(Disclaimer: Because I don’t have much time with computers I
decided to give you more quantity than quality)
A TIME SUCH AS THIS ( about the Youth Group in Boundiali)
When you go to Cote d’Ivoire you can say you’re going to ‘Africa’,
when you go to Egypt you’re going to ‘Africa’ as well, and even yet, if you
head to Madagascar it is still perfectly acceptable to say you are going to
‘Africa’. We use the word to describe a whole lot of different things. And I
believe this is because ‘Africa’ has an air about it; an air of mystery and
wonder. And we often hold perceptions in the back of our heads of what it is
supposed to be like.
That is exactly what I think happened to Chrissy and I. We
forgot that the people living in villages in northern Cote d’Ivoire are really
quite similar to us. They may eat, sleep, talk, look, and work differently than
us, but some things are really quite the same, and one of those things is youth
group.
Chrissy and I were shocked that there seemed to be a lot of
not very healthy habits in our youth group. We had expected a rock-solid,
thriving, dynamic youth group that never wavered amongst thousands of neighbors
who call upon spirits or who pray five times a day to Allah. So when they
seemed to spend a lot of time on their cellphones texting people they liked we
didn’t really know what to think.
However, during our second week in Boundiali, our
coordinating pastor came to visit. Over some attieke he casually asked if we
had any questions. Quickly it came to both of our minds, “What is wrong with
our youth group?!” After describing some of the things we had observed, he
agreed that they did not sound like they were taking the word of God very
seriously. But he didn’t stop there. He continued. He explained that us living
in Boundiali will change things here and one of those things could be the youth
group. He said that we were here for a time such as this, that if God wanted to
change the youth here at AEBECI Boundiali (my church) he might want us to be the catalyst
of that change. We then read through Esther 4, when Mordecai boldly tells
Esther that if deliverance to the Jews does not come through her it will come
another way but who knows if she was put in royalty for a time such as this?
His words stopped me. Mordecai spoke very wisely here, and
Esther’s efforts liberate an entire race from annihilation. And here Chrissy
and I are among a group of our peers, who we see on a regular basis, who also
are at risk of a horrible death. No one is saved by going to church, whether
you live in Canada or Niakaramandougou Jesus is the only way to the father. And
if you are not with the giver of light and life than all that is left is death.
And the time is near.
Chrissy and I will start a weekly bible study with the girls
in the youth group in January. We are praying a lot over the time, our hearts
are at peace, and our minds and hands are ready to start working. Whatever God
will give us to give, we are ready. And I don’t think anytime soon we are going
to forget that in our society we can either be a part of the problem or a part
of FIXING the problem.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN BOUNDIALI… (A poem)
when the only mirror is at the bottom of the well
when a banana peel is a potholder
and so are two corn cobs
when your mom is confused why you don’t have a fiancé
when you wake up before the sun
when your toe nails are never clean
even though you take two baths a day
when your mother speaks 3 languages
but neither writes nor reads
when you wash dishes in mud
but handing someone a cup with your left hand is dirty
when you can spot 10 pigs at all times
when you learn to be truly thankful to God for your ‘daily bread’ because you’ve eaten rice for 4
meals straight
when you can pass days without speaking English
and weeks without seeing another American
when you can smile all day
but cry at night
you know you’re in Boundiali when life is hard, but it is
good, and God is always faithful
