It's a Wonderful Life...

Behold, for I bring you tidings of good news and great joy from Africa. The Christmas season is upon us, and in the midst of the hustle and bustle I hope that you all have had a chance to reflect upon the amazing wonderment that is the birth of Christ the Lord. Christmas for me will take place up in a remote town called Sebba, where we will be doing some evangelistic outreach as well as encouraging the few believers that are there. What better time than Christmas to proclaim the coming of our Lord than at Christmas time?

I can honestly say that my time here has been going by rather quickly and if I’m counting correctly, I have been here 73 days. Looking back over that time I am amazed at how much I have seen and lived with in that time. A few end of the year highlights for me from 5 to 1:

5. My roommate and two other guys and I went to a crocodile farm outside of Ouaga and got to not only feed the croc’s live chickens, but I got to sit on one as well. It was a fun trip.

4. Myself and eight other 20 something year olds went south for a weekend trip to an animal game park! We saw warthogs, bush bucks, monkeys, and many large elephants. While I did not get to have a picture taken with me on an elephants back like with the croc’s it was fun to get fairly close to them in a basically unrestricted area.

3. My progress in French studies. While I have a lot of work still to do, and my sentence structure needs a great deal of work, I am amazed at my ability to be where I am with the language. I still get frustrated at times with the language, but I can now have basic conversations with most people.

2. The friends I have made here. My roommate as well as some of the other short term missionaries have been a real blessing in my life. Being able to have good conversations is something I always cherish, and it has helped me open up and be honest with others here as well as continue to learn about Christian community.

1. The chance to be Santa Claus (I love Christmas and this was an absolute blast for me). In my last update I mentioned the fact that I had a Santa suit made, and that I planned to go out to give candy to kids. Well, I can say that I went to the store, and bought about $80 worth of candy. From there, I visited a kids program at a local church. There were probably over 100 kids there who were all very excited to see the man in red. I also visited a school where a friend of mine helps in. There were probably 60 kids or so there, and they too were happy to see little St. Nic. They even sang a song for me. And then with the rest of the candy, one afternoon, a friend and I just walked around the neighborhood until I ran out. I was originally giving the candy just to kids, but parents and other adults looked quite eager to get a little treat so I gave some out to them as well. It must have been quite a funny scene having grown men working on the streets as mechanics chase down a white guy in a red suit for a sucker, or piece of chocolate. That also gave me the chance to use my French as I wished them a Merry Christmas and asked them a few questions. I even had a few people pull over who were driving cars, just so their kids could get a piece of candy from Santa. Overall I would say that well over 200 kids got some kind of candy from Santa Claus here in Ouaga.

I can’t say how that candy will bring those kids closer to Christ, but I know that even though no one gave their life to Christ from candy, those kids received a gift not just of candy, but of joy, and I pray hope. And during this time isn’t that what we are all called to do? Shouldn’t we be bringing joy, peace, and hope on this earth just as Christ did 2000 years ago. I really enjoyed it and even though I’m out of candy this year, Santa will certainly be making more rounds next year as well. Hopefully he will be able to visit even more kids next year.
Merry Christmas to all, enjoy celebrating the hope found in an infant in a manger with family or friends and Happy New Years.

Don't pass over Africa Santa!

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone and the "Official" Christmas season is well under way I can and have been listening to Christmas music (I actually am right now as I write this). I have decorated a small Christmas tree and done all that I can to help bring the Christmas spirit here. It's still interesting that there's a 0% chance of having a White Christmas, despite that though I've really been enjoying Advent thus far. I made an advent wreath out of the bottom halves of coke bottles. Each week I am focusing on different aspect of Advent, last week was the week of Hope, this is the week of Peace. I had this Santa Claus or in French Pere Noel (Father Christmas) made by a tailor I know. He said this is the first Pere Noel suit he's ever made, maybe it will catch on here. Here is my roommate Will and I in the typical "family" or in this case "roommate" Christmas card photo. A few presents under the tree and stringed popcorn to give it some extra color. The plan is later this week to go buy candy and go around to some different neighborhoods and pass it out to the kids for Christmas. I'm pretty excited for that and I'm really hoping that the Santa spirit will bring some joy to these kids lives'. I actually got the idea from the original St. Nicolas who was known for giving treats to kids. I said, hey why can't I do that here? So there you have it. I'll let you all know how it goes for the new and thinner Pere Noel, until then joyeux Noel!

