Fun with Friends and God

Thank you for the prayers, my teammates all recovered from malaria fairly quickly last week.



Happy BIG 4-0 to my sister Cheryl this week!  Sorry I missed a chance to give you lots of trouble!



The highlight of my week..... finally climbing the mountains that are the beautiful backdrop of our village.  Friday morning was a little cooler and beautiful blue skies with big white clouds... a picture perfect day!  It was about a 45 minute walk to the base of the mountain as there are two large plateaus once you leave the village.  The hillside is covered with rocks and hay and the climb took about 30 minutes (keep in mind, in sandals and a skirt!).  I was really glad to see there were very few thorn bushes to have to avoid.  The view from the top was spectacular!!!!!  I wish I could post pictures, but you'll just have to try and imagine.  I couldn't help but to sing, "For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, Lord of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise".  The breeze on top was a cool and refreshing break for the hotter temperatures in the village.   I could make out where our house was in the village along with other buildings.  I could see for probably 50 miles towards our city.  On the other side of the mountain, more mountains and valleys - is was gorgeous. 

Spending time in prayer and thought with our Father up there was some of the best time with Him.  I prayed over my people and my village and asked for the Spirit to rain down upon them and bring forth seekers. I didn't want to come down but we had to get back as lunch was approaching. I felt a sense of peace, joy, comfort and guidance as I came down.   At the base, I stopped under one of the 3 shade trees to take in one more view of the mountain.   There was a pile of rocks at my feet.  Suddenly I had the remembrance of the first morning ever driving to the village to spend the night and felt comforted with a vision I had of 3 crosses on top the mountains overlooking our people.  I took the rocks and piled them in the shape of a cross.  And found 3 red colored stones for the hands and feet.  Hopefully that cross will remain in this out of the way place and that it will always be a symbol of our Father's presence there over my people.  I prayed too that perhaps a shepherd passing by may see it and wonder about its meaning. 

Back in the city, we made American spaghetti and took it to Joshua's house on Saturday night to eat with his family and some of his friends.  We got to play with his 1 year old son for a bit before he fell asleep and he is a walking 'terror' now since we saw him last time!   We watched US vs. England World Cup soccer match on TV.   The World Cup here is huge, as is football in general and it's being played in South Africa this year to top it off.   Earlier in the day at Joshua's shop I had said something about, it's after lunch, you must be tired and ready for nap (that is normal here, rest time is after lunch about 2 or 2:30 till about 4pm).  His reply "no, that program is over until after the World Cup finishes".  I just thought it was funny he called rest time a program that needed to be put on hold while football was more important right now.

I also got to talk with him more about faith; he is not a seeker and so I ask that you all and myself just lift him up in prayer that the power of the Holy Spirit will convict him one day and open his heart.  We talked about the usual issues between I and C. I had asked him if  he has difficulty with the fact that his book of faith was written by only one man with one man's opinions and thoughts vs. the Word written by many and through the Father.    He said 'I' is the second largest faith behind C.  His point,  how can that many people be following something not true.  We discussed M and Esa and I made all the points about the differences between the two.  He said that Esa was the Savor for the Jewish people and M is the Savor for the Arab people.  I of course tried to share with him, that was not the case.  There is too much we talked about to write here so what it ultimately comes down to he said, "a person believes generally what your family believes and what you are taught" and so there is no changing that.  It really was a great conversation and I enjoyed talking with him and I know we'll have more to say this weekend before I leave. 

On interesting note, I asked him if he will take another wife.  He stumbled a bit, not because he didn't want to answer but because he doesn't know for sure if he will or not, but, he told me the official answer is Yes.  He told me, when you sign the papers for your marriage at the government office, there is a box that has to be checked by the official.  So you have to declare in front of your family, friends and the wife you are marrying if you intend to take another wife.  He said many people in the cities especially now are only taking one wife.  His father only has one wife.  It's only in the villages now really that you might find 2-3 usually.  I asked him if I faith says it's better to have more than one and he told me no, actually you will have more trouble on the day of judgment if you do.  I asked him to explain that (sounds like to me a good reason not to marry more than one) and he said, the book of faith says very clearly you must love, provide for and in every way treat all your wives equally and so that on judgment day those people will have much more to answer for in regards to that. 

I have had many conversations with the man in our compound with 3 wives about the economy and jobs and how hard it is for him to provided for his 10 children and 3 wives.  I told Joshua, it is hard for me to understand why people would chose to marry more knowing how difficult it is to provide.  I asked him what reasons men have usually for marrying more than one.   I was surprised at 2 of the answers....  their book of faith tells them not to lust after women or fornicate but if you can't help yourself and your first wife is not satisfying you enough to stop looking at others then marry another!  (An interesting response to sin I thought).  The other one that surprised me was that, if your communication and relationship with the first wife is difficult the thought is to marry a second and it will be better and she can help change the first wife. 

We had 'beauty day' in the village with our sisters and family in our compound.  We brought fingernail polish with us and did their nails (which is funny because they only want to paint the ones on the left hand because you eat with the right hand!).  My little sister, Ruth painted mine and she did a great job actually.  Our friend LaLa and Ruth braided my hair again.  They enjoy doing it and I don't mind (no mom, I'm don't scream they are hurting me either!) I had about 8-9 rows of thin braids across my head.  I then took out Ruth's braids which is time consuming as well to undue each of the small rows.  It was a fun way to spend the afternoon together.


