A Typical Saturday in Mahadaga

January 17, 2009

Today was a typical Saturday in Mahadaga. Kids went to school until noon, then played soccer all afternoon. Some of the boys are also enjoying the frisbee and badminton we taught them, which they had only seen on the Olympics. The badminton birdie has no ball anymore but still works, and they discovered that small green mangos work really well too.

It was also a typical day here for our team. When we woke up this morning, the refrigerator wasn't working, which has happened before. We have several great cooks (plus two nutritionists!) and have become adept at cooking great (at least good) meals for 13 with flexible ingredients and last minute changes. Tonight we're having chili (sort of) with homemade tortilla chips (sort of). Frozen bananas with nutella spread has become a popular dessert.

This afternoon, our lecture was up on the nearby cliffs, overlooking the village. A young boy joined us and promptly fell asleep in the middle of our circle. The students were not allowed to follow suit. The child doesn't know it, but he became an object lesson in the lecture, as well as a cute photo-op.

One of the Burkinabe teachers at the Handicap Center, Adjima, stopped by this evening to give beautiful gifts of African fabric to four of the team members who have been working with him all week in his classroom. Those of us who received them were touched and flattered, and we'll be wearing the fabric to church tomorrow. Our group will sing 'Lord I lift your name on High' for the Gourma congregation, in both French and English.

Tomorrow after church, we'll be busy packing up, saying goodbye, and getting ready to go to Nindangou, the second half of our adventure. We'll update the blog tomorrow; after that, don't be surprised if you don't hear from us until next Saturday. (We'll try sending things out by phone.)

As an advisor for this trip, let me assure you that other than colds, all of the team members are healthy, eating well, and in good spirits. We have a great team: to all of you who are parents of our students, I applaud you for raising such kind and responsible men and women. They are each taking steps of faith here and seeing daily the spiritual rewards of their work.

-Angela Hare