Progress

I have been quite busy as of late. The regional coordinators for Africa came in to visit last week and we went up to a town called Piela and stayed there for a few days. It was interesting to see the medical center up there and the work with malnourished babies. Also, we ate with a Fulani pastor and met his family. That was fun, and in the evening he and his kids sang some worship songs in Fufoldi. My French is continuing to get better. I actually ordered some cinnamon rolls from a woman today for Thanksgiving morning over the phone by myself in French. That's right, I'm getting cinnamon rolls on Thanksgiving (yessss) and I ordered them by myself, another plus. I have encounters like that which are very encouraging, but I have other ones, like trying to get a flat tire on my bike fixed by a local guy which are not as encouraging. All I wanted him to do was pump it up, but then he started fixing it, I couldn't tell him to stop, because I didn't have very much money on me, plus I didn't have a lot of time. It was stressful, but I got through it. Even though I won't be home for Turkey Day tomorrow I'm still really excited for celebrating it over here. Cinnamon rolls and a movie marathon I think are in order. I'm have a dinner with Galen's family too, after that, you guessed it the movie Miracle on 34th St. I'm excited about that one, because it's always the first Christmas movie my family always watches after dinner. I brought it with me, and then it's time to break out the Christmas music. The next 6 to 7 weeks are going to be filled with the album A Charlie Brown Christmas. One of my favorite albums of all time! That's it for now, everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends

Croc'c, French, and life

When I first came to Burkina, Galen told me about a crocodile farm outside of Ouaga where people could get a close up view of crocodiles and even sit on them. Since I heard that, I knew I had to go. So a few days ago, my roommate Will, another guy Robin, and another guy Dave, took the trek to see the Croc's. I have to tell you it is quite an experience. There was something amazing to sit on a crocodile. Something about coming up close and personal with such a revered and feared force in nature. We all had a great time getting a chance to watch the croc's in action. It's one thing to watch it on t.v. and another thing to watch wild animals like that up close and be in their presence. For as much fun and goofing around as we did, we all had a certain level of respect for these creatures and wanted to respect their space as to not get too close to the really wild ones.

In other news, I've started French class. Right now that is the main focus of my day, I go Lundi through Vendredi (Monday to Friday). I still have a lot to learn, but it is exciting to put together small phrases to say, as well as understand bits and pieces of conversations. Right now, besides learning vocabulary, my pronunciation is all that great either. There are some phrases in French that are like tongue twisters to me or I can't get just the sound. I know it's still early in my schooling so I'm trying not to get discouraged. Besides that a few other ministry opportunities have opened up for me. I am helping at a youth group for students at the international school which is nice, because they speak English. And it seems that the audio recording project should be getting under way sooner than I'd expected, so I am excited about that. Despite my lack of language skills I'm am beginning to feel more and more comfortable here, while there are things I miss about home, Burkina is becoming more familiar to me.

My Hostess and one of her children (left) A couple of kids in the market (right).

Back to School

Now that I've been here for 2 full weeks and working on my 3rd it's time to start learning how to communicate with people here. So I began going to French school on Thursday. It's actually more like a personal tutor, because I'm the only one in the class. I guy named Elvis is my teacher (no not that Elvis). He's from the Ivory Coast, and came to Burkina to study law. Anyway, I'm enjoying the class but I'm going to need a lot work and patience to get this thing down well enough. Right now, I'm trying out the few phrases I know on people in the community or my roommate, it's pretty apparent my pronounciation isn't great. The hardest part I think right now is that so many words sound alike, and the words have sounds in them I'm not used to making. But, that is part of the experience and I knew that when I signed up. I had a pretty good day today, I went to class (9-11 everyday) came home, went for a run around the neighborhood, took a nap and read. I can't really argue with that I'm trying to put a few more pic's up but it won't let me right now, so stay tuned!

Ouaga/Djibo

After only a few days in Ouaga the North Park Sem team and I headed up north to Djibo, where our ministry with the Fulani is mainly held. It is about 120 miles north of Ouaga and took us by bus about 5 1/2 hours. None of the roads here are in that great of shape so we could not go very fast on the way up. It was hot up there with temps around 110 F. These people to not live with electricity, running water, or most other things people in the States take for granted. I found my time up there to be both exciting and difficult as I got a chance to live with the Fulani and see what their culture is really like. I know it will take several more visits to get a bigger fuller picture of what the Fulani life is like, but from what I saw it was simple. The father and sons work the fields because it is almost harvest time, and the mother cooks, cleans, and looks after the kids. They are up at the crack of dawn, usually by 5:15 or so and in bed around 9 or 10 at night. I have much work to do in order to be able to communicate with them and in order to see where God exists in their culture. The Fulani take leasure time in the afternoon, but don't play many games. According to a man who was up who is working on a Fulani tranlsation of the Bible, he said there in no real Fulani word for fun. Kids have fun, but that should tell you something. I look forward to my language education and the ability to go back to Djibo to communicate more and learn from them.

