Month 1
I don’t know what I was expecting from West Africa, but I don’t think it was whatever I expected. It was exhausting and humbling and scary and difficult, emboldening and joyful and growing and bonding.
First off, here’s a Team Haven month 1 lowdown:
– Team members: Squad Leader = Michelle, Team Leader = Chloe, Treasurer = Rebecca, Unsung Heroes (basically the connection for people to get involved with the Race) = Emily, Story Leader = Margaret, Worship Coordinator = me, unofficial team preacher and all around gal = Amanda
– Host family: Monica and Jonas Doua; children: Sephora, Kitura, Israel, Otaniel
– Ministry: rural village church ministry (including door to door [AKA hut to hut] evangelism, putting on concerts, preaching/teaching, women and children’s programs)
– Location: 5 different Ivorian villages – Fagnampleu —> Man —> Zou —> Bongolo —> Dieouzon —> back to Bongolo —> meet back up with squad in Accra!
– Housing: village local’s homes, anywhere from a small African hut to a two bedroom home (v nice; it had a FLUSHING TOILET! it gets to be about the small things)
– Temperature: high 80s during the day but chilly at night (unsure if it was chilly just in comparison to the days or if the temperature was actually drastically changing)
– Hygiene situation: bucket showers with two opportunities for a running shower; western toilet without running water so you flush it with a bucket
– Health update: 6/7 of the team got sick, but (hopefully) we are in the clear now
– New opportunities: hand washed clothes, cooked over charcoal and propane if we got lucky, led worship for around 500 Africans, fried plantains, got good at maneuvering markets, saw multiple shooting stars, evangelized even though it was terrifying
But more than simple stats:
Month 1 was dancing when ministry gets a little too overwhelming, mixing any and every food you can in a pot and boiling it for dinner, growing to crave boiled eggs, drinking expired Nescafé at all hours of the day, praising the God above for floor fans and praying more fervently than ever when the power goes out and they stop, getting mobbed by African children in any public space ever, climbing a mango tree and picking an unripe mango for the heck of it, hearing people’s stories in five different villages, relinquishing control of time management and money, and learning to trust new community even when it feels unsafe.
As far as the safety thing, people who know me how important this is for me. I have a select group of “safe” people at home with whom I share everything. Outside of that, community gets a little scarier when it comes to trusting. I thought I could get through this year still holding onto my home friends/family, banking on consistent WiFi communication and not liking my team as much as I do. Well, this month was crazy hard and we had sketchy WiFi a total of three times. Thx African village life!!!! Midway through the month I knew I had to invest in my team. I told them (through the ugliest tears I think I’ve ever shed) about my community at home, and how important they are to me because they’re the only safety net I feel I have. Through grace my team has been quick to call me out on needing to emotionally rely on them instead of home in this process. I mean only these people understand the experiences we’ve had so far!
This month I was forced to trust my Haven team. But through my journey they have learned for themselves the importance of providing safety and trust in community on the Race, as well as throughout life.
I think naming our team “Haven” was one of the sweetest prophecies. These six girls (including you, SQL Typhoid Meesh!!!) are my new home team and safety squad for the next few months, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Month 1 definitely solidified our bond (Chloe – “You have to get over yourself when you’re literally crapping next to someone’s bed). They killed every spider, held my hand amidst a stomach bug, didn’t judge but joined in when I ate cookies with condensed milk, pointed out feathers on the ground, jammed to Hamilton in hard times, shared all the snacks and cold Fantas, looked through pictures of my friends and family, and encouraged me constantly.
I found my weird alter ego this month through being called “Prisca” in the villages so many times (like truly have never been as quirky as I’ve been this month; I think it’s a coping mechanism? Or maybe I’ve just always been this weird).
And if these squirrels can love Prisca, I consider them keepers.
We are leaving this month carb loaded—we ate rice and bread daily—and #ready for Ghana!
**insert “…Ready For It?” by T Swift**
-Prisca out.
