I am home from Africa. It was an amazing trip. I traveled with a group of 12 Compassion sponsors to Ghana and Burkina Faso (both in West Africa) and photographed the sponsors meeting their sponsor children. This alone is a emotional ride.I witnessed families with 8 children living off the father making $4 a month. The "snow" of Burkina Faso (aka Red Dirt) seemed to consume everything. I learned how to carry babies on my back "Africa" style with great fabric and all. Addison is in for some fun. The church parking lots in Burkina look like motor scooter sale lots. I witnessed women with babies on their backs, stacks of items on their heads and small children in front of them riding scooters. All while looking beautiful in traditional dresses. Most of all I discovered West Africa, for me, was as much about the visual as it was the sound. Groups of mothers would meet us at the projects singing and dancing for us. In Ghana, songs were prayers and started all of our days. The local dialects lend themselves to deep penetrating voices and choir like songs lifted up.
Poverty seemed endless but Hope was steady and sure. And with this Hope poverty can have an end. Now that I'm home I keep thinking of 2 Corinthians 4:18 "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
I missed my family. I am glad to be home. I am thankful for the opportunity to experience a different culture and gain a little different perspective.
If you're interested in finding out more about Compassion International go to the link below. I was once again amazed with the organization.
www.compassion.com
On to other things. We have been sick. We, meaning the girls and I. Clint seems to be made of steel and can not be bothered to get sick. We are also looking for a place to put our things and cook and sleep and play and live. You know, a house. It makes our hearts sad to think we might have to leave Boulder so we are praying for a miracle. We would love to stay close to where we live now. Oh the joys of going into large amounts of debt to own dust. Fun times.
The girls are good and growing and Bri is as funny as always. Last night when a babysitter was here she was singing like a rock star in bed (this in normal for her), when the sitter hears her call out "I'm having a concert!". Of course she is. Maybe we should all try having a concert in bed tonight. I think I'll borrow some animals from Bri to be my audience.
