Today was our last day in Ougadougou. With much, much less team baggage left to pack, Dave the luggage man retained more sanity than our first flight here. Now, with the luggage ready and lunch (or dinner as our Canadian missionary friends call it) completely cleaned up, we wait until we board the vehicles that will take us to the airport. Currently, we are scheduled for take off somewhere around 9 pm Burkina time, landing somewhere around 6 am in Paris. After a 10 hour layover adventure in Paris, we take off around 4 pm Paris time to arrive in D.C. around 7 pm. We as a team thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers throughout our trip. Your support has been much appreciated, especially throughout the rougher parts of our day. We ask you for your continued prayer as we fly home today and tomorrow. And, we would love to tell you our hours-worth of stories when we get back home!
See you then and thanks for everything,
Jeff
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
A day to relax
Hello Everyone,
Last night we enjoyed a delicious buffet at a Moroccan restaurant with the Dartnells, one of the missionary families that has been very helpful to us here in Ouaga.
This morning we got a tour of the International School of Ouagadougou, which is right across the street from the SIM guesthouse. Later we took taxis to the artisan market to do some shopping. This afternoon some of us worked on finishing up project reports and class journals. We also had a lot of free time for reading and relaxing. Tonight we plan on enjoying some ice-cream that we found at a corner store and playing games together.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
-Julie
Last night we enjoyed a delicious buffet at a Moroccan restaurant with the Dartnells, one of the missionary families that has been very helpful to us here in Ouaga.
This morning we got a tour of the International School of Ouagadougou, which is right across the street from the SIM guesthouse. Later we took taxis to the artisan market to do some shopping. This afternoon some of us worked on finishing up project reports and class journals. We also had a lot of free time for reading and relaxing. Tonight we plan on enjoying some ice-cream that we found at a corner store and playing games together.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
-Julie
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Back in Ouaga!
Friends & Family,
After 3 weeks in Burkina Faso we are almost done! We arrived back in Ouaga safely after only 3 ½ hours of travel. This was about half of the time we anticipated for our drive so that was a pleasant surprise. Dave arrived safely as well from Mahadaga with a local Burkinabe (Daniel) who accompanied him for the 9 hours of travel. Dave said it was a great experience!
Our week in Nindangou was a ton of fun and very productive. Not only did the pastors and their wives learn adding, subtracting, multiplication, and division but they also learned to record the tithes their churches received and the expenses they had to pay out. The pastors also came to us during the afternoon on Friday and thanked us again and told us that they really appreciated what we had taught and that it cleared up a lot of issues in the church as far as using the tithe money was concerned. They asked us if they built a house for us if we would stay. Bill Stragger told them our parents might miss us a bit so probably not.
Many of the members on our team also enjoyed playing soccer, driving a motorcycle, and riding a donkey. Some also participated in “choir practice” which involved singing, lots of clapping, and a little bit of dancing. The Burkinabe women enjoyed our efforts as we tried to keep up with them.
Everyone enjoyed taking a nice long warm shower once arriving back in Ouaga – for many the first warm one in 2 ½ weeks. We also appreciate that we no longer need a big bucket of water to flush the toilet, wash dishes, and take a shower.
This morning there were many different options for church – an international church, a catholic mass, and a SIM church so everyone headed in different directions. This afternoon we will be having our last lecture and we will also be writing some reports about our projects here.
Hope everyone is staying warm at home! We will be seeing you soon.
-Rebekah
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Joy-Filled Servants
January 22, 2009
Our days are dwindling. The team's work in Nindangou went very well. Various team members presented or assisted at the finance workshop today. Bekah introduced the concept of keeping a ledger for incoming money. The pastors appreciated the practical advice and organization. Joy Stregger, our missionary hostess, and her son Martin drove to Paella because Martin had to take an exam. Jackie went with them. They will spend the night at the SIM compound in Piela to talk to the nutritionists about the moranga project. The Stregger's led the team on a trip to the cliffs and looked for pieces of old pottery. Julie will lead our devotions tonight as we finish the remaining chapters of Hebrews. Nindangou provides a wonderful location for star gazing and sharing God's will. Today, David was able to join Alfonz, one of the physical therapists, as he conducted home visits. We are beginning to talk about the trip back to Ouagadougou on Saturday. Throughout our trip the students have been joy-filled servants. As an advisor I have appreciated their spirits and their sense of adventure.
~Anita
Our days are dwindling. The team's work in Nindangou went very well. Various team members presented or assisted at the finance workshop today. Bekah introduced the concept of keeping a ledger for incoming money. The pastors appreciated the practical advice and organization. Joy Stregger, our missionary hostess, and her son Martin drove to Paella because Martin had to take an exam. Jackie went with them. They will spend the night at the SIM compound in Piela to talk to the nutritionists about the moranga project. The Stregger's led the team on a trip to the cliffs and looked for pieces of old pottery. Julie will lead our devotions tonight as we finish the remaining chapters of Hebrews. Nindangou provides a wonderful location for star gazing and sharing God's will. Today, David was able to join Alfonz, one of the physical therapists, as he conducted home visits. We are beginning to talk about the trip back to Ouagadougou on Saturday. Throughout our trip the students have been joy-filled servants. As an advisor I have appreciated their spirits and their sense of adventure.
