Christmas in Africa

It’s a few days before Christmas, but without my usual environmental clues that tell me the season is here, it feels a little like an eternal summer. Every now and then, I long for snow, mittens, and a hot mocha, but then I am thankful for the fresh pineapple and watermelon that we have with every meal, for the sunshine, and the trees blooming outside. Sometimes you don’t realize how important traditions are to you, or the routines you find yourself stuck to, until you leave.. And then you wonder, why are they so important?

Christmas traditions here are a little different than they are in the states. Our church has an all day and night vigil on the 24^th, that starts at 8 am and lasts til around 5 am on the 25^th. The day is full of singing, dancing, and eating. - a big celebration of Jesus’ birth. I'm pretty psyched!

The past 2 weeks, I’ve been working with the kids in Sunday school to make stars (les etoiles) for Noël (Christmas). Colored paper and crayons are a novelty for the kids here, and some had never used them before, let alone drawn a star. This past week, we asked the kids a few questions about Jesus’ birth. One child said he thought Jesus was born in a temple. And when we told him that Jesus was born where the animals are kept, outside, in a small stable, they were amazed. This blew my mind. This little boy thought that Jesus was born in a temple, a place so much nicer than his home. But no, Jesus was born outside, where the animals slept! Here, it is common to see goats, chickens, and rams roaming free, and they sleep outside, on the ground. I know I keep reiterating this, but I desperately want you to get that Jesus came in such a low estate. He literally made Himself nothing, so that none could feel unworthy because of their socioeconomic status or placement in society.

God's growing in me a love for the children here, an answer to my prayers, that He would break my heart for the people here. This past week, Naomi (my roommate) and I went to Centre Providence, a home for former prostitutes (girls aged 10 to 17). I don't want to speak too soon, but I feel that God is preparing a place for us there. My passion is for art, and Naomi's is for music and theater. We both feel a pull towards therapy and counseling, for girls who have been through traumatic situations. And as we sat, talking to some of the staff, they began to get excited, because none of them have talents in the arts and they would love for us to be a part of the program for the girls. We're going to start volunteering our time there in the coming weeks.

I recently took a trip to a pottery village a few miles down the road, to find out how they make pottery here. The process is so much simpler than I'm used to. They retrieve rock, crush it to dust with a mortar and pestle, mix it with water and let sit for a day. The pots are all done by hand, via coil building. I thought it was funny that when I asked what they called their tools, they simply said “le bois” (the wood), and when I asked about the glaze, they said “la sauce” (.. the sauce, which is the same for food, such as rice and sauce). I’m going to go back sometime soon to make a coil pot with the ladies there.

Last weekend, I stayed with an Ivorian family, Soro Salif and Laurentine. They are members of our church, here in Bouaké . Alyssa, my 5 foot tall southern California friend whom I love so much, also spent the weekend there. We learned how to take bucket showers, make Cabato (a corn jello of sorts) and to eat leaf sauce and fish.. which I don’t do very well. God is doing a work in my life in the area of food. I really, really like food.. And some days here, I think I would give my first born child for a block of extra sharp cheddar. I also really miss my grandmother’s apple pie. I’m learning that I have a lot of attachments to food.. And that here in Africa, food is for nourishment. There are a few jems of the cuisine here, however. Alloco, futu banane, and attieke and poulet are among my favorites.

To speak to the current political unrest, briefly, I want you to know that even though Cote d'Ivoire is all over the news, life goes on here. I live 5 hours away from Abijian, where most of violence has taken place. We have plans to move out if need be, but we haven't reached that point, nor do we hope to. Please have peace in the knowledge that we are safe and attentive to the cues of the political environment. But as I said, life goes on. We had lunch on Saturday with the families who hosted us last week. As we sat together at one long table, in the shade of a tree, it was hard to imagine anything abnormal was taking place. Even if we have to leave, the families we were sharing a meal with will stay, and their kids will grow up here.

On a final note, I now understand how it literally feels to have a thorn in my flesh. Last week, I managed to get a palm tree thorn lodged in one of my big toes, and I just removed it yesterday. I also have my first strange skin condition, and my medicine turns my skin bright purple. BUT at least it’s on my leg and not my face. Sometimes, it’s the small things in life that you need to get excited for.