Together Again!

We are finally all in the same place at the same time again. After Mike's 10 day trip to Kenya, I took a 17 day trip to Burkina. It will be good to spend some time at home now.

I had a great time in Burkina learning more about the people we've prayed for now for so long and whose language I've learned. Of course we have Mossi people here in Abidjan, thus the reason for my language choice. It is just a different thing to see and understand and know where someone is coming from and what has shaped who they are. I also benefited from a couple of weeks of all Moore all of the time. I also got to spend some time with my Mossi friend that went back to Burkina to live. All in all, it was a wonderful time.

Because of the expense of airfare, Benjamin and I hopped on a train for the journey. We could have gone all of the way to the capital city, where we would be staying, but decided to break the trip up by stopping at friends' house on the way. So instead of a 42 hour train ride, we stopped after 32 hours. Let me just say that 32 hours is a LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG time to sit in a seat with a baby on your lap! You do get to know your neighbors, though. We got to the Abidjan train station at 8 AM Thursday morning to leave and when I saw the lights for my friends city at 8:30 PM on Friday night, I was ever so grateful!! After a little sleep, good food and a quick visit, we continued on to the capital city by bus. It was only another 5 and a half hours by bus, but after the train ride from the days before, we thought we'd never get there. Benjamin was a pretty good sport for this leg of the trip, but he was getting tired of being held. He wanted to be FREE!

After settling in at our temporary home away from home in the capital, my good friend came to greet us. I was so happy to see her and although Benjamin seemed to remember her, he was a little leery. After another decent meal, he was feeling more friendly. On the train and on the bus, we were limited to what you could purchase from a tray that women carry on their heads at the stations. You never knew what you'd find. There were bananas, boiled eggs, and a local dish called attieke (not my favorite) at most stops. Other local delicacies were at some stops like kidney sandwiches. Benjamin and I opted for a mystery meat sandwich the first night and fruit and bread to fill out the rest of the days. Fortunately I had packed baby food and water so that Benjamin wouldn't be dependent on what we found. We were glad to have eaten at our friends' house the night before and to finally be starting our all African diet with some tame rice and sauce this night.

The next day we started life full speed ahead. We went out to visit a family for the day. This meant a 30 minute taxi ride and then a 45 minute walk to their house. They were so glad to see us again as this is a family that I had visited last year in August. Benjamin was a hit every where we went. They served up a local dish, please don't ask me to tell you what is in it as I can't even pronounce it. All I could recognize were leaves. As usual, one meal wasn't enough so I was soon served another meal that I can only describe as black-eyed pea jello with mayo to dip it in! Oddly enough, that was the one I liked! Benjamin loves to be outside, so for the whole two weeks he enjoyed all of the visiting, just not the long car rides. He also did not appreciate the idea that the baby shouldn't play in the dirt with the rest of the kids and made his opinion about that loud and clear. There were many biting ants and so we tried to restrict him to a mat thrown out for him. That worked some and later in the week, Benjamin began to get excited when he'd see a mat come out as that meant he could get down and play.

Most of the families we visited, we would just sit and talk for several hours. We always got fed well and many times we were even given gifts by these that had so little. I was glad to have my friend with me everywhere as she was able to pick up the slack when we were served things I didn't care for as much. I always tried carry my weight, though.

Some of my favorite visits were to the villages. We are currently living and working in a BIG city, but I am a country girl at heart. So seeing kilometers of land with fields and small houses and animals, was so much fun! Because it was rainy season, there was even beautiful green grass waving across the pastureland. We were quite the amusement in the village as well as westerners are not often seen there and not only were we westerners, but we were westerners learning to speak Moore. It never grew old to hear what those sitting around would say about us and then have my friend turn and say "She understands you!" They might have been horrified to know that if they weren't so amused and determined to see just exactly what the white lady did understand. What was nice and difficult all at once was that we never walked away with nothing. We were given everything from local food and fruits to a live chicken! In other homes we were given peanuts, okra, onions and tomatoes. In the market, Benjamin was given baskets, hats, and many other gifts. The Mossi are so generous and hospitable. Thanks to some shirts my mom brought last year when she visited, Benjamin had a little something to give to most of those we came in contact with as well.

Benjamin did end up having an encounter with one of those biting ants. He was on his mat, so I didn't get in trouble for having allowed him to be bit. Fortunately he handled it well. I hear that many cry for a long time afterward, but Benjamin just cried a little bit and it was over. I also had some stupid moments of my own. I locked my keys in the car along with all of our water, food, diapers when we were in the village one day! Benjamin and I wound up with a stomach virus or a bad reaction to food one miserable night and day. One morning we went out to find the truck dead as a door nail for no apparent reason and had to wait for the mechanic. Fortunately, my dear friend was with me the whole time, so I never lacked for moral support or somebody to speak Moore with!

I think I have a million more stories, but I better get on with life in the here and now. Our love to you all.
Heather