Guinea Week 4

UPDATE:

This past week was spent in upcountry Guinea in Dalaba. We left at 5 am on Wednesday morning setting out on a bumpy ride toward some of the most beautiful, lush countryside I have ever seen. Speeding through the mountains looking across fog covered mountains with straw huts and children playing in the fields listening to Birdy was the start to the refreshing my soul needed. We stayed at a compound built specifically for missionaries to get away from the city and refresh in the mountain air. We spent 5 days with limited electricity, no running water, and adventures. The compound had a beautiful view at the very top hut where you could see for miles. One thing living in Conakry has shown me is how much I miss my wide open views in Kansas.

Our first day of adventures started off riding on top of the Range Rover through the villages to find a waterfall. We finally arrived and wandered through the jungle climbing on vines and roots sliding down mud walls. It reminded me of playing down by the river growing up with my brothers wandering about with no agenda only that of adventure. Next, we went to the "Garden of the Gods" of Guinea which was huge boulders on the edge of a mountain overlooking more of God’s creation. We climbed around sand mountains that workers were chipping away. By that time we smelled horrible and headed to a nearby pond for a bath. On the way home I learned not only how to drive stick-shift but how to navigate the Guinean roads which are potholes on steroids, think craters.

OUR RIDE ON TOP OF THE CAR

On Friday we decided to travel a bit to find yet another water fall. Because we are in the rainy season these waterfalls are roaring and gorgeous. Think of the most perfect weather with a cozy layer of fog and mist and those were the days in Dalaba. After driving the estimated two hours we chose to keep driving to a village called Bomboli and tried to use the locals to find the Bomboli waterfall. There is an old Fula proverb that says if you have a mouth you won’t get lost. There is no plugging a waterfall into google maps and following Siri. Thankfully the driver knew the language. That said, we wasted three hours following different directions from locals who clearly had no idea what we were talking about.  Finally, two teenagers walking on the road offered to show us where the waterfall was. Apparently, we had been very close for around an hour it was just a matter of trekking through the jungle on foot at this point. We eagerly embarked on one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I have never seen a more stunning waterfall after a more dramatic adventure to get there. Ask me to tell you my one and only most embarrassing moment.

THE FIRST WATERFALL WE WENT TO

My time in Dalaba was filled with: adventures I never knew were in this Kansas girl, struggles through trying to figure out the Lord’s will, having nothing to distract myself from fully focusing on what He was saying, bonding with Heather on tapping into our inner prairie girl through washing our pants by hand, and bucket baths. Who knew I would be so content and happy to be without my American “comforts”.

PHOTO OF OUR ADVENTURE GUIDES 

WHAT THE LORD IS TEACHING ME:

How much room do I have to write? Hmmm. Jesus, you are cleaning out the deepest parts of my soul and turning my comfort on its head. This past weekend I started having the most anxious feelings that I have ever experienced. I couldn’t escape it even when I would retreat to my bedroom crying out to God collapsed on the floor crying and trying to worship him through the ache in my soul and feeling no release.

I’ve been trying to figure out God’s will for my future when I get back home. There are decisions I have to make and I was letting the fear of making the wrong decisions and disappointing God consume my everything. I so badly want to be in His will and want His peace with the decision I make and I was not feeling that peace about something I thought I had to do.

After speaking to my wonderful mentor on facetime feeling so distraught she reminded me to look toward the King who is on the throne ruling over the storms that might be raging in our hearts. She reminded me it’s ok to struggle, it’s ok to be angry but that we must direct that anger.

I’ve struggled so much with seeing flaws in the American life style and the typical American Christian. I felt so pulled between two worlds and I felt like I had to decide right then and there if I was going to give up everything and follow Jesus or follow the American dream. My head was telling me following Jesus radically with my whole heart meant I had to give up everything my flesh desired even if those are beautiful things. This is a lie that I am working through. God wants us to be happy and live a full life. For so long I have placed missions on a pedestal of what serious radical Christians do and if we don’t sell all we have and move overseas are we really living for Jesus? The Lord is showing me that we are BEINGS not DOINGS. Above all, he wants to BE with us in a relationship. Jesus doesn’t care about the actions he cares about the heart. He wants me to have a heart that is willing to give up everything and move, a heart that doesn’t succumb to cultural norms and a heart that is set unwavering on him. I was making “living counter-cultural” an idol and though I thought it was me being sold out for Jesus it was really me again taking the control and trying to earn His love.

I believe that everyone is called to missions. That is what Christianity is based on. But I don’t think that the solution is for every Christian to be an international missionary. More than ever we need to stay in our culture we know the best with a language we are experts at and be missionaries here. I have such an admiration and romanticized view of missionary women like Amy Carmichael and Elizabeth Elliot, but maybe Jesus is calling me to stay where I don’t want to be and minister to those who I’ve known my whole life because I believe that is harder than maybe even international missions. We all need to be willing to leave everything and move, daily we must ask Christ what his mission is for our day. What would America look like if we all called ourselves missionaries doing the Lord's work? If we all were as intentional about building relationships and being open as we are when we go on short term missions trips. What would our dorm rooms look like and our work places? If you don’t do it in your own culture why would you in one you don’t know?

A PHOTO IN AN UNFISHED MANSION

CULTURE:

There are many albinos in Guinea. Unfortunately, they lack the knowledge of skin protection and can typically die young of skin cancer or too much sun exposure.

The culture here is definitely a hot climate culture. Life is slower, especially upcountry. People are always willing to stop whatever they are doing and help. Plans, schedules, and time is not a worry here, rather relationships are focused on.

Many Guineans who live upcountry have no idea the beauty they live in, they laugh when they see white Americans gasping at the beauty around.

“Porto” Is the word in Pular (a language spoken by the Fula people in Guinea) which means “white person”. I couldn’t count how many times children would yell “Porto!!!” and wave ecstatically when we would drive by.  I chuckled thinking of the looks I would receive if in America I saw a black person and called out “black person!” and waved.

During the rainy season, it is very difficult for people to find a taxi. Not only are the roads flooded, the taxi will not let you in the car if you are wet. We find this difficult when our English students can’t show up on a rainy day simply because they can’t find a taxi.

Because this is a shame and honor culture to be shamed is worse than anything. There is no