Breaking the Rules

For those who know me well, you will know that I have certain rules, a code that I live by. My people find these rules to be asinine, that’s o.k. they aren’t rules for others, they’re rules for me. For example, I know it has become more popular to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Heck, Costco has Christmas decorations up right now! Well, one of my rules is no Christmas music before Thanksgiving dinner. It’s just good time people. Another one is, I don’t eat salads. It’s true, I don’t mean to be picky, I eat other vegetables, its just salads, not so appealing to me. Well, as I was staying in a hotel in Morocco I went to the restaurant for a late lunch. I already felt bad because almost no one speaks English, although one waiter did, so he served me. What’s the first thing he brings out? Cabbage, carrots, and beets, in shoe strings with dressing on them. Yup, a salad. I knew I couldn’t not eat some, I didn’t want to be that guy in a foreign country. I’d be lying if I said I finished it, I didn’t. But I put a dent in it. That’s huge for me, all the while washing it down with as much Coke as I could. While in the dinning hall, what do you think they were playing? If you guessed anything but Christmas music, you’d be wrong. It was smooth jazz Christmas. Which is actually kind of funny because it’s Ramadan right now, the Muslim holy month. Nevertheless music of Christ’s birth was being played in the hotel. There’s nothing I could do about that either, oh well, but towards the end of my meal, "I’ll be home for Christmas" came on. Now, I didn’t cry or anything like that, but I sat there and thought about how for the next two Christmas’s I won’t be home. I always liked that song, especially in college, when I was stressed with finals, and excited to get home and see all my family, sleep in my bed, be in Washington. I have a feeling these aren’t the only two of Ben Steel’s rules that might get broken at some point over the next 18 months if 2 have been broken in just over a day

My Last Days at Home

I have about 3 days left here in the States. I can't believe my time home went as fast as it did. Last week was pretty full as I had to get numerous documents, last minute items for the trip, and see a few more people. This morning at church, which is world communion Sunday, they had a consecration prayer over me. It touched me deeply, as I saw the amount of hands go up saying that I would be in their prayers. I can't say how lucky and blessed I've been being able to grow up in a church that has been able to support me like this. I have a mix of emotions right now. I am certainly becoming more excited, but I am very nervous as well, and a little hesistant to leave my home, family and friends. Nevertheless, Wednesday will come, I will get on that plane, and I will go forth to fulfill this chapter in my life, which God has called me to.

Props to God

God is amazing, flat out! I just got back from a trip out of town to find out that all of my support has been raised plus some!!! I can honestly say it wasn't me who made this happen. I sent out letters had a few face to face meetings, but God came through in such a way that is incredible. I wasn't sure if I would have all the money pledged by the time I was supposed to leave on Oct. 11th, but that is no longer an issue. Now all that is left is one shot, packing and saying good-bye. Wow, this is coming up so soon.

Who's on our team?

My encounter with the man at Bumbershoot has continued to be on my mind. When I talked to him I felt like he was using an improper method for going about interpreting scripture. From what I could tell he was not being honest to the texts he was using to support his argument. At the same time I am challenged by the story of the man he was teaching and healing in Jesus' name. However, when the disciples came across the man, the told him to stop doing so. This was reported back to Jesus. Jesus did not approve of the disciples attempt to limit those who could or could not spread the gospel. The man they encountered wasn't one of the twelve, we never really hear about him again. So, my frustration with this man in Seattle, was I trying to preserve Orthodox faith, and halt negative stereotypes of the Church, or was I being like one of the disciples in that story? Was I trying to keep Christianity and evangelism to people who talked and taught like I do?

