I am back! And still posting about what I have been reading

The Eden Axiom by Kirk Rogers- This book was actually written by a fellow missionary in Guinea. He did A TON of research on the American diet and the body’s response to it. Most of us know the Standard American Diet (SAD) isn’t good for us, but this book goes into different studies and also gives healthy alternatives; if you enjoyed the documentary Forks Over Knives, this is along the same lines, but the thing I really appreciated about this book is that Rogers brings in the theological implications of our dietary choices as well. 

In Harm’s Way: A View of from the Epicenter of Liberia’s Ebola Crisis by Nancy Sheppard- I have had the opportunity to meet the author Nancy’s son, which is how I heard about this book. Nancy worked in the clinic where Ebola was treated in Liberia. Her account of the outbreak was really interesting and is an interesting and quick read. 

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Quareshi- The title kind of says it all, this is an autobiographical work, but as he is telling his own story, he teaches the reader about the worldview of Islam.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to engage Muslims in dialogue. 

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters by Tim Keller- This book had been on my list to read for quite a while, I love Tim Keller.  He is so intelligent and yet humble, has years of ministry experience he draws on as he turns the reader back to the Gospel all the time. I really was convicted by this book as he challenged me to think about the gods in my life by asking questions like what do I worry about the most? What do I spend my free time thinking about? What one thing do I think would make me happy?  

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky- This book is often referenced or quoted in spiritual growth books. I have been meaning to read it forever. An intern recommended it a few years ago, then I was scrolling through BBC’s top 100 books to read before you die, and it was on there, so I decided to tackle it. Dostoevsky is deep. I made the mistake I have made before in old classics in skimming the setting up commentary to get to the actual plot of the book, only to realize that the commentary is a large part of why this book is so highly regarded, so had to go back and reread that part. I enjoyed the book, can’t necessarily recommend it for everyone, but I enjoyed it. 

Sketchy Behavior by Erynn Mangrum- I pretty much like anything Erynn Mangrum writes, she is just so funny and laid back in her style. This is a young adult novel about a high schooler who accidentally sketches a criminal, the police use the sketch and he is caught, only to escape! Far-fetched? Maybe. Entertaining and relaxing? Definitely. 

The Language of Life by Francis S. Collins- This book really challenged my long held beliefs as far as the earth’s origin. Don’t anyone freak out, I still believe God did it! But I would love some of my Christian friends to read this book and tell me what they think. Collins was the lead researcher in the Human Genome Project; he is also a self-proclaimed evangelical Christian. His book was really interesting, sometimes a little too scientific for me, but what did I expect?

Books of March

God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew- This is the true account of a Dutch man who went from drinking army daredevil to Bible Smuggler behind the Iron Curtain. Brittany and I were inspired by this man’s life of faith and fidelity to the Kingdom and its spreading on earth. Brother Andrew worked tirelessly to bring God’s Word to nations with closed borders due to Communism, his organization now does the same for nations closed due to other world religons.

A Princess Found by Sarah Culbertson and Tracy Trivia- This is the amazing true story of a daughter of a Sierra Leonean man and American woman who was then put up for adoption, raised by a white family and then finds her birth father who is a chief in Sierra Leone. It was very relevant in many ways for me, Sierra Leone’s culture is similar to where I am, so it was fun to read this fellow American woman’s narration of life here.

To Give or not to Give by John Rowell – This book is currently challenging me! After reading When Helping Hurts, I have been very cautious in my giving and sharing of material goods/money here. But, this book gives a balance to that way of thinking, which I needed. Asserts that the universal church should not be trying to plant independent churches, but intedependent churches I am still reading and praying about how to share with my neighbors here.

Africans and Their History by Joseph E. Harris- A look at Africa’s history in segments by region, so confession- I am only reading the West Africa part! It is sad how much we don’t know about African history, even the author admits this, though I am also currently watching a BBC series called The Lost Kingdoms of Africa where the host explores different now-dead kingdoms of Africa based on artifacts.

On the Jesus film

It is about 7:30 as we arrive in the dark yard. Everyone is finishing their dinner as we set up my computer and the video. As they see the light, they come out. Earlier in the day my friend in the yard had asked why we hadn’t shown the Isa film in their yard. “Do you think people would come?” I ask. “Lots of people will come!” She says enthusiastically. And she’s right, there’s between 20 and 30 people huddled around my laptop under the big mango tree tonight.

