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August 28, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Food Distribution
Background
Update
Our first food aid distribution was completed on Friday, and was a success, thanks to the hard work, forethought, and effectiveness of our team on the ground.
We were able to distribute 107 sacks of sorghum, giving 800 families food for a few days. The distribution was carried out in each of the five sectors of town, overseen by Daniel, Andy, Altine, and others from the church, working through representatives of the sector where the distribution was being carried out. Representatives of local authorities and the Red Cross were also present, and the whole operation has run smoothly and with good co-operation between the various groups.
We are now preparing for a second distribution this Friday, and are looking at purchasing mosquito nets as the next phase. Because of the water, there are a lot of malaria mosquitos around, and many people are suffering. We are therefore also looking at how to help people with essential medical treatment for malaria and other needs.
I want to thank Daniel, Andy and Laura, Altine, and the others of our team on the ground for the great work they are doing. Please pray for them as they continue to work at the sharp end of this work. Pray that people will retain dignity as well as being helped in their suffering. And please also pray that God will be honoured and that people will give thanks to him and recognise him as their rock and source of help.
Thank you
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 23, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update - 23 August
Background
The pictures show Gorom-Gorom before and after the flood.
Update
Things are happening quite quickly, now thankfully. Because of the delay in being able to collect the money, our distribution has been put back to Friday. But this will work well, as we are co-ordinating with Christian Aid and others who are doing similar distributions on Monday and today, Wednesday, to ensure that everyone in need is covered.
Members of my home church, Glenwood Church, have made a very generous contribution to the work, and Samartian's Purse and Food for the Hungry are also supporting us in our efforts.
Personal stories from Gorom-Gorom
Via Andy in Gorom:
"Everybody says thank God that this flood happened during the day. It seems like most people were able to get their family and belongings out of the houses before they fell in. But some weren't able to save anything, "not even a spoon," as my neighbor Ibrahim said. These would include people who were out of town during the catastrophe, including our Mossi neighbors, and the owner of the corner store, Adrouhaman (called "Alfa"), who lost everything in his store, including an expensive stock of cement and paint."
"Amadou the mason... worked all morning to protect his courtyard and his neighbors' by digging channels and building bulwarks of earth. In the end, the water levels raised too high... by which time he was too exhausted to get anything out of the house, even a change of clothes. He spent the following week wearing the same pair of shorts and torn shirt--here it's important to note that grown men don't wear shorts in public here, and people take pride in their clothing being clean and in good shape. His baby died two days after the flood, "still on his mother's back." He says it was malaria, but he thinks that being exposed to the cold and wet may of brought on the illness. "I don't understand why God would do this," he said."
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 21, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update
Background
Update
A very busy day today, and it's getting late, so I'll write more tomorrow. We have had a number of significant gifts today through my home church and through an aid agency, which I will tell you about very soon.
The guys were finally able to collect the £4000 I sent out, and the first part of this will be used for a grain distribution this coming Friday.
Please pray for good collaboration with the authorities, for the right help to reach the right people, for us to be able to steward these gifts well, and for God to touch the hearts of people.
Thank you
Photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
Burkina Faso News in Brief
Latest News on the Gorom-Gorom Floods.
Gold Mine Collapses: A gold mine in Poura the south of Burkina Faso has collapsed, killing at least 5 people, and trapping up to 50 others, more than 30m down. It seems that dynamite, used to break apart rock in which gold nuggets are found, was at the cause of the collapse.
Isaac Sawadogo, one of those working on the mine at the time said : "on the day of the collapse, people exploded detonators. A short time afterwards, we went down again to dig using pickaxes and chisels. Around 10 a.m., the top suddenly collapsed, causing a deafening noise. Two colleagues and I, only half-buried, were pulled out without great problem, six were found wounded and three were pulled out already dead." The rescue effort continues. It is not known how many people are still trapped but, 3 days later, not much hope is being held out for their survival. The mining has been unauthorised since the mine was officially closed down in 1999, but local people using traditional mining methods continue to search the site.
President Compaore hosts Togo talks. Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore continues to develop his role on the international stage in the region by hosting talks that led to an accord in Togo. This agreement between Togo's government and six political parties is aimed at ending years of turmoil in the country.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina mining gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom togo politics gold
August 19, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update: 19 August
Background
Update
We have come up with an initial budget for the immediate response to the crisis in Gorom-Gorom and area. We estimate we need about $170,000 (about £90,000) for everything for 700 households in Gorom-Gorom, and 200 in the surrounding area. This is for food, temporary shelter (tents), and household provisions (blankets, medicines, mats, mosquito nets, clothes etc). We are looking for all the help we can get.
