Upon a recent overnight trip to the
southern part of Burkina Faso, we were
ablet o see dozens of these incredible
creatures!! At one point we got just a
little too close to a rather protective
pack. Click Here for more pics from our trip!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
More Christmas Cheer!
There were more excited kids this Christmas than you could ever imagine!!! Over all, we were able to give gifts to over 1,800 + kids and had a chance to share the Gospel with all!!! For more exiting pics of these great kids you can click on the link below. Once you get to the page, just select the pull down tab that says "Give a Kid a Christmas 2005"
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Christmas Cheer!
Just this week, we were able to venture out into
a small village and completely surprise around 150
boys and girls with an early Christmas blessing!
As a result, five kids accepted Christ into their lives and were able
to grasp the true meaning of Christmas for the very first time!!!
Dare me too????
Okay - so when I saw this opportunity - you
KNOW that I just couldn't resist!!! YES - I am
actually petting this 12 foot long crocidile! Good
Times!
LUNCH TIME!!!
Nothing like feeding a fresh and LIVE chicken
to liven these crocs up a bit. This one only lasted
about 5 seconds or so!!!
A Little Local Fun
This last weekend we were able to go out and
mingle with some of the local wildlife! This grumpy
croc was a good 12+ feet long; and if you look closely,
you can see his little brother who was trying to sneek
up on me while I hanging out!!!!!
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Hungry hearts......
It's the eyes of these little children
that capture my heart..........
(taken in the small village of Ziiga, Burkina Faso)
Praying for dozens of women and children in Ziiga, Burkina Faso!!
This is what it is all about!!! About 80 women and
children accepted Christ this last week in the little village
of Ziiga - out in the bush of Africa!!
Friday, November 04, 2005
Let the good times role!!
NOW - what village visit wouldn't be complete
without one of these shots!!! Great times - but did
anyone ever tell you how BAD these guys breathe
SMELLS!!! - it's beyond the stenchiest smell in the world!!
Dancing with the Tuareg!
Great times and incredible memories!! If only you
could HEAR the music and FEEL the beat as we
danced the night away!!!
Memories for a lifetime!!
Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the village chief/leader and all the Tuareg kids! It was a huge relief to finally be at our destination and with the people that we had been researching for so many weeks! The following days and nights would be filled with all kinds of cultural observations, language blunders, and of course - DANCING!!
With no showers or bathrooms we still had a great time and were able to experience first hand what it would really be like to live our in a remote village with the Tuareg! It was a incredible opportunity of which I will never forget!
With no showers or bathrooms we still had a great time and were able to experience first hand what it would really be like to live our in a remote village with the Tuareg! It was a incredible opportunity of which I will never forget!
The Village of Darkoy!
Our first sight of Darkoy! These huts are actually
NOT typical of the Tuareg but a style and structure that
has been carried over from the Fulani of the surrounding
areas.
Village trip to Darkoy!!
After many dusty miles and endless hours of bargening, we were off to the far reaches of Darkoy!! Our travels would take us out of Ouaga, through Dori, on through Gorom Gorom, and up into the Tuareg territory of Darkoy. Our hopes were high and we couldn't wait to see what our final destination would really look like. This would the first extended village stay for three of the 7 people that were going.
African Bush Transportation!!
Not a cheap option; but one of the ONLY options
once we got to the far north region of Burkin Faso.
Once we hit the dirt road, we realized just how valuble
DEPENDABLE transportation really was!
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Sweaty days....!
With a daily temp often peaking above 105 degrees, NOT having air conditioning is getting to be a challenge!!! I'm learning to cope with the heat by visiting the cyber cafe' quite often and taking full advantage of the local 12-3pm sieste! In the past couple weeks, I've learned a lot about the Muslim way of life, beliefs, and world view. It's been an eye opener here due to the fact that over 45% of the population claim to be followers of the Islamic faith. We will soon be traveling to the far north to the town of Gorom Gorom for an authentic village stay with a Tuareg family!! Personally - I can't wait! Keep checking back for some awesome pics upon our return around the first week of November!
