So the same missionary friend of mine who I did the Give-a-Kid-a-Christmas has posted some of the videos on a site called "vimeo". This is a link to one video that he and I did for the youth group, and you can also find other videos there about the outreach.
http://www.vimeo.com/2537648
Merry Christmas
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Picture from Give a Kid a Christmas and more
This is a picture of my new roommate Tyler and I at a local Christmas party. We keep it real.
This is a picture from my perspective as we got the truck towed back to the local town during the give a kid a Christmas. My other passengers road in the back of the other truck while I steered mine.
This is a photo of my old roommate Reid and I at the airport. He unfortunately had to leave unexpectedly for family issues. He was a good friend to me here in Burkina.
This is a photo of some kids at one of the outreaches opening up their Christmas gift. I did my best to capture some of their joy as they opened their backpacks.
This is a photo of some of the kids watching the drama's we put on during the children's outreach at a local school in Ouaga.
This is a picture from my perspective as we got the truck towed back to the local town during the give a kid a Christmas. My other passengers road in the back of the other truck while I steered mine.
This is a photo of my old roommate Reid and I at the airport. He unfortunately had to leave unexpectedly for family issues. He was a good friend to me here in Burkina.
This is a photo of some kids at one of the outreaches opening up their Christmas gift. I did my best to capture some of their joy as they opened their backpacks.
This is a photo of some of the kids watching the drama's we put on during the children's outreach at a local school in Ouaga.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Give-a-Kid-a-Christmas!
It's Christmas Time! First let me say merry Christmas to all of you. For those of you who received my quarterly update you might remember that I mentioned a few short stories about Give-a-Kid-a-Christmas. Well I am here to elaborate on that project a little more and share some of the craziness that was my life for 3 weeks or so.
It began in the middle of November with an overnight trip to a town called Dori. That was where we were originally going to do this outreach. Before I go further let me explain the background. A missionary here in Burkina with another organization does a kids outreach each Christmas year which joins together the gospel with a social aspect to development. A team of Burkinabe do skit about brushing your teeth, washing, not eating old food ect. This is done at the schools. Then a gift of a backpack with pens paper, a few pieces of candy and the like are given. After that or maybe the next day we do a gospel skit. Showing and acting the story of creation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
So back to the story at hand, we went to Dori but it turned out Samaritan's Purse is going there in April so we didn't want to do it there. So after some prayer and consideration we chose Piela. Now I'd been to Piela a few times before but none of my trips were like this. First off we went to Piela just to meet with the pastors to see if it was o.k. to do it there. We got the go ahead and began making plans and packing 3,000 gifts! The next week we did the same program at schools here in Ouaga. Then the first week of December it was the big show, Piela. 1,800 kids 6 or 7 school's 4 days ya. Well it started Tuesday but I got the pleasure of Driving 600 gifts in a truck on Monday and then turning around and coming back the same day. It's about 4 hours each way.
Tuesday comes I get up bright and early at like 5:30 or some unhuman hour of the morning, get ready and head over to HQ. Well due to complications and set backs (not unfamiliar to Burkina) we left at about noon. So I'm lead truck heading the 2 truck and 1 mini van convoy to Piela. But when my truck reached the half way point I realized I'd lost the convoy and they were seriously slow. Then I found that my phone had rang several times. I called back only to find out the mini van went down for the count about an hour earlier. A piece inside the back right wheel broke, the wheel smoked up and caught fire! So about 8 or 9 of our team was stuck. I waited in a town about at the half way point for the other truck. We waited, the truck came and off we went to drop the gifts and equipment off at which point we'd come back for the van.
The other truck took lead and we headed out, about 10 miles outside of this town guess what? Yup, my truck went M.I.A. on me! Not only did it die but it wouldn't even turn over at all, we tried push starting it several times... nothing. I thought at this point I was going to have to jog the 10 miles back to town to get help to tow it. We couldn't stay there in the middle of nowhere that night, because that area is known as bandit country plus there were 2 girls with us and I didn't feel comfortable with having them be stranded. Well, a blue truck did pull up to help us. At first we thought it was the other team members, but nope, it was 4 rather dirty somewhat shady characters getting out of their truck. At which point I went on high alert. They did end up helping us and towed us back to town, but at one point one of the guys was taking a real long look at what was in out truck and I thought we were going to get robbed. So, 2 out of 3 are now down and out. We can't get a hold of the driver of the blue truck so the passengers in my car and I sat in front of a shop next to the mechanics shop for 5 hours with nothing to do.
