1 month left

I can't believe that I'm in my last month here in Africa. It seems like I was just leaving the States. But so much has happened since then. I've experienced things that I never dreamed of. I thank God for choosing to use me. Because of this experience I've grown in so many ways. I still have a few things that I would like to do before I leave; God willing I will post about them too.

Oceans from the Rain

July and August are defined by the rainy season. Which means it will probably rain at some point in the day; it may be a light drizzle or a torrential downpour. I thought the pace of life was slow before but when the rain comes everything stops. I love sitting on the front porch watching the kids splashing in the tiny rivers that the rain has created. At these times I think of the living water that God has promised us. I pray that just as he is cleansing and watering the earth he is doing the same in the hearts of the Gambians. During the 7 months when there isn’t a drop of rain it’s hard to imagine that there are seeds and roots deep below the earth’s surface. But as the rains come little buds begin to appear and within weeks everything is green and lush. So I am reminded to live in faith that although it seems as if there is no sign of Christ there are seeds that have been planted and are being watered and they will reap a harvest someday!

1 Cor. 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Lord, give me your heart. Let me not be a clanging cymbal. Let me glorify you by the love I show to those around me.

Vacation

Lori and I went on vacation last week. Lots of pool side tanning and eating out. Here are some pics of our week away.

Our first night out. There was a hair dryer in the hotel so we took full advantage of that.

This is the view from our room the only night we stayed at a hotel.

A walk on the beach after breakfast.

The second place we stayed at is run by some catholic sisters. I find it hilarious that they have these men-hating mugs in the kitchen.

Sunset

The colors were amazing

We splurged on Betty Crocker muffins. It turns out they were about $5.

We bought some really good steak to grill at the third place we stayed at. It was a wonderful meal.

We saw an Ohio liscense plate.

And we had to eat at the Cheerz sports bar. Where everybody knows your name!

The rise of feminism in West Africa

Lori and I were invited to attend and bring two local women to the 1st Meeting to Promote Women Entrepreneurs in West Africa. We arrived on the first day to find that this was a much bigger deal than we had anticipated. There were national authorities from West Africa and Europe. Sitting in a room, which I can only describe as my imagination of a press conference, I felt very out of place. There were photographers and cameras everywhere. Headsets and microphones were at every seat for interpretations between English and French. Many of the sessions touched on gender and equity & equal opportunities in order to ensure development in West Africa. At times I found myself thinking as a feminist. The women there were very empowered and strong; they want to be educated and successful. In order for W. Africa to grow and become economically stimulated there must be equal opportunities for men & women. Women play the biggest part for their own growth. They must first start in their own home & family. But in Africa the whole community raises a child so that means the entire village must be supportive and not oppressive as young children are growing. Many times girls are put into the role of cooking and house work and are denied the privilege of education and growth. Even the husband of one of the women we took to the conference was upset because his wife was not home to cook for him for 2 days. We joked with some of the men in the village that in America men cook and clean too, but they are not open to the idea of doing ‘women’s work’- it’s just not done here. This is where the feminist feelings start to rise in me. I find that I’ve taken it for granted being born & raised in America where I’m free to be who I want to be and do what I want without fighting years of cultural oppression and ways of thinking. So where America went through the feminist movement half a century ago it is now alive and growing in West Africa.

And here are the photos from the "press" (if you can call them that)

Missionary Musings

I try to identify the effects of my being here, trying to decide if it was worth taking a year out of ‘my’ life and thousands of dollars from my friends and family. I feel like I’ve somehow cheated the system. Life will continue on here just like it always has but I will go home to my western comforts with a better understanding of who God is and how I want my life to be different. Isn’t that a little unfair? Shouldn’t I leave feeling good about how these people better know God? Shouldn’t I leave with stories of how I saw God work in mysterious and miraculous ways? I find myself comparing myself to friends that have come back from serving with incredible stories and relationships with those they served and I feel like a failure of a missionary in comparison. But God is reminding me that it’s NOT about ME or how I feel or what I did. It’s COMPLETELY about HIM and what he did. Who am I to decide that he hasn’t worked in the lives of those around me? And if he chooses to work in my life in noticeable ways who am I to say that’s unfair?
Lord I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.

The Toilet Monster

Do you remember when you were a kid and you were scared to go to the bathroom at night because something might come crawling up out of the toilet? Well, at least that was one of my fears as kid. But here in Africa it is a reality that I live with everyday. When squatting over a hole in the dark there’s no telling what will come crawling out. One night as I was returning from the ‘bathroom’ I felt something on my head. It turned out that a huge cockroach had crawled onto my shorts and made its way up to my head. My room mate Lori had an experience with a praying mantis in an undesirable location. There also a few chickens who have apparently found the best place to roost at night is on top of our bathroom wall.