November 21

Today is the day to meet my sponsored child, Dieudonne. We were meeting him at the school right next door to the SIM compound, and the Christian Children's Fund (CCF) sent their car to pick us up at 9 am (Andrew, David, Terry and I). We asked Andrew and David to join us to help with the interpretation, to take pictures and to video tape so that Terry and I could focus on the visit. Dieudonne attends a school further up the road and would arrive shortly after 9. When we arrived some of the school children were lined up in two rows and singing a welcome song. Terry and I walked between the two rows and greeted the children. Right after that Dieudonne arrived by moto. I was thrilled to see him - he had grown to be such a fine and handsome young man. He had a huge smile as we greeted each other. 

The CCF representatives set up chairs outside and talked about the sponsorship program. They told us there are about 6,000 people in Mahadaga with 871 sponsored children. This allowed them the funding to provide proper water, health care and education to the children and also to benefit the whole community.

We toured the pre-school and kindergarten classes. Both groups of children sang for us, and we gave them candy afterward. 

We travelled to Dieudonne's home about a mile down the road. We turned down a little dirt road and followed a mud wall for a short way until there was an opening. Inside was a little community. The village ladies showed their excitement and approval by making their African chant sound at our arrival. Dieudonne led us to the three huts where his family lived. We met his Dad, Mom, two brothers and one baby sister. His Dad expressed deep gratitude for how the sponsorship had helped his family. There were many pictures taken throughout the visit, especially by the CCF crew.

Meeting his Dad

Dieudonne and his family

Village ladies

We visited and exchanged gifts. Dieudonne also showed me the two sheep he had purchased with the sponsorship money.

His Dad loved the Canada t-shirt!

Dieudonne's gift to me

We went back to the CCF area by the school and toured the hospital across the street. Dieudonne and I pumped out some water from the well for the hospital that was made possible by CCF funding.

We went back to the CCF office and shared lunch. Dieudonne's two younger brothers joined us as well. We took a few more pictures and then it was time to say goodbye. Dieudonne walked home with his brothers. It was an amazing visit and an awesome experience to meet my sponsored child!

Later that afternoon, the team went for a hike in the cliffs where there was a pond in the rocks. Some of us climbed to the top of the cliff, and we were fortunate to see baboons at the top.

We had a late supper and went to bed early so we could go on another early morning hike tomorrow.

November 20


Today we packed up our suitcases before going to the conference for breakfast as we are leaving for Mahadaga after lunch. The kids did a presentation for their parents of the bible story they had been studying.

 
We took group pictures before lunch.

The conference group

Our Canadian team with David and Marianne

We travelled for three hours on the highway with lots of activity on the road (buses, trucks, cars, motos, bikes, donkeys hauling everything you can imagine).

Room for more??

Coke has become quite a treat in Africa!

Then we turned onto a dirt road for the next hour and a half. The rest of the trip was very rough and very interesting. It was dark by the time we got there.

What? Your shirt matches!

We went into the SIM compound in Mahadaga which has six houses and a guest house. We stayed in different homes on the compound that was situated on a large piece of land. There are two missionary families and two single missionaries that live there. Any available rooms/houses are rented out as needed to missionaries travelling through or staying for short or long term. One of the missionary family's had us over for supper. We are becoming quite spoiled with all the wonderful food being provided for us.

Reg, Mary, Terry and I stayed in this house

November 17, 18 and 19


We left at 8:30 on Thursday, November 17 on our way to Fada for the annual Spiritual Life Conference. The landscape along the way was mainly forest with lots of small communities along the way with square buildings and round huts, some with shops with items for sale. There were also some larger towns on the way that were really busy with lots of people and shops on both sides of the road. We got to the conference location around noon and checked into our room. The lodging in the immediate conference area was full so we stayed about a 10 minute walk away. It was quite a nice spot with about a dozen rooms and an atrium area in the center with banana trees.

Busy street along the way (random town)

In the hallway of our guest house

The conference grounds are beautiful with numerous buildings for lodging and common areas. There were about 75 people attending with 26 of those being children. Each day started with breakfast at 7:30 followed by a worship session and then we took the children for the daily activities. Over the three days we played various outdoor games, sang songs and memorized verses, had interactive teaching sessions about some of the stories in the bible and did crafts such as paper plate tambourines, rings with ribbons attached for waving in the air. decorating and making various types of cards and making pencil cases. The children were very well behaved and enjoyed all the activities.

Braeden, Andrew and Daniel (our recruit) leading sing song

Tambourines made during craft time

Sewing project

Conference grounds

Conference grounds

We had a treasure hunt the first night with seven challenge stations and each one of us Canadians were responsible for one of the challenges. Everyone had a great time. The other evenings we would watch movies and play card games. I also brought my haircutting tools with me and gave seven hair cuts.

On our last full day here (Saturday, November 19), I forgot my haircutting tools at our room so after breakfast Terry and I walked back to get them. It was a great experience as we were walking through the area where everyday African people lived. There were pigs, goats and chickens wandering everywhere and donkeys at many homes. Everyone we met was friendly, and I gave candy to all the kids. We were able to get a better cultural view of how they live. On the way back we met a young lady who was going to the market. She spoke a little English so we walked the rest of the way with her. It was 9 in the morning but it was hot.

Donkey along the way

Home along the way

Kids along the way (jackets with hoods?)

Girl going to the market

Tomorrow after lunch we leave for Mahadaga. We have all really enjoyed our experiences at the conference and have met many wonderful people. We are very thankful for all the relationships we have made along the way.

November 16

We toured the SIM office and met some of the staff.

Then David took us for a drive to tour the city. We saw some of the government buildings, the Monument to Martyrs tower, some of the bigger hotels and homes and drove through the downtown area. We also drove by Faso Parc, a huge park surrounded by a fence that we hope to stroll in on another day.

Monument of Martyrs tower

Faso Parc

The downtown area was very busy with shops everywhere, lots of traffic and people crowding the streets. Thank goodness for David's driving skills.

Yes, this car actually squeezed between us

We had lunch and siesta time after we got back and then had a two-hour team meeting to finalize the details for the annual Spiritual Life Conference. We will travel there tomorrow (Thursday) for a three-hour trip to Fada. The conference is for all the missionaries in the area, and we will be responsible for the children's program for three days (yikes!). The conference starts Thursday afternoon and ends Sunday after lunch. We will have eight sessions with the children over three days for 23 children from the ages of 2 to 15. We have planned games, crafts, songs and teaching sessions with fun and free time in between. We will be staying at homes in Fada with Andrew and Braeden staying in a tent.

An African dwelling

Sunday afternoon we will head to Mahadaga for the visit with my sponsored child. We are all very excited especially Terry and I. We will also spend some time hiking in the mountains of Mahadaga. 

There may be an interruption in the blog over the next few days depending on the internet connection while we are away.