WIRED cancelled?!

Well for the first time I had to cancel youth group!  I was so upset too – it was certainly not an easy decision to make.  The military issues here are getting worse, but maybe better…its hard to tell.  Regardless the Burkina government has put a nationwide curfew at 9:00pm every night until further noticed and the US embassy has put a dusk till dawn curfew.  The CMA follows the US embassy and so the leadership and I decided to cancel youth group. 

I can handle most things pretty well but when something interferes with my purpose and ministry it becomes very difficult for me.  I understand completely and its certainly better to err on the side of caution BUT I still get pretty annoyed. 

When I was in South Africa in 2009 (I think) we had some cultural misunderstanding and drama in the house I was living in.  It had finally built up to a point of explosion – causing me to miss my ministry in one of the townships for the entire day.  I called home so upset (I am sure my mom and dad remember – it was like a $60 phone call!).  It left me questioning my future in ministry overseas.  Of course, I didn’t affect it too terribly much because I am here now but it was still a trying time.

Anyways prayer for peace in Burkina would be much appreciated because I really don’t want to cancel youth group 2 weeks in a row!

So after an hour of trying to upload pictures this is the only one so far!  Check back in like FOREVER!  haha :) 

This is everyone watching 3 boys play musical chairs at midnight!

quote from eat pray love

Its not my favorite movie and I would not even recommend it because I am more into action movies or fairy tales but there was a quote that I am feeling.  It went something like this:
"I am not asking for easy but why does everything have to be so hard"
I think the heat and the power cuts are wearing on me - and its not even hot season.  Pray for me!  I was told that the next few months is what really makes living in Africa as a missionary a "suffering for Jesus" life style and when most people start to think about their original homes so much more.  I am not questioning me being here AT ALL but its just not as easy.

Birthday!

From the mouth of Autumn (who was with me for my whole birthday):

Well Nathan was being so loud I thought he was going to wake Hannah up.  She said to herself “its just Pierre – no one would be breaking into my house.”  We snuck around the house as quietly as possible and then we were all laughing because Liesbeth didn’t want to play the violin – she didn’t think it would wake Hannah up.  It was really funny because Liesbeth tried to play 3 times but stopped because she was laughing so hard.  We made some noise and then Hannah came to the window.  Then we came into her house and we had mango muffins (wait – were they really mango?) and coffee and orange juice.  Then they gave her a big humungo card from Kari and Robbie – which said that she would get a present from them for every day they are gone (which is until next Sunday – they went to Greece without her).  We sat around for a little bit and hung out (this was at 8:00 in the morning) and then after awhile some people had to go. 

Okay – ill pick it up from here (Hannah)

So yea!  I woke up to hearing the violin outside of my window and a whole bunch of teenagers singing happy birthday!  How precious is that?!  So great.  After most of them left, several of the girls stayed behind and we decided to watch a movie.  It should be noted that the power had been off this entire time – we crammed into my bedroom and sweated while watching Mr. and Mrs. Smith on my computer battery.  After the movie I went over to the Shafto’s for lunch and cake!  Then in the afternoon some of us went to the school for swimming!  Me and Autumn headed out to the Fields house in the evening for dinner and more cake!  I have had 3 cakes this week!  I feel so loved! J Overall it was a great day.  I was not sure it would be – I woke up in the morning with no plans.  But God is good and helped me feel so loved yesterday.  

Oh by the way - its 6:30 in the morning and I am using internet now because who knows how long the power will stay on...after the 8 hour cut yesterday it went BACK off at 7:00 pm - just in time for youth group.  I woke up at 1:00 in the morning because my light came back on.  Yesterday was rough with a 14 hour power cut.  But - youth group still went okay, even in the dark.

just another day in paradise :)

Today we had an 8 hour power cut – it was painful!  But I survived.  I have been surviving a lot lately.  We had some student demonstrations that turned pretty scary over a week ago and then yesterday I woke up to my phone ringing and gun shots.  Some of the military rebelled, broke into an armory, and went on some sort of rampage.  They did some pretty bad looting but to the best of my knowledge no one was harmed or killed.  The US embassy strongly suggested we stay in our homes yesterday.  It was pretty frustrating for me because I live alone and because meetings were canceled and my day was just – ruined.  So after just a few hours by myself I decided to brave the streets and I drove like 2 kilometers to the Shafto’s house.  Robbie had called me earlier and said he didn’t see anything wrong – he rode his bike past my house.  So I made a quick drive down the street and hung out there for the rest of the day.  Things feel pretty safe today (yesterday too except in the morning).  The international school had school this morning and I drove my moto there for a meeting.  And I just went out and got some gas in my vehicle - life feels pretty normal.  There was rumored to be some marching and demonstrations last night from the military but they didn’t happen.  All seems pretty quiet.  Hopefully it stays that way!  Prayers would certainly be appreciated though.  