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Good times
Okay, so I'm the only one with the head wrap
on here; but that's usually not the case - true story!
We were just goofing around and I thought I'ld give this
thing a try.........
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Village Outreach fun!
Well, at long last we had the SWEET opportunity to venture a couple hours out into the bush of Burkina Faso and camp out in a little village by the name of Yaabo! After setting up camp, watching one sweet sunset, and having dinner in the dark with the locals, we camped out under the stars as the cool night air dropped to almost 75 degrees.......yeah.......a very sticky 75 degrees at that!
The following morning we all got up, had our sugar laced oatmeal (non traditional), and headed off to do our outreach with the kids! As we arrived we only noticed about five kids, but as soon as we began blowing up balloons and making some noise - they came from all over! With songs, skits, balloons, and bubbles we made sure everyone had a blast and a chance to hear the gospel! It was a sweet taste of just how easy childrens ministry can be out here in the villages of Burkina Faso!
For more pictures feel free to visit my webshots page at the following address:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bakermania
It's just been recently updated and will have more pics from the outreach and villages!
The following morning we all got up, had our sugar laced oatmeal (non traditional), and headed off to do our outreach with the kids! As we arrived we only noticed about five kids, but as soon as we began blowing up balloons and making some noise - they came from all over! With songs, skits, balloons, and bubbles we made sure everyone had a blast and a chance to hear the gospel! It was a sweet taste of just how easy childrens ministry can be out here in the villages of Burkina Faso!
For more pictures feel free to visit my webshots page at the following address:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bakermania
It's just been recently updated and will have more pics from the outreach and villages!
Enjoying the scenery!
Facing due east that same evening as the sun was setting, was a huge mass of
clouds, making for a beautiful array of color. It's moment like these that you take as many
shots as you can and try to soak it all up at the same time!
Sweet sunset!
As the sun slowly fades in the background, the outline of
a lone boabob tree stands starkly on the horizon. This shot was taken right by the village of
Yaabo.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
A lone shower....
Out in the middle of the bush, we had this
little five foot high box made for a little
bucket bathe privacy........I figured since we
were only staying one night this first trip,
I'ld just opt out on the shower end.........good times!
Our main means of transportation
With four doors and a roomy bed, this little toyota has taken us
all over the place. It's a hardy little truck that takes a licken and keeps on ticking!
On our last village trip we packed all our gear and six people. Good times!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
One fine day....
The sceenery in the city is very minimal, so I'm often
drawn to the simple things - like these clouds. I'm told that later in the year,
there will be endless days and weeks where these beauties never show their faces.
God bless the rainy season!!
A $10,000 dollar well!!
After many stories and much anticipation, I was finally able to
pump water with my own hands from a $10,000 well!!! The cost to dig
some 400 feet through rock is mostly in just getting the equipment to
this site. It's no small task and unfortunately - it's not close to town either.
This well, being strategically placed, will provide a much needed source for hundreds of Fulani
people with the ultimate goal of reaching them with the Gospel!
one sweet child
One can say that a picture carries a thousand words;
but within one's eyes lie a lifetime's worth.
Kids in the village of Yaboo
These are just a few of the kids that were around when
we came to visit the remote village area of Yaboo.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
The life of a Fulani beggar boy...
9/9/05
Below is a picture of just a few of the thousands of tamato paste cans that the Fulani beggar boys carry around each day. Upon arrival here, we were told to give them food instead of money because the money that they collect is all given to their Islamic teacher at the end of each day. THESE children are a huge open door and an awesmoe program called “Kids of Hope” enables us to give them a glimpse of the God that loves each and every one of them.
Below is a picture of just a few of the thousands of tamato paste cans that the Fulani beggar boys carry around each day. Upon arrival here, we were told to give them food instead of money because the money that they collect is all given to their Islamic teacher at the end of each day. THESE children are a huge open door and an awesmoe program called “Kids of Hope” enables us to give them a glimpse of the God that loves each and every one of them.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Wheeling and Dealing at the local market.....
