Loving Is Joyous But Painful

Things just weren’t quite right at Tabitha Center yesterday.  The children were louder and more mischievous than normal.  Babies cried continuously.  The women were somber and agitated.  A project that would normally be fun was tedious.  It was my last day with them and I think it weighed heavily on all of us.  As the time came to a close the women came for hugs and then surrounded our vehicle as we prepared to leave.  There is one special little guy that is probably about six years old, always has a smile on his face and is in the middle of everything.  I sobbed as I drove away, and when he looked at me his expression was of concern instead of that happy face.  As hard as I tried, I couldn’t help but cry.  Loving is joyous but also painful. 

When I first arrived in Burkina Faso last September I thought it would be the longest year of my life.  But now I wonder where the time went – how did it pass so quickly?  I keep wondering how I can go back to the U.S. and live a “normal life” after being here.  Living amongst majority world poverty changes life’s perspective.  Learning about the people that live with so little and in such hard circumstances transforms your inner being.  Working with the women at Tabitha Center has forcibly reminded me that life is about the simple things.  Their happiness does not come from how large and well-furnished their house is, the kind of car they drive, what activities their children are involved in because they don’t have any of these things.  They get up in the morning and work until the sun goes down.  When the sun sets, they sit around a fire with family and friends to share time together, laugh, sing and dance.  Nothing is taken for granted.  Every little thing is a cause for celebration. 

As I close this blog I want to thank you for sharing my journey with your prayers and love.  As of today, Walking With The Children of Burkina Faso has over 8,300 hits.  I know this sounds like a cliché, but I am humbled by your interest and care.

Please remember the people of Burkina Faso in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the missionaries and interns that serve them. 

The women gave me a going away present (until I come back they said!). 

A Sad Day

Today at Tabitha Center, one of the women asked if she could speak with me after we closed.  Her name is Dipama Rakiete.  She has a little baby boy that I absolutely adore.  He has big eyes that pierce right through you.  Whenever I hold him, I tell him he is going to be a great leader for the people of Burkina Faso.  Dipama is a special woman - her demeanor radiates love and respect.  Several weeks ago she brought me two mangoes.  Although it doesn't sound like much, for her it was a big sacrifice and I honor it as a very special gift.

I found Dipama after closing and we went into the empty office.  As she was pulling out a letter from her purse, a large group of women came in.  She asked me to quickly put it away and not read it until after I left.  Her letter breaks my heart because she relates that she AIDS.  She wrote "I would like to ask you for many prayers because I need them.  Life in Burkina is very hard and when you arrive back home, explain my malady to your pastors and ask them to pray for me."

Most days at Tabitha Center have been filled with joy, but today it is sadness.  Several weeks ago, one of the women cut her leg badly on the soap cutting machine.  I took her to the clinic twice and thought she was healing.  Today she asked for some antibiotic ointment to put on it so I asked to see it.  The cut is filled with infection that has spread in a circumference of about 1-1/2 inches.  She didn't realize it should look any different.  She now has money to go back to the clinic. 

For about a month now I've been concerned about a little girl that is probably around 2 years old.  She used to roam the room with the cutest smile and was always ready for me to pick her up.  Lately the smile has disappeared, she is lethargic and clings to her mom.  I picked her up today when she woke up from her nap.  She didn't cry, she just moaned with a far way look in her eyes.   I asked her mom if the little girl was sick.  Her mom said she has been having trouble with her stomach, but she doesn't have the money to take her to a doctor.  She does now. 

Dipama is right - life is hard here in Burkina Faso.

Voo-Doo's and Witch Doctors

My last month here is proving to be very interesting.  It started off with the administrator from Accedes that works at Tabitha Center  resigning.  I have been mentoring him this past year and providing tools to help him be an effective administrator.  He is a fine young man that unfortunately went about changing jobs in a very clumsy way - he just didn't show up for almost a week while he was working for his new organization.  Even his boss at Accedes didn't know until after the fact.  We've picked up the slack - buying needed materials, assisting in decision making and financial affairs, maintaining attendance records - until Accedes replaces him.  The Center will close for August because of rainy season.  It's already an adventure trying to drive on the rutted dirt roads.  The rain makes them even worse.

Last Wednesday a voo-doo was found in the children's play area.  It was a piece of orange plastic tubing about 1/2 inch in diameter and 3 inches long.  A nail had been driven through the tube with a piece of human hair attached and sticking out of the top of the tube.  We burned it.  On Friday, one of the kids took Autumn to the large chalkboard area on one of the walls of the play area to show her a picture that had been drawn of a demon.  She erased it.  This is Africa and many people still believe in witch doctors and evil spirits.

The people are very literal here.  In my devotional on Friday  I was trying to use an example - "What if we heard there was an elephant in the church building across the way?  We would all want to get up and go see it."  The translator couldn't believe what he was hearing because he thought I said there WAS an elephant in the church building.  Being very perplexed, he told the women what he had heard.  They were all shocked and confused.  Finally, with great relief, he understood that it was only an example.  The illustration was completely lost.  On top of that, a big rain storm was blowing in.  The women were concerned about securing their huts and bringing their children in.  Sometimes it's best to realize what the situation is, smile, and go with the flow.  That's a pretty typical day at Tabitha Center!