God at work

I am so excited for the things God has been doing at WIRED the last few weeks.  Worship has been an amazing time and here is a quote from a girl who has been coming to youth group for a few weeks now: "I know that God is the thing missing from my life."

Its pretty awesome to see God moving.

electricity and water

Yesterday we had a power cut and a water cut!  The water came back on around 10:00 at night - praise Jesus because I needed a shower desperately because of how hot it is!  I am up to taking 2 showers a day.  Its interesting living without things like power and water - it makes me appreciate it so much more when it is on.  So many people live without water and power everyday.  In this country alone the majority have no electricity and have to walk several kilometers for water.  Its hard to even kind of know what thats like until you experience it.  And even the little bit I have experience is nothing compared to what its really like to live life day in and day out without.  All that to say - I am so grateful for what I do have - even though I get so hot and bothered and want to complain.

ThE aDveNtuRes oF 30 hOuRs of FaStiNg!

Last night was the 30 hour famine lock in!  And I survived!  I have never fasted for 30 hours before and I have never put on an entire lock in before either.  But I am happy to say that it all went well.  My fasting was not as difficult as I thought it would be because I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off all day!  Let me explain:

We had our kick off on Thursday, which turned out great!  The power went off RIGHT before youth group so we changed around the whole schedule.  I had huge faith that the power was going to stay on – which is why we decided to keep it at my house and not move it to the international school.  But when it went off my heart sank.  We lit candles, played the games in the dark, and I moved my talk to the beginning of the night and we set up chairs in the yard.  The funny thing that happened though was that the power never actually went off!  The lights at my neighbor’s house were still on and I did not think that was weird at all because I am surrounded by people with generators.  What actually happened was that I was running far too many ACs and fans and lights at the same time causing the breaker thing to turn off (or however that works).  Matt figured it out and fixed the problem – I laughed so hard.  It was interesting to experience that though because it was exactly like my first time speaking in Ouaga all the way back in September.  My reaction compared to 6 months ago was completely different.  Instead of being overwhelmed and upset, I was calm and made do with what we had – God has already brought me so far! 

Once we figured the power issue we moved inside for a time of worship.  It was simply amazing.  We sang longer and it just felt like God was in the room.  His presence was thick and when we sang songs like “How He Loves Us” and “Hungry” and “I am Free” I could tell that I was not alone in worshiping God.  This youth group is amazing!  God is so good.  I also stretched many of the teens by having a time of prayer.  I had them silently ask God what he wanted them to get out of the fast, confess their sins, and ask God to do mighty things through the next 30 hours.  Then I had them get into partners and pray for each other.  It was so neat to see them scattered around the yard praying together.  Also, there was one girl who prayed for the very first time.  I don’t know if she believes in God but she talked to him for the first time.  It brought me to tears because I know God heard her and is just waiting for her to run into his arms.  

Yesterday, Friday, was quite an interesting day in preparing for the lock-in.  I slept in as long as I could without being too anxious (so 8:00) and started getting things ready.  I had to go to the school to pay for the auditorium and ran into some seriously heightened security.  The school was not too thrilled that we were going to have possibly 50 kids come to the international school and stay the entire night (even though they gave me permission last week).  The university students were rioting.  They were burning tires, huge crowds, setting up road blocks and who knows what else – I didn’t actually see them but we heard gunshots and saw a ton of smoke.  I left the school on my moto not knowing all this and when I stopped at the stop sign right outside of the school 2 huge trucks full of police officers with huge rifles of some sort driving slowly in front of me.  I quickly drove my moto to my house through crowds of people.  When I got there my phone rang – Matt called to tell me not to leave my house for the next few hours and got slightly mad at me for driving my moto right before that.  I spent a majority of the afternoon gathering stuff, making muffins (for the breaking of the fast) and getting phone calls from nearly everyone I know here.  At 3 I had to get some things so I ventured out of the house – I took the car though.  I had to get a cake mix from Lorinda and as I was taking the back roads from her house I decided to stop by the Shafto’s.  It was at this moment that I realized I was completely frazzled because I walked into their house and Robbie said – why don’t you just sit down here and ill make your cake.  Apparently I looked like I had been running around trying to solve everything.  Which I was because there was a lot to solve!  All the stores were closed because of the rioting and we needed to buy and prepare food for the lock-in.  Also, some of the parents were not able to help because of the rioting.  Robbie and the Lyon boys came with me to my house after we baked some cakes and basically saved the day.  They helped me so much!  They made Kool Aid and frosting, packed my car, and helped me get everything set up for the Lock-In. 