Now that food distribution will be starting, we are beginning to think of shelter, other provisions, and to mosquito nets. As it is the rainy season, there are lots of malaria-carrying mosquitos breeding in the water. Malaria kills 1 million people a year, 90% of the victims being in Africa - see this series on malaria I did last year.
So mosquito nets are a major need. As Andy says:
"We sure could use them. Lots of water. Lots of mosquitos. Lots of sick, unhappy people."
The most expensive and difficult part of this is the tents. We don't know where to get hold of these, and certainly don't have the money for them. We are in discussion with several aid agencies to see whether they might be able to help us with this. Please pray for this. Thank you.
Update
* Red Cross have just announced that they are allocating $47,941 (about £25000) from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to the needs in Gorom-Gorom, "or to replenish disaster preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population." Pray still for a good link-up. I have contacted them to try and co-ordinate.
* We have been told that "plastic sheets", rather than tents may be a more readily available solution for temporary shelter, so need to look into this.
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 18, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update - 18 August
Background
Update
The latest figures for those affected by the flood, following a more accurate census by local authorities gives the following figures for the town of Gorom-Gorom (not including villages outside the town):
- 697 households have been displaced by the flood, consisting of 5514 people
- 943 houses, 7 shops, and 20 grain stores have been destroyed by the rain
Our £4000 has not yet been collected, since the post-office at Gorom-Gorom did not have enough cash. The road from the capital is now open however, so Andy and Pastor Daniel hope to get the money on Monday morning. I spoke to the head of the post-office, and he assures me this should be possible.
Christian Aid are also starting a relief effort through their partner in Gorom-Gorom, UCEC-Sahel. Andy and Daniel will be co-ordinating with them. I am in contact with Peace Corps workers Andy and Laura's parents in the US, and we are also in touch with a number of other agencies to look at different possibilities. Andy is working on an estimate of the needs and budget for us to present an action plan to possible partners. Please pray for good communication and co-ordination between us all.
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 17, 2006
The Mission Continues… Part 2: the faithful servants
This is part 2 of a number of posts where I will share a bit about the vision for my continuing work in Burkina, and some thoughts about mission and the church today.
“Joseph” had a dream from God. He is a tailor from the Mossi people, and is a Christian. He used to come to Gorom-Gorom occasionally to work, and would then return his home town. One day he had a dream in which God showed him a pile of money and a Fulani New Testament. God told him to make his choice – would he work for money, or for the word of God among the Fulani? Based on that dream he moved to Gorom, learned the Fulani language, and is using his tailoring business to support himself and his family in sharing the gospel.
“Isaac” is also Mossi, a pastor working in the north of Burkina. There are no local church-goers in his town. Some missionaries helped him start a small grain bank. He buys grain when it is cheap, and when the price rises, he sells it at a slight profit, but below the commercial rate, and keeps some in reserve for people in particular need. Thus he supports himself, brings a little stability to the volatile grain market, and helps those in need. His wife also helps support him by making and selling soap. He has learned one of the local languages, and does evangelism and AIDS awareness seminars in local villages.
“Sambo” is another Mossi pastor who speaks Fulfulde, working in a remote town in the Burkina Sahel, with a handful of poor Christians, in his church, who are unable to support him financially. He works a field, but, as a “foreigner” the land he has been given is poor quality and unproductive. With a loan, he was able to buy some goats which he uses to try and support himself by fattening them up and selling. He barely makes enough to feed his family, and is frustrated that he doesn’t have the time or resources to do more in evangelism or to help the people in need around him.
Missionaries in their own land
As well as local Christians like Yero, there are increasingly some excellent Burkinabe workers in the north of Burkina, guys who are not local to the area, but who have vision, commitment, and ability. They have proved themselves in their faithful service accepting hardship to serve in this difficult area, and could do so much more if they had a little more resource and training. Many of them have learned local language, but their training as pastors has not really been shaped for the cross-cultural pioneering ministry in which they find themselves.
Serving the servers
What they do NOT need is
a) Dependence upon well-meaning but inappropriate western charity, or
b) Western-style ministry training that repeats the cultural compromise of our own failing churches.
