Homecoming

Yesterday when I arrived home all was safe and sound. I am busy unpacking and organizing when I see this huge lizard run by the front gate. I run out back to where the students live and shout, "hey everyone there is a giant lizard in my yard." They were all laughing. I thought it was dangerous like the big snakes. But the gardener guy came over with the machete. We heard him moving through the grass and Malang starts looking for him. Then the neighbors kids heard we were looking for a moniter lizard and seven of them hop the wall and start the chase. This was entirely amusing. All these kids some on top of the wall, some throwing rocks and sticks at the lizard to die. The lizard finally gave up chase.

Erin and Ish

Snakes around

Whenever we cut the grass the snakes appear! Yuck. Last night the dog started barking wildly as he does in such a way I know there is something wrong. I opened my door a crack to see the snake sitting near my door all curled up. I shout for Erin, "bring me the machete, there's a snake near my door." She comes out machete in hand and I come out with my broom, batting the snake a couple of times. The snake only curled around himself more. I go for the machete. Wack wack wack. He's still moving a bit, the head rears, wack, wack, wack. And it's all over for this snake. Bits and pieces are strewn through the shells near the porch. No tricks for me, the snake will never rise again.

Crabs at the market

The other day Erin came home with a bag full of sea crabs from the market. She had been wanting to buy some and finally there they were in a bucket at the market. 50cfa for three. Now that's about .10 cents for three crabs. What a deal. First we had fun feeding one to the dog and watching him tear off the legs one by one and then carry it off into the bushes for the rest of the kill. We then boiled up four of them for a trial run with Ishmael, Paul, Erin and I. This was great because we didn't actually know how to eat them. Ish showed us the parts that weren't good, according to him most parts were good to eat, including the heart and lung type parts. You can also drink the crabby water inside of you want. I opted out on that. We showed them the art of dipping crab parts in melted butter which was new to them and they thoroughly enjoyed our style. Later in the evening Erin and chowed on the rest of the troupe of crabs. Using hammers and knives to get to the good stuff, covered with table clothes and butter crab parts are still being found around our kitchen.

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light" -- John Keith Falconer

Galatians 5: 25

25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit

Testimonies

In the village of Niablang and old man and his wife made a decision to receive Christ into their lives. It is not often that the Gospel is preached to the elderly and if someone does tell them about Jesus they reply, I am too old to change. This couple was very happy to receive Christ.

Ishmael told us after the teams visit that he wants to be a missionary and go to places in the world that no one else wants to go.

Erin's friend Guingonse was healed of a long illness that was keeping her in pain most of the time and she was unable to go to work.

Photos from Prayer in Kabrousse