The blue truck came back went and picked up the van people and came back to where we were around 11:30 PM or so. At that point we decided the girls and some of the needed equipment would head up that night, I and about 5 guys would sleep in the town on the street next to the truck that night because of the valuable equipment in it. So I have now experienced homelessness and sleeping on the streets. After a great night of sleep we got up the next day. The blue truck picked us up at about 12 to head up. We left the truck and arranged for a mechanic from Ouaga to drive up and tow it back to Ouaga to work on it. So we get up to Piela and do a couple of the social dramas. They actually go over pretty well and after an exhausting day we get to go to bed. However at this point I start feeling downright awful. I've got some kind of headache and I woke up in the middle of the night so thirsty I was about to drink my own sweat. I found some water but didn't sleep well. I didn't get tested but I'm pretty sure I had malaria at that point (I took some medicine when I got back to Ouaga). So after another sleepless night we had about 5 schools to do the social dramas at. That night we set up and did the gospel dramas. Wouldn't you know it, just as we got the crowds attention, did a few minor skits we got everything ready for the actual drama and... boom! The speakers blew out because the generator surged! Now the actors act and one of our other team members have to yell out to explain what's going on.
Despite all that almost 200 kids came forward to find out more about Jesus afterwards. Which was great. We got back to basecamp I ate some food and tried to go to bed early. I slept slightly better that night, and got up by 6 or so to catch the bus back to Ouaga at 7. Most of us caught the bus and a few stayed behind in the blue truck to do one more outreach. On bus ride back I got a text saying... the blue truck was broken! 3 for 3 we batted that trip. Eventually the blue truck got back the next day. Nevertheless I can honestly say I've never had a trip go that way with that many things go awry. It was an adventure to say the least. Discussing with a few of the guys afterwards we all agreed that some spiritual warfare had to have been present in a situation like that.
I know this post was pretty long, thanks for sticking around to the end. I'll get some pictures up in the next couple of days so stay tuned.
It began in the middle of November with an overnight trip to a town called Dori. That was where we were originally going to do this outreach. Before I go further let me explain the background. A missionary here in Burkina with another organization does a kids outreach each Christmas year which joins together the gospel with a social aspect to development. A team of Burkinabe do skit about brushing your teeth, washing, not eating old food ect. This is done at the schools. Then a gift of a backpack with pens paper, a few pieces of candy and the like are given. After that or maybe the next day we do a gospel skit. Showing and acting the story of creation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
So back to the story at hand, we went to Dori but it turned out Samaritan's Purse is going there in April so we didn't want to do it there. So after some prayer and consideration we chose Piela. Now I'd been to Piela a few times before but none of my trips were like this. First off we went to Piela just to meet with the pastors to see if it was o.k. to do it there. We got the go ahead and began making plans and packing 3,000 gifts! The next week we did the same program at schools here in Ouaga. Then the first week of December it was the big show, Piela. 1,800 kids 6 or 7 school's 4 days ya. Well it started Tuesday but I got the pleasure of Driving 600 gifts in a truck on Monday and then turning around and coming back the same day. It's about 4 hours each way.
Tuesday comes I get up bright and early at like 5:30 or some unhuman hour of the morning, get ready and head over to HQ. Well due to complications and set backs (not unfamiliar to Burkina) we left at about noon. So I'm lead truck heading the 2 truck and 1 mini van convoy to Piela. But when my truck reached the half way point I realized I'd lost the convoy and they were seriously slow. Then I found that my phone had rang several times. I called back only to find out the mini van went down for the count about an hour earlier. A piece inside the back right wheel broke, the wheel smoked up and caught fire! So about 8 or 9 of our team was stuck. I waited in a town about at the half way point for the other truck. We waited, the truck came and off we went to drop the gifts and equipment off at which point we'd come back for the van.
The other truck took lead and we headed out, about 10 miles outside of this town guess what? Yup, my truck went M.I.A. on me! Not only did it die but it wouldn't even turn over at all, we tried push starting it several times... nothing. I thought at this point I was going to have to jog the 10 miles back to town to get help to tow it. We couldn't stay there in the middle of nowhere that night, because that area is known as bandit country plus there were 2 girls with us and I didn't feel comfortable with having them be stranded. Well, a blue truck did pull up to help us. At first we thought it was the other team members, but nope, it was 4 rather dirty somewhat shady characters getting out of their truck. At which point I went on high alert. They did end up helping us and towed us back to town, but at one point one of the guys was taking a real long look at what was in out truck and I thought we were going to get robbed. So, 2 out of 3 are now down and out. We can't get a hold of the driver of the blue truck so the passengers in my car and I sat in front of a shop next to the mechanics shop for 5 hours with nothing to do.
