There has been heavy rain in January - a mysterious phenomenon in Kambia, my home for the next year. I remember someone exclaiming that the world must be coming to an end. I didn't know it was that strange...
Being a 'strranger' as they call it in Sierra Leone has come with a potpourri of emotion. The first month has had its highs, and many more lows than I ever imagined. On one happy occasion at church, I tried unsuccessfully to hide my free flowing tears; missing home, feeling sorry for myself and generally just miserable.
I do understand the local lingo though, having been here previously for a six-week stretch. Krio is a mix of broken English, Cockney slang and a bit of French. Surprisingly, I find quite a few words from my native dialect, Twi, used here also. Sapor is sponge in both languages, and to butu is to lie on your stomach. Drrooss is underwear and kokonsa means to gossip. I wrote a long list last year, which I will search out and add little by little. Ghanaians will understand this: when a baby is born, after a week they have a 'pull-na-dor' for him or her, the equivalent of a Ghanaian 'Outdooring' of a child.
The children are delightful! I make it a point to wave to every child I pass on the street, or if they are old enough, ask "How are you?" Some mumble a word or two, but generally there is a bright and happy response. Babies especially have an amazing response to a simple wave. The little one year old who lives in my compound flashes a lovely smile every time I pass and wave. There is a mentally handicapped child who lived a few houses away from mine. Most days they would put him on the verandah, and every time I walked past I would wave. I noticed that he would look intently at me every time he saw me, but that was all. After about 3 weeks of waving, I saw in response a beautiful smile, and then he tried to raise his hand to wave back to me. Now, every time he sees me, he gets very happy and tries to rush to the roadside where I am. So far, we have not met close up, but I hope such a meeting will be possible in due time.
I have started teaching daily at Givers' World School, and on Sundays the children come to Sunday School, where they hear a story from the bible. The first Wednesday at the school assembly, almost all the children raised their hands to accept Christ at the invitation. It was humbling. Their assemblies are times of powerful praise. Praise leaders are picked from the various classes, and this is a sweet smelling offering to the Lord of Hosts. I was almost brought to tears by their gutsy singing.
This year in Kambia promises to be the experience of a lifetime! I will write here whenever I am able, to let you know of the new things that I see and hear.
God bless us all.
Being a 'strranger' as they call it in Sierra Leone has come with a potpourri of emotion. The first month has had its highs, and many more lows than I ever imagined. On one happy occasion at church, I tried unsuccessfully to hide my free flowing tears; missing home, feeling sorry for myself and generally just miserable.
I do understand the local lingo though, having been here previously for a six-week stretch. Krio is a mix of broken English, Cockney slang and a bit of French. Surprisingly, I find quite a few words from my native dialect, Twi, used here also. Sapor is sponge in both languages, and to butu is to lie on your stomach. Drrooss is underwear and kokonsa means to gossip. I wrote a long list last year, which I will search out and add little by little. Ghanaians will understand this: when a baby is born, after a week they have a 'pull-na-dor' for him or her, the equivalent of a Ghanaian 'Outdooring' of a child.
The children are delightful! I make it a point to wave to every child I pass on the street, or if they are old enough, ask "How are you?" Some mumble a word or two, but generally there is a bright and happy response. Babies especially have an amazing response to a simple wave. The little one year old who lives in my compound flashes a lovely smile every time I pass and wave. There is a mentally handicapped child who lived a few houses away from mine. Most days they would put him on the verandah, and every time I walked past I would wave. I noticed that he would look intently at me every time he saw me, but that was all. After about 3 weeks of waving, I saw in response a beautiful smile, and then he tried to raise his hand to wave back to me. Now, every time he sees me, he gets very happy and tries to rush to the roadside where I am. So far, we have not met close up, but I hope such a meeting will be possible in due time.
I have started teaching daily at Givers' World School, and on Sundays the children come to Sunday School, where they hear a story from the bible. The first Wednesday at the school assembly, almost all the children raised their hands to accept Christ at the invitation. It was humbling. Their assemblies are times of powerful praise. Praise leaders are picked from the various classes, and this is a sweet smelling offering to the Lord of Hosts. I was almost brought to tears by their gutsy singing.
This year in Kambia promises to be the experience of a lifetime! I will write here whenever I am able, to let you know of the new things that I see and hear.
God bless us all.
No comments:
Post a Comment