I haven't talk about LaLa, she is a recent addition to our compound probably just in the last month and half or so.  And as most things here, it takes a while to sort things out.  She is 17 and has been married for 2 years.  She doesn't have any children yet and her husband is in Congo working.   She is the daughter of the woman who's hut is next to ours.  We always assumed our hut was this woman's in some way because she would mud/poop the walls and sweep the porch while we were gone sometimes.   As it turns out it was LaLa's hut!   I thanked her greatly and she told me it was no problem because when the mayor came looking for a hut for us to live in she figured it's just her right now there anyway since her husband is gone and she didn't need it. 

We celebrated Sarah's 22nd birthday in the village on Thursday.  Lydia, our mom, wanted to have a "grand fete" and so she told us she was going to go buy some meat.  Abby, told her oh, I will give you money for chicken because that's what Sarah really loves.  So she gave her 2000CFA for 2 chickens as a surprise.  So, yes, I had by first whole chicken experience.  Luckily I was still at the garden when the killing and most of the de-feathering took place.  But I sure didn't miss the inside clean out!  Our chicken apparently had eaten some millet and a very large coach roach just recently and had small eggs that has not obviously finished their time.   I tried to act calm the whole time they were directing me what to hold, pull, break and clean.  The toughest - sliding my fingers down the intestines to clean them out!!!!!!!!!!  And yes, all parts were cooked including the feet which were shoved in the neck and beak.  Our Father protected us though, because all THOSE parts, our mom placed in a bowl for others.


Sarah had mentioned a long time back she'd love Chicken Parmingan and Alfredo pasta  and salad for her birthday (a true Olive Garden style or as close as we could get).  So while we did our shopping back in May in the capital I tried to get chicken breasts and couldn't.  But the morning we were leaving, we wind up having to go to an office for phone help right next to Azar's Supermarche.  So I ran in quick to look and sure enough, he had 5 breasts left in the back.  I took them all.  (All white, boneless, skinless chicken breast is very, very, very rare here!).   And 2 weeks ago, we were told salad and tomatoes that we had been getting regularly in our market here were done.  We hadn't seen any for two weeks.  On a whim, on the way back in from the village Saturday morning we thought we'd check the market.  After asking several of ladies, they told me there was one person.  I found her and she still had a few bundles left, that actually were pretty good.  So, I know it seems crazy to write a whole paragraph on food for someone's birthday, but for us we know that once again IT WAS ONLY OUR FATHER'S HAND OF DOING!


I was reading in my devotion and in a book this week (same thought came up in both at the same time and really had an impact) about the Power of Esa's name.  The storied shared was once again not one that I particularly remembered.  In Acts Chapter 19, paraphrasing the story.... handkerchiefs and aprons that were leaving Paul where healing the sick and other miracles.  So the 7 sons of Sceva realized that Paul was healing in Esa name.  So they decided to try the same.  They went to a man filled with an evil spirit and told it to leave in Esa name.  The evil spirit said he knew Esa and Paul but the 7 sons he did not know.   The man with the spirit jumped on the sons wounding them and they ran from the house. 

The point the book made was that it is not in the speaking of the words "in Esa name" as the sons tried to do that did miracles but it is through the POWER of the Holy Spirit and the BELIEF in Esa's name.  And what is this powerful belief that the sons did not have?  Not just to have the knowledge of Esa or believe in the words of Esa but to truly believe in the nature of Esa that all power has been given to Him from the Father!

So it got me to thinking, I pray (as many do) "it's in Esa's name we pray these things" or something to that effect but as I'm saying these words am I really thinking about what they mean and the Power that is in them to do what I might be saying.  We have prayed for many people here for healing and for spiritual openness and always in Esa's name.  We have not seen a miracle yet.  But I know our Father still does them every day.  Perhaps I need to think more about the true Power and possibility behind the words I'm speaking.  Just a thought I had and that perhaps there are others that might want to think about it too. 

Storms but Also the Father's Calm that He is at Work

Shout praises!  My condo officially is sold and closed on Thursday on schedule. Thank you for all the prayers.  I pray that the new owners will make it their home and find our Father's loving protection and peace there.

Please pray for my teammates.  Once again, Satan is really at work.  We confirmed that Sarah, Abby and Michelle, all three have malaria.  They are all taking medicine and resting a lot.  Please pray for quick healing for all three and for protection in the future as this is now the second time for Sarah and Michelle.

We experienced our first "cah-may" in the village this week.  That would be a huge, downpour thunderstorm with strong wind and lightening!  Apparently a "preview" of rainy season.  First, the winds came in about 5:30pm.  No big deal - we have wind storms often.  Then the lightening and a little drizzle which is fun to shower in the rain!   We thought it was similar to the little rain showers we've had and loved before.  We find out we were wrong!  Just as we were trying to go to bed, about 9:30pm the sky opened up.  We had the beds and mosquito nets set up on the porch already.  Everything was soaked.  The girls set up their rain guards but I don't have one so I set up a cot with a spare sheet I had inside the hut.  Thankfully, the temperature had dropped so it was not  horribly uncomfortable like it usually is inside the hut.  It continued to rain hard for about 3 hours.  Needless to say it was not a restful evening.

