Thoughts from Boundiali

(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