Birthday girl!

I just celebrated my first birthday in Africa! I have to say, it was definitely unique.

I started the morning with my language tutor Adamu, and we had a great lesson. I am currently learning the local tribal language of Fulfulde and practiced constructing sentences like “Debbo oo don haa wuro Bogo” (This woman lives in the village of Bogo)

Afterward I headed for the market that is located in front of the hospital. I greeted the ladies at the “donut shop” a little stand where they fry dough balls. One of the women told me to give her my skirt, which is her way of complementing me, saying that she liked my outfit. I told her if I were to do that, I would be walking around naked, and we couldn't have that. All of the women laughed at my joke. Joking and being clever is greatly appreciated and valued here in Meskine.

I then bought some candies and headed for the pediatric ward. I have been visiting a little girl named Esther, who lost her father this past July and was badly injured this January. She got too close to the cooking fire and sustained significant burns to the entire circumference of both thighs. I had seen her mother the day previous, and was told that Esther did not sleep well the night before due to pain.

Esther was pleased with the candies, and my promise to return the following week. However, she was quite nervous as she prepared for her daily bath and the excruciating dressing changes she would have to endure. Please pray for this family.

After lunch, I went shopping with Jacqueline. As usual, we beeped our way through a flock of children playing soccer on the road and weaved past goats and sheep on our way into town. We then parked and headed to our usual grocery store. Finding our favorite shop is always an adventure. After hopping over the gutter and dodging a fleet of mopeds to cross the road, we enter a maze of alleyways full of vendors. I am beginning to recognize landmarks and soon we make it to the “supermarket” which consists of one room with two shelving units in the middle. We are greeted and assisted by employees who obtain things off the top shelf by knocking them off with a broom and catching them before they hit the floor! Armed with our groceries, we return to the compound.

I placed my veggies on the counter, reminding myself to bleach them later, and headed out the door. I had a party to attend! The other missionaries organized a game and pizza night in honor of my birthday, and we had a great time.

In a quiet moment, I thanked God for his kindness to me. He is truly such a sweet God and I am grateful for what He has decided to do with my life. I am in a good place now, and plan on enjoying this last year of my 20s!

God has not forgotten us

Yesterday I went with Jacqueline to visit the mother of the little girl who died two weeks ago from rabies (see blog entry "Please Pray") They welcomed a new baby into their family just this past weekend, and we took baby clothes, soap and a few sweets to congratulate them.

The baby has not yet been officially named, that will be done by formal ceremony. However, his parents are referring to him as "God has not forgotten us".

Please continue to pray that this family would have peace. Thank you.

Party!

Yesterday was “la fete de la jeunesse” or the festival for the youth, here in Meskine. One of the year's most celebrated holidays, the streets were lined with people. Tabea, her daughter Naomi, and I did not arrive in time to get seats, but when the chief's brother saw us, he escorted us to the front row! He works with Tabea's husband Martin at the hospital.

We no sooner sat down than the parade began! Each school in the area, dressed in their uniforms, marched in formation. After this initial presentation, each group came out individually to perform dances and singing. They were totally animated and the crowd roared and clapped their approval.

Next came the games. Clay pots were tied up like pinatas and the children were blindfolded and given sticks. Upon breaking the pots, gifts like shoes or material fell out. A few pots even contained chickens! That was a prize that had to be caught before it could be claimed!

Another popular game required kids to climb up a pole to reach prizes that were attached at the top. Most all of them made it, one little guy buzzed up the pole, then sat there for a while, trying to decide which gift he wanted to choose:-)

The kids of the village were out in full force, and to keep them from running all over the parade/game grounds, men used long sticks to strike the ground just in front of them, forcing them to back up, this was a form of “crowd control”.

After a couple of hours had passed, we decided to leave before the donkey races. People were everywhere! Perched on walls, spilling in to the streets. It was a special day for them, a day set aside for celebration.

Babies in trees

Jacqueline, one of the doctors at our hospital, invited me to come with her to a community health function in a neighboring village. We bumped along a nearly impassable road as I held on for dear life, praying that our 4x4 wouldn't tip over.

Upon arriving, a large group of women and children had already gathered under the shade of two trees. They had begun weighing their children using a scale similar to those seen in the produce department at the grocery store. The scale was first hung in the tree, then a poor, unsuspecting baby was placed in a sling and suspended from the scale while he or she howled miserably:-)

One of the babies went to the bathroom in the sling! The whole group erupted in laughter! That sling was then placed in another tree to dry:-) Infants in this area do not wear diapers. Their mothers just seem to sense when they have to relieve themselves and take the child out to the field to go potty.

The weights were recorded, and we all enthusiastically applauded when the child had gained. In an area where women often endure the death of at least one of their children, weight gain is a very big deal.

Afterward, Jacqueline presented some brief health tips to the mothers on topics such as water sanitation and appropriate food choices and we said our goodbyes.

Village Life

Yesterday evening as I was soaking my vegetables in bleach to kill any amoebas, I laughed at how my life has changed so drastically in just 3 weeks. I have almost gotten used to the sound of lizards skittering across my tin roof, the daily call to prayer that is broadcast from a mosque just next to my home and the nightly ritual of washing the day's dust from my feet.

The village of Meskine is a strange paradox. The dust is thick and plastic bags, trash and animal droppings litter the dirt roads and parched grass. Donkeys, dogs, goats, sheep and chickens are everywhere and most all of the buildings are made of mud so everything takes on a brownish hue. However, lush, mature trees line the roads, the women's vibrantly colored outfits break the brown monotony, and upon arriving at the village border, deep green onion fields are dramatically framed by mountains.

Moving through the village, I am hugely conspicuous. The children scream out “white woman!” when I pass, as I am trying desperately to keep my knees covered while riding a bicycle in a skirt. However, just as I begin to feel intimidated, someone calls me by my real name, not my race, or offers a smile as I greet them in my faltering Fulfulde. I am enjoying the interactions that I have with the women in the village as they are patient, cheerful and full of laughter. They build my confidence, and I am grateful to God for them.

Please Pray

This email was sent out by the wife of our director after a recent death at the hospital. Thank you in advance for your prayers - Sarah

Dear Friends,

We are writing to you with deep sadness in our hearts as the brothers and sisters from our local village church have experienced a terrible crisis. Last month, during a church service, the pastor’s dog began going after the children. Three of them were bitten including the pastor (the pastor was trying to catch the dog). The dog had been vaccinated for rabies, so they all believed this infection would not be an issue.

Monday night one of the children, a 5 year old little girl who was bitten in the face, presented at the hospital with symptoms of rabies infection. She could not drink water, her body was beginning to tighten, and she had an aversion to light. Everyone was devastated. The doctors hospitalized her, gave her IV sedation and everyone began praying for God to do a miracle. Unfortunately, she died Wednesday morning at 4:00a.m. The blanket of emotion, deep, deep sadness, is very tangible at the hospital and in the Christian community. The child’s father works at our hospital as well as two other fathers of the other children. A spirit of apprehension is also present at this time as everyone fears for the other four victims.

We are asking everyone to please intercede for these families. Ask the Lord to completely remove the rabies (if present) in all four of these people. Pray for this young girl's family and the other families that the Lord will give a supernatural peace and strength to all. Lastly, pray that through this terrible crisis, God will be glorified and His love will be seen and understood by all of our neighbors who are witnessing this trial.

Thank you friends for interceding before our Heavenly Father.