On the Fire

I had my house painted this week. It is a sunny yellow with white ceilings, it makes me happy every time I see it. The downside of the paint job is that here it seems that the painter doesn’t have the responsibility of cleaning up after the job. Also, they don’t use tape, or cover the floors, so there is paint all over the floors. My nieghbor girl who is my friend/cultural bridge/occasional house helper was helping me scrub paint off the floor and mop as we jammed to my running mix. Brittany and Tyler had gone into town to do a language lesson for Tyler.

 Suddenly I  heard it- crackling-really close. Since my bedroom window is in my niegbor’s yard, and they start their fire every morning near my open window, I am familiar with the sound of fire. But this was so much louder! I looked out my window and there was a large wildfire maybe a football field away from the house. There were already some people gathered- I asked if it was controlled and if we should get water- they said wait and see. Then suddenly everyone was running and shouting “get water, get water!” Then from all the different yards in the village people came with buckets of water on their heads. 

 Firefighting here is interesting. I had witnessed it once before, they burn their lands in the dry season to clear them- this is what caused this one- the wind was strong and blew it into trees and into the land outside the field. The main tool used is green palm branches, they use these to beat the fire down. Obviously water is used too, but the branches are a big part of the process. I emptied our barrel of water into buckets and handed them to passing kids on their way to help. The boys and men do the branch beating, then towards the end most people were there just standing and watching as the fire moved on away from us. The old women of the village were actually the ones who made good and sure all the fire was finished in the fields near us. 

Had the wind been blowing towards our house, there would have been little chance of the house not being burnt, but the wind took the fire into the empty land to the left. God is good. Several people asked if I had taken pictures, but I can’t find my camera battery right now! I really wish I had it, because a palm tree behind our house caught on fire, and once I knew no houses or people were in danger, I marveled at the site. It was like our own burning bush- the center was burning but the branches and trunk didn’t, and it stayed burning like that- fireball in the middle of the palm tree, for a while.

Thank God with me for protection and provision; for good neighbors and for happy yellow hallways.

On Hard Things

I went out to the yard next door, to sit by the wall of the hut and talk to whomever was around. I was hoping to catch my friend Sam. Sam and his wife and sons came to stay with his mother for several months. He usually lives in the capital, but this year took a break to fulfill his responsibilities to his mom. As the eldest son, he is responsible for taking care of his mom- making sure she is provided for, getting wood for her, helping fix up the hut, etc.  

Sam and I have become friends this term, partly because he speaks English and will help me when my Kon language skills prove insufficient. He, like most of the people in our neighborhood, is a Liberian war refugee. He and his family fled Liberia to Guinea in the 90s. Many refugees were placed in UNHCR refugee camps for months or years around Guinea. Conakry was flooded with refugees, many of whom still live there today.

 The UN arranged for many to be given asylum in other more developed nations. The branch of government handling the distribution of passes to the West was corrupt, however, and rich Guineans were able to buy the passes out from government officials. The refugees would come in and be interviewed, and told they would be given a file number that would allow them to go start a new life in a new place. Then the officials would take that file number and sell it to the highest bidder. The result is a large number of Liberian people still in Guinea 20 years after the war; with little work prospects and no family support system to help them out.  It is a sad example of how corruption eats away at a country. 

Anyway, back to me at the yard, Sam wasn’t there, there were a lot of people around though and I sat down and talked to my friend who we call White Shoes in our writings- he is one of the ‘old men’ of the neighborhood. We were talking and then suddenly, a bunch of men came to the yard. They came from many different yards, all about at the same time. They had pickaxes with them. I was so confused, group farming? But why would the old men go too? If you have ever been in a cross cultural situation you probably understand this feeling: I could tell something serious was happening, but I had no idea what. The mood turned somber, and White Shoes excused himself to go with the men. The women were all quiet or suddenly had things to do in their yards, even the kids seemed momentarily silenced. By this point I had a sinking feeling, and I asked an old lady sitting next to me where the men went. I thought she said a child had died, but I couldn’t tell whose. 

That night sitting out again, my friend Solo told me- Sal’s wife had delivered at 7 months and the baby had not lived. I was shocked. Sal came up to us and I told him I was so sorry about the death of his child. He and Solo began talking bitterly about how backward and undeveloped Guinea is; about how if the hospital had the right equipment the baby would have lived, about how around 80% of childbearing has complications on either the mom or baby here. I couldn’t argue with any of it, I agreed with what they were saying. I think they were both processing some grief and just needing to vent. Sometimes I feel like when Guineans say these things to me, they are expecting help from me or money or a magic answer that I don’t have. This time I asked if I could pray for Sal and his wife, and he said yes, and I prayed for peace and comfort for his family. I told him I believe that baby is with God now, living a better life than he or she could live anywhere on earth.

It is hard to watch the suffering of my friends here. It is hard to watch the suffering of my friends in America. Suffering, by definition, is hard.  Pray that Guinea would see development, pray that I would do my part in bringing healing through the name of Jesus here. Pray for my friend Solo as he grows in his faith, and pray for my friend Sal as he seems open to learning more about the Way.

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!