Fun Facts
- I almost got left in a squatty potty on our way to the village-think whole in the ground with wooden slats as a door that you use as a bathroom. You “flush” with a teapot of water they give you. The bus almost left me but my host and team didn’t let them!
- We showered using a bucket of water. No running water here people! We also showered with a mighty big spider we named Pedro. He eventually invited the rest of his family to the shower party. They were not welcomed.
- We met the chief of the village! We could only go to him through another person named Koffi.
- Everyone’s name is after the day of the week they were born. Koffi-means Saturday because he was born on a Saturday.
- We hand washed all of our clothes and then hung them to dry-I miss washer and dryers.
- They have sacred dances for important people who die in the village-women are not allowed to watch the dance. It’s a part of their tradition and worship of idols.
- The closest city, Sakassou, is about 3 miles down the road which is small. The closest big city, Bouake, is about a 45 minute drive.
- Most children go to school but there are reason some cannot. They are currently working on growing the school building but have not been able to finish the building. They currently have 3 classrooms for study. Video to come!
- They set fires to the brush in order to remove it. I still don’t get how they control these fires.
- Chickens run around everywhere. So do goats. Cows are really skinny. Puppies and kittens are still really cute.
- Mosquitos are something FIERCE out here. Bug spray doesn’t seem to help either
Things I learned from the kids!
- Walk with authority
- Stay curious-never stop learning
- Laugh often
- Life is simple, don’t complicate it
- Love everyone without motive
- Let go of offense quickly
- Leadership comes from a calm state not bossing people around
- Poverty is not holey clothes or lack of food-it’s having and not giving everything away
- Girls are strong
- Be resourceful, not wasteful
- Laugh without judgement
- Teach others-want people to grow
- Live with wonder
- Have boundless joy
- Trust freely
- Love is universal
- Worshipping God is universal
- Farts are also universal and hilarious to kids
- Joy has no language barrier