The next morning, everything had a 'funky' wet mud and 'poop' smell (after all that's what the huts are made of!) and everything was filthy.  Luckily our sister was going to wash out a few of their sheets that got dirty too, so I washed ours.  A crème-colored sheet and a white mosquito net were both brown!  The temperature was cool in the morning which was nice but it was SO humid.  We didn't realize how our bodies were not used to humidity at all... it almost felt worse than the hot. Unfortunately, we found out as well that a women in her mid 20's with several kids living in a nearby village was walking with a metal bowl (very common) on her head in the storm and was struck by lightning and killed.    When we left the village driving home, the land was covered in green small grass that has started to grow with each of the small rains we've had but there was a ton more now! Our desert looked completely different.

I really have had Joshua on my mind this week.  After sharing the story with him last week from the Word.  He didn't seem overly moved by it.  I woke one morning and was just asking our Father to give me words to speak that would make a difference for him.... what scripture, what story.  I felt like I needed to make a relationship with JC personal so I would share my testimony with Joshua but questioned "Father would it be enough to make a difference". 
 
I no sooner finished praying and I opened my devotion and read the title "The True Persuader" and the first two sentences... "As a disciple I must never try to persuade people to follow JC.  My responsibility is to tell the good news of JC; the rest is up to (our Father)".  Talk about a smack in the face, wake up call, instant answer to pray and the power of the HS all at once!  It is true, as hard as it is for me to say, someone I truly care about may never accept JC as much as I want him to... my job is just to TELL.  And as if the two sentences weren't enough, the devotion closes with the exact line from the Demon-Possessed man story that I had shared with Joshua last week!  Mark 5:19, where JC tells the healed man to go and tell family and surrounding villages what the Father had done for him and how He had mercy on him.   Our Father is truly amazing how He works!

I had an interesting 'faith' conversation with my friend Alice here in North Star this week.  (In looking back I was surprised to see I really haven't written about her or her family for months).  They were some of our first friends here and we've continued to spend time almost every weekend with them.  She is only 18 but is quite mature for her age.  She speaks French and our Father continues to give me the words to be able to communicate with her.   Our Father provided an open door, that Alice actually initiated a conversation about faith. 
 
I asked if she has read 'their book of faith'.  She told me she has not because you have to be special to do so.  I asked how she learns about it then and she said "on the weekends her father will read to them from it".  I asked her if she would like to be able to study it herself and she said "yes" maybe someday.  I told her I read my Book all the time and the wonderful thing is that Esa speaks to me through it.  We talked a little about Esa and His life.  She has not seen "Passion of JC" but I'd love to be able to get her a copy because she loves to watch movies and I think she'd watch it.  Maybe I can send one when I get home. 
 
The difficult part of the conversation was when she told me their story of creation. ( I will preface this with there is still somewhat of a language barrier so it's possible I may have gotten some of this slightly wrong).  Atama and Hawa were created by the Father.  They lived in "paradise" and in it was a special healing tree (which they still believe is around today).  Satan tempted Hawa to eat from the tree which she did but Adam did not.  This is why men have the Adam's apple in their throat.  She said that one day woman will be forgiven through M's help.  And M will create "paradise" again that people will return to.  Unfortunately, I was not able this time to explain the true story to her because she had to leave to go pray.  Hopefully next time we can return to it. 
 
I was walking to town this week when I suddenly heard from behind me "good morning, how are you?" in very clear English.  I met "Ken" who is from Togo and has been here for about 2 months on his way to Mauritania to hopefully get a job teaching English for French.  He is a believer as much more of Togo has been evangelized.  He walked part of the way into town with me which gave us some time to talk about evangelism here in this very strong I area.  He asked me if I had an English Word he could have because he wanted to study and understand more.... he only had a French NT.  I told him I do  and that I'd contact him to get it to him. 
 
The next day he came to visit.  We sat for almost 2 hours and I shared with him how we story here and even shared two stories with him.  I encouraged him as he is traveling to tell stories because that is part of the problem here... the few believers to not feel 'called' to share their beliefs.  He knew the Word and many stories well.  I asked him to share his testimony.  He did not understand what I meant.  I explained what a testimony is and why it is important especially here.  That it is a personal story of how Esa changed your life and it is not something that a believer in M can refute or debate (as many here like to do).   He then understand and went on to tell me about his walk.  It was inspiring as well!  I challenged him to share that with one person this week along with the Demon Possessed Man story.

I had a hopeful conversation with a friend, "Ashley" this week in Yosemite.  She is a young women of 18 years old that my teammates have been using for a language helper.  Incidentally, she has a 4 year old daughter and was married when she was 13.  Her husband, as many men, is off working in Congo.  She cannot read or write.   Turns out, she has seen the film "Passion of JC" in a larger village about 20 km from us.  I didn't ask her when or how she got there.  I was just interested in the fact that she described and acted out what had happened to JC on the cross and his crucifixion.   It gave me a great chance to try and learn some words for these things.   Her and our sister, Ruth then told me and acted out "Esa healing the blind man, Esa healing a lame man and Esa raising a man from the dead."  She told me, Esa was a very good man.  Another example of our Father has been here working.  One day when my teammates can really discuss this with her she might accept JC... we can pray.

