thoughts

There have been a lot of things that I've learned while in Africa: some good and some bad, some I'm happy I've learned and some I could have been fine with out, some things that will last a lifetime and some that will fade away tomorrow. All that aside I think that biggest thing that I've learned is on family.

Everyone says that the family in Africa is so different then the family in America, to that I say yes and no. My family reminds me a lot of an African family. Not the color, the food, the house, etc. but the heart, the hospitality, the closeness, the care, and more. Through out my whole life I've been closer with my family then the average family, yes we had a bouts here and there, but all that aside my mom is one of my best and closest friend to this day. There is no one who has caught more tears, sewn more dresses, played more games, taught more lessons, listened to more plans, and everything else then my mom. My family opens their arms and doors to those who need love and care. We always have big dinner where that you show up to not knowing who is going to be there because everyone is invited. We are tight, even in our distance, we are close at heart. Our love for Christ binds us together and we can't be broken.

On another note, my church family has been there through thick and thin with my family. We have gone through so many things. Some people have help me as a tiny baby and prayed over me as I left for Mali. I was and the flower girl, babysitter, cleaner, and more to many people. When something happens, we can count on our church family to be there..

Those two things in my life reflect exactly what the African family holds here. It looks the same from the outsiders view, but the thing that make that American family different is me. I'm a part of that family. Some one that so deeply misses that family when I'm removed. I long to be there and feel that loving embrace all around me, but the best part is knowing that when I get home they will still be there. Waiting with arms wide open, tears in their eyes, and ready to listen to every story I have to share.

Thank you for creating my American family that I long so much to see!

My family!

jessica's warehouse

Here's What We Did Tonight:
(written by rachel hull)

We went to Jessica's Warehouse. Jessica is a woman from Nigeria who also spend time in the US (was trained as a nurse there) who has started a ministry working with the street kids in Bamako. Many people go around from village to village asking to take kids to Bamako so they can educate them and get them jobs to help support their family. Families send their kids to Bamako where they are sold into slavery. These kids have no way of ever returning to their family and if they are fortunate enough to escape from slavery they are stuck homeless and begging on the street where they fall into drugs and sickness and other dangers. Jessica started her ministry by providing these kids with medicine and food from time to time but has now rented a warehouse, literally, it is just a big garage in the middle of the city with a cement floor and some rugs and 1 tv where anywhere from 25-50 boys can sleep every night. She provides them with food and medicine when they are sick and shelter so they can survive a little easier and stay away from the influence of drugs.

These street kids have no way of better-ing themselves. Most of them have no education at all. They carry around big tomato cans (street kids are called tomato paste kids here) and beg for anything they can get. The ones who Jessica helps at least have a safe place to sleep at night.

While we are here in Bamako we are going to be teaching them to write their numbers and recognize them. Tonight we brought them notebooks where we had put the numbers 1-10 on 10 pages and helped them practice writing them. Some kids got through all 10 in the few hours we were there, others only got through 1 or 2 but all of them were SO excited just to be able to have a notebook and have someone take the time and effort to try and teach them to read.

These boys were so awesome though. They were so happy. And when we left they were all really disappointed because they wanted to keep learning more about writing their numbers. It was cool to see their excitement to be able to learn. They don't have a lot going for them; begging only gets them by from day to day, so it is definitely awesome to be a part of making even just a few moments better for them.

Also- near the end of our visit we started having thumb wars---they go crazy for those! It was hilarious. I think I played about 10 in the last 3 minutes and they are intense (and cheaters!) ;)

Jessica plans on moving them into a house soon. UNICEF has agreed to help her by sending teachers and supplies IF she gets them out of the warehouse and into a house. The house she wants has 12 bedrooms and multiple bathroom and looks like it was made for these kids. It is almost done being built and she is saving money to get it, but it $800 a month and she has no source of income.

Tomorrow we are going back at 1 pm our time hopefully with bread and candy in hand! :)

Rachel helping a boy with his numbers

street boys

Yesterday we went to see the street boys. It was a shocking and speechless experience. They have so little, yet so much. That seems to be that way in third world countries. The boys all shared with each other, what little they had; they looked out for each other and when one got in trouble they confront them; and as well. Tonight we are going back there, so I'm excited for what I'll learn. Hopefully I'll get to take pictures of these boys and the conditions that they live in. The single woman who runs this ministry is Jessica. She is from another African country, who has been educated as a nurse in the States. She is looking to rent a house that will hold up some where between 150 and 200 boys. Right now shes looking to raise support. She needs $700 a month for this project, but since taking care of the boys is her full-time job, she doesn't have any income to pay for the housing or food. As soon as she gets into the house UNICEF will be getting teachers to bring the boys up to their education level, get them beds, and various other things. One thing that she kept emphasizing is that the money that countries send to their country for these boys and they never see the money...that the money gets lost in transition, gets misused, etc.

back to Bamako

Hello everyone! We made is back to Bamako safe a sound. It's a really nice place to be and our travels were smooth, not a problem at all. Pray for us as tomorrow we are meeting with the ministry with the street boys. We will be starting that this week. I'm not sure how many days we will be able to serve there because of the holidays, but please be praying for that ministry as a whole. They are trying to rent a house, as opposed to a store front, which can house a 100 more boys, African style. While we are there we will be trying to teach them the numbers in Bambara, the trade language. Pray that we can have sharp memories of their language and that the boys will be able to grasp simple things like holding a pencil, writing, etc. Also, a praise: I have a babysitting job to come home to! It should help me pay most of my bills, but any more odd jobs would help alot too.

Thanks so much for all your prayers and support! I can definitely feel the love of family, friends, and my church family. I miss you all alot.

Pastor's wife grinding grain