Plain Pizza

Last night’s Cinema Night was a major hit! There were close to 80 kids that came to see Disney’s Camp Rock. I have never seen this, but it wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. Let’s just say that Disney has really changed its style since I was a kid. Anyway, Cinema Night is a fundraiser for the school, and it costs 1,000 CFA or franks which is Burkina money. 500 CFA is equal to about one US dollar. I don’t know why it was so hard for me to comprehend this the last time I was here. Maybe because I didn’t have Math for Teachers yet. Haha! Anyways, 1,000 CFA includes the movie and unlimited juice boxes and popcorn. I think that most of the kids came for the food because it was a constant flow till both were gone. The high schoolers all chat and text each other. Then, afterwards Sheila and I cleaned up a room that looked like a dirty movie theatre. I am in awe that she does this whole thing every other week by herself. It was fun, but it is a lot of work. She is a great woman.

Today has been a day full of Burkina wonderfulness! I slept in to about 9:30 AM when I heard Rosie, the Labrador, bark. I think she is black; however, she is permanently stained red from the dust here. She sounds vicious but she is a sweetheart. Playing with her makes me miss Lexie. I bet that she is about the size of a pony about now. By the time I return, I suspect she will be a horse. I got my share of picking her up before I left because this wont be possible when I go home. Wow…off track! I had about two hours just to get some reading and emailing done this morning which was really nice. Then, Sheila and I just lounged around in the living room until around 3pm. We then went to another part of Ouaga which is more the business part of the city. This is where most of the hotels are located and also where the Presidential Palace is located. I remember the feeling I had last time I came when I saw these beautiful buildings. It is hard to see a corrupt government making good money when its people are starving. Sheila drove us to a furniture store in this area called Orca. The furniture was beautiful and reminded me of a regular store in the US except more original and exquisite pieces that looked African. Sheila wanted to get me a dresser for my “underwear.” I told her that I was okay with my suitcases, but she insisted and picked out a colorful dresser that I like a lot. We will get it on Monday. Then, she took me to what would be a dollar store in Burkina. To get there we had to walk through a market area where there were tons of people crowded around selling things. When Sheila and I walked up, we were bombarded and were being asked to buy even men’s clothing. These people are true salesmen…they don’t take no for an answer. Haha. We made it to the store, and Sheila bought me an alarm clock, and she picked up a few more things. It was fun to see what Burkina had as far as household items. We then headed home and lounged around again for awhile till John finished his first tennis lesson. I got to talk to a few friends on Gtalk which was really nice. We left for dinner around 7:45pm. We decided to make it a pizza night since there is a good place close to the school which is only about 2 miles away. It gets dark here really early because of the dust in the air. We ate at a pizza place across from the happening university bar. There were probably 300 college aged Burkinabe partying it up. Music was super loud but exciting since I love African music. I had a Margarita pizza….plain cheese….yum. A lot of food here has a little something extra in it, so I was glad to have my plain food. (Dauthan, I hope you are reading this)! While we were eating, bugs were attacking us. I think they realized there was some new blood in town. I learned quick last time here that you must cover up your bottles of pop (sprite, coke, and fanta…the three main sodas that are everywhere here) otherwise flies or other bugs are soon floating. At every meal, our food is covered before, during, and after with a plate to avoid this, too…even in the refrigerator. So, tonight I covered my sprite bottle, but I didn’t think to cover my glass. A big winged bug flew in. I grabbed it with my finger and threw it on the ground. Sheila said that you can always tell someone who is in Africa for the first time because they always freak out when a bug gets in their drink and then dump it on the ground. I guess I passed the Africa test!

Night driving in Ouagadougou—if possible—is even crazier than during the daytime. I really cannot explain in words what driving is like here; it is something that you have to see to believe. There are electric stoplights like in the US; however, they are kind of like those stOPTIONAL stop signs in the US on back roads. People just go when they want. Then, there is a little curb size blocking on the edge of the road where mopeds and bicycles drive. Mopeds also drive on the main road. Mopeds weave in and out of traffic and just pull in front of you if there is room. It is nothing to see donkeys pulling a wagon of sand on the main road, too. Pulling onto this road in the morning is a great sight because everyone is up and getting around. The bicyclists are riding as fast as possible…and some are booking it! Then, there are the women…in dresses…with a baby tied to their backs…carrying a purse on their shoulders…driving a moped. Women are also walking around the side street carrying a bucket full of about 100 bananas on their head. There are also the people at each stoplight. The men are selling phone cards that add minutes to cell phones. Most people buy these during the light…a quick exchange. The other people are the little children who beg for money. Everyone comes right to your window and if one person in the car says no, they go to the next window. The children break your heart. I have been really touched by Sheila because she has a drawer in her car that she keeps loose change. The few times kids have come to our car to ask for money, she quickly gets out a coin and says hello to the child. They are so excited over these few cents. Just the thought that this is their life is so sad and upsetting. These kids should be able to school and learning so that their kids don’t have to ask for money someday. However, even the public school costs too much money for several here. How we take education for granted. Another tangent I know…This road that I have been talking about is the main road which is paved, and then everything else is rough, dirt roads. Dad….I never want to hear you complain about me watching out for those little potholes….those are nothing! I have seen how much a car can really take! Haha! One teacher from the school asked me if I was going to get a moped while I was here, and I said, “No, I want to go home in December.” I would seriously be scared to death to drive here.

Well, here I have a book again. I hope that you are all doing well. Thanks to those of you who have emailed. I love hearing how you are all doing. I have now been here one week. My time here is going to go by fast. I am SO excited about going to church tomorrow morning with Pete and Alice. I cannot wait to be back in this church and to see some precious people. God is so good to let me return to this country!

I started a Bible study called, Experiencing the Heart of Jesus by Max Lucado. This first week is about how much God cares for us. I have a lot of thoughts about this but for sake of time, I want to leave you with a verse that I came upon today and was excited about….

“The person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for.” 1 Corinthians 8:3 NLT
Why would we not pour our hearts out to the Father who loves us so much? Rest in His love!