The blue truck came back went and picked up the van people and came back to where we were around 11:30 PM or so. At that point we decided the girls and some of the needed equipment would head up that night, I and about 5 guys would sleep in the town on the street next to the truck that night because of the valuable equipment in it. So I have now experienced homelessness and sleeping on the streets. After a great night of sleep we got up the next day. The blue truck picked us up at about 12 to head up. We left the truck and arranged for a mechanic from Ouaga to drive up and tow it back to Ouaga to work on it. So we get up to Piela and do a couple of the social dramas. They actually go over pretty well and after an exhausting day we get to go to bed. However at this point I start feeling downright awful. I've got some kind of headache and I woke up in the middle of the night so thirsty I was about to drink my own sweat. I found some water but didn't sleep well. I didn't get tested but I'm pretty sure I had malaria at that point (I took some medicine when I got back to Ouaga). So after another sleepless night we had about 5 schools to do the social dramas at. That night we set up and did the gospel dramas. Wouldn't you know it, just as we got the crowds attention, did a few minor skits we got everything ready for the actual drama and... boom! The speakers blew out because the generator surged! Now the actors act and one of our other team members have to yell out to explain what's going on.
Despite all that almost 200 kids came forward to find out more about Jesus afterwards. Which was great. We got back to basecamp I ate some food and tried to go to bed early. I slept slightly better that night, and got up by 6 or so to catch the bus back to Ouaga at 7. Most of us caught the bus and a few stayed behind in the blue truck to do one more outreach. On bus ride back I got a text saying... the blue truck was broken! 3 for 3 we batted that trip. Eventually the blue truck got back the next day. Nevertheless I can honestly say I've never had a trip go that way with that many things go awry. It was an adventure to say the least. Discussing with a few of the guys afterwards we all agreed that some spiritual warfare had to have been present in a situation like that.
I know this post was pretty long, thanks for sticking around to the end. I'll get some pictures up in the next couple of days so stay tuned.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Random thoughts
So I don't have major story to write about, just several things that have been happening lately or will be happening shortly. I hope you enjoy.
First off, I have a youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49lSO6OPJ0Y which you can see about a 4-5 minute video put together from the Southern Exposure trip. I recommend using the link rather than searching for "Southern Exposure" I'm thinking you might come across some links that you wouldn't be looking for. On that note, I have to say the trip was a month ago or so now, but I can still see the students growing from the trip. As a group this years youth group is gelling well, becoming more transparent with one another and I believe that we are better imitating the body of Christ now than before. This is very exciting for me as a leader to see this perspective going on and to see the students begin to question and challenge their existing worldviews. My hope is that I can continue to guide them as they work through these lifelong issues.
In other news another one of my good friends has left for good. A Peace Corps friend of mine (it was here village that we went to for the Southern Exposure trip) finished her service earlier this month. The only good thing about her leaving is that we went several times to get a nice meal or ice cream and stuff like that. But it is a bummer to have her gone and just another reminder that all things are temporal, especially here. That is one thing I struggle and wrestle with. Truth be told, I don't think there should be this kind of turn around in the communities here. Especially for building solid, honest, open Christian community to which I am striving for, this constant coming and going of people (and eventually myself as well) really hinders. I have experienced and seen other missionaries and aid workers here just not get close to new comers because they know soon enough one of them is going to leave. This is frustrating to say the least.
Finally, I have been busy this week and will be busy the next 2 weeks with "Give a Kid a Christmas". This is a major project that I am helping a few other missionaries here with. They have put together 3,000 backpacks with pens, paper, and other school supplies to give away at different elementary schools in a village called Piella. 2 of the guys and I went last week to check it out and talk to the local pastors about it. It's quite an operation but a great way to both bless those kids, teach them about social things (brush your teeth, don't eat dirty food etc) and present the gospel as well. I'm very excited to be on board with this project this year. That's all for now. Next time I'll let you know how the Give a Kid a Christmas goes, and how Turkeyday here in Burkina went!
First off, I have a youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49lSO6OPJ0Y which you can see about a 4-5 minute video put together from the Southern Exposure trip. I recommend using the link rather than searching for "Southern Exposure" I'm thinking you might come across some links that you wouldn't be looking for. On that note, I have to say the trip was a month ago or so now, but I can still see the students growing from the trip. As a group this years youth group is gelling well, becoming more transparent with one another and I believe that we are better imitating the body of Christ now than before. This is very exciting for me as a leader to see this perspective going on and to see the students begin to question and challenge their existing worldviews. My hope is that I can continue to guide them as they work through these lifelong issues.
In other news another one of my good friends has left for good. A Peace Corps friend of mine (it was here village that we went to for the Southern Exposure trip) finished her service earlier this month. The only good thing about her leaving is that we went several times to get a nice meal or ice cream and stuff like that. But it is a bummer to have her gone and just another reminder that all things are temporal, especially here. That is one thing I struggle and wrestle with. Truth be told, I don't think there should be this kind of turn around in the communities here. Especially for building solid, honest, open Christian community to which I am striving for, this constant coming and going of people (and eventually myself as well) really hinders. I have experienced and seen other missionaries and aid workers here just not get close to new comers because they know soon enough one of them is going to leave. This is frustrating to say the least.