We had a chance to visit with "Dan" (an English speaking friend) this week again.  I had received a very nice text message from him earlier in the week saying, "I'm going to pray for you Friday cause I truly believe you've been blessed by the Father and that the Father walks with you."   I am continuing to pray he will accept The Word in English from me before I leave.

He is always anxious to help us with our language, so I asked him some words I had worked on with Ashley (see above story) for 'cross' and for 'crucified' to try and double-check what we might have learned.   I had asked "Joanni" in the village the next day these same words but she did not know what I was trying to say.  Probably because she does not know the story of Esa I believe.  But also because, as we are finding out... there are not really words for those exact things (as we know them) in our peoples language.  This is often the case in many heart languages because they have not had interaction with 'followers of the Esa road".  The word for cross they have given us is basically a word for pole and for crucified is the same as the word for hung.   Please pray that as my teammates learn more language they will be able to come up with words to correctly explain these two and many other important words and phrases so they can be understood in the true context they need to be.  
 
Dan and I talked more about faith and prayer.  I asked him about the prayer chain of beads.  He explained there are 99 beads and they repeat three different sentences over 33 times each.  One is about forgiveness, the other asking for help and the other saying "their father" is one being.  The final larger bead making 100 is for "their father" making all things complete.  It is hard for me to understand how repeating the same phrases 33 times each can have true meaning in the heart?  Kind of like writing sentences when you were a child (maybe you didn't have to but I did!), did it really have true meaning in your heart or were you just doing it to finish it? 
 
An interesting and quite surprising discovery in this strict culture he showed me the English language textbook they use for the 9th grade.  It was a story, then questions to answer.  The story was about a boy named Bola who drank too much over the weekend and overslept on Monday morning and wound up late for week -  you can imagine I was shocked!  
 
Sunday night we enjoyed visitors from Kansas City, MO along with some of our workers from the capital.  They were going to several villages on a vision trip for the visitors to find a people group to engage.  We were able to share a meal with them and best of all have worship with them on our roof as we have been doing on Sunday evenings.   It was so neat to add 7 voices to our singing and prayers! 
 
I shared the story of the Book of Ruth.    In storying you always follow up the story with the processing questions - 1.  What did you like about the story?  2. What did you not like about the story?  3.  What did you learn about man from the story?  4.  What did you learn about Our Father from the story?  5.  How can you apply the story to your life?    Alyson (our acting Director) made a comment in response to the first question that I really liked and hadn't thought about before and that was that Ruth, has a missions connection.   She said she liked how our Father called Ruth out of her land, away from her family and friends to come to a new land and to live like they live, learn a new language and be accepted by a new people.  Gives us and what we are doing here a good example and encouragement. 
 
Many people have said to me, "oh it is wonderful what you are doing there" or "it is so amazing you would go and live like that".  I always reply, "it is not me, all glory be to Our Father. I am just doing what He has called me to do right now.  My work just happens to be in an unusual place, but what He wants you to do is where you are... there is no difference, it's the same work."   I read a verse I really liked this week about that exact thing.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:10, "By the grace of (Our Father) I am what I am and his grace toward me was not in vain...it was not I but the grace of (Our Father) that is in me."  I definitely am who I am today and doing what I'm doing ONLY because of His grace to me and I'm so thankful for that!

A Wedding Celebration and A Story from The Word

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  Thank you to all my family and friends who have graciously served our country, especially my Daddy!  I will miss walking Jefferson Barracks with him this year and seeing all the flags.  And my angel Veteran, U. Don,  I am thankful for his wonderful example of what it means to be proud of our country.


Praise - after over 6 hairy weeks with my condo sale and this week them missing a deadline and us not knowing if the condo is sold or not.... it appears that all should be fine.  Please continue to pray they will show up with money in hand at closing next Thursday.  Thank you so much to my friends and parents who are at my condo finishing the packing for me today!  I love you all!

Praise - Abby returned from Bamako and ultra-sound shows all kidney stones are gone!  And Michelle recovered by the end of this week from Malaria as well!


Praise to our Father who provided an opportunity for me to share the Demon-Possessed Man story with my English-speaking tailor friend here in North Star.  Since meeting "Joshua" just back in March, I've enjoyed sitting and talking with him sometimes for 2 hours at a time on the weekends.  He is 35, is married to an 18-year-old and has a 1 year old son who is adorable.  He has invited us to his house and we met all his family.  He truly has become one of my best friends and we've had some really neat conversations.  He is one of the people I am going to miss the most when I leave.  He has said so of me also!  

 He received the story well, but unfortunately we didn't get to discuss it much as we were interrupted by a man I had not met.... and as Satan works, the man asked me if I pray? which of course interrupted me sharing The Word  He went on to tell me that Esa said that someone would come and that was M and that I should believe that.  He asked me if I did and I just smiled and listened.  People like that are not open to hearing from our Father's Word.    After the man left, Joshua even kind of apologized by saying, "you know some people are just rude".


The conversation that Joshua and I had briefly after that was a bit alarming.... he told me that he knew of  many stories of people casting out demon's and even one with the prophet M doing so as well.  Then he went on to tell me something about King Solomon. He asked if I knew who that was - of course I said yes.  But he recounted a story to me about how our Father had made King Solomon wise and powerful over all inhabitants of earth even the demons.  And the demons were submissive to him and worked for him in the fields.  But when King Solomon died he asked our Father to put a separation between man and the demons because they are too powerful to be controlled by anyone else on earth.  So our Father sent them to their own universe where they live their 'lives'.   I didn't agree I just listened. 