Nothing like pickin out some fresh chickens. These guys made sure we had the best of the best. They'll even kill 'em and pluck 'em right there for you - all for around, say.... $3!
Chicken feet - a sure treat!
Nothing to be wasted here! Chicken feet are considered a rare treat here in Burkina Faso......unfortunately - tastes like chicken does NOT apply......
Goat-a-licious...
9/7/05
We get to butcher our first goat today! As part of gaining a deeper, more realistic perspective into the local way of life, my team and I will spend the entire day purchasing, butchering, preparing, and cooking a goat…….something I have never really done before. I’m a wee bit queesey when it comes to this kind of stuff, so we’ll see how I handle it. I will probably refrain from putting the pictures of the “process” on this site but you can always check out more over on the following link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bakermania
Coming into this, I’m a bit nervous and curious all at the same time. We’ll see how I stomach the whole thing! Looking forward to having many stories to tell after this!!!
We get to butcher our first goat today! As part of gaining a deeper, more realistic perspective into the local way of life, my team and I will spend the entire day purchasing, butchering, preparing, and cooking a goat…….something I have never really done before. I’m a wee bit queesey when it comes to this kind of stuff, so we’ll see how I handle it. I will probably refrain from putting the pictures of the “process” on this site but you can always check out more over on the following link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bakermania
Coming into this, I’m a bit nervous and curious all at the same time. We’ll see how I stomach the whole thing! Looking forward to having many stories to tell after this!!!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
First sighted Boabob Tree!!
Pronounced as "bow - bob" (as in "bow down") this local tree is absolutely huge at the base and grows to be hundreds of years old! They're really cool looking too.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
The BIG city......
9/3/05
Swarmed by eager, young street venders with the constant calling of “masada” (slang for white person) and “la blanc,” (French for white) we venture through depth Ougadougou. Overwhelmed at times by the open sewers, intense exhaust fumes, and cooking critters, my team and I attempted to complete our task of collecting all the items on the list for our orientation scavenger hunt. Armed with a few words in broken French, a small pocket dictionary, and absolutely NO clue of the layout of the city that was home to some 1.8 million people, Kristin, Kate and I managed to survive our first day making it to the American and British embassy after two hours of walking in the scorching hot sun and mud coated sidewalks. Two items down and only 23 more to go………
Day four came early today. I’m discovering the true value of learning a second language and have experienced all sorts of crazy fun food here (silverware is totally a “Western” thing). All is going well and each day brings a new challenge, allowing me to anticipate each corner with a new word/phrase learned in French and a greater love for God’s diverse and creative hand!
Much more to come.......
Swarmed by eager, young street venders with the constant calling of “masada” (slang for white person) and “la blanc,” (French for white) we venture through depth Ougadougou. Overwhelmed at times by the open sewers, intense exhaust fumes, and cooking critters, my team and I attempted to complete our task of collecting all the items on the list for our orientation scavenger hunt. Armed with a few words in broken French, a small pocket dictionary, and absolutely NO clue of the layout of the city that was home to some 1.8 million people, Kristin, Kate and I managed to survive our first day making it to the American and British embassy after two hours of walking in the scorching hot sun and mud coated sidewalks. Two items down and only 23 more to go………
Day four came early today. I’m discovering the true value of learning a second language and have experienced all sorts of crazy fun food here (silverware is totally a “Western” thing). All is going well and each day brings a new challenge, allowing me to anticipate each corner with a new word/phrase learned in French and a greater love for God’s diverse and creative hand!
Much more to come.......
Alive and Well!!
9/2/05
Africa at long last!! At times it really doesn’t seem real. Of course there are other times, (like on Tuesday, when I shocked myself while touching an ungrounded plug adapter) that I am VERY aware that I’m in a third world environment.
