I spent most of my time in Torogo
living with an Africa family in Korohogo (a city a couple of towns over from
Korohogo). Let me tell you, it was quite the experience. It was so wonderful at
times and so hard other times. It
was definitely a time for me to completely rely on the Lord for patience,
strenth, love and energy.
Marilyn is 29. She works at the
dispensary in the baby room. She lives with her mom, younger sister and 2 other
little kids. These people became my family. They were so great, so generous and
hospitable. Marilyn spoke French
to me, but the rest of her family spoke mostly Cebarra. So once I finally felt like
I was getting a handle on this whole French speaking thing, I move in with a
family who speaks mostly Cebarra..
This is what an average day looked
like for me:
Marilyn and I woke up between 5:30
and 5:45. We went and got our water from the well for our morning bucket baths.
We both took our baths and got ready for work. Then we had a 30-minute moto
ride from Korohogo to the dispensary in Torogo. We worked at the dispensary
from about 7:30 until 3:30 or 4. We rode our moto back home and hung out with the
family for a little bit. At around 5 we started preparing dinner. We would
usually make some sort of sauce with either rice or kabato. At 6:15 Marilyn and I would go to
church because for the week that I was living there her church was having a
nightly conference. The conference consisted of music, worship, dancing and a
sermon. It was really fun and I
got to meet so many wonderful people! After church ended we would go visit some
of her neighbors or friends. Then at about 9 we would go home and eat dinner,
take our night baths and then go to sleep!
Spending a little over a week with
an African family was probably the best experience I could have asked for. I
didn’t realize how “American” the guest houses were that I was staying in. In
the African home not only was it physically hard (sleeping on a concrete floor,
getting water out of a well, cooking dinner with out a stove) but it was also
mentally exhausting. There is so much work and effort that goes into every
little thing. Even just communicating with someone. Just trying to say that I
want to take a nap or I haven’t washed yet took so much time, patience and
work. I know that this week was a true test from the Lord. Daily I had to rely on Him to get me
through the day. There was absolutely no other way I could do it.
I am so thankful to the Lord for
being so faithful and getting me through the week. It was an amazing experience
that I will forever be thankful for.
The lesson I learned from my African family and the lessons that the
Lord taught me, I honestly don’t think I could have learned anywhere or anyway
else. I truly learned what it means to pray without ceasing. I love that family
dearly. Marilyn even gave me a Cebarra name! My name is Yèlè, which means first
daughter. It was so sweet to know that Marilyn thinks of me as her daughter and
as part of her family.
the entrance to the courtyard
part of the courtyard (the little room on the left is where i went to the bathroom...)
part of the courtyard
dinner with mom!
the living room
MY WONDERFUL FAMILY
(by the way-ivorians don't really smile in pictures)
