Learning French and New Friends

Although I have had 3 years of French in high school and 1 year of French in college, that was about 20 years ago, somewhere in the recesses of my mind, and I have studied Swahili since then. Learning a language in class and actually speaking a language are two totally different things. I knew that it would be difficult to pick up my French again, but had been encouraged by many people that it would come back. Well, it is coming back, little by little thankfully, but I have so far to go. My main goal in learning French is to be able to communicate the good news to those I come into contact with, not an easy task. The trouble with learning French in Bamako is that even though this is the capital city, not many people here speak French so finding people to practice with, which is necessary to learn to speak the language, is difficult to do.

This week, Judy M. who knows about my struggle, met a lady in the market who spoke French. She told her about me and asked her if it would be possible for her to come to our house so that I could take her home and practice with her. She agreed. I have met with her 3 times now and will go again in the morning to her home to speak with her and the others who live in her compound.

When we met her, we had no idea that this woman lives in the same compound as a man who teaches English at a high school and his conversational English is excellent. Each time I go, we schedule our time so that the English teacher is there. We sit in the courtyard and all speak French with each other. There are usually 4 of us who sit together and chat. Myself, the teacher, the market lady and a truck driver from Burkina Faso. An interesting combination, but I have grown in a very short time to love them.

The conversations vary and each of us have a different level of French, which makes it interesting. I have been pr*ying that I would have the opportunity to tell my new friends more about why I am here and tonight I had that opportunity. As we were talking, the English teacher asked what I had done before coming here. My reply was that I was an English teacher and a teller of stories. He asked, "Stories about what?" My reply, "Stories from the B*bl*, about G*d and J*s*s." The conversation went from there. I found out that my friend has a B*bl* in French, and had gone to ch*rch often growing up with some believing friends. His favorite part of the B*bl* is the book of John.

Suddenly he began quoting the first verse of the first chapter of John and I began translating in English. In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with G and the W is G. Amazing! We talked about what that meant and then he said, there is a passage that no one has been able to explain to me and maybe you can. (Does this sound like any other stories from G's word? Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch?) So, he turned to the end of John 15 and asked, "Who is this talking about?" In this passage, J is telling His followers that the HS reveals the truth about G and J and that He will send the HS to the world after He leaves. Try explaining the trinity in two languages to a non-believing, folk M*sl*m. Not an easy task.

The teacher and I talked for a good while about many things and he finished by saying, "I am not a M*usl*m and I'm not a C, but of the two books (the K*r**n and the B*bl*) I'd have to say that the B makes more sense to me and I believe it."

As I was leaving tonight, after they fed me my first Malian meal, they asked me why I was 34 and not married. I am going in the morning to answer that question. In Mali, well in African society, being my age and not married makes no sense at all. This provides great opportunity for G to display His glory and grace in an amazing way.

Please pr*y for these wonderful people that I am meeting with, that the Father would open their eyes to see Him as King and worthy of w*rsh*p. Pr*y that the HS that the teacher and I spoke about, would come to him and the others and reveal to them the truth about the Father and about His S*n.

Meeting with followers of the Way

I went to my first meeting on Sunday morning where there was a gathering of followers of the Way. The men sat on the left, women and children on the right. We started with pryr, much pryr and singing of a variety of songs. Sometimes we stood but often we sat even while singing. The meeting was in 2 languages, French and Bambara. Since there were many American guests, and a visiting speaker from Niger, the message was translated into English. We were thankful to be able to gain some understanding from the meeting which lasted about 2 1/2 hours.

The building we met in was concrete with open windows and doors so that air could circulate well. There were ceiling fans to help give a breeze (it was only in the mid-90's), and wooden benches for us to sit on. The speakers and musicians used microphones with a sound system turned up very loud. The noise attracted children on the street who came and stood at the door to watch, listen and wave at the strange looking visitors (that would be us).

We were greeted warmly by all who attended and welcomed to come again. It's amazing to know that our Father has called people to Himself from all people groups, tribes, tongues and nations and it is even more amazing to see and experience it firsthand. Just a small part of what we will experience around the throne one day.

A new home

I left Louisville about 3:30 on Wed, Oct 7 and arrived in Mali sometime after 8 pm on Thurs, Oct 8. We (a group of 5 of us traveling together from the States) each went separate directions getting settled into our new homes. For one in our group it's his temporary home, he'll be traveling on Monday to his new home in a village about 3 hours from here.

It has been a whirlwind since our arrival. Friday morning the 4 of us staying in Bamako began our orientation. We started with basic knowledge about our supervisors and Bamako, then went out to a grocery store and to a birthday party that evening where we were able to meet other folks working in our company.

Saturday morning we started out by going to the market to buy some veggies and fruit and practing French and Bambara greetings. Sights, smells, and sounds found at African markets cannot be replicated. It is a world of dirt floors, open sky, tables set one next to the other, colorful clothing, small children running, fruits, veggies, and other items lying everywhere just waiting to be bought by someone.

Greetings are the primary part of market life and are heard on every side..."How is your morning?" "How is your family?" "How is your day?" From the greetings, friendships blossom. Friendships that hopefully will result in the sharing of the good news, the most important news that we can share.

I am thankful to be settling in and getting to know more about my new home.