We also discussed 'medicine healers' and he told me it is very common for doctors even to bring their patients to one when they can't heal them.  These' healers' call upon the good spirits he says and create a medicine then for healing and many people are healed that way.  Lots of times it is women who can't get pregnant and he said almost always within a year the woman does..... um.... the thought perhaps doesn't cross their minds really that our Father is in control of all things, not the good spirits called upon.  I got the feeling he has been to these 'healers', though I didn't want to ask.



We also talked about prayer because I said I will be praying about what our Father wants me to do when I get home.  He remembered that I said I'd pray for him about his future business plans as well.  He said, "I see you believe in prayer because you talk about that a lot".   He said," prayer is hard and doesn't always work and so we have to do the best we can on our own."  I told him our Father answers prayer always, it may not be the way we desire or ask for or it may be a year from now or it may be never but even that is still an answer. I said, "He always knows what is best for us.  It was a wonderful conversation.



Sarah and I went to one of the Fulani villages that we had gone to with the medical team back in February but had not been back to yet.  We spent several hours there and quickly our Father provided for us to run into the mayor's brother who spoke French so I could communicate and then he got his sister who spoke our "Sonshine" language so Sarah could as well.  It was fun also because I got to use some of the Fulani language that I learned in Senegal while on the mission trip there and people understood me!  I could only say "Hello", "Thank you", "What is  your name", "How are you" and "See you later" but it is so huge to them to hear you trying to speak their own language.



We also had a fun conversation with the 3 ladies (the medics and midwives) that work at the CESCOM (the clinic).  One of them was the first person to really be confused and question our names and couldn't believe they were real.  After much discussion amongst themselves and asking how we got our African names, she asked me in French, "when you go back to the US will you use Toudo Diawara? and "What name do your official papers say?" It was funny and I explained of course that we have American names and that is what we will use at home again.  Many Africans are curious about our real names, ask what they are and usually have difficulty saying them.  The kids in our family call me "Benis"!   The whole thing lead Sarah and I to discuss how strange it is in a way because we hear our American names so little (when we're in the village or around others we always call each other by our African names).  I really feel like Toudo is me now.... sort of assumed a new identity really.  I think it will feel weird to come home and not have anyone call me Toudo anymore.  Maybe some of you could every once in a awhile just for my enjoyment!

Speaking of identities.... one of my recent devotions talked about, "in order to be an effective witness for JC we must learn to identify with others.  Identifying with others is stepping in their shoes which can't always be literally done.  However spiritually it means feeling their hurt and needs and praying as if it were our own."  We have no better example of true identification then JC himself who bore the ultimate scars of identification with me when He died on the cross having taken on human form like me.  

Even coming to the mission field to try and identify 'by actually walking in their shoes' can be difficult to cross over to truly making yourself one of your people and not just an outsider looking in trying to survive village life.   So the question is..... in your ministry wherever that may be.... are you truly trying to identify and become one of the people you are ministering to or are you just on the outside looking in - doing your time and then waiting to get back to your own?    I guess to some degree we do because our Father made us and placed un in a certain life and that is where we belong.


Hebrews 6:10 shares a word of encouragement with this identity process I think.... "(Our Father) is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people."


The bulk of the story this week was the marriage of our sister "Emma".  It was a really fun and different week but exhausting.  Tuesday was spent visiting and spending time with her and our family. All afternoon was spent having special decorative Henna (the foot/ hand dye) done.  Each of us got both feet and our left hand done which took about 2 hours for each of us.  Talk about a sore rear-end.   And of course we spent a good deal of time in "Sonshine" and in French trying to figure out what the actual wedding plans were.  Tuesday evening we  thought we had it all figured out.  Ha!  Ha! 

Wednesday we arrived to two houses and porches full of women sitting, talking, preparing food - it was nuts!  Turns out, it really did feel a bit like a "bachelorette party".  Eventually we figured out that after lunch we would be taking Emma and Jeri with us to the husband's village which was about 10-12 km away.    We were also confused because the women were making a HUGE amount of Saga-Saga (green sauce made from green vines cooked down and served with rice). We had told our family that we'd make American spaghetti for lunch as a going away for Emma.  So we eventually sorted it out that we were still going to make that as well as theirs - you can never have too much food I guess!



They 'pulled' us over to another porch in the compound where more women were sitting all going through Emma's trunk of gifts and looking at the 4 huge piles of pots, bowls of all types.  They were counting and organizing the many, many pieces of material in her trunk and putting them in different piles and we couldn't figure out why.  We eventually did the next day but all these items were her wedding gifts - it was quite a load - a whole donkey carts worth.

Then it was time for me to begin the spaghetti.  I had thought it might be somewhat tricky but imagine now having 15-20 women in your kitchen, saying things you can't understand and not really knowing what or how you were cooking anyway - I WAS STRESSED OUT and HOT!