However, with a little hand up, and some additional cross-cultural training, I believe they can become even more effective than they are now.
As outsiders to the region, they do sometimes face issues of cultural prejudice from the Fulani, but, as Isaac is discovering, the love that he is showing people is finding a response in people’s hearts and homes. It is probably more possible for these guys effectively to incarnate Christ to the Fulani than it is for us as white missionaries, because we come from – and are seen as being in - positions of influence and wealth, whereas they serve from a position of weakness and simplicity. The question is how can we most effectively work with them to combine our resources with their availability to bring a positive transformation in their communities.
So, the second area in which I want to be involved in the coming “season” is working with these guys to help them find ways to support themselves in their ministry, and to understand and work through the cross-cultural issues they face as Mossi servants among the Fulani, so that they can become more effective as agents of spiritual and social transformation in the places they live.
Part 1 was here. More soon.
Tags: burkina burkina faso church mission jesus christ missionary ministry africa fulani christianity
Continue reading "The Mission Continues… Part 2: the faithful servants"
August 16, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Flooding Update
Background
Update
Thank you to those of you who have already responded. We have just sent out £4000 ($7500) to help with food aid in the immediate aftermath of the flooding. Andy, Daniel and team are planning a food distribution on Monday. That money will help buy food for maybe 200 families for a month, or 400 families for 2 weeks.
Andy and Daniel and team are doing a great job, and we trust them to decide the best way to use the money. Food is the immediate need, as it was already the hungriest time of the year, before the floods hit, destroying the little reserve people had, and taking many away from work they could do to provide for their families.
We are trying to co-ordinate now for finding mosquito nets, tents, blankets, medicines, and clothes. We are also contacting aid agencies in the hope that they may come and help. Please pray as we seek to find the best response. Any financial help you can give us will also be well-received.
Pastor Pascal
This photo shows Pascal and his wife before the flood, with their home on the left, and their church on the right. This has now all disappeared, washed away by the rain. I spoke to Pascal yesterday - he has found somewhere to stay, and was more concerned about the people sleeping under the stars with no shelter in the middle of rainy season. He asks for your prayers for everyone.
At the same time, people still need rain - the rains started late this year, and so need to continue until the end of September for any hope of a reasonable harvest. Please pray for this, but also that everyone can find shelter quickly. Thank you.
More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here
Background information on Gorom-Gorom here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
One finger cannot milk a cow
My Fulani friend from Burkina Faso, Diallo Boureima, has just been to spend the night during his "Round-Britain Sponsored Bike Ride".
It has been great having Boureima to stay - although a bit confusing, as we kept switching between English, French, and Fulfulde...
Fulani Ministries
Boureima lives in the UK at present with his English wife Susanna, and runs the organisation Fulani Ministries, which aim to share the Good News of Christ among his people, the Fulani, as well as relieve poverty and promote education. He is currently doing the bike ride to raise awareness and money for this ministry, and stopped off with me on his way through Cardiff.
They are doing a lot of good work, including radio ministry - one of the main areas Fulani Ministries is involved in. They also partner with other individuals and organisations working among the Fulani. The work among the Fulani - as in all the work of the kingdom of God - requires different kinds of ministry by different people. One of the things that has encouraged me in the Fulani work in Burkina is how different denominations and ministries seek to work together and respect and encourage each other's ministries, rather than compete.
The Body of Christ
In the body of Christ, we are not all the same, but we do need each other, and the work will not be done by just one kind of ministry or church. Rather than criticising and judging and excluding those who do things differently from us, why can't we seek to respect each other and the necessity and complimentarity of different approaches and ministries...? It will take all of us to do the job.
As the Fulani proverb says:
"Honndu wooturu birataa nagge."
One finger cannot milk a cow.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina ministry fulani bike sponsored bike ride proverbs
August 15, 2006
Update on Gorom-Gorom floods
Update
Background
The floods in Gorom have finally made the news - even if it is only in the African media - a week after they happened. You can read more here (English) and here (in French).
Local press in Burkina reports the number of households affected as 877 in Gorom-Gorom. The UN reports the number of people made homeless as 6000 in Gorom, and 4000 in 15 villages to the north of the town.
Injuries and deaths have remained very low, which is a cause for thanks - had the rains come at night when people were asleep inside, these would have been much higher.
