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May 30, 2006
Reading
I love this photo. These are two of my good friends. "Yususfi" is the Fulani man. He lives with his family about 10 miles out in the bush, where he looks after his (and my) cattle, and cultivates millet. He reads Arabic and Fulfulde, and is respected as a teacher. He is following Christ and wants to know all he can about the Bible.
Timothee is Seydou's son, from the Samogho people. He goes to school in town, and reads French (he also does some pretty mean hand-springs).
They are reading a picture book together about the life of "Ennabi Muusa" - the prophet Moses.
Tags: africa burkina burkina faso fulani reading
May 27, 2006
After the Jedi Council
My meeting with the Glenwood Church leaders went very well.
Thank you to those who prayed.
I will be writing more soon about my thoughts for the future.
Tags: burkina burkina faso glenwood church
May 26, 2006
Before the Jedi Council
I am meeting today with the leadership at my home church - Glenwood Church in Cardiff - to talk about my vision for the work in Burkina Faso, and my possible return to further involvement there.
Please pray that we will have a clear sense of God's heart and leading. Thank you.
Tags: burkina burkina faso glenwood church
May 24, 2006
Bird flu spreading in Burkina Faso
Several new outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu have been confirmed in Burkina Faso, in the capital Ouagadougou, the second city of Bobo-Dioulasso, and Sabou, a town 100km west of Ouaga. The first case was discovered last month.
No human cases have yet been identified, but the inadequate health infrastructure could mean they are simply going undetected. Close contact of a large part of the population with the handling of poultry increases the possibility of transmission to humans. The estimated cost of dealing with the bird flu in Burkina Faso is $10 million, a challenge for the third poorest country in the world, even with help from France and China.
One cause for hope is the report that wild birds may not, as previously believed, play a major role in spreading the virus, and that this may explain why the disease has not spread as quickly as feared.
Tags: africa burkina burkina faso h5n1 bird flu sahel disease health
May 20, 2006
Building a Fulani hut in Gorom-Gorom
A little while ago, Steve showed you how the Fulani in Djibo build their huts, and had one built for me for my visit. I promised to show you how the Gaoob'e Fulani near Gorom-Gorom , in the north-east of Burkina Faso, build their huts, so here it is (click on any photo for a larger version):
First, make your bed The hut is built around the bed, which is made as a frame of forked uprights with sticks lying across the top, on top of which will be laid woven grass mats. |
Build the frame |
Cover with mats The whole house is easily taken apart and tied onto donkeys or camels if the time comes for literally moving home. |
A new home I should add here that this was not made for my bride, but as a guest room, much to the amusement of my Fulani friends, who kept asking when my wife was arriving. |
Inside a Fulani hut |
Tags: africa burkina burkina faso djibo gorom-gorom housing building fulani hut
May 06, 2006
God, AIDS, and manicures
Have we lost sight of God, or re-made him in our own image? These unsettling and provocative observations and questions come from an evangelical Christian friend, who has given me permission to share them with you.
"I find myself in the place where my view of God is shifting. Well, maybe that's premature. I guess I've realized that as much as I would try to deny it, my God is very white & very Western. I've been reading outside my comfort zone lately, and have realized that I can't reconcile my God to the world I see. Clearly the problem isn't with God, it’s with me.
How does one understand God when your whole village has been starving for as long as you've been alive? How does one understand God when your country has been destroyed by war, and He doesn't seem to intervene...
…I guess what is rolling around in my head is the uncomfortable exposure I've had to evangelicals who laud God for providing them a parking space when they need it; or when getting a good deal on a manicure, call it a "Holy Ghost deal". Not to say that I believe God isn't interested in the details of our lives... but...... when millions of women pray for food for their starving children, or that someone would take care of their children when they've died of AIDS... or water to drink... or seed to plant...”
What are your thoughts and responses?
Tags: god christ jesus christ aids manicure africa faith christianity
May 03, 2006
Rob Lacey
You may have heard by now the news that Rob lost his battle with cancer on Monday, and has gone to be with Father.
Please pray for his wife Sandra, and his children Lukas (2) and Magdalena (3 weeks).
Rob was very much a part of our home church. Although he is best known for his book "The Word on the Street" and other books, for those of us who know him, he was a friend and source of fun, but also a model of serious and challenging spirituality. And of course, while the world may focus on his success and visible achievements, God cares more that he was a man of gentle and firm faith in Christ, who loved his family and served God and people with humility and integrity.
Rob did the voice-over for the video about my work in Burkina Faso a couple of years back. It is strange to think he could now be meeting, chatting, and laughing with my friend Muusa, from Burkina Faso, who also died earlier this year. Although Muusa is less widely known than Rob, they will be meeting as equals before the throne of grace, and I'm sure they'll get on like a house on fire.
I will miss them both.
You can read a tribute to Rob by his publisher, Zondervan here.
Tags: rob lacey burkina burkina faso word on the street christian writers
