The Fine Balance

Our family spent yesterday and last night at the village of Lassa Tchou, doing what we refer to as “bonding.”  Essentially, we were just trying to get to know the people there better and to experience village life.  It was a great experience, though challenging.  We are in the middle of the dry season, which translates as “HOT!”   We arrived in time for church and worshipped with the church, then we went to the home of Jean Marie and Christianne.  Jean Marie is one of the elders there and they graciously acted as our hosts.  We got to see the new well which was almost finished (it may be finished now) and the girls ran around and played.  Maddie, Michal, and I “helped” make lunch by grinding black eyed peas on a stone and carrying water.  The girls learned how to fetch water from the old well, and that become a source of much amusement later in the day.  We enjoyed our lunch of beignets made from ground beans, and then were allowed to rest most of the afternoon.  We spent a little time exploring the rocky and hilly village with some of the children.  I love the hills, huge rocks, and amazing Baobabs of Kabiyeland!We spent the afternoon making visits around the village and watching the kids play.  Michal got quite a reaction from the village women by fetching enough water to fill two big bowls.  They went on and on about how strong she was and how Maddie carried so much water so well.  Admittedly, by about 6:00 I was pretty worn out and my brain was taxed from hearing so much Kabiye.  If I really listen I can pick out enough words to get the general meaning of what is being said, and the ladies there were so patient and good to repeat things and explain.  Nonetheless, it is a situation of continuously thinking hard about everything that is being said, and it really wore me out.  After dinner we sang and prayed with some church members, then retired to our tent to “sleep” through a very hot night.  Mental note:  no more bonding during the hot season if we can help it!This morning we woke up to Michal being sick to her stomach (too much sun yesterday, I think) and the news  that Christianne left with Koumaya (one of the village women) during the night to walk to the hospital because she went into labor!   I left Lass Tchou this morning feeling grateful to God for the challenging and rich experience, and so grateful for the willingness of our girls to share in our work here.  Part of the reason we felt it so important to go bonding before we leave here in May is that we want the girls to be able to develop relationships with the people here, and to gain insight into their lives.  We want them to feel comfortable in villages even though the setting is so vastly different from what they know.  This is our prayer, but we know that it isn’t something we can make happen.  We can provide opportunities and try to foster that level of comfort, but we don’t want to force them into making those connections.  Mark and I both praise God that he has enabled our daughters to go into a strange setting and reach out to people different from them, learn new ways of doing things, eat different food, work hard, and play even when it is stinking hot with almost no complaining and with a great attitude!  I think that their willingness to go there with us physically, spiritually, and emotionally will really enable us to commit our selves to the work whole-heartedly and will be a great blessing to us, to them, and to the Kabiye people.By the way, my apologies to those of you who aren’t family who are reading this.  I know bragging parents can be a little obnoxious!