Why Do I Forget?

I know I promised some pic's from the food distribution, and I'll get those up, but I haven't had a chance to get them from my friends yet. Anyway, on to my most recent thought.
So this morning I went to go look for my airplane tickets for my trip back home at the end of June until mid July. I went into my room and looked only discover, they weren't there! Not good. And these aren't the "E-tickets" that you can just reprint yourself, these are the "old school you better not lose these things" tickets. So obviously I started just searching like mad and starting to freak out a bit. I wrote a couple people to just slow down for a second and tried not to panic. Anyway, I've spent a good majority of today searching every inch of my room to no avail. I've also checked the living room, not quite as thoroughly, but there aren't as many nooks and crannies to hide in. All this to say, I can't find my plane tickets and I'm scheduled to leave in less than a month. Again, this is not good.
But then I started remembering an incident that happened to me in high school. Where I lost a gold ring that was very important to me, something my dad made for me when I turned 16. I lost it and couldn't find it for 2 months or something. I looked everywhere for this thing. Then the night before I was going to tell my dad I'd lost the ring he gave me I said a prayer, (one of many during that time) just saying to God that I knew He knew where it was and I asked if He would give me the courage I would need to tell my dad how I'd failed. The next morning I woke up to find that ring sitting on my floor. It wasn't there the night before, and no body put it there. It just "showed up". I don't know how or where God had it, only to say that I know that God was taking care of me. Since then I've told that story many times, and vowed not to forget how God took care of me then and will continue to do so.
So do you think that when I first realized I couldn't find my airline tickets that I calmed down and talked to God? Did I say, "God I know you know where these tickets are, and one way or another it'll be alright because you're in control"? No! I'm not saying this is the exact same situation, I'm not saying the morning of my flight my tickets are going to be sitting on the ground next to my bed. But how could I forget that I had such an impacting and amazing story in my life and how God looked after me, and then here now completely forget about that for several hours?
I heard someone say that 90% of preaching is simply reminding the congregation of what God has already done. That seems about right, because even though I've had my own personal awesome experience, I can still forget in the midst of a hectic and crazy situation that God is God and one way or another I'm going to be alright.

And if you want to pray on my behalf to God about this ticket situation, I'd appreciate it.

The Africaness of it all!

So I have to say today was quite an African day for me. It started out at 6:30 AM when I crawled out of bed, because the Youth Group was meeting at 7:00 AM for the food distribution (more on that in a minute). So I get on my moto only to realize, yup, flat tire. So I run it to the tire place (there's tons around town). I told the guy I'm in a big hurry if he could go quickly. Well, here's the thing about that. "Somebody in a hurry" doesn't really sink into many Burkinabe's concept. They aren't super lax on time, but then again, there are few things one would rush to do for the sake of saving time. Well, my plight wasn't one of them, so as I was already late, I said, see ya, I'll be back at noon. I just took off running in my street clothes for about a 1 1/2 miles to the house we were meeting at. I get there out of breath and sweaty, although I'm thankful I run as much as I do because I couldn't have done it as fast as I did otherwise. Anyway, so we get there I go get a truck from Galen's, yes, I'm driving on the streets of Ouaga, in a stick shift. That's a big deal! So we take off, no problems off to this food distribution, we get to a light and stop. And then the light turns green and I kill it. Then I quickly start it again... and kill it. Galen is behind me with kids I've got students with me trying to hold my tongue, not panic and do this, but to no avail. Third time was the charm although by that time I was looking at another red light! Ahhh!
So we got lost from the rest of the cars in front as there were five in our "caravan". So far I've had a flat tire, ran a mile and a half and got lost going out to a village where I had no clue was. And it was only 7:40 in the morning!
After some searching and cell phones calls, (thank you for cell phones) and help from my co-pilot Rachel (I'm a big believer in a good co-pilot. Shout out to Dan Barnes) we got back on track. We got to the village and the church and watched a ceremony regarding the food distribution and a new building being opened. Now was the work part. About 45 Jr. and High school kids here raise almost $10,000 worth of money for grain for a extremely poor part of town! Big ups to God on that one for sure.
So distributed over 10 metric tons of grain to 600 families. They estimate about 9 to 10 people per family. Which means that we served out food for 5000 people! Where have I heard that before?.... I can't remember.
Anyway as we were finishing up it got kind of rough. People started showing up who weren't on the list to get grain and people started pushing and shoving pretty violently to get the last few buckets full. It was not a pleasent sight, but went to show just how desperate these people were. It was really sad, and pretty traumatic for some of the kids. Sometimes it seems no matter how much you give it's never enough. But I won't let that discourage me from knowing that these kids raised money to feed 5,000 people! That flippin amazing! Straight up no if's and's or but's about it!
Then in the evening I went to a service with my new roommate, but we only made it about halfway on my moto, no flat tire. This time when I'd put it in gear it'd just flat out die. So we walked it the rest of the way, and then had to get his truck to go pick it up afterwards. Who knows what's wrong with it now? Anyway, quite the African day indeed. Pictures will be following from the food distribution in the next week or so. So hang tight. Until then, keep rolling with the waves.

Will and I at the Airport

The Times They are a Changing

Since I last wrote many things have happened. So let me fill you in. About 10 days ago my work associates' daughter began having vision problems. Well, actually they started before a few weeks ago, but they began to increase as of late. So, she was checked out, but by both doctors here and in America it was recommended that she come home to get it checked out. So two nights ago, Galen's wife and daughter headed back home. The thing is, because his daughter is a diabetic it looks like the vision issues are liked to the diabetes. If this is the case, it doesn't look like they'll be back. In fact, I said goodbye to them as if they weren't coming back. Galen will be heading out a little later, but it looks like by the Fall, the guy I came out here to work with will be back in the States indefinitely. I'll continue to work with the youth group and I'll probably shift into some other work, my plan is to finish up my term here, until April 09'. However, this certainly changes things for me out here.
Change number 2. My roommate Will has departed to go back home to Toronto. He came last August, so he was here when I got here, and really helped me get used to Ouaga. Especially when I didn't have any French skills, he helped me out there too. I actually already have a new roommate who moved in yesterday. So I'm not alone, but I do miss my friend Will. Seeing him go reminded me of when I first got here, how new everything was. Now, I feel like a veteran somewhat. I also look back at the fun times I've had here. I've been here 7 months and sometimes it feels like it is going quite quickly. One day it's Christmas the next it's Easter!
I'm not a big fan of change usually, which actually is the only constant here in Burkina, change. So I'm rolling with the punches and trying to see what new things I can learn and be challenged by. The one thing I've learned is nothing is set in stone.