Aid Situation
Andy Kostrub of Peace Corps in Gorom-Gorom says: "So far, 10 metric tons of grain, 100 mats, and 100 blankets have been distributed by CONASUR, a government food security agency, to people staying at the shelters. The grain was exhausted within one day." Contributions have also from religious and other organisations, but the total being inadequate to the need. "Action Sociale could not specify any other aid that was on the way, though he said he was in contact with Christian Aid and had received a call from UNICEF. We gather that they are waiting for the international community to act."
"The immediate needs are for food, medicine, mosquito nets, and tents."
Impact of the floods
This photo shows how the water erodes the base of the mud-brick house, causing it eventually to collapse.
"This time of year is normally the hungry season and the peak time for malaria and bronchitis. We expect that disease and hunger will be exacerbated by the displacement and loss of wealth and livelihood brought by the flood. One nurse at the health district is concerned that there has not been a coordinated effort to look after health and hygiene conditions at the places of refuge."
"Electricity, water pumps, telephone, and cell phone service are all functional."
The effect on fields and this year's harvest is not yet clear. Andy is not aware of great problems, but the UN says: "Local authorities reckon the floods will have wiped out harvests affecting thousands of farmers in and around Gorom-Gorom."
Response
I am liaising with Andy and the local pastor, Daniel Kabore of Gorom-Gorom Assemblies of God. Andy says: "We plan on coordinating with the Assembly of God church to do our part in the relief effort. We would like to help assure that emergency supplies reach those in need. Therefore, we’re asking those who are in Ouaga to let us know about the current availability of tents, mosquito nets, blankets, mats, bidons, buckets, clothing, soap, bleach, and medicine for sale or donation, or where we might go looking for them. We are soliciting donations of medicines for treating malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea, and basic medical supplies such as alcohol, cotton swabs, syringes, antiseptic and antibiotics. We anticipate that the church will soon be able to accept money donations to purchase and transport food and supplies."
You can send donations through World Horizons (see here ), the organisation I work with, and we will make sure they arrive promptly.
This photo shows how, with typical sahelian resilience, Gorom people carry on normal life and business as they, at the same time, clear up the mess.
The photos here were taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers - more photos of the flood damage can be found here
Background information on Gorom-Gorom here
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 13, 2006
ALERT - Flooding Makes Thousands Homeless In Gorom-Gorom
This page is being updated regularly.
Three people have died, and thousands made homeless following flooding around my "second home" of Gorom-Gorom.
What Happened
About 8 000 people in the region of Gorom-Gorom in northern Burkina Faso have lost their homes because of severe flooding. In Gorom itself, about 700 households were lost, affecting about half of the 12 000 population of the town. Roughly another 200 households in villages outside of Gorom were also destroyed. Many of the people affected are now sheltering in schools or with nearby family.
The disaster struck following a large rain, when 136cm (5.5")of rain fell (nearly half the normal year's rainfall) in 6 hours. A dam broke about 5 miles away, and a tide of water waist-high swept through the region. Several nearby villages were completely destroyed, as well as about half of the houses in Gorom-Gorom. Most houses are built of mud, and would have been simply washed away by the onslaught of water.
Only 3 people have died that we are aware of, fortunately. This is largely because the disaster happened during the day. If it had happened at night, when people were asleep in their houses, the losses would have been much higher.
The water largely flowed away from Gorom within the first two days, but the main road is still virtually impassable, and will remain difficult for the rest of the rainy season. Although health risks have been exacerbated, these are not extreme. It seems that fields and animals have not been badly impacted, but that many small businesses may have lost their stock.
Immediate needs
The immediate need is for food, mosquito nets, soap, buckets, clothing, medicines, mats, tents, and blankets. Mosquito nets are very important as the rains bring mosquitos, which carry malaria. Malaria kills nearly 1 million people in Africa each year.
An initial budget estimate for the immediate response to the crisis in Gorom-Gorom and area is about $170,000 (about £90,000) for everything for 700 households in Gorom-Gorom, and 200 in the surrounding area. This is for food, temporary shelter, and household provisions (blankets, medicines, mats, mosquito nets, clothes etc). We are looking for all the help we can get.
Food can be bought in Gorom-Gorom, and most of the rest of these items can be bought in the capital, Ouagadoudou. The tents or plastic sheets for shelter are the most difficult to get hold of, but are very necessary as the rains continue.
