Nigeria

I'm off to Nigeria, trusting that the Lord will provide the needed VISA.
My stomping grounds for the next few months:

c/o Hope Academy
PO Box 146
Ajaokuta LGA, Kogi
Nigeria

It started with a book

Several weeks ago a man from church asked if I had a book of English
songs that I could give to the choir, it just so happened that I did.
African culture is very opportunistic, if you don't ask you might not
receive. So I gave him the book, what I didn't realize is that this gift
came or rather went with strings attached. The next week the choir came
to me saying that a book of English songs was only so good if they
didn't know how to sing them properly, they asked if sometime in the
future I would be willing to help them learn a new song. Not knowing
that meant soon, I said sure, I would love to teach them a new song. A
few Sundays later Rachel and I were recruited to teach them a new song
from 'the book'. They were very gracious and maybe a little timid about
taking initiative, they let us lead and even had us pick the song, it
was nothing like their past songs, it didn't have a unique African beat,
it didn't have quick tempo or a special flair, it was very old and plain
and so..... American, at least to my ears. They seemed to enjoy it
because we were invited back the following week. I was again asked to
choose the song. After selecting one and teaching them the basics of the
song I let them loose, its my hope that they will get the idea, that
they will take the song and run with it, choosing to make it theirs and
not just something straight from the book, there seems to be this
awkward balance between respecting us and letting us lead and taking the
initiative themselves and making it their own. When asked if I would
return for a third week to teach, I tried my best to convey to them that
I don't have my week planned, that I wasn't sure of the 'program' for
the next weekend but that I would try to be there. Tuesday morning
arrived with a knock on our door and a written invitation to choir
practice which would include a coca and a group photo. I thought this
was a bit odd and a little formal but that's how cultral can be
sometimes, a little different. When we arrived tonight for choir
practice the room was decorated with special fabric on every wall, the
floor had been mopped and the Christmas Lights hung. I was still hoping
that it would be just a choir practice but when they went to get the FM
Superintendent I knew I was only fooling myself. They had gone through
so much trouble to honor us, as they brought out the spread of African
dishes I had to ask myself 'Where are you?' that this group would go
through so much trouble for you? They would express their love is such a
real way, all because of some songs. This was definitely not America,
here they surprise me with dinner and ask me to give words and want to
have their picture taken with me, like I'm Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. I
was honored, I was blessed. A student and I were discussing the
difference in cultural and how nothing that formal has happened to me in
the US, he said it was because they want to honor me as their guest, I
said I have been here for 4 months, how long until I am no long a guest?
He just laughed. Next time I'll think about what can happen, all because
of a book.

Calling America

Today I had to call America, well not all of America just a credit card
company. I've decided next time they should call me. Do they have any
idea I have to load units on my phone off a scrap of paper that looks
like a scratch ticket? Do they know that if I run out of units I have to
walk down the road to a little shop that may or may not have more units
to charge my account? I tried to tell them I was in Africa but clearly
they have never been here, they had little sympathy for my current
situation. People here don't even bother to say goodbye, they just hang
up after business is over, on and off, lickity split-why? 'Cause it
costs money to talk on the phone, its not like I just wanted to chat
with an America so I thought I'd give the credit card company a call,
give me a break! I felt like they were being very unreasonable, putting
me on hold! After using the units from two phones I walked down the the
road to make a third phone call to finally solve the situation. I am one
step closer to ending my Nigeria saga, I purchased two plane tickets
today, finally! I'd like for my friends in the fraud department to come
to Africa, oh the lessons to be learned.

25 Ways to make a bad day great in Bujumbura

1. Go to the Beach
2. Go to your favorite coffee shop, greet your favorite Barista
3. Enjoy some Burundi Tea
4. Invite your friends over
5. Bake!
6. Walk around the market
7. Discover a new bus route
8. Have a great conversation with students
9. Discover that Buja has soft serve ice cream
10. Go swimming
11. Buy a whole bunch of fruit and veggies for less than $3.00
12. Get a package from America
13. Master a new recipe
14. Have guests over to your apartment
15. Take a walk
16. Break into the chocolate stash that was supposed to last until
December but may not make it to next week :)
17. Practice Kirundi with street kids
18. Grade papers in the sunshine
19. Wear jeans for the first time in months, finally it has rained
20. Have fries and a coca, you know you've been craving them all week
21. Surprise the Burundians on the bus by paying the correct bus fare
22. Talk with friends from home
23. Be comfortable enough to not feel like a tourist
24. Go upcountry
25. Sit in church and actually know what's happening