KVILLE or bust

07.02.2006

Our village…


…Family
“Papa” Dugutigi (means Chief) – Mama (Dugutigi’s 2nd wife)
Ma Fatimata, Ma Karefa
“Older bro”- “Sister” (Older bro’s wife)
“Older Sister”, “Big sister”, “Grand sister”
“Big bro”, “Lil bro”, “Lil’ man”

…Life in the beginning…
Aside from Big bro, Lil bro and Grand sister, we didn’t really hang out with anyone else, and mostly just sat with the chief and watched everyone else go about their business. We did spend some time with Sister but after our first couple days she left to go visit her family for a couple weeks. And when she was home she was very busy doing everything at the compound.

While Sister was gone Big sister came to help out. She was happy to meet us but later on her and the other women didn’t seem too happy to have us sticking around since us being there meant adding to their work load. We tried to help but we didn’t know how to do the things the way they do plus they think we’re too fragile so they don’t let us. They’re all pretty kind to us but our conversations didn’t usually go beyond the greetings and a few words now and then when they would tell us to sit in the shade or sit with the chief, or bro. I was feeling bad for being an inconvenience to them, even if they didn’t say so that’s what it seemed like. I also started worrying about how we were going to share with them if they won’t even let us sit and talk with them. Then I thought maybe the people we’re suppose to start sharing with first weren’t in that compound and so I started praying that God would bring us to other people.

…But then…
One day Big sister asked us to go to the mango grove with her. When we tried helping her pick the mangoes she wouldn’t let us coz she didn’t want us getting bit by some kind of “ant” (I’m not really sure what it was, they had a dif. name for it than their name for ant). So she just told us to stand in the shade, and she got some of the little girls to help pick them. But we still kept trying to help so she would get done faster especially when the girls all got tired and left, plus she was getting bit a lot by the “ants’.

When it was time to bring the mangoes back to the compound we kept insisting on helping her carry them so she finally let us. We went back and forth a couple times with our bucket and sack to help her carry back the mangoes. Later that day when she was cooking we sat with her and helped cut and pound some veggies. It was nice to spend a day with her, and I think she appreciated it too. She even gave as a sack of mangoes to keep in our hut.

…Also…
Since it is planting season the younger ones have been out working in the fields all day which has given us good opportunities to spend time with the older women working in the compound. Around the end of our 3rd week, Older Sister got sick, plus Dugutigi’s 1st wife had been sick way before we even moved in the village, so Big Sister was taking care of them, plus doing her other work around the compound. So when she was working on something we can help with we did and everyday we would try to help out in someway and they were finally seeing that we really do want to help and are willing to learn. Big sister even came to us one night and told us we are her younger sisters, and was very appreciative of our willingness to lend a hand. It was real encouraging to feel welcomed and not seem like we’re intruding into people’s lives.

…Now…
We’re hanging out with everyone more (Bro’s, Sister’s, the Mama’s and Chief) and not just watching them, but working along side them and talking and even joking around with them. Once again God blessed us and answered my prayers better than I could have imagined. He also convicted me about giving up on people too soon just coz things aren’t working out the way I want, and to be more patient because He is at work, even if I can’t tell.

I continue to pray to have a heart like Christ for our new family, that I may show them love and compassion as He has shown us.

Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you… ~ 1 Corinthians 7:16

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. ~Matthew 5:14-16

I Praise GOD for our new village home and family!