After we finished we bathed (kind of) and packed up.  We 'gifted' some of the spaghetti too the mayor's house and some to our friend Joanni.  Then we sat done to eat the spaghetti ourselves with our family and some of the women.  All of this seemed to be in a rush, however when finished, we just sat.  All of us women on the front porches with Emma.  Finally about 4pm they said it was time to go.  Good-byes were rough for Emma and our Mom and friends.  There were many tears including us.  I think the first time I've really seen an African cry!  Then a small group of her friends headed out the compound to parade Emma around through the village a bit.  The man in our compound drew us directions in the dirt on how to get there - oh my goodness.  We go between mountains, cross 2 rivers and at the fork we go left- crazy!  We had to stop and ask directions several times. 

We arrived outside her new village in about 50 minutes and then they told us to wait.  Turns out we waited in the desert heat under a small thorn tree for about 2 hours while the donkey carts made their way to us.  Then at about 7:30pm (dark) we paraded into the village all together.  We arrived at the groom's father's house where we sat and had 2 'snack meals' and then laid down to rest.  About 10:30pm we walked Emma to her husband's compound and were quickly shuttled into a room surrounding Emma to hide her with her face covered as well.   We sat there and ate another meal.  After awhile we walked her, still hiding, over to another room which we were told was her 'house'.  She remained in hiding in that room until about 11:30am the next day only leaving to bathe and use the bathroom once. 

I had a true campout adventure and unrolled my air mattress in the back of the pick-up truck to try and rest finally a little after midnight.  You see, the men including her husband were playing cards all night right in the middle of the compound as we were hiding Emma.  It sort of felt like we were walking through the middle of their bachelor party.  At the end of the compound a large group of young people - mainly men had loud modern type rap music and dancing going on! 

Thursday morning (which weddings traditionally take place on Thursdays here- not sure why) we got up and bathed (which really means you put water on your face, feet and arms and we put on our fancy clothes and yes make-up).  Then all the women from our village walked back to the father's compound and presented them with a large piece of material and then they served us breakfast.  After about 45 minutes we walked back and had breakfast in the husband's compound - served with coffee and fried dough (like donuts). 
Then we sat!  Some of the women from our village went over to the other porch were the women of his family and this village had gathered.  They pulled out all the plastic bowls and pieces of material and told the women how much was there.  The matron of the family then distributed amongst all the other women.  Kind of Emma's gift (though she was still in hiding) to her new family for having taken her in.


Finally, about 11:30am Emma put on make-up and changed into her fancy outfit and came out of the room!  We walked her over to the other porch (which is about 20 feet away mind you) and she sat on a wood stool in the middle of the women of this village.  After we took pictures, we were told to sit right next to her.  The whole time, we had places of honor really next to Emma - it was very special.  The matron of the family stood in front of Emma and said some words which of course we didn't understand but found out later, she said a lot of prayers, welcomed her to the family and then kind of gave her the rules of how to be a good wife!  Then we walked her back to her room.  The whole time, her husband was sitting in jeans and a white pin-stripe shirt with the men in the middle of the compound, completely uninvolved in the whole process!  We found out why later.


We kept trying to figure out when an actual marriage ceremony was happening.  But eventually we had to leave to go get Abby who was coming in on the bus.  We were told they were going to eat lunch, decorate Emma's house/ room and then the women from our village would be leaving to go home about 4pm. 
So explanations from Joshua when I sat with him yesterday.   Turns out this was completely different kind of wedding event because it was Emma's second (her family and baby died, we don't know how). 

The biggest thing was that this was actually the celebration not the marriage.  When her husband came to our village for the week about 6 weeks ago is when the actual marriage officially took place.  The men of her family sit with the men of his family and 'do the negotiations of dowry and acceptance of the marriage proposal".  This was also the first time her husband and her would have met.  In villages they rarely sign any papers unless the couple comes to North Star some time later and decides to do so with the Consulate office.  The marriages in North Star (in cities) have taken on much more of a western feel however with brides wearing traditional white wedding gowns, having a reception and the use of wedding rings.


First time weddings for the female (of course because men might have many) would go something like this.  The bride would be paraded through the village.  About 10pm, the grooms family (but not him) would go get her at her family compound and bring her to a mutual friends/ family compound.  That is when the father would give her away and the groom's family would promise to care for her.  About midnight, the female family members would take her to the husbands house where they would then be wed and stay together.  

For a first marriage the woman must stay in the husband's house for 7 days straight, not leaving and not having visitors but he can, of course.  For a second marriage of the female it is 3 days.  After that time period, her friends and family would come and decorate her room.  Here is a kicker - after the wedding night a counselor,  it is this persons actual job, would come visit the couple in the morning and ask them how everything went! And discuss it with each.  If the female had difficulty accepting her husband (which he said is often the case because they may only be 15-20 years old and are scared) the consular continues to come each morning until things are worked out!   

All in all, it was a fun time, but it was nice to get home and by that I mean our village.  It was awkward being in another village and with people we didn't know.  It's funny how I can say our village feels like ours and we truly enjoy it better than another.

Many Thanks to Our Father This Week

We are grateful to our Father - it was much cooler this week in the village.. only 120F (that 10 degrees is a huge difference), a nice breeze most of the time and even one night it got down to a 88F!  

Please pray for my teammate Michelle.  She'd been dragging all week in the village with very little appetite.  We confirmed yesterday she has malaria.  She is resting a lot and taking the medicine.  PRAISE TO OUR FATHER also for protecting me from this illness while I've been here.

