Gangsta's Paradise

Here are just some of the photos that make me laugh about Fulani culture.  They want people to see them as being a serious people group.  This has a lot to do with the pride of being a “Pullo.”  Therefore, rarely do you see people laugh in photos and that happens only when I can be quick on the trigger and catch some candid shots.  Of course they tell me to erase all of the pictures of them laughing!  Enjoy!

Clash of Cultures

So lately during my leisure reading time I have been reading a book on art theory.  I usually read about 30 minutes or so before going to bed.  This week while out in the bush I my friend Tokka visited me and saw my facial expression change as I was reading a sentence about a Van Gogh painting that was sold for 53.9 million dollars.  She was of course was curious about what I was reading so she inquired.  I don’t think I will ever have enough Fulfulde to explain the subjunctive view of art, let alone art theory.  I told her it was something that people make and then put in their houses to look at.  The next day she pointed towards her wall that had 4 plastic covers from cell phones and said, “art, like this?”  I sat there trying to comprehend my view of art verses hers.  Is Van Gogh’s “Irises” comparable to things that we consider trash?  Well, to the Fulani it is.  I am really tempted to show them a Jackson Pollock and see what they have to say about that!  Anyways from my experience in Niger, my interpretation of “art” has definitely been stretched!

A Glimpse into My Life

'H' with the camel that the chief purchased now that planting season is upon us

Beautiful little girl who has finally warmed up to the "anasara"

My friends in a nearby compound where Olivia and Anna currently share the stories

Me with my large Fulani necklace that I purchased at market.  Probably one of my favorite things thus far!

Ramadan

Looking at my personal calendar a few weeks ago, I noticed that Ramadan is scheduled for July 20^th at sunset with the appearance of the new moon.   Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar.   According to Guests of the Sheik, which takes place in Iraq, “The mullahs (Muslim religious leaders) in the holy shrines…watch the sky for several days, and when the chief mullah announces that he has indeed seen the crescent moon, however briefly, the beginning of the month is officially declared from the minarets of the mosques.  The news travels quickly by radio, by taxi and horseback throughout the surrounding countryside.” 

Islam teaches that the Qur’an was first revealed to Mohammed during the month of Ramadan.  During this time, there is much fasting; from sunup to sundown they eat and drink nothing, not even swallowing their own spit.  Many devote themselves more fully to the practices of Islam such as offering up more prayers to Allah, reading more of the Qur’an, showing more kindness to one another and increasing their almsgiving.  This month set aside for fasting is designed to generate self-restraint.  “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint (Surah 2:183).” (Understanding my Muslim People)

There is one special night called the “Night of Power”.  Muslims are taught to pray as much as possible during this night, for it is extremely commendable.  Islam teaches that this night hundreds of years ago was when Mohammed received his first revelation from Allah.  One the day that the fast ends, Muslims hold a “Breaking the Fast” celebration.  Sweets are prepared and new clothes purchased.  A time of dancing and singing occurs.  I asked many of my friends in the bush about the arrival of Ramadan and you could see the excitement on their faces.  Of course, this broke my heart, seeing how excited they are about something that is so far from the Truth.  It is so sad to think that some of them will never experience true Love and Peace. 

Please lift up my friends in ‘B’ and the surrounding areas as Ramadan is coming.  Pray that they would be discontent with the practices and rituals of Islam and that they would realize their hopelessness.  Ask the Lord of the harvest to direct their eyes to Him and the sacrifice of Christ.  May we trust fully in the Lord to work mightily during the month of Ramadan all across the globe!

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Isaiah 53: 5-7

Chima & Hadiza

I am so excited to have two volunteers with me here this summer to help sow the Truth among the people of my bush village.  Please lift up Chima (Olivia) and Hadiza (Anna) as they adapt and adjust to this climate and culture.  They have just finished one week of Fulfulde language study and look forward to speaking out in the bush.  To follow their journey this summer please click on the link below.

Hadiza (Anna) & Chima (Olivia)

Volunteer Blog

Chima & Salmu on the way to a baby naming ceremony in 'B'.

Visiting around town.

i am a bush woman...

o   I eat their food drinking chutum (cooked millet, water, and sour milk) and eating gniri (millet and sauce that looks exactly like mucus).

o   I sleep outside with the chief’s wife, daughter, and several grandkids.  Most nights I get no sleep because they throw every body part they have on me.  Therefore, I gradually try to slide out from under them resulting in sleeping on the ground with no mat but lots of ant bites.  If I get to sleep at all, it is around 2 o’clock. Two and a half hours later, at 4:30 am, the chickens, sheep, and goats are our wake up call to start the day. Despite the lack of sleep, my nights in the bush always remind me of God’s promise to Abraham as I look at the abundance of stars in the clear night sky.  It is truly a site to see.

o   Recently I have been able to cut some palm fronds in the bush, dry them out at my friend’s house, and patiently try to make the bowl covers that they sell at market and use to cover their chutum.

o   Apparently I have become the local tailor of “B”.  I took my needle and thread out in the bush to sew up a patch of one of their skirts.  Then the kids started handing me all their skirts and pants to patch up holes that run along the whole seam of their clothes.  Needless to say I kept myself busy that weekend. 

o   I help them draw water from the well, at least until my arms can stand it.  Since there are no wells in America, my hands get red from all the tension with the rope.  The older ladies look at my hands and refuse my assistance at the well, trying to protect my hands from looking and feeling like theirs. 

o   On several occasions I have even had the pleasure of riding a donkey back from the well with the jarkas of water on both sides of me.  Especially on those days I know for a fact that I am not in America anymore.

Barcelona

As my good friend Hannah from Alabama said before we left for vacation, "We're going to paint the town red!"  And that we did!  I had no idea what to expect when traveling to my first European city, but I fell in love once I came out of the metro from the airport.  Maybe it was just the grass and Starbucks sign that made me finally realize I had left the desert for a time.  I could write pages and pages about our travels and excursions but it would not do our time together justice.  You must go and experience for yourself the magic of Barcelona.

The Gaudi artwork was breathtaking.  We traveled to the Picasso Museum and the Museum of Textiles (yes, Hannah sacrificed for me).  We toured the city on a two day bus tour where Hannah, Michelle, and I all were amazed by the wonderful architecture and such a balanced mixture of antique/contemporary styles.   We ate paella beside the Mediterranean Ocean and we "people watched" almost everyday on La Rambla.  I had McDonald's 5 times and couldn't be happier about that.  Once again I say...We fell in love!  Below are some pictures of the three of us.  Pictures of the architecture and beauty of Barcelona will come later.  Enjoy!

Our one day in France.  The train ride of the countryside was beautiful

Us heading towards the "Fountain of Regret" (the tourist booklets call it the Magical Fountain)

Bus tour!!!

Inside "La Sagrada Familia"....the exterior is my favorite

At the Med.!

"There is not a single true work of art that has not in the end added to the inner freedom of each person who has known and loved it."-Albert Camus

"Life has been your art.  You have set yourself to music.  Your days are your sonnets."-Oscar Wilde