They didn’t come because they want to convert to Christianity or even necessarily because they are super curious about the life of Jesus. They would come out to watch any movie that was showing for free. I don’t want you to have the wrong idea. But- this movie is special, this movie isn’t in French or English where they depend heavily on the action to understand the plot. This movie is in their heart language. They understand every nuance (linguistically anyway) in the telling of this Good News. 

They nod in recognition as they watch Adama and Hawa in the garden, and the almost-sacrifice of Ibrahim’s son. They laugh in amazement/bemusement when the boy Jesus asks his parents why they were confused by his being in the temple. At least one person reacts in a way that communicates “this is a totally backward and weird but interesting” when Jesus says to turn the other cheek when you are hit. My favorite reaction is that of the old men chuckling admiringly at Jesus’ responses to religious leaders (give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, is my teaching from God or man? etc.) They say, “Jesus can answer well! They say “ka?!” that’s like “what?!” as they are beating and crucifying Jesus. They have the same reaction when Jesus turns up again amongst his followers three days later. 

 To me these stories are as familiar as the back of my hand, but this is fresh news to them. I wish all cradle Christians could have this chance to watch and listen to the reaction of someone who has never heard the story of Jesus hear and see it in their mother tongue. I guess you will just have to take my word for it that it is a wonderful experience!

Dry Season vs. Rainy Season

In an effort to give you a picture of our two seasons, I have listed pro and cons of each from my experience thus far:

Dry season pros: dry roads (this one is huge), clothes dry super fast on the line, cooler temps(though for our friends here this would not be a pro!)

Dry season cons: dust everywhere, all the time-choose to dust and sweep everyday or just give up on having a clean house (the choice was not a hard one for us.) Chapped lips, cracked heels, dry eyes, more respiratory infections

Rainy season pros: farming friends fields’ get growin! Rainwater collects in barrels at side of house, so easy access for laundry-less hauling, rainy afternoons where all I can do is stay in and read, falling asleep to the sound of rain on our tin roof

Rainy season cons: in our location we basically don’t drive on the roads around us if we can help it during rainy season, sores on legs stay infected longer because they are never dry (neighbors’ not mine), a faint but ever present smell of mildew and mold in the house, drying clothes becomes more of a challenge.

In America I wished for summer in winter and winter in summer- here I have the same tendency. I remember all the good things about rainy season during dry season and forget the bad; and vice versa in rainy season. However, I must tell you, Beyla was voted  ‘Guinea’s city with the best climate’ by this old guide book I read. And I would have to agree, to the north of us is dry dry dry, and I almost melt when we go to the capital in April. So, I am always happy to come home after traveling!

On Food

 As I was preparing to come here, doing presentations and talking to people about what my life here would look like, I said I would be eating a lot of rice and sauce. This hasn’t really been the case. I eat it sometimes, but no more than once a week, and often not even that. The bulk of the diet of our neighbors consists of rice, oil, Maggi cubes (MSG in there), and onions- there are some other foods too but these are the staples. As my body doesn’t need the oil or MSG, I don’t often go seeking  food from nieghbors. From a western perspective, this seems like a huge social loss; but sharing meals here doesn’t seem to carry the same “breaking bread together” significance.

 While we don’t have access to a lot of Western foods, we do manage to maintain a fairly Western diet. We do this by stockpiling when we are in the capital at the stores that pretty much cater to the expat community.So we head home with a three month supply of olive oil, juice, cheese, frozen broccoli or strawberries if we are feeling splurgy. And we come home to put into our cave while we hibernate. Really that is what I feel like, our kitchen is a major storage area. 

As far as diet changes, I eat less meat here, and all my produce is organic by default. We make our own yugurt and granola for breakfast, though we are also big muffin fans. No fast food, obviously.  Cooking has become a creative outlet for me. Both Brittany and I enjoy browsing our cookbooks for new things to make that that ingredients we could get or substitute for. Some of our favorite finds and now regulars in our meal rotations: sweet potato pancakes (cans from the states), pumpkin soup (technically squash), ginger colesla.

This term we bought food from the food shipment that comes from the states; but next term I am considering trying just eating stuff I can get in country. Really, globalization is happening before our eyes, we can get many products that veteran missionaries  never would have dreamed of buying here.