Culture Shock strikes you like a lightening bolt

Nothing creates culture shock more than being dropped in the middle of a Malian family not knowing more than a few greetings. Well, I survived the immense jolt.

Last Saturday we drove up from Niena to Bamako and Sunday Meghan and I parted ways to go to our different Malian families. I was staying with the Fane family. The head of the household, Tiedo Fane, works for Campus Crusade for Christ specifically working with business professionals and the wife, Bintou, was the housegirl for the Fetherlins when they were serving in Mali. They had 2 sons, Obed and Assael, and 2 daughters, Jacqelin and Priscilla. They also had a lot of other relatives staying with them, and the head of Bethel Bible School here in Mali, Daniel Diallo was also staying.

Monday was spent acclimating myself with the family. The family spent most of the day out in the courtyard, but also spent a lot of time indoors watching television and kung fu movies. Everyday at 2 o'clock we had to tune in to the saga of Ana, the heroin of some Spanish soap opera. The night was spent talking with the family members and watching a film.

Tuesday I went to visit the headquarters of the Jesus film and Campus Crusade for Christ. They have materials in French and the Malian language of Bambara. I happened to snag a Bambara 4 spiritual laws booklet. Tuesday afternoon I introduced the family to one of the most beloved games of all time, Uno. Everyday after that we played Uno, and it was hilarious how difficult it was for the family to pronounce. They would say "weeno" or "ono."

Every day I had to listen to the calls to prayer from the mosque nearby, which got very old very quickly, but was a blatant cry for the Malian need for pastors and missionaries here. 1.7 % of Mali is Christian, but the President is a very good ruler and shows no favoritism to religion.

I often made my Malian family laugh. They complained I did not eat enough, but when you are served a fish head sauce, suddenly your appetite goes away from you. I had to practically run away from the bowl when I was finished so that they would not feed me again and again. I also named all of the pigeons that the youngest son Assael raised. They were good names, of course, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, and who could forget Barack Obama. Oh and speaking of which, Obama received a lot of press last week when he was visiting Ghana. Malians love Obama.

Thursday, I got my feet henna'd, Malian style. It took 2 hours to put medical tape on my foot for designs and 3 hours for it to stick. Then they rubbed ash on them to turn them black. Wait until you see the pictures I took. That night, my family suprised me by giving me a beautiful Malian outfit made by their tailor.

I love the Fane family, and their work in Mali is so crucial and important. Campus Crusade and the Fane's really need your prayers for their work here.

This weekend I am in Koutiala. We came for a wedding, and spent the night in Segu on Friday on our way down from Bamako. The wedding had to have been the most embarassing experience in my life. We arrived Malian style...late. And we followed the ushers. Where did they place Meghan and I? Well right in front FACING the congregation behind the bride and groom. They placed the chairs down and I just cringed that I had to be in the eye of the hundreds of people here for the wedding. God is funny like that.

Tomorrow we are going to visit the hospital and then travel to Bamako. Tuesday we start our English classes with the University students. My topic is music, and I can't wait to get to talk with the students about different styles of music and present them a song with lyrics.

Please pray for continued strength and that these last 2 weeks will finish well!