Back in Ouagadougou

Hello everyone,

We had hoped to be able to send you news from Mahadaga, with internet, but the best laid plans don't always work. It didn't stop us from meeting wonderful people, getting lots done, and seeing God at work.

We went to the small town/village of Mahadaga last Saturday. It took 8 or nine hours in a rented van with suitcases on the top, tied down with rope and a tarp. No AC. We are SOOOO spoiled at home. We didn't have AC at all except last evening and today in Ouaga. I honestly don't know how people survive. We're drinking water constantly and perspiring. The national route was a two lane road ( one lane in each direction) through BF, but the road south was dirt. Lots of bumps, but it had been grated this past year. Often times the driver had to honk his horn to have mopeds, sheep, cows, donkeys, carts, etc. get off. Quite an experience.

In Mahadaga, we stayed at the SIM( Serving in Mission) guest houses. Our cottage was modest, but it had a kitchen, fridge, drinking water, toilet, etc. All the amenities of home, but frankly, if it were home, none of us would stay there. Here, it is a palace. I can say that because we were blessed to visit homes nearby and homes out in the real bush. I honestly don't know how people survive. There are often 6-10 children, and some men have 3-4 wives, with 40 children. Often they count on the kids to help with the work, but in a drought, it must be tough.

Anyway, we arrived in Mahadaga, and were shown the work of SIM by Flo Johnson, one of our church's missionaries to Ouaga. She and her husband, Dale, who is the director of the Handicap center, are WONDERFUL people, and are very well loved by the Burkinabe people. SIM runs a clinic with the government, where people come from miles around. I had to get some meds for Aimee because she had a fever. There are no doctors at the clinic. What amazed me was that I paid the equivalent of $2. for amoxycillin where in the states, I wouldn't pay much, but much more.

TO describe the clinic...there was a maternity ward. All rooms opened to the outside. A pump for the patience in the middle of the clinic. Family visitors stayed with the patients. Like Vietnam. Men, women and children were there.

Then to the Handicap Center. It was the closing ceremony of the school. They have classes for the blind, the deaf and other handicaps...about 250 children. The center also allows children from the town to come..going through 6th grade. They are pretty lucky to have a 6th grade education. They have to take a test to pass. Of the sixteen children in the graduating class, all 15 passed, and the 3 deaf children earned honors on the national exam. Some will continue their education, some won't. Many have learned crafts at the center--weaving, tye dying, painting, sewing, knitting, leather working, sand crafts, card making, etc. I'll have a catalog of their wonderful work when I get home. I said I'd ask if we could somehow do "fair trade" with them!

At the ceremony, the asst. director (or someone) read a statement in French ( all courses are taught in French--which they have to learn at school, because they speak Gormancha at home),
and a blind student wrote it out in Braille. Then, the deaf student read it in Braille and signed it to another deaf student. The other deaf student then wrote it on the board. We showed up too late for that, unfortunately, but I read the statement and was touched by the fact that with education, mountains can be surmounted! The students at the center learn braille, sign and French.

The employees and children were so welcoming!

So...

Sunday, we went to a local church where they were celebrating the day of the child. The kids performed skits, sang and danced. It was a bilingual service in French and Gourma. We even sang "I want to see Jesus lifted High!" in English and French.

Monday, we started.
Ian, our WSEF Missions Pastor, led a four day leadership conference for area pastors and employees of the Handicap Center. There were about 20 participants. They had opportunities to discuss church problems. Since Ian grew up in Morocco and worked in So. France for several years, he could definitely relate to what they were talking about!

The men ( and we women sometimes!) helped set up the wifi system. They were able to erect two towers, one at the Guest House station, and another at the Handicap center. The clinic was more difficult to deal with. The tower is to go near one of the buildings, and they have to do some sort of relocation, or get real creative with how to mount it. They also had difficulty with the satellite company, which had changed the satellite on them, which meant they had to wait for a delivery from Ouaga. It didn't come in time. However, Matt Walsh, one of the other missionaries there, knows what to do. The final goal? Connections between the three centers which are not together, an internet connection for all three areas, and a cybercafe at the handicap center. What's interesting is that there are no land telephone lines in this area, but cell towers, so many people have cell phones!

Krista, Aimee and I did the children's program everyday. We had prepared the book and made xeroxed coloring pages before we left. Thanks to those of you who donated soccer balls and crayons!!!! They were a big hit! We started out with 120 kids the first day ( we expected 60),
in a big field in front of a middle school. It grew to be as many as 200+ one day! We played games daily ( dodge ball--they played it lined up), blob tag, red light/green light ( we had to explain what they were), and sharks and minnows. Everything was done in French and then GOurma.

After the games, Ann / Krista read a story--creation, David's adoption of Mephiboshet ( I just learned that one), Jesus and the children, his death, resurrection and ascension. Lamoudi, our Burkina friend, shared the gospel and several children made the decision to ask Jesus into their hearts! It was amazing!

Anyway, with those activities daily/almost daily, we were busy. We also helped at the guest houses...Krista prepared our food, there was clerical work to be done, sorting linens, etc.

One of the biggest highlights, at least for me, was to go out to the bush with the physical therapists and watch them with the children. Aimee and I walked to one home together, where the man had been in a car accident as well as in a home accident where his wall had fallen on him. He had several children and was a paraplegic. The therapist worked his legs, talked to him very gently. The handicap center helps him daily with incontinence issues in the evening. It also helps his family financially because they are very poor.

A blessing for the area---it started to downpour! Not though, before we returned back from our home visit. Oh well, the rain felt great to us, the water rats!

Everyone had the opportunity to go out on the visits...on the back of their cycles. Boy, do they move. Well, they have to! The therapists have so much compassion.

There is so much more to write, but I'll save that for another time. Now, back in Ouaga, we're doing last minute odds and ends. We have been blessed.

Lots of love to all of our friends and family,

Ann