the past 2 months

At the orphanage, we celebrated Easter with a special lunch and dinner. Normally it's Toh every day, but for lunch we had macaroni with meat donated by our Social Action and for dinner, riz gras with meat- one of our goats killed by our boys, and no, no eyes or tongue for me this time. Brittany and I made cupcakes for them all for dinner and watched "Victory," an old soccer movie with legend "Pele" in it (whom they all love). It was a lot of fun, and great to eat all together and spend time just laughing and talking.

The kids enjoying lunch with a sort of koolaid drink they make for special occasions

The line up of bowls ready for the kids to grab for lunch

I pray that your Easter celebration was great as well, and that in this season, that God will renew our vision and remind us all how precious His gift was and what it means for us today.

I had an incredible experience during my week in Kongoussi, watching the film about Jesus’ life, that reminded me of the personal part of the story- God did this for ME! But also that it was because of ME that He died. I kept hearing the familiar hymn, How Deep the Father's Love for Us... "It was my sin that held him there, until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.."

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I can hardly believe I’ve passed my halfway point here in Africa. It has gone so quickly!! September still sounds very far away, but I know that this second half will probably fly by just as quickly as the last. I don’t like to think about how quickly it has gone though. Brittany gave me a good quote relating to this…

“Notice how we are perpetually surprised at Time. (‘How time flies! Fancy John being grown-up and married! I can hardly believe it!’) In heaven’s name, why? Unless indeed, there is something in us which is not temporal." ---- “A Severe Mercy” CS Lewis

This reminds me once again that life here isn't it... We're so surprised by time going by quickly perhaps because we are "time oriented" and yet we're not meant to be living in time. Our time here on Earth is so short, and yet we're eternal beings and our spirits are moving towards what will be be after death- where there are no limits to time. We are created to be eternal but our bodies are the ticking clock... I know, sounds a bit deep, but I've been thinking a lot about this lately... And would love to talk more if you want!

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"I will not boast in anything, no gifts no power no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. Why should I gain from his reward, I cannot give an answer, but this I know with all my heart, his wounds have paid my ransom."

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Blessings in this new year in Christ!

A servant for Him,

~Liz

Featured Child for April

Madina was born December 20, 1992. She lives in Sector 2 of Yako, Burkina Faso. Madina’s father died in 2003. Madina is the youngest of 5 children. She has three older sisters and one older brother- none of which are married. Madina lives with her mother and two of her sisters.

Madina’s mother sells vegetables and peanuts for a small amount of money each day for the family but it is hardly sufficient to support the whole family. The home that the family of four inhabits is a mud-brick, one room house. It is probably no bigger than 10 feet by 10 feet. There is no electricity or running water and she has to walk to a nearby community water pump to fetch water for the family.

Madina attends the school Communale in Yako and is in Sixieme (comparable to 7th grade). She lives a distance from the school and walks back and forth each day. At this time, Madina is in good health.