Greetings from Koutiala this Wednesday! We had another work day in our respective areas - wiring, insulation, and organizing supplies. It is an amazing place to be.
We in a Malian courtyard today will remain a highlight of our trip. Two years ago the first baby that weighed under two pounds and survive was born at the hospital. That was at the same time that Barb and Jean visited. They checked on this little guy every day and after two and half weeks, they still weren't sure he would survive when left to go home. Vitisiting his isolette everyday, they became friends with the baby's parents. The father happened to speak very good English and a friendship developed. Because the father taught German at the government high school, he had access to email and has emailed over the last two years.
Moussa (father), Ami (mother) and Daouda (baby), met Barb and Jean the first day they visited Mali last year. Ami and Daouda visited the hospital yesterday and invited the ladies to her courtyard this afternoon. We arrived to find a courtyard with many Malian women and children and Ami's brother. We were only there for about 45 minutes, but we had a great time clapping and dancing to African music and playing with the children, blowing bubbles and laughing a lot. Malians love to laugh. The language barrier was great, but smiles, laughter and fun cross all barriers. Ami offered us a wonderful snack of shrimp crackers and a cooked, "pickled" relish tray of traditional Malian vegetables. It was very good. The longer we stayed the more ladies and children showed up, we discreetly counted about 60 people! We presented Daouda with gifts for his second birthday, which included a youth-sized soccer ball, a full-sized soccer ball, some goodies and a couple of outfits. Ami was delighted to accept them on his behalf.
We were sad that Daouda's father could not meet with us. He is in Bamako having some kind of surgery on his sinuses. Perhaps we will see him before we go.
God is good, we have been praying that we will spend time building relationships and being able to meet with Ami again and show her His love is a small part of what we know He is doing in her life. Earl brought a Gideon's Bible written in French, but it is in German, hopefully we will see Moussa before we go and give him the Bible. Perhaps he will use it in his classrom! Isn't God good?
Jean
We in a Malian courtyard today will remain a highlight of our trip. Two years ago the first baby that weighed under two pounds and survive was born at the hospital. That was at the same time that Barb and Jean visited. They checked on this little guy every day and after two and half weeks, they still weren't sure he would survive when left to go home. Vitisiting his isolette everyday, they became friends with the baby's parents. The father happened to speak very good English and a friendship developed. Because the father taught German at the government high school, he had access to email and has emailed over the last two years.
Moussa (father), Ami (mother) and Daouda (baby), met Barb and Jean the first day they visited Mali last year. Ami and Daouda visited the hospital yesterday and invited the ladies to her courtyard this afternoon. We arrived to find a courtyard with many Malian women and children and Ami's brother. We were only there for about 45 minutes, but we had a great time clapping and dancing to African music and playing with the children, blowing bubbles and laughing a lot. Malians love to laugh. The language barrier was great, but smiles, laughter and fun cross all barriers. Ami offered us a wonderful snack of shrimp crackers and a cooked, "pickled" relish tray of traditional Malian vegetables. It was very good. The longer we stayed the more ladies and children showed up, we discreetly counted about 60 people! We presented Daouda with gifts for his second birthday, which included a youth-sized soccer ball, a full-sized soccer ball, some goodies and a couple of outfits. Ami was delighted to accept them on his behalf.
We were sad that Daouda's father could not meet with us. He is in Bamako having some kind of surgery on his sinuses. Perhaps we will see him before we go.
God is good, we have been praying that we will spend time building relationships and being able to meet with Ami again and show her His love is a small part of what we know He is doing in her life. Earl brought a Gideon's Bible written in French, but it is in German, hopefully we will see Moussa before we go and give him the Bible. Perhaps he will use it in his classrom! Isn't God good?
Jean
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ReplyDeletePraise God for the experience of meeting with friends in Mali. That's so cool to hear how God is answering your prayers and helping you to build lasting relationships in Mali! I sure would love to learn French and Bambara so that I could communicate better with the Malians! I'm sure that if God wants me to learn those languages, He will make it happen!
ReplyDeleteI pray that God will give you an opportunity to see Moussa before you leave Mali!
And, in answer to your last question...GOD IS AWESOME!