Our Father ANSWERED ANOTHER PRAYER this week.  I had been wanting to engage some of the English speakers we have recently met.  One of them "Dan" is an English teacher at the school in North Star.  We visited with him yesterday and he is anxious to help us with language learning.  He told us too that his goal here is to teach as many people as possible English because it is so important for their futures.   (Unfortunately, the teachers have been on strike for two weeks here because the government has not been paying them but that allowed him to  have free time.  Unfortunately here the strikes are very common by the teachers.)

He was talking about one day wanting to go see his brother in New York City.  Sarah went to look for her pictures of NYC but couldn't find them.  So I went and got my small album of family pictures and a few of Arizona and Florida beach.  Before I left, I had purposely put some of my "scripture pictures" (the ones I take and add scripture to)  in the album in the hopes of being able to show them along with my other photos.  (Many of you have seen these or gotten some in cards from me).   So that is exactly what happened.  There were two scriptures that Esa said from the book of John.  He was very interested in reading it and understanding what it meant so it gave us a chance to talk about Esa.  Please pray for the right timing and that he will accept the gift of an English printed Word that I brought with me to witness to him and for him to utilize in practicing language. 

Our Father provided us an opportunity to witness through prayer in "Esa toe-gun-dee" (the name of Esa) this week.  An older woman in the mayor's compound that we greet all the time was in the clinic receiving IV's.  We didn't know this but Sarah happened by the compound that day and they told her.  She had been throwing up we found out for 3 days and running a really high fever.  Chances are she probably has malaria but we can't say for sure as they don't have the tests available to them.  She was able to receive some medication though. 

We are thankful for our village family that has loved on us so much.  Our sister "Emma" is getting married next week and will be moving to another village about 10-15km away.  We will miss her greatly.  She is funny, very understanding and helpful with our language and a great cook.  We gave her the wedding present from us this week and she loved it.  A new black "western-looking" shirt we got in Bamako and a brand new "African style" metal tea set (a tray with two small tea pots) and 2 hand-painted glasses.  They always only have two because they pour the tea from one to the other to mix the sugar and make a frothy top on the drink and then everyone shares the glasses.

We are grateful for our Father finally providing what appears to be a house-helper that is going to be really good.  After almost 4 months of trying different people and running into frustrations and problems all the time with people not showing up, poor work, not being available because of school, etc. our landlord, who has been a true blessing to us as well, helped us find "Barbara".  It doesn't sound like it would be such a huge blessing but it truly is because each week we spent so much time trying to figure out how to find someone to help us.

She is a mature woman (mature not old!) so she knows how to take care of a household and her and her daughter did laundry, floors, dusting (which we usually have to do ourselves) in record time.  Again, I still don't particularly care for having to show someone how to do something correctly who is working for you (they aren't used to bathrooms) but it frees up so much of our time to do other  ministry work.  It actually took almost 9 hours this week just for them to do all the laundry (but we had an extra amount this week also).

I am so thankful for my family, friends and loved ones back home that have been supporting me through pray, email encouragement, packages and financially.  I know it is hard in many ways for you all as well.  I'm enjoying a delicious fudge brownie right now.  The first I've had in forever and it tastes amazing - the little things in life again to be thankful for.  (Thanks Mom for the brownie mix from home!)

We had a new food this week in the village.  One of the three gifted lunches we received one day was laro. It is probably our new favorite.  It's really cooked rice mashed up with beans (black eyed peas), oil, onions (they go in everything) and of course Maggi (which is the staple spice).    (PS- we ate two of the gifts for lunch and the third for an evening snack before our two dinners we received!) 

A quick note for all the children that see this or hear it when someone reads it to them...... it really is amazing here how the children at a very young age behave so well.  Without being told they automatically know what 'chores' need to be done.  For instance, getting water each morning or doing laundry each week or for the boys getting fire wood.  They go to bed on their own without being told.  When it is dark, there is no TV or electricity so when they are tired they just go to sleep.  And sharing.... it is so wonderful to see them share.  They have so little here that if you receive something you automatically share - no questions or fighting!  I shared a few dried apricots this week with some of the kids were inside our hut wall.  As a few others of their brothers and sisters came over I didn't have any left so they immediately tore off some of theirs to share!    Kiddos, perhaps think about these things next time you are told to go to bed or you don't want to share!

Answered Prayers and Dancing too!

Our Father answered a BIG prayer this week.  Alyson (our acting director) had to come up to do some information gathering and she brought along a new translator for us named Fatima. She is a women in her mid 20's and is a believer and was very sweet.  We spent the afternoon and evening in our village.  Fatima did not speak our people's heart language but she did speak Bambara.  As we sat and visited with Henda and with Joanni (our mom and one of my dearest friends) that night took the opportunity to share the Demon-Possessed Man story from the Word with them and Fatima translated.   This is the first story they've heard from the Word we believe.  I can't say it received overwhelming response and unfortunately Henda doesn't speak Bambara real well so she couldn't understand all of it.  But it is a beginning and was a chance for me to share something with some of the people in my village I really care about.   Please pray for language learning for my teammates Abby, Sarah and Michelle so they will be able to share many more stories.