~Anita
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Finance Workshop in Nindangou
January 21, 2009
Dear Blog Followers,
Today we woke up from yet another cool night in Nindangou. Jeff seems to be feeling better today and joined us at the workshop. After our breakfast of oatmeal we headed over to the school. We taught the pastor's multiplication and division. They seemed to be much more comfortable with the calculators. We abandoned the multiplication and division tables that we had brought with us and used a more direct method that utilized the calculator. After our delicious lunch of vegetable soup, homemade rolls and cinnamon buns we had our lecture. For dinner we will have roasted potatoes and three bean salad. We continue to be blessed by our work and the people around us. Please continue to pray for us and stay tuned for more updates.
~ Dan
Dear Blog Followers,
Today we woke up from yet another cool night in Nindangou. Jeff seems to be feeling better today and joined us at the workshop. After our breakfast of oatmeal we headed over to the school. We taught the pastor's multiplication and division. They seemed to be much more comfortable with the calculators. We abandoned the multiplication and division tables that we had brought with us and used a more direct method that utilized the calculator. After our delicious lunch of vegetable soup, homemade rolls and cinnamon buns we had our lecture. For dinner we will have roasted potatoes and three bean salad. We continue to be blessed by our work and the people around us. Please continue to pray for us and stay tuned for more updates.
~ Dan
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
We made it!
January 19, 2009
We made it! We left the house at 7 am and arrived in Nindangou at 4 pm. We got wicked dirty in the process but arrived safe and sound. We have all taken showers in the great outdoors with a bucket of refreshing water. It's so wonderful to feel clean! Mrs. Stregger has so kindly been preparing dinner for us as we have been setting up our cots with bug nets in their courtyard. We are excited to the max to sleep under the stars. Tomorrow we will begin Day 1 of our pastors' math/finance workshop. Today, David installed motor protectors on the two remaining electric tricycles. Tomorrow he will finish the motor protector project by testing the performance and functionality of the protectors just installed. We are so thankful for each one of you and your prayers. Hope you are all well and staying warm.
-Katie O.
We made it! We left the house at 7 am and arrived in Nindangou at 4 pm. We got wicked dirty in the process but arrived safe and sound. We have all taken showers in the great outdoors with a bucket of refreshing water. It's so wonderful to feel clean! Mrs. Stregger has so kindly been preparing dinner for us as we have been setting up our cots with bug nets in their courtyard. We are excited to the max to sleep under the stars. Tomorrow we will begin Day 1 of our pastors' math/finance workshop. Today, David installed motor protectors on the two remaining electric tricycles. Tomorrow he will finish the motor protector project by testing the performance and functionality of the protectors just installed. We are so thankful for each one of you and your prayers. Hope you are all well and staying warm.
-Katie O.
Church in Many Languages
January 18th, 2009
This morning we attended the church service held at the Christian School adjacent to the SIM station. The service was a mix of Gourma, French, English, and Sign Language. Even though we did not know what all of the words meant, many of the melodies were familiar. We shared "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" (with motions) in English and French. The service included prayers, about an hour of lively singing, and a sermon about self control. After lunch we began packing for our trip to Nindangou tomorrow, shelled peanuts, and made peanut brittle as a snack for tomorrow. The students helped our Burkinabe friend and helper Daniel with a church program for children this afternoon. They played African versions of tag and kick the can, as well as frisbee and badminton. Later, several local pastors came over to visit and pray for our health and for the rest of our trip. We are now waiting for the missionaries to return from the spiritual life conference in Fada, and will be sharing dinner prepared by a local women with them. The dinner includes three chickens which were given to us during the course of our stay here, as well as rice and a delicious African sauce. Most of the team leaves for Nindangou early tomorrow morning. David will remain In Maadaga a bit longer and rejoin us on Saturday in Ouaga. We will not have electricity in Nindangou, so the blog will most likely be updated only 1 - 2 times during the next week. We are grateful to God for our safety thus far, and for the many friendships we have made here.
-Kay Witt
This morning we attended the church service held at the Christian School adjacent to the SIM station. The service was a mix of Gourma, French, English, and Sign Language. Even though we did not know what all of the words meant, many of the melodies were familiar. We shared "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" (with motions) in English and French. The service included prayers, about an hour of lively singing, and a sermon about self control. After lunch we began packing for our trip to Nindangou tomorrow, shelled peanuts, and made peanut brittle as a snack for tomorrow. The students helped our Burkinabe friend and helper Daniel with a church program for children this afternoon. They played African versions of tag and kick the can, as well as frisbee and badminton. Later, several local pastors came over to visit and pray for our health and for the rest of our trip. We are now waiting for the missionaries to return from the spiritual life conference in Fada, and will be sharing dinner prepared by a local women with them. The dinner includes three chickens which were given to us during the course of our stay here, as well as rice and a delicious African sauce. Most of the team leaves for Nindangou early tomorrow morning. David will remain In Maadaga a bit longer and rejoin us on Saturday in Ouaga. We will not have electricity in Nindangou, so the blog will most likely be updated only 1 - 2 times during the next week. We are grateful to God for our safety thus far, and for the many friendships we have made here.
-Kay Witt
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)