So far, I’ve had the opportunity to experience the big city of Ougadougou (Population 1.8 million), eat some rather strange food (cous cous a.k.a. mini pasta), and attempt to communicate with dozens of friendly people here in my broken French. The weather is quite different than I ever imagined, being the rainy season, it is VERY humid and the inside temp. (as in my house) hangs at a rather sticky 80 degrees. The outskirts of the city (where I will be staying for most of my training) is actually much cleaner than I expected as well. Being a VERY poor county, I never thought they would have an organized garbage system; but sure enough, if you can afford it, a little donkey cart comes by every so often and picks up your trash……..where it’s dumped, I have yet to discover; but I have a feeling it’s not far off.
The people here are more helpful and friendly than one would ever imagine. Even though it seems like every other person here speaks a different language there are many who speak French and about 1/100 speak a good broken English! So far, I’ve heard French, Fulfulde, Moray, and some other unknown dialects! I can’t wait to be able to tackle French and move onto the next available language!
Many more stories to tell!
Africa at long last!! At times it really doesn’t seem real. Of course there are other times, (like on Tuesday, when I shocked myself while touching an ungrounded plug adapter) that I am VERY aware that I’m in a third world environment.
So far, I’ve had the opportunity to experience the big city of Ougadougou (Population 1.8 million), eat some rather strange food (cous cous a.k.a. mini pasta), and attempt to communicate with dozens of friendly people here in my broken French. The weather is quite different than I ever imagined, being the rainy season, it is VERY humid and the inside temp. (as in my house) hangs at a rather sticky 80 degrees. The outskirts of the city (where I will be staying for most of my training) is actually much cleaner than I expected as well. Being a VERY poor county, I never thought they would have an organized garbage system; but sure enough, if you can afford it, a little donkey cart comes by every so often and picks up your trash……..where it’s dumped, I have yet to discover; but I have a feeling it’s not far off.
The people here are more helpful and friendly than one would ever imagine. Even though it seems like every other person here speaks a different language there are many who speak French and about 1/100 speak a good broken English! So far, I’ve heard French, Fulfulde, Moray, and some other unknown dialects! I can’t wait to be able to tackle French and move onto the next available language!
Many more stories to tell!
One SWEET flight!
8/29/05
As we flew over the Sahara Desert, more than a few thoughts passed through my mind. I was consumed with the soon to be consistant euphoric sense of process - a kind of unbelief to a certain degree that I was actually here - doing something I've always dreamed of doing, chasing that one dream that seemed so impossible to follow, and yet when I looked around me on the plane, I discovered something rather strange, I was pursueing this passion inside me with about 200 other poeple saved and unsaved alike. Some of these people obviously returning home while others simply striking adventure in potentially dull life and yet more having no real deep reason aside from seeing a few sights (though I've been told there's not much to see where I'm headed).
Getting back to the beauty on hand, the landscape below seemed to spring outwards like deep starving roots of a cliff hung tree, almost as though reaching for something that was not there. The horizon struck me as vividly familiar. I can't explain the feeling other than - it didn't seem new - just beautiful in its own way. As I continued to gaze across the Sahara sands, within what looked like Algeria or Libya, my mind only began to search out the vastness of this ocean of sand that is so vaguely described within the Scriptures. At an elevation of more than 34,000 feet, I could still only see for maybe 100 miles or so. The sand on the horizon taking up the latter part of anyone's view yet adding a unique sense of mystery to this odd place. I couldn't wait to land and discover sooo much more......
As we flew over the Sahara Desert, more than a few thoughts passed through my mind. I was consumed with the soon to be consistant euphoric sense of process - a kind of unbelief to a certain degree that I was actually here - doing something I've always dreamed of doing, chasing that one dream that seemed so impossible to follow, and yet when I looked around me on the plane, I discovered something rather strange, I was pursueing this passion inside me with about 200 other poeple saved and unsaved alike. Some of these people obviously returning home while others simply striking adventure in potentially dull life and yet more having no real deep reason aside from seeing a few sights (though I've been told there's not much to see where I'm headed).