I had to meet with security at the school at 5 – they had to know who was coming, when, and for how long.  My llama leaders showed up and helped set up as well.  Kari made some simply amazing posters to put on the wall and people started to show up and bring food.  Matt and Megan spent the whole day making over 100 pancakes.

The Lock-In itself was great – not all the people who said they were coming came, which was fine because of the food shortage issue and the fact that some of my adult leader chaperones fell through – I think we had around 34 kids.  There was a time period there where I was the only adult leader (lets not tell the parents that though…haha).  We played some great outdoor hide and seek type games and then we moved inside.  We played human foosball, telephone pictionary, human tick tac toe (which is an awesome game by the way) and a giant game of musical chairs.  Then we watched the cartoon Tangled.  We stopped the movie right before 1:00 in the morning.  Matt shared about his recent well drilling success this week; we shared some scripture, prayed and then ate!  We had plenty of food and it was all amazing!  It was just a neat experience to have with all those kids.  After that we finished the movie, played some card games, some people went to sleep and played the wii.  Then we watched another movie around 4 in the morning – which put most everyone else to sleep – me included. 

I woke everyone up around 6:45, we cleaned up, packed up, and headed out!  There were no major issues, no really big problems – everything just turned out great.  And on top of that it was fun!  The kids had big smiles on their faces most of the night. 

I started the morning so unsure how everything was going to work out:  Were we going to even have the lock-in?  Would parents still let their kids come because of the rioting?  Would there be enough food?  Would I have any adults leaders?  How is this going to work?  But friends – God was in it.  And he ironed out all the issues – and I think that’s because I feel like I actually gave them to him.  I let him be in charge because I couldn’t be – and it was a good decision. 

I just want to say a big thank you to all of you who were praying for this.  Please keep praying because we still are having money come in and are still seeing what God is going to bring about from this amazing experience.  There are a few youth groups in the states who are partnering with us and have not yet had their 30 hours of fasting – so keep them in mind too.  Thanks again for donating and praying.  You all are so amazing – MAN I AM SO BLESSED!

Now I am spending the day sleeping, writing thank you cards, and maybe playing some video games with some of the llama leaders.  I will post pictures very soon.  

Adjusting

So I know I complained about the power cuts, and I am certain that I will never get use to them or the heat but I am feeling more confident about it today.  I am not sure if its because of Amy's inspiring conversation of how we will survive together and her offer for me to stay at her house when my power is off and hers is on or if its just that I made it through a whole week of it so far.  But either way I have to face it and I will!

I went to the school this week to see if I could move our 30 Hour Famine Lock-In to the auditorium there and they gave us permission!  What school gives a youth group permission to stay the night on campus?  We do have to pay but I think I can barter them down a few hundred bucks.  ISO has a generator and so they run it when the power goes out so we will have AC and lights for our all nighter next Friday.  I also got permission to use one of the classrooms for WIRED youth group on Thursdays.  I heard some complaining though from some of the kids so if I can get my generator fixed then hopefully we will not move youth group there.  I am all for it though because they wont charge me, we will have VERY good AC and it wont be using my electricity here at the house (which is very expensive in this country).  But we shall see.

Today there is Edge - which is a worship service for the ex-pat community in English.  One of the girls in the youth group suggested that we have a bake sale for the 30 Hour Famine at Edge and since I am all about using their ideas I said yes!  Even though this bake sale will not really make a ton of money I am finding that its a great way to get some kids involved who have not been interested in gaining pledges for the fast.  So today, I am going to make some cookies (if the power stays on) and sacrifice some of my precious chocolate chips! :)

Also a team came in last night from the States!  I love it when teams come in - its fun to meet some new people and I love how they look at Burkina with brand new eyes.  Its good for me to see that every once in awhile and remember that this totally is Africa.  Its so easy to forget sometimes!  Anyways this team just happens to be bringing some things for me!  So I am so excited to see what my mom sent me for my Birthday! :) Yippy!

Power Cuts.

Power cuts are looking like my future here in Burkina.  We were given an actual power cut schedule yesterday!  Although, the power cuts have not been on schedule yet - I am not sure what the point is of the schedule.  But what it says is that everyday there will be at least 8 hours without power!  Can you believe it?  That means 8 hours a day my fridge doesnt work, the lights dont come on, the internet is non existent.  And not to mention the difficulties power cuts bring to youth group - we had one during youth group last week and its so miserable.  The kids are distracted, I am distracted, and its way too hot to not have a fan on!  Anyways I just complained for an entire blog...sorry!  But as you pray for me please pray that the power will stay on more than expected and that the political unrest in Ivory Coast will resolve because most of our power comes from there apparently.