The People You Meet

A good friend of mine from college recently moved out to Washington from the Mid-West, so he came down to see me and another college friend last weekend. The three of us went around to different spots in Seattle, showing him around. Monday we ended up at Bumbershoot, a four day music festival with several different stages, some comedy acts, and other arts. Well, the concert was o.k. but as my friend and I were standing around, we saw a man with a large sign that had different writing on it, front and back. On one part of the sign, read the words, Jesus can save you from HELL. Behind the print were flames and red and the whole bit. On another part of the sign was a list from one of Paul's letters of all the different types of people who are going to hell. Liars, idolaters, drunkards, the who list. Elsewhere it had a reference to John 3:18 which refers to not being condemned and being condemned because of the Son of God. So, my friend and I decided we'd go see what this guy was all about and what he was telling people.
I came up to the man and said, in a calm non-threatening voice, "Sir, do you believe this is the most effective way to spread the gospel of Christ's love?" He whole heartedly did, because he believe by convicting people of their sins, they would repent and turn back to the LORD. Something about him, told me he wasn't a modern day Jeremiah, or Isaiah. My friend and I continued to ask him questions trying to figure out why he thought the way he did. I challenged him on several points, but he just had automated responses or quick biblical references for his rebuttal. He would then generally start talking about things that really had nothing to do with the conversation at hand. It was frustrating to say the least that this man was the one representing Christ to a portion of Seattle, which seems to me at least to already be somewhat skeptical of Christianity as a whole. No where on this man's signs was the word "Love" used once, not once. That astonished a great. There were other things I took issue with what he said to me, but overall, I find these encounters frustrating. I feel it is hard enough for me to accurately represent the gospel at all times in my life in order to gain credibility with others, but it becomes all the more difficult when "Super-apostles" like this guy give a truncated view of the gospel. I know all I can do is pray for that man, and the people he has talked to in hopes that God will continue to work and move in peoples' lives despite human fallibility on his part as well as my own.

Back Home

It has been a week and a half since camp has been over, but it feels like quite a bit longer since seeing many of the people I grew close to over this summer. My trip home was quite eventful and took several hours longer than I anticipated and my father and I got in at 4:30 in the morning. Four hours later I was speaking at Mercer Island Covenant, it was difficult in some ways it reminded me of several late nights in college writing and reading all night long and then presenting whatever I'd written in class. It has been nice to be home and relax but now I have a lot of footwork to do before Africa. I got four shots on Monday, and may have to get a few more. My letters have gone out, and I will begin with some personal meetings in the next week or so.
I've also had a chance to catch up with one of my roommates from the past year since I've been back. He lives not too far from me so it has been nice seeing him and finding out what he's been up to this summer. Most of my friends have gone back to school already and it is kind of weird for me to think that classes are going on at North Park and I'm not in there. Anyway, my trip seems like it is becoming more and more of a reality which is both exciting and scary. Until then I'm just trying to balance enjoying life seeing people, and finish raising support for my trip. This trip is coming sooner than I can imagine.

The Beginning of the End

There are only three weeks of camp left and it seems that this summer has gone by quite quickly. My time spent here has been good even though there are many things that I have not wanted to do. This week especially has been tough because so many kids are getting sick. My patience is certainly being put to the test as I clean up after sick campers who keep throwing up. Also, after 7 weeks of campers I'm beginning to get tired faster than I would at the start of the summer. Nevertheless, this has opportunity has been beneficial to my spiritual walk. There are many things this summer that have been newer experiences and I do believe God put me here to help prepare me further for my mission. It will be difficult leaving some of the people here who have been a part of my life for the last two and a half months. There are some amazing counselors here at camp that I've grown closer to and been blessed by the way they follow God. As I look ahead I know there is still a lot to get done before October, which doesn't seem too far off now. I believe this period will be another time of my life of testing and refining as I need to rely on God to be faithful in preparing a way for me to get to my destination. Lord be near.

Back in Chicago

I just got back from Chicago for missionary training. The training was alright, but seeing Chad, Laura, Casey, Christy, and everyone else was really nice. Chad was a great host and dancing with Laura was amazing. Coming back to Chicago I realized how special North Park was, and how good my friendships were. These people have been really influential in my life. I hope to stay in contact, but I know it won't be the same. I thank God for the opportunity to see them and say good-bye one last time though. Now I'm back at camp and the kids have come. I know God will prepare me here, I just hope to find enough time to get everything done that needs to be done.

Transition Time

My time at North Park University is over and a new day is dawning in my life. My time at school was both demanding and rewarding for many reasons. Getting to know new people, making new friends, and participating in challenging classes. Nevertheless, times they are a changin' and I will be in California soon and then Burking Faso, Africa. There are a lot of things going on in my life right now between seeing old friends again and trying to get my fund raising underway. I have 4 and a half months left to raise just over $40,000. It seems like a long road ahead and not much time to do it. My life has only become busier after graduation, and from what others have told me my life will continue to become more full as time goes on. So for now I am trying to get through, one day at a time. I am trying to enjoy my time at home, focus on the here and now while properly preparing for the future. To all my college friends, the U.N., and others, this last year of college has been great and thank you for encouraging me, and having fun with me. It's been real