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!
Sunday, September 25, 2005
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......
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