December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve! I woke up this morning not feeling well, but I knew that we had 2 villages to go to, so God led me to Isaiah 40:28-31.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. "

And he gave me enough to go to these villages. First, we went to see Ouomu's cousin. She was only 14 when she got married, and it wasn't her choice to get married. Then after she got pregnant, her husband left to go to another coauntry, and never came back and she hasn't heard anything from him. My breath was taken away when we walked into her house because she has northing. My heart really broke for her. Then we went on to a village where 2 of the semester girls are going to live. I took a picture of their hut, so I could remember how strongly that I needed to pray for them! Life is going to be hard for them these next few months, but I'm anxious to see what God is going to do among their laboring in these villages. It was today that I learned how bathing/ going to the bathroom works in Africa. They have the squatty potty of course, but it is only for the #2. It seems that peeing in the squatty is strictly forbidden. So, they pee and shower in the same place. yes, kind of gross. And where they take a shower will be on a dirt floor. And they're having sand floors in their houses too. Oh Lord, will you every call me to live in such a way? man...

But thses girls are going to need sum prayer! In that same village we went to visit a woman whos a school teacher. She had a very nice house as far as Africa standards go, and she had 2 very cute kids. The litle boy's name was papa. She even asked me if I wanted to be her husband's third wife... haha. She said that she would let me live in the back room of her house and would cook for me... how can I say no to that!?

Then we returned home and all the strength God had given me disappeared. I felt terrible!! So I ended up taking a very long nap while Kanesa and Brandy cooked for Christmas. I felt a little better wen I woke up, so I cooked some, and then it ws Christmas play time!! Which the kids lvoed doing and they all did so well. These kids are amazing... they really totally are! But then we had the banana bread and cool-aid to hand out. It was mass chaos. Mass chaos for a piece of banana bread and really just a sip of cool-aid. It's sad that they have so little, that it has to be that way.

If Africans could only know the burdens that they put on my heart! The feelings that they make me feel!! Then when the chaos of the Christmas play begin to subside, the Muslim teacher and his 2 wives arrived. He spoke English, and I don't think that I hid my feelings well enough when he introduced me to his 2 wives, both standing right beside him... It's so weird. And then his first wife has recently had a baby, but the 2nd wife has to carry the baby on her back, even though she's older. And this was a HUGE baby, like for real! Then we stayed up until 2 cooking for Christmas and I am very happy now to be in my bed, about to sleep!!