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March 30, 2007
Wonderful People
These are some of the wonderful people we have been able to build homes following the flood.
It has been a real privilege to get to know them more, and to be able to help a little those who receive such a raw deal and who genuinely needed help. There are so many more people we would have liked to have helped.
Each person has their story.
This is Hama, who I have known for ages, a genuinely nice guy. He still works, walking round town selling stuff, in spite of his age and his deteriorating sight. He had no land to build on, but the mayor of Gorom-Gorom gave him a plot. It was such a thrill to see him getting his own place.
This is Mamadou, one of the people who had the woodless constructions Here he is speaking at the Ceremony of the Keys just before I left. Mamadou nearly didn't get his house, as their was confusion about where it should be built. But again, the mayor helped us sort things out.
One of the biggest frustrations for me in rushing around taking care of the building work, was that I didn't have enough time just to sit and chat more with them. Hopefully when I am next back there, I will be able to do that. Here are photos of most of the others, most of them standing in front of their new homes. Please pray for them, that God will bless them in their new homes, and give them his peace in Christ.
Continue reading "Wonderful People"
March 26, 2007
Sophie and the Locust Curse
Steve's new children's book "Sophie and the Locust Curse" is in the shops!
Set around Gorom-Gorom in Burkina Faso, this is the continuing adventure of Sophie, her Fulani friend Gidaado, and her white camel called Chobbal. They first made an impressive appearance in "Sophie and the Albino Camel" which won the Glen Dimplex New Writers Award in the Children's Book Category. It is a story aimed at children of 8+.
Read a Chapter!
For those who want a taste, you can read a chapter at Steve's website by clicking this link. It tells of Sophie and Gidaado racing on Chobbal the camel through Gorom-Gorom market!
Both "Locust Curse" and "Albino Camel" are available at Amazon.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina books childrens books sahel camel
March 23, 2007
Woodless Construction
Woodless construction is an approach to building in the sahel that uses traditional building techniques to build houses entirely out of mud, including the roof. Such houses save on scarce wood, encourage local industry by using local skills and materials, and provide good internal comfort, staying warm in cold season, and cool in hot season.
This is one of the house models we used in Gorom-Gorom when rebuilding for people after the flood in 2006. I also had one built in my yard as part of the Gorom-Gorom ministry centre. Steve also hopes to build the radio station in this style.
The walls are solidly built, and exactly measured for the position of each brick. Using a metal pivot for the positioning, grooves are then carved in the walls, and specifically-made smaller bricks are then placed solidly in to begin to form the domed roof. The smaller bricks are also used to make the "lintel" over the doorway.
The roof is built up layer by layer, carefully following the exact positioning of the pivot. The roof is strong enough for people to climb on top
This is the woodless construction I had built in my yard. The roof is finished, and just the doors, windows, and plastering remain to be done. On the right is a view of the roof from inside.
For more information about woodless construction, see the website of the Development Workshop, with whom we worked to build these houses.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina flood building woodless construction sahel emergency housing aid
March 22, 2007
Whatever Happened to Keith March 2007
Continue reading "Whatever Happened to Keith March 2007"
March 19, 2007
Bono on God's heart for the poor
Bono speaking when receiving an award from the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in the US. From Tod at It Takes A Church.
Tags: bono justice poverty god
March 16, 2007
Djibo Radio
Please continue to pray for Steve as he works on getting the Radio Station started in Djibo.
They have produced a provisional programme schedule. The paperwork is handed in, and they have started building a wall around the land they have acquired for the station. He has also had plans drawn up for theradio station itself, using the woodless construction model that we used for some of the houses in Gorom.
The radio station dossier is now in the hands of those who will make the decision as to whether they get the right to broadcast. It will be a great means of bringing God's blessing to the sahel region around Djibo. Please pray that God opens the way. Thank you.
The photos show Steve recording local music. The top photo is a griot, who recites genealogies to the accompaniement of the traditional Fulani one-stringed guitar. The bottom photos show him recording Aisata and friends singing as they pound the millet, then playing back the recording to Aisata.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina radio radio station sahel djibo
March 12, 2007
Happy Birthday Mum !
Mum was 70 this weekend, and we had a little celebration for her, with family and friends from across the years.
March 07, 2007
Over the sea to Skye
Having a lovely time. Wish you were here...
Tags: scotland skye travel photos
March 01, 2007
Home again, home again, jiggetty-jig
So, I'm back in the UK again for a while. Cold and damp, but green, and nice to see the sea again.
It has been a really busy and very exciting time in Burkina over these last 4 months. I haven't been able to tell you the half of it because of the busy-ness and because of the lack of good internet access - I still don't have electricity or a phone line in Gorom-Gorom. Hopefully over the next few months I will be able to tell you more and also to answer the many emails that await replies...
Working there from here
I plan to return to Burkina next around June or July. In the meantime I will, of course, still be working for the progress of the ministry there, as this new phase takes shape more and more. I will be keeping in touch with developments in Gorom as there are many exciting things happening there. Thanks to those of you who have given mobile phones - this makes it so much easier for me to contact Seydou and the pastors there.
In particular, I will also be working to try and establish partnerships between churches in the UK, France, US, etc and the pastors in the north of Burkina. I see this as a means not only to serve and empower the church in Burkina in its mission to the unreached and needy there, but also for us to learn from them spiritual realities that challenge us in the spiritually-sapping busyness, independance and consumerism of our lives in the so-called "developed" west.
I will be travelling quite a bit so if you would like me to come and speak at your church, or are interested in meeting up, please get in touch.
Website & Blog
My website needs some updating, and I will hopefully also be able to start blogging more, so check back regularly. You may have noticed I have opened the comments again. I closed them while in Burkina because of comment spam. I'll be keeping an eye on this to see whether I need to do something more to manage comments, but please take the opportunity to say hi! Is there anything in particular you would like me to write about?
First things first
First however, I have been told by my church leaders that they are forcing me to take a holiday! So, I'm off to Scotland today for a few days, then will see if I can afford to go somewhere a bit further afield for a bit.
See you soon!