Getting help there is a problem: The only road to Gorom from the capital city remains very difficult throughout the rainy season, but supplies were initially being trucked as far as possible, and food hand carried through chest deep water to the other side, where it was picked up and brought to Gorom.
The village water wells appear to be safe. Sanitation and health risks have been exacerbated but do not appear to be extreme at this time, as the water disperses fairly quickly, and there are dry days often between the rains, allowing the ground to dry out.
Longer-term Needs
The main needs will start after the end of the rainy season, helping people re-build not only their homes, but also their livelihoods:
* Food Aid. If fields and crops will have been affected, food aid may be needed throughout the year. The rains started late this year, and the rains need to carry on until the end of Sep for a reasonable harvest.
* Housing. A simple mud-brick house costs about £100 ($200). However, this is not possible immediately, as it is virtually impossible to build mud-brick houses in the rainy season, which runs from July-Sep. There is also the question as to whether people should build in mud again. Certainly local people will not be able to afford to build for themselves, and even if they could, building in cement would be beyond their means.
* Livelihood. I suspect that people will have lost not only possessions and homes and fields, but possibly their businesses too, and there will be need to help people re-build their lives and communities.
Response
I am liaising with a small group composed of the local pastor (Daniel), an American volunteer worker (Andy), and a local nurse (Altine), who are looking at the best way to respond.
Our initial help has been in Food Aid Distribution, on the 25 August and 1 September, through the local church. We are also looking at finding mosquito nets, soap, tents etc for the next phase, and are trying to contact aid agencies who might be able to help. Members of my home church, Glenwood Church, have made a very generous contribution to the work, and Samartian's Purse and Food for the Hungry are also supporting us in our efforts.
A Gorom-Gorom Crisis Committee with village leaders has been organised, to identify priority needs and resources, gather data, get information to the country's government and to public and private aid organizations, and to request needed assistance.
The initial response of local authorities was impressive. The military and police apparently did a great job in bringing food aid in, but circumstances have made consistent distribution difficult. An initial distribution of 10 metric tons of grain, 100 mats, and 100 blankets was made by CONASUR, a government food security agency to those staying in shelters, but this was finished in one day.
We are co-ordinating with the Crisis Committee, but are unaware of any other response at present by local authorities. Christian Aid and the Red Cross are now also responding, and we are liasing with them.
How to Help APPEAL CLOSING
Update: 24 Oct 2006: The appeal for help for the flood relief effort is closing from 31 Oct 2006. If more help is needed for future developments, I will keep you informed.
If you are wish to support other the rest of our work in Gorom-Gorom, please send cheques made payable to World Horizons to:
USA
Burkina Faso Sahel Account
World Horizons
PO Box 17721,
Richmond,
VA 23226
USA
UK
Burkina Faso Sahel Account
World Horizons
North Dock
Llanelli
Carms SA15 2LF
UK
Thank you.
I will keep you updated as I get news. Please pray. Thank you.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
August 12, 2006
My local butcher
Just what it says - my local butcher in Gorom-Gorom. In the villages people rarely eat meat, because it would mean killing one of your own precious animals, which are your security and stock for the future. They are usually only killed on special occasions, such as the arrival of visitors or a religious festival.
In the towns, such as Gorom-Gorom, a few animals are killed - usually goats and sheep, but occasionally a bull or camel - at the slaughter-house each morning, depending on who has animals to sell and is in need of money. Town people can then - if they have the money - buy a handful of meat for the evening meal. On market day, when people come in from the villages, if the market goes well for them, they too may then treat themselves and their children.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos work market meat butcher food
August 10, 2006
Heathrow airport disruption
Well, my flight to Romania today was cancelled because of the disruption at Heathrow caused by the thwarted terrorist threat. This means that I won't be able to join the team from my church, who are already there running a children's camp. Shame.
At the airport, it was of course packed, but when I was there, everyone was quite calm, and at that time most people seemed unaware even of the cause of the delays.
Sorry I don't have any photos. I did ask the nice policeman with the machine gun, but he said photos were not allowed today...
So, it looks like I have a weekend free now to spend in London... Ho-hum.
Tags: terrorism heathrow london airport travel romania airport terror threat
August 09, 2006
The mission continues... Part 1: Yero and co.
This is the first part of a number of posts where I will share a bit about the vision for my continuing work in Burkina, and some thoughts about mission and the church today.