Well, hot season or in our language, "jah-bah-ray" is officially upon us.  We hit a high of 131 degrees!!!!!!! this week during the day in the village and we were ever so pleased to have a low one night of 93F.  You wonder how you can survive, how anyone, can survive living every day in this but we do... they do.... for us... with our Father's help of course!  We are averaging about 160-180 ounces of water a day, which is a crazy amount by our regular American mindset, but here it's really not that hard to do.  We do water checks on each other and count how many 'Nalgene's' we've had to make sure we are staying hydrated.   I am anxious to try a test when I get home and see if I can easily drink 160-180 oz of water there... if anyone wants to try it, let me know!


Another first experience this past week.... I went to a live music concert in our village!  The singer Lakassa Hawa came to town and that's all everyone could talk about.  Tickets were 1000CFA or $2 which is expensive for most people.  Our family could not all afford it so 2 of us went to the concert and 2 of us stayed with our family.  It was presented in a compound on the outer edge of the village and they had hung mats all around the fencing so no one could see/ get in without a ticket. 

They performed on the front porch of the house.  The whole thing had a feel like a musicians 'jam' session... he'd sing, then the drummers would play for a while and then they'd stop and talk to each other and then the guitarist might start playing and Lakassa would sing something again- very random! The speakers and microphone echoed feedback the whole time.  The singer himself and his dancing girls (who were very scantily dressed with leggings and knee length skirts and crop tops) were all in matching baby blue satin outfits.  There was one light (like painters use at home) as a spotlight.  He even had 2 bodyguards with him that when he stepped down off the porch into the 'crowd' they came with him on each side (quite funny).   We stayed for an hour and half but the concert went on until 1am. 

He was singing in our people's language so we couldn't really understand except most of the time we were there people were bringing money up to him so he would sing their name and they'd cheer when he did.  We could recognize the different last names but we don't know if he was making up other words about the name or if he was just inserting them into to a song.  Either way, it was a great money maker for him because as I've said before, names here are a huge deal and to have yours said over a speaker in front of everyone is a huge, huge deal, I guess.  

So 3 1/2 months into living in our village and we are still learning much... and relearning too.  Turns out the word we learned for eggplant we found out this week is actually the Bambara (different language) word for it.   They interchange languages here so often it's hard to figure out.  Yesterday a man we were talking with, was using French and Bambara in the same sentences continually.  I knew this because I could understand 1/2 of his sentences - crazy!

Another thing we learned last week.  I thought this whole time I was named after the mayor's mother, turns out I was named after the village chief's mother!  This is all the more interesting because we were told (or so we thought) that he was dead and no one had ever talked about us going to greet him so we didn't know he existed.  So I set out to find him.  Which wasn't all that hard, his compound was right on the other side of ours- again crazy!  So Sarah and I greeted him and discovered he is about 75 or so but in poor health.  They showed up the huge open wounds on the back of his neck, they said from the dry winds and asked if we could help.  We prayed for him there with a witness of people and he prayed with us as well. 




The other exciting part about that visit though, we asked then about my namesake, or in our language "toe-gore-rah".  We again, understood she was dead but then they started leading us to another house.  Sarah and I were a little nervous we didn't know if we were going to see a dead body, a grave or live person!  Turns out, there sat a 90 year old woman, Toudo Diawara, my namesake.  And for the first time, I got to have a "toe-gore-rah" dance.   Again, here names are big so whenever you see your namesake it is a big deal and everyone kind of dances around and claps and sings.  It was great fun really.  We sat and greeted her for a bit before she seemed like she was getting tired from sitting up.  Her legs were so frail and its obvious she hadn't walked in some time as her toenails were huge as well.  

Saturday, with the translator and Alyson (or acting director) in town we went to the village that had given us the Ram back when the medical team was there.  Alyson had come up to ask our village and several others what needs they have.  We have gotten some money to use to put in a well from a church in the states that are great supporters of the work here in Mali. PRAISE THE LORD.  We are trying to figure out the most need.  We were welcomed with open arms again and fed an amazing lunch of butter noodles and actually real, meaty, good chicken (which is again also very expensive for them). 

As we talked with the elders to find out needs, of course medical was the first, but the next was help with the garden.  As we asked more we found out that the women will sleep by the well over night now so as to be the first ones to get water in the morning before the well is dry for that day.  We went out to see the garden and just like in our village there is only a little bit of mint and greens left growing.   The single well in the garden was 30m or about 100 feet they told us.   Before leaving we prayed for the village again with them and told them that all things we do we do because Esa tells us to in the Word.  Please pray for wisdom for Alyson and Nafi on how best to use our Father's resources. 

Part of some recent training we got to act out for other workers what daily life looks like in our village.  You would think that all of our villages would be the same but they were different in many ways.  It was to be able to have a humorous look at ourselves and what we consider as 'normal' life here. 

In praying and thinking this week about my time here is coming to a close and returning home... our Father gave me scripture this week: 1 Corinthians 2:9 - "what no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him".  I realize this is referring to heaven and life with him, which will be more than we can imagine.  But perhaps its for life here on earth to. For me and my teammates, as well, we've talked about we have no idea what our Father has planned beyond this service but this scripture really spoke to me and I shared it with them as well, that I believe that He already has it planned and that it will be more than we can imagine. 

As I write this my teammate Abby is on her way to Bamako.  She continues to struggle with kidney stones.  Please pray for wisdom for the doctors on how to help her and for healing