Getting back to the beauty on hand, the landscape below seemed to spring outwards like deep starving roots of a cliff hung tree, almost as though reaching for something that was not there. The horizon struck me as vividly familiar. I can't explain the feeling other than - it didn't seem new - just beautiful in its own way. As I continued to gaze across the Sahara sands, within what looked like Algeria or Libya, my mind only began to search out the vastness of this ocean of sand that is so vaguely described within the Scriptures. At an elevation of more than 34,000 feet, I could still only see for maybe 100 miles or so. The sand on the horizon taking up the latter part of anyone's view yet adding a unique sense of mystery to this odd place. I couldn't wait to land and discover sooo much more......
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
What would it take.....
I've asked myself many times before, "what would it take.....?" to change a life? to alter ones course? to influence one's perspective in such a way that the decisions one made were changed forever? "what would it take......?" to get someone so determined to do his own thing in life, so bent on success and personal achievement, so concerned with appearance and material gain - to drop everything hoped for, dreamt for, wished for, and yearned for and go to a place that no one ever knew existed......? "What would it take.............?"
It would take a miracle or more, and maybe....... just maybe the very finger of God to reach down from heaven and carve a simple path called..... His will.
So the next time you're argueing with yourself, a close friend, or maybe even God; and you catch the question....."what would it take......?" think twice before answering and realize - you're not alone..............
It would take a miracle or more, and maybe....... just maybe the very finger of God to reach down from heaven and carve a simple path called..... His will.
So the next time you're argueing with yourself, a close friend, or maybe even God; and you catch the question....."what would it take......?" think twice before answering and realize - you're not alone..............
Friday, August 05, 2005
Winding Down
As the days dwindle, I ponder many a thoughts as to my true heart motives of traveling and working in West Africa. At times I wish I were already there - while at others, the "what if's" consume my mind. "What if this doesn't work out?" "What if my body can't take the enviroment?" "What if the language is too much for me?" "What if....what if.....what if........?"
I know that this is what I'm called to do. I'm secure in myself and who God created me to be - but it's a whole different world over there; one I've never experienced before; one I know next to nothing about; one that keeps tugging on my heart - and though at times I'm hesitant to go - I know I won't return the same person I am today.
I know that this is what I'm called to do. I'm secure in myself and who God created me to be - but it's a whole different world over there; one I've never experienced before; one I know next to nothing about; one that keeps tugging on my heart - and though at times I'm hesitant to go - I know I won't return the same person I am today.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
The cost of a well in Africa!!
Work 'n Ouaga Ever wonder what it would run to get running water in a village out in the sub-Saharan plains of Burkina Faso???
Try 10K!!! and that's someone doing you a huge FAVOR! That's right - water ain't cheap - just something to ponder the next time you flip on the faucet or grab a bottled water at the local store!
Try 10K!!! and that's someone doing you a huge FAVOR! That's right - water ain't cheap - just something to ponder the next time you flip on the faucet or grab a bottled water at the local store!
Pondering.......
Work 'n Ouaga
Ever wonder just why we're here on this earth? What our purpose is in life or just simply WHO you really are? Well - don't thing about it too much or you'll drive yourself nuts!
I know why God put me here and I must say - I love it. Every day is an adventure built - not just for me - but for 6.4 billion other people in this world! Get your mind off yourself and look around!
Ever wonder just why we're here on this earth? What our purpose is in life or just simply WHO you really are? Well - don't thing about it too much or you'll drive yourself nuts!
I know why God put me here and I must say - I love it. Every day is an adventure built - not just for me - but for 6.4 billion other people in this world! Get your mind off yourself and look around!
Off to Africa
Alas! In prep to move to Burkina Faso, West Africa, many a thought has run through my mind. "What in the world am I doing!!!" surfaces from time to time; but is quickly quenched with a passion for adventure and a hunger to see souls find the truth in this life!
With a departure date of Aug. 29th - only time will tell if I'm truly ready for this next step in this crazy rush we call life.
With a departure date of Aug. 29th - only time will tell if I'm truly ready for this next step in this crazy rush we call life.
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