This month I have been thinking a lot about what to share in
my blog. A lot of things have happened this month and I think most people
wouldn’t want to read that much all at once. But how can I just pick one thing
and leave out all the rest? I would be cheating you. I thought about writing 2
blogs, but I haven’t the time. So I will give you the brief and maybe sometime
in the future I can expand on them some.
Since my last blog I have been feeling much better. I was
put on a, no oil, no acid diet and it has done wonders for me. It looks like I
will have to stay on the diet for at least the rest of my time here though.
Because I have been feeling so much better, I have spent 25 days in Tiepogovogo
this month instead of 13 and a half (January). I thank God for his mercy and
guidance through it all.
Since I have been spending so much more time in the village
I have stumbled across things to do there. At the beginning, before I came, I
said that I was going to live like they live, be apart of their lives and
through relationships share the love of Christ. This past month I have seen
this start to take shape. Not only have I been helping with more of the daily
chores, I have been able to visit more people, and even help some people learn
how to read or work on their French. I could probably write a whole blog about
just these things, but in short I can now pound little things for sauce like
peanuts, squash seeds and vegetables. I have even made my own sauce several
times (remember my special diet). I do things like carry my own bucket for
bathing, do my laundry, sit with the women and shell peanuts or seeds. As I
heal and build more strength I am living more and more like they do, and
proving more and more that I view them as equals not as lower than I am (they
tend to hold me in too high regard as a white woman). I get so many comments
when people talk to me and I respond in Nyarafolo (still only simple things) or
they see me doing a village chore for the first time. They say “eh!? You are
becoming Nyarafolo!” I love it! I see God working through it and I am so happy
to be able to help in daily life too. These things make it fun and oh so worth
while!
The last thing I have found to do here is teach in a very
small school. My pastor started a school (like an elementary school) in a
neighboring village some time ago. It only has three teachers for about 120
students (from all of the villages around it) and 6 classes. Everything is
taught in French, which makes it difficult for the students especially because
most of them, when they start, don’t know a single word of French. The eldest
class, when they graduate, will go on to another school where they will start
learning English. My pastor asked me to teach English to these older children so
that they will have an easier time when they get to that point. I will admit, I
don’t really know what I am doing as far as teaching goes, but even just
hearing and seeing English will give them a better shot for success when they
actually start English classes. It is also an awesome opportunity to get to
know these children better and the three teachers as well. “I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me” comes to mind here. :)
I guess none of these things are jaw dropping amazing, or
even all that amazing at all actually, but I am excited because I see my God
moving here, in and through me and in and through the Nyarafolo I have had the
privilege to get to know. God has a lot to do in this little village and I am
overjoyed to be a part of that even if it is in a small way. Oh and I didn’t
even get to share about the conference we had in Tiepogovogo! Maybe next time...