Finally, I have been busy this week and will be busy the next 2 weeks with "Give a Kid a Christmas". This is a major project that I am helping a few other missionaries here with. They have put together 3,000 backpacks with pens, paper, and other school supplies to give away at different elementary schools in a village called Piella. 2 of the guys and I went last week to check it out and talk to the local pastors about it. It's quite an operation but a great way to both bless those kids, teach them about social things (brush your teeth, don't eat dirty food etc) and present the gospel as well. I'm very excited to be on board with this project this year. That's all for now. Next time I'll let you know how the Give a Kid a Christmas goes, and how Turkeyday here in Burkina went!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Southern Exposure Pic's
These photos are of myself and one of the students Robbie after our last night of outreach. After we were done with our program a large dance party started up and Robbie and I were right in the middle of it!
The next picture is of several kids going for a football. We brought a football and some frisbees to play with the kids and I taught them how to throw a football for the first time.
Finally there is a picture of our gospel presentation. You might be familiar with the "color scheme" in the gospel presentation using several colors to describe our relationship with God and each other. In order that the kids could see the color and image well we had capes made of the different colors to show how, goodness, sin, and forgiveness actually cover us to some degree.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Southern Exposure
I got back from our children outreach a few days ago, and after some much needed downtime and processing I figured I'd let all you know how it went. I'll start off by saying it was amazing! The other youth leaders and I have been planning this trip for quite some time now, really since the end of August and for the past month and a half we'd been meeting every Saturday morning for prep meetings with the team of students. It was a lot of work, a lot of time, but it was all worth it. The kids did a great job with the program we put together both a morning and evening program for the African kids. Besides sharing the gospel and doing a great skit about the Exodus I think as a group we broke down a lot of preconceived notions the Burkinabe had about Americans/Westerners. They were amazed that we were willing to get on the ground, to get dirty, to be real I guess. And for the village we were in, talking with one of the Burkinabe down there, he said he'd never seen that many white people before! There were 20 of us.
Along with our time sharing about God with the Africans, I believe God moved mightily in the lives of our youth group students. I saw many students experience, feel, and rejoice in God's presence. I was blessed to see them moved by the Lord so powerfully. As a group they became closer, I became closer to many of them, and they had a powerful encounter with God. All the people involved I believe were blessed and had encounters with the living God. And another special treat for me was that Sunday morning I gave a short message in the local church. It is quite often typical for a guest pastor/missionary to give a message, and that fell to me. Actually I didn't know I was doing it until Saturday night, so I scrambled to prepare something that night and early Sunday morning. Obviously more prep time would have been great, but given the time I had to work with I think it went very well. I even got a few comments from some of the church leaders after the service saying that my message was practical and something the congregation needed to hear. So I was glad that God guided me in that. Overall, the students came back excited and worn out which usually means they had a great time and the trip was well worth it.
Thank you to those who were praying for this trip, it was much needed and appreciated.
I will be uploading pictures in the days to come so stay tuned!
Along with our time sharing about God with the Africans, I believe God moved mightily in the lives of our youth group students. I saw many students experience, feel, and rejoice in God's presence. I was blessed to see them moved by the Lord so powerfully. As a group they became closer, I became closer to many of them, and they had a powerful encounter with God. All the people involved I believe were blessed and had encounters with the living God. And another special treat for me was that Sunday morning I gave a short message in the local church. It is quite often typical for a guest pastor/missionary to give a message, and that fell to me. Actually I didn't know I was doing it until Saturday night, so I scrambled to prepare something that night and early Sunday morning. Obviously more prep time would have been great, but given the time I had to work with I think it went very well. I even got a few comments from some of the church leaders after the service saying that my message was practical and something the congregation needed to hear. So I was glad that God guided me in that. Overall, the students came back excited and worn out which usually means they had a great time and the trip was well worth it.
Thank you to those who were praying for this trip, it was much needed and appreciated.
I will be uploading pictures in the days to come so stay tuned!
Monday, October 20, 2008
More Pics
So the picture of me with my helmet on was taken by my roommate Reid, as we had to haul a 5 gallon cooler across town on his dirt bike. So We did what any normal person would do. Strapped it to my back so that I look like "Rocketman" I thought it looked kind of funny.
The picture to the right is another picture from youth group. These are two of the high school students Dave and DJ. You've got to admit, we look pretty cool don't we?
The picture to the right is another picture from youth group. These are two of the high school students Dave and DJ. You've got to admit, we look pretty cool don't we?
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