A different kind of Easter

Easter in Leo was a new experience all together.  The Lyon’s have started a church in their neighborhood – and by neighborhood I mean village.  Easter morning we drove about a mile through mud huts and bunny trails and parked under a tree.  Around the other side of the tree we sat on benches and had a church service.  The church consisted of about 10 adults and 40 kids.  We sang and danced and listened to a sermon (it was in French but I caught some of it).  I had ants crawl up my skirt but overall it was a good service.  Then afterwards we had a church potluck!  But this potluck was sardine sandwiches.

Easter in the village is certainly a different experience and honestly for me I couldn’t even tell it was Easter.  All the things that make that day Easter in the past were gone – except for the whole reason for the event (thank you Jesus.)  It was strange without family, a big special church service, eggs, salads and pastel colors.  I did have a great day and a great experience though. 

We came home from church and had leftovers (the sardine sandwiches just didn’t cut it).  Then we played Risk (well I actually fell asleep during that game – so long), rode bikes down the road and hung out and talked.  It was a great day and certainly unforgettable!  

Highlights (not the magazine)

So highlights of my time in Leo – which is still not over.  I am going to ride the bus back with everyone here on Sunday. 

So here we go:

It rained!  SO MUCH.  Like poured, so naturally at 1:00 in the morning, we went outside and danced in it.  I got goose bumps for the first time in 8 months J  Now its hot again.

Listening to these hilarious boys!  Oh my lands if you wanna laugh come here.  We have 5 teenage boys here that quote every movie, sing silly songs, tell the most ridiculous stories, and just laugh.  I love it. 

Sleeping on a waterbed.  I have never done that before – so every time I get on it I say “Whoa, WHOOOA, Whoa” I also think I may be swimming in my sleep!  It is nice though because its cooler – I have had no trouble falling asleep in a house that’s 90 degrees at night.  Apparently though most nights are hotter…haha oh boy. 

Pranks.  Hanging out in a house full of teenagers naturally evolves into toilets covered with clear wrap, alarms hidden and set for the middle of the night, glue on the bar of soap in the shower, water being thrown at you in the morning and who knows what else.  Thankfully I have claimed to be Switzerland – hopefully that will last the rest of the week BUT I have certainly been effected by the above pranks J

Listening to music – eROC24/7.  Robbie, Nathan, Jonathan, Farris, and Liesbeth make up this totally awesome band.  They have been practicing all week and although its so loud we have to wear ear plugs they are very good and I enjoy taking pictures and listening to them all day. 

Brianna.  Oh my lands the Lyon’s have an 8 year old sister that is hilarious.  A few times a day she bounces through the room wearing a cowboy hat and a scarf around her neck on a big bouncy ball rabbit thing.  Every time it happens I feel like my life is completely random. 

Well that’s enough for now and about all I can think of right now.  BUT fyi – I am currently sitting on the floor listening to all these boys sing songs from every Disney movie known.  Ridiculously awesome.  

hello from Leo (pronounced lay-O)

Well I braved the streets after staying in doors for 3 days and fled town!  Well to be a little less dramatic for you who may get freaked out: ISO is on spring break so I left Ouaga to Leo for the week.  The Lyons family lives here and invited me – so I of course jumped at the opportunity to take a break away from the city.  It will be a week of hanging out, listening to music (most of them play some sort of instrument and some of the boys are in a band and will be practicing all week), hopefully going swimming, and just catching up on things I need to do.  Leo is more in the “bush” and so it should be a fairly peaceful week. 

Things died down a bit in Ouaga but the US embassy has still suggested that no one leaves their homes.  After a rough night on Friday night and some commotion on Saturday things have seemed to calm down though.  In the lull of a Monday morning we leapt at the chance to leave. 

Driving around for the first time in a few days was almost normal.  People are out and about, going to the market, getting groceries and gas.  The gas lines were REALLY long though because they were closed for several days. 

I am now in Leo and have gotten one phone call and one email telling me to just hold tight in my house so I am glad I escaped this morning before that J Thanks for all your prayers the last few days, please keep praying!

Snow Day

So just an update on life the last few days:

Things here have been steadily getting worse as it pertains to the electricity issues.  The power has gone out several times this week.  Yesterday the power was off all day – it came on JUST in time for youth group at 7:00 and then went off again at 1:00 a.m.  It was off all day today until 3:00 this afternoon.  Not fun. 

The military is having a hay day.  Last night they did some shooting into the air and today I woke up to school canceled.  The Wolters told me to come over to their house this morning and this afternoon I have been at the Nehlsen’s.  The US embassy has put a curfew on and suggested everyone to stay in their homes.  I am going to stay the night here so that I don’t have to spend the night all by myself.  So today has been a “snow day” of sorts.  I watched some movies, played some games, and stayed inside. 

We were supposed to have a youth group event tonight – a make our own pizza and watch a movie but that had to be cancelled.  I am hoping that things settle down tomorrow so that I can do something fun like go swimming or at least leave the house. 

Confessions.

Whenever I was uneasy or unsure of something Kandice or Mandy would say "well - confess your sins!"  I say that all the time now to the youth here.  Well now its my my turn - I have a confession, well its not actually a confession of sin though.

Just now I went into the kitchen to get some water to take my malaria medicine and as soon as the light turned on (it takes it a little while) a simi-huge gecko came running at me full speed!  I wasnt sure what to do.  So I jumped in the air, screamed really loud and ran into the other room.  Yes, I know geckos will do nothing to me, but I am still slightly scared of them.  Especially when they come running at me!  The reality is though that the little guy was just trying to find something to hide under.  Ha :)

So, dad - or anyone else who needed me to be hardcore in that moment - I am so sorry!