Hello world!
The Mahadaga team is still alive, just in case you were
wondering. Here is a quick recap of all that’s happened this week thus far:
Sunday: While Doug and Angela were here, we hosted a
barbecue for all the workers at the SIM compound and their families. We served
some really good grilled chicken (though Kate claims she couldn’t find any meat
on her chicken), rice, and even sugar cookies with Nutella that Angela baked.
Overall, we all had a great time fellowshipping, eating, singing, dancing, and
trying to communicate in 3 different languages (French, Gourma, English) all at
once.
Monday: In the afternoon, we went with Betty, one of the
missionaries, to a nearby Fulani compound to learn more about their culture as
well as to purchase some souvenirs from them. It was neat being invited into
their homes and seeing what their lives were like. In the evening, we went over
to Djebo’s (one of the guards here) compound
to have dinner with his family. Djebo is a Fulani Christian which is still
quite rare as most Fulanis are Muslim. We were served millet toh, gumbo sauce
to dip toh in, and some mutton. We were able to hear Djebo’s powerful testimony
and learn more about the difficulties of Fulani Christians. Please keep Djebo
and his family in your prayers and they continue to witness to their relatives
and other Fulanis in this area.
Tuesday: We didn’t do anything too exciting and had a
regular work day. See technical update below for details on how our work is
coming. In the evening, we hosted a prayer meeting for the compound and got to
listen to Francois continue her story for Joel and Caleb (the Johnson’s sons).
Randy really enjoys Francois’ stories!
Wednesday: Charlie
and Kevin went out on the mobilettes all day and were able to see firsthand the
different types of things the physical therapists do, as well as to experience
what it really means to be “in the middle of nowhere” out in the bush. Rumor
has it that one of the guys was offered a wife and kids at one of the villages
while out on the mobilettes.
Thursday: Jean went out on the mobilette and was able to
meet several kids with cerebral palsy and watch the therapists do various
massages and activities with them. The rest of the gang did work for most of
the day. Kevin, Dave, and Dr. Fish went out with Brendon in the afternoon to
help Brendon try to pull out a well drilling bit that…umm..may have broken off
and fallen in a 5m deep well. As of now, the bit is still down there. We went
over to Francois’s for dinner and had some delicious baked potato and cabbage
casserole and brownies for dessert. Afterwards, Brendon came over for more card
games and enjoyed a slice of Dave’s glorious Mahadaga cheesecake.
Friday: This is our last full day here in Mahadaga as we
prepare for our departure to Ouaga tomorrow morning. We’ve got packing and
cleaning up to do, in addition to a New Year’s party at the center this
evening.
Technical update:
Accounting: After battling some French translation issues,
Kate has completed her projects and so far has been assisting Jean and Charlie
as an honorary engineer on the trike work.
KWHR: Kevin, Dave, and Dr. Fish have successfully installed
3 “working” meters now, 2 at homes in the SIM compound and 1 at the dorms for
the blind students at the center. There are still a couple bugs to be fixed,
including a problem they encountered with one of the components doing some
funky things due to its sensitivity to changes in temperature.
Tricycles: Djebe’s trike is all complete with its new set of
axles. Yempabou so far hasn’t had any problems with his. Charlie welded a
footrest on Etienne’s trike yesterday, as well as getting Etienne some practice
riding his trike out on the road. Etienne seems to be enjoying his trike and is
making significant improvements in his ‘driving.’ Dieregou, the shop technician
at the center, had surgery yesterday in Diapaga, a nearby town, and will
probably be out for a couple of weeks. Though we don’t know much detail about
his surgery, just pray for a speedy recovery from the surgery!
*Sorry, but I (Jean) don’t have any blog-worthy pictures on
my camera. Pictures will follow…eventually.*
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