Church

I don't remember whether I've spoken a lot about church in Africa. I've fellowshipped with several churches since being here, each both unique and similar in its own way. When we are in Ouaga, we have met with a small group called Eglise Baptiste de la Grace. I've enjoyed our times meeting with them, and they have been an encouragement to me even though they are almost all Mossi, so I don't understand anything that's said. I usually just clap to the music and sing the English words if I recognize and know the song (but that's not common). If I can understand in French what passage is being preached on, I'll read along while it's preached. Otherwise, I try to look pensive and not let my mind drift away from the things of God too much. Here is a video of what music is like...




A funny story from church happened a couple of weeks ago. Because we are white men, they like to honor us by asking us to pray. I'm sure if we spoke French or Moure we would be asked to preach quiet often, too. So the other week, I could tell by Pastor Andre's (who is a somewhat awkwardly tall man who always has a giant smile on his face) looks at me that he had just announced that he'd like me to pray over the offering or sermon or ordinance, I can't remember. So, as normal, I began to pray out loud in English knowing that the Lord understands each language and the heart of every man. Now because Pastor Andre does not know English, I suppose he was just waiting for an "Amen" or something that signaled the close of my prayer. He must have confused something I said for that, because while I still had a good amount of prayin' left in me, I heard him say "Amina, barka Wendnaam (Amen, praise/bless God)." So I look up and see that he has moved on and kind of awkwardly sit back done. Some women on the other side of the room looked at me and could tell that I had not finished my prayer. They informed Pastor Andre, who looked over at me with huge eyes that showed he was pretty embarressed and didn't know whether he should let me finish or just keep going. I waved my hands and just said, "Se bon. Se fini. Barka Wendnaam (It's good. It's finished. Praise/bless God)." Fun times at church in Africa.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

THE GOOD...

Here is some weird fruit that we don't know the name of. I didn't want to give it a chance at first, because it looks an awful lot like a fat little artichoke, and I didn't see how it could be sweet, but you know, it was pretty good.










Okay, so sodas in general are better in Africa because they are made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. It's also fun because you almost always drink out of big glass coke bottles. But the best thing I've discovered is a kinda of Fanta I had never heard of... Fanta COCKTAIL. It's really sweet, but really good and it has a little bit of thick fruit gunk at the bottom of the bottle.













La Baguette du Faso. Okay, this is the boulangerie (bread bakery) where we buy our bread. We're not huge on the baguettes, but du pain rond (the round bread) is pretty amazing, especially when warm. I will miss this place.











The best thing are the African donuts that you can buy for really cheap on the side of the road. They are so stinkin' good, and we also put sugar on top of them. I wish I could take a lifetime supply back home with me. They really can't be good for you though. We always eat them so fast that I've never managed to remember to get a picture of them before they're gone.


THE BAD...

Well, this isn't food related while all the rest are, and I had to put something down for "THE UGLY." It's pretty funny to go around and see t-shirts of American celebrities. The most famous are Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, Britney Spears, and professional wrestlers. However, I had to take a picture of this kid in his shirt. Look how sad he looks about his shirt (not really). This is what they should put on the 'Feed the Children' commercials.













THE UGLY...

So here we have roasted catepillars. Jay made me try one on the trip back from Ghana. You know, it really wasn't good at all; no matter how many people tried to say it wasn't that bad, it was. This is a plate of the catepillars that I saw a woman eating one day just like it was a salad. It doesn't taste like chicken.











Last, I really wanted to include a picture of this, but we haven't seen them since the first couple of weeks in Ouaga. Probably the ugliest of all the uglies are the fried goat heads. It might be better there's no picture for those of you with a weak stomach, but just imagine a pretty shabby looking hotdog stand with a grill out front, but instead of dogs, imagine gnarly looking skinned goat heads all fried up. Pretty disgusting.

School in Africa

We were asked by Adama to go one Saturday to be on the radio. We didn't know what to expect, but it turned out to be an English Club held on the School Radio for students learning to speak English. We are brought in as honored American guests. It's pretty funny to be there, but the Lord has shown it to be a ministry since we get to explain why we are in Burkina and because we have met two English students from the university who have wanted to meet with us to ask us questions about Jesus. They have Muslim names but they seem like they come from a Catholic background by their way of thinking. So pray for these young men, Lemin and Draman, that their inquisitiveness would yield true faith that would grow and spread into their own circles of influence, namely the children they help with English.











One day, we went with out believing Bissa friend Ahmed to the University of Ouagadougou where he is studying law. He showed us around for a while and it was exciting since we had been wondering what a university campus in Africa was like. A lot of the buildings kind of remind me of ancient near eastern ziggurats.











Another type of school that we've been involved in lately is teaching literacy to our contacts, mainly women, in the non-loti with Kathy on tuesdays and thursdays. When we are telling the Africans about it, we call it "Bissa Ecole" or Bissa School. It's amazing to be reminded that a majority of the adults in this country have never had the blessing of education, even to learn to read and write. Kathy uses these classes to help these women read, but the main purpose is so that they can read the Bible in Bissa or Moure (the language of the Mossi- the predominant people group in Ouaga). She tries to share a Bible story each class, but it has become clear that the enemy likes to cause noise and commotion during this time, and the women do not often pay attention. Pray that the storying time would be efficient each week and that the women would not only listen, but believe the truth they hear in their own language. Pray that these classes would yield a harvest of salvation among Bissa and Mossi people in the non-loti.











And now for a last school related picture... You know you're an MK (missionary kid) from Africa when you do your math homework with your pet python draped around your neck.