Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.

It's been wonderful to be with my family this Christmas. I've certainly been busy trying to see everyone. There just wasn't enough time to visit with everyone I had hoped to see. Please ask that we will not waste time in 2009! There is still so much work to be done before we make it back home. Until next time....

Reunited

One of my favorite kids from our village. Last summer he and his mom moved to Timbuktu, so we see them a lot less often. We ran into his family in town, though, and I was so glad to see him! However, we had about 8 other white people with us....so he was in white person overload!

Christmas Party

We had a party in the village to celebrate Christmas with all of our friends. Our volunteer team from University of Mobile was here, so they got to join in on the festivities. Here are just a few pictures. We had a guitarist and drummer just like all of our cultural parties have. Alyson, Jessica, and I also wore "uniforms" which the people who throw the party usually wear. The party was a huge hit for relationships in the village...and they will talk about this party forever!

Christmas is a little different this year!

Last year's Christmas decorations in their entirety...at least at Christmas time!

This year things look a lot better!

They say Christmas is all in the heart, but this year preparing for Christmas is much more merrier than last year!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

It's getting colder in the village now, so we're beginning to wear our fleece pullovers, sweatshirts, socks, etc!

Things to Remeber About America

I’m finally getting all of my plane tickets together for coming home for Christmas! I can’t wait to see everyone and enjoy a few days of American conveniences! I’m afraid, though, that there may be a few cultural differences that I need to keep in mind while I visit, so I’m just getting some thoughts together:

1. No one will ask me to marry him, or his brother, or his cousin, or his best friend…or her husband!

2. When driving it’s probably a good idea to stay on one side of the road instead of the middle.

3. When I see an African American, they probably don’t speak French/Bambara/Songhai, so saying “Bonjour/Ani Sogoma/Ni nda Hoy” would be weird to them.

4. Don’t hurt myself when going through the drive thru by handing money with my right hand. It’s ok to use my left hand.

5. Everyone around me will be able to understand English, so talking about people to their face is probably a bad idea!

6. Don’t honk at people just to let them know I’m going to pass them. Americans view honking as rude.

7. Eating macaroni and cheese with my hands is considered bad table manners.

8. If I need hot water, just go to the sink and turn the faucet to the left. The water mysteriously turns hot without putting it on the stove.

9. When I go to use the oven, don’t panic when I can’t find a gas bottle to turn on.

10. I won’t have to carry a water bottle with me everywhere I go.

11. Get used to the fact that not everyone I see is going to want to greet me.

12. Don’t tell the cashier at Wal-Mart, “Oh, $40 is expensive. I’ll give you $30.”

13. Carrying things on my head will only draw attention to me.

14. People like to hear the word, “please” instead of just saying “Give me the keys.”

15. If I get pulled over by the cops, telling them my father is going to beat me probably won’t get me out of a ticket.

16. The airport will screen my bags before I get on the plane.

17. No one will look at me strangely if I eat a sandwich for lunch.

18. Don’t pass judgment on someone because she is wearing pants.

19. It’s not necessary to do a “scorpion check” before going to bed every night.

20. I can drink water straight from the faucet.

21. I will be cold.

22. I won’t have to search for a flashlight so that I can find my flashlight.

23. A loaf of bread won’t go bad the day I buy it.

24. No one will be impressed that I can speak his language.

25. I will need a prescription to buy medications.

26. Don’t freak out when I get on the scales. It’s just in pounds, not kilos!

27. I must get out of my car to pump gas. No one is going to come do it for me.

28. I should check the mail box on a daily basis instead of a weekly basis.

29. If someone says, “I’ll meet you at 3:00.” They mean that they will meet me at 3:00.

30. No one will say, “Oh you live in Athens…that’s a real place?!?!”

BB

My teammates and I have been in the capital for a couple of weeks for training. Alyson called our story crafter on Saturday to greet him and his family. He told us that his niece, BB, passed away ealier this week. BB was a great friend to us and had been sick for a while, but we thought she was much better when we left. We prayed for her several times and had our supervisor share a Story with her. As far as we know, she never made a decision to follow the Jesus Road. This just shows the urgency of our job here. Pray for the Songhai people. Pray for workers. Pray for our boldness.

A Lot Happens in a Year

October 18, 2008

Jessica, Alyson, and Me celebrating our One Year Anniversary in Mali!

So a lot can happen in a year, huh?

I can learn to drive a stick shift in the sand.

I can (somewhat) speak a foreign language.

I can eat my weight in rice (maybe).

I can buy a plane ticket at the hardward store.

I can ride a camel a few times.

I can trample over scorpions! (See Luke 10)

Just a fun little side note. When we got here last year, Alyson introduced us to a great new artist, Sara Bareilles. She was confident that Sara would make it big one day. Just last night we played "Many the Miles" in the truck. Alyson began explaining who she was, and our newest teammate who got here a week ago, in a very sweet voice said, "Everyone in America knows who Sara Bareilles is!" We've only been gone a year, and someone who I'd never heard of is now famous throughtout a whole nation!

It's been a great year, though. I wouldn't trade it for anything. And yes, Nafi, I would do it again! With all I've learned and how much more my faith has grown, it's our prayer that the Songhai are coming closer to saving faith in Christ every day! What if when I begin packing my bags next year, I could have a conversation with a Songhai woman and explain who Jesus Christ is....and she might respond, "Everyone in Timbuktu knows who He is!"

Amanda celebrating with us!

Night Out

Getting Ready for a night out at La Maison!

The Steam Boat

For a good six months, all we've heard about is the "steam boat" that will come. The river has been dried up all summer, and has recently returned. Everyone kept saying when the water was deep enough, the boat would come. And come it did. Right in our village, this boat comes and brings all sorts of fruits and veggies...coconuts and watermelons included! We get just as excited as the Africans when it comes. Sometimes it even blows its horn around 4:00 AM and wakes you up, but that's ok! We took a tour the first time we saw it, and we realized we never want to ride this thing. It's cheaper to take a Carribean cruise for a week than to stay in the first class cabin - which isn't so first class! We also got to "drive" the boat. They let you do anything if you're white!

Secretary of Health

My teammates and I with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt. They opened a new hospital in our village, and he came to see it. He asked the people what progress they have scene with children getting malaria over the past few years after wide distribution of mosquito nets. He also showed concern in unclean drinking water. He told the people he always wanted to see Mali and America working together. I think the Secretary’s “people” were shocked to see that three white girls were living in the village! So we were able to sit under the tent during the meeting (where soft drinks and Pringles were distributed!), and get a picture with him later. I’m not sure who the man on my left is. Ha. I think he may be the mayor of Timbuktu. He tricked me by speaking in English, so I thought he was American. Then when he asked my name I responded, “Sara.” He looked at me with a blank stare, so I repeated, “Kadidia Maiga” and he understood!

There’s also a picture of one of the new hospital rooms. Probably not much to the eye, but it beats the mat that used to lie on the floor outside on the old hospital porch!

Nachos!

Look what I found in Abidjan! Nacho Cheese Doritos! I think I bought around 7 bags while I was there…notice they aren’t full size bags. And I think they were somewhere around $3 each. Not bad at all!

Angels Reunited

Charlie’s Angels are reunited. They’re either in disguise or celebrating Alyson’s birthday with fun glasses they bought off the side of the street for about 30 cents each. They know Charlie would be proud of them for continuing to save the world even without his leadership.

Head Wraps

Some of our sweeties across the street! They loved new American headwraps! They have my last name, so they are all my little sisters.

So You Had a Bad Day?

Do you think this is important?

Well, we caught the little rascal. Not really like we'd planned, but God's ways are higher, right?

A completely rotten fridge and freezer. I just wish I could include a scratch and sniff.

We truly had a terrible night. But in the midst of it, we could only think of one response: to worship our Lord because our God is great! So we have a few bad days, but God is faithful. We continue to press on to bring the Good News!

Happy 23rd!

Birthday celebration in the village. So the cake was a little sad, but it was the best birthday cake I've had in Africa!

However, birthday dinner in town was incredible! Don't know how well you can see it, but that would be fried chicken as the main dish!

UM Reunion

Brandy and me representing UM at our regional meeting. The first time I came to West Africa I worked with Brandy. She taught me how to survive in the bush!

OneStory

All of my Fantastic Sisters!

Just a Dry Heat

So people usually say, "Well it's only a dry heat, right?" But just try to imagine 150 degree heat of any sort. So maybe it's not an entirely accurate reading considering it was in direct sunlight at noon. But, hey, the thermometer must have thought it was still pretty hot!

Indian Food Night

Me and the Birthday Girl
Me and the Nafi

Djimbays

As if we don't get enough attention, 2 white girls walking down the streets of Africa. But, hey, sometimes I forget I'm not black.

Dance Party

For Reaiah's Birthday we had a dance party on stage at a local exhibit. They played our favorite African jam for us, and they sang happy birthday to her in two languages! Now that's a birthday!

Amazing Race: OneStory

OneStory Amazing Race - Super Hero Challenge

Charlie's Angels

Jessica - Generic Superhero

Alyson - Planeteers

Sara - Charlie's Angels

Hard Core

Yep, we're hard core. And that's all I have to say about that.

Here's the Beach

Just a piece of Paradise

Where's the Ocean?

Sad we're not at the beach.
Glad we're about to go to the beach!

Me and Momma!

My wonderful Momma and Aunt at the beach with us for a little while! This was only the beginning of a great week filled with incredible food!

Zach

Babysitting Zach on the first day we got her. May she rest in peace. But we are thankful for the 2 eggs that she left us.

Henna

A little hand henna complete with watch tan line. KM stands for Kadidia Maiga - my Koyra Ciini name.

Fun in the Desert

Some pics of us on our camel ride in the desert. Only about a 10 minute drive from my house. We don't dress this way much, but lots of people around our area where the full wrap.

Hey Good Lookin!

Whatcha Got Cookin?

Kora Bora Ladies in the kitchen making pizza for our sisters!

Waiting Around

Just getting ready for a conference. The taxi driver was about 2 hours late. We finally got another ride. Ha. But we took pictures while we waited.

Truck Driving

Yep, these are our four wheels, complete with dashboard flowers! Four wheel drive and stick shift. Yet another new skill I've learned!