A Fulani Village in Burkina Faso
Saadu, Sambo, and Hamadu lounged on the mats and chairs, Fulani tea bubbling away in the background, and listened attentively as Yero told a story. It was a story about two Fulani men travelling with their cows, and a dilemma that arose. I could see the listeners getting involved as they pictured themselves in the situation of the herders in the story.
"What do you think?" asked Yero, "What should they do?"
An animated debate started. After a while, everyone looked at Yero, and asked what he thought, as the originator of the dilemma. And Yero began to talk about the teachings of Iisaa Almasiihu - Jesus Christ. Everyone became quiet again, and listened attentively once more...
Yero used to be a Muslim religious teacher. But finally it was in Christ that he found the forgiveness, grace, and truth that he had been looking and striving for. It was in the Quran that he first came across Jesus, and it was the honour given to Jesus there that first drew him to look more at Christ. He is thankful for his background in Islam that led him to Christ, but he knows his hope is in the one who died and rose again, and he longs for his family and friends to know this same life-changing encounter.
As I listened to Yero, I knew that I would never be able to share the good news of Christ, nor incarnate the life of the kingdom of God to the Fulani anywhere near as well as Yero does among his own people. I resisted the temptation to teach him the "4 spiritual laws" - his Fulani parables were a much more powerful way of getting people to engage with the story and message of Christ, and explore what the kingdom of God might look like among the Fulani.
Be careful how you build
Small though the Fulani church there is, it is maturing, and there are people like Yero who are exploring what shape that church will take as they tell the story of Christ within the Fulani context. The church of Christ and the ministry of the kingdom of God must be built on local people like Yero, and not on expat missionaries. They are able to relate the message and life of the kingdom to their people in a way unencumbered by the cultural, economic, and spiritual baggage that we bring from our western context.
Of course, they have their own challenges, as they seek to work through how the kingdom of God relates to their own cultural and religious heritage. One of the things I want to do is to try and help people like Yero work through those issues, and find ways forward that are genuinely Christian, and genuinely Fulani - without being corrupted by a western cultural approach that has become so tainted by our individualism, consumerism, and rationalism.
Tags: burkina burkina faso church mission jesus christ missionary ministry africa fulani christianity
Continue reading "The mission continues... Part 1: Yero and co."
August 06, 2006
What a difference a week makes in Burkina Faso
The death of Joseph Sankara, father of former president Thomas Sankara,this week has added to a week already full of emotive memories for Burkina Faso.
Yesterday, August 5th, was Burkina Faso's Independance Day. On Aug. 5, 1960, Upper Volta, as it was then called, achieved full independence from France, and the country is therefore just 68 days older than me! The new president Maurice Yameogo inherited an impoverished country that had lacked the kind of investment France had given to neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire, and he was later deposed in a coup in 1966.
The day before, Friday August 4th, was the anniversary of the "Popular Revolution" that brought the remarkable Thomas Sankara to power in 1983, and of the changing of the country's name to Burkina Faso ("Land of Honourable Men") in 1984. Thomas Sankara, "Africa's Che Guevara", was committed to social welfare, women's rights, and eradicating corruption. His rule was however at times somewhat extreme, and he was eventually deposed himself by the current president, Blaise Compaore. He was killed during that coup.
Thomas Sankara is today remembered with popular affection, and the death of his father Joseph, aged 85, on Friday August 4th, the same day as the anniversary of the revolution, must have been particularly poignant for the population. The death of Joseph Sankara has been noted in several of the country's newspapers, including Sidwaya , and l'Observateur.
Tags: africa burkina burkina faso thomas sankara independance coup upper volta
The Mission Continues...
Thank you to all those who prayed for my re-commissioning last Sunday. The time went very well, and I was blessed and encouraged also by friends and family who came from various parts of the country.
No, that's not me on the motorbike...
And no, my new season of mission does not involve burning up Fulani huts with a fire-powered motorbike...
More soon.
Continue reading "The Mission Continues..."
August 02, 2006
Blessed is the man who is happy in his work
This guy's work is plastering mud onto a mud-brick wall, providing some protection to stop the wall being eroded by the rain. It's a job that needs re-doing regularly as the mud "plaster" of course also gets eroded.
He probably gets about 60p ($1)/day for this job. Scarcely enough to feed a family.
So why is he so happy...?
Ever wonder if we are missing something...?
