Thanksgiving....almost

With Thanksgiving just right around the corner, I started to think about what I am thankful for so far here in Mali. So, I thought I might write this week about some of my favorite things and I also wanted to write about some things that have happened to me or that I see here that I think are funny and you might too.

My tire started going flat last week so I drove to a place where I know they patch tires to get it fixed. This "place" that I am talking about is just a little stand on the side of the road with some tires laying next to it and some guys either sitting around talking or fixing tires. The funny part of this experience was that in order for them to fix the flat, I had to tell them where to put the jack, put it together, and show them how to use it.

Some of you might know that I have had problems getting my thyroid medication here (still working on that problem). I was worried about that so the second week I was here I went to the Pharmacist to see what I could get locally. After talking with the Pharmacist, he said, "Let me go and look something up on the computer. I'll be back in a few minutes." Completely reasonable so we sat down and waited for him to return. In a few minutes, he was back with papers in hand that he had printed off the internet. He handed the papers to me and explained, "If you ever need to know if two medications are the same, all you have to do is Google (pronounced Goo-gell) them." Then he proceeded to explain how to use Google to me. This was very sweet and he was being so nice and helpful that I never told him that I knew how to use Google already. It was only when we got in the vehicle that I started laughing. Now, at any opportunity possible, we reference that something can be looked up on Goo-gell.

I love the fact that I can get almost anything that I need at a store within walking distance from my home. A few weeks ago, Judy and I needed to buy minutes for our phones. We had forgotten, but as we stopped at a stop sign a man thrust some at our car window. We were so thankful that we were reminded to buy the cards and we didn't even have to leave our vehicle to do it. You can also order fruit and veggies from you car at the side of the road too. It gives a whole new meaning to "fast food".

I love that I can wear sandals year round. I love that the temperature is not in the 30's, or even the 40's or 50's. I get cold in the 60's so the nights are perfect right now. I am dreading April and May though when the temps get super high and stay there, but I'm thankful for not having goosebumps and static electricity in my hair.

I love that I have national friends who call me part of their family and miss me when I don't come to visit them. And I'm thankful for M friends who come to check on me when I'm sick and make me soup and stay with me to make sure that I'm ok.

I love the example of nationals who use and reuse everything that they can and are creative in doing it. For nationals who are thankful for food, and who are helpful in language learning and forgiving when I make cultural mistakes. Who spend hours helping and are not frustrated by my slowness in catching on.

I love the children who flock to me on the street wherever I go and their curious smiles as they greet me and shake my hand. I am thankful for the kindness of the people I have met here and burdened for them to know the reason why I have come. I am thankful that the language is coming slowly but surely in hopes that one day soon, I will be able to proclaim fully and completely the message I was sent to bear.

I am thankful for a family who was willing to let me go and able to put the desire of our Father above the desires of their hearts. I am thankful for technology that has allowed me to see my nephew without his two front teeth and my neice's pumpkin that she decorated with a picture of Africa for Halloween. That is amazing to me and makes this much easier. That same technology allows me to stay connected with the lives of friends who have encouraged me more than they know.

But most importantly, this year, I am thankful for the One who sent me and the message that He gave me to bring. I hope that I will be able to proclaim Him the way He deserves to be proclaimed so that those here might be thankful that I came.

Hairdo and Friends

So, many of you asked me what I was going to do about getting my hair cut here in Mali. In fact, there were many of you who were worried about that for me. So, I wanted to show you what I had done to my hair yesterday. The market lady that I have been meeting with was so excited about doing my hair that I finally agreed to let her do it. She had been working on it for about an hour when one of her friends came by...we were on the street, by the way, when she was doing this. Her friend said a few things to her in Bambara and then took over working on my hair. They took everything out and started over again. So, 5 hours later this is what I looked like....

Is that not crazy??!!!! I have never had my hair braided before (like this) and wasn't really sure what it would look like, but that's actually pretty scary. I agreed to get it done for the sake of the good news and I would have kept it that way for a while just to appease, had my guard not looked so scared when I got home. So, you know where I am going...my hair did not look that way today. Sorry to all those who are disappointed in me. At least I tried it.

I also wanted you to see the group of kids (it always seems to grow) who greet me outside of my house and walk with me for a portion of the way to wherever I am going each day. They were so excited when I took their pictures today. I need to find a place where I can print them out so that they can have some of these. They always want to carry my things for me and if anyone gets left out of carrying something they cry. So usually I have to pull things out of bags to make sure that each child has a little something to carry. Oh, and I have taught them my name so that when they see me, instead of screaming out white person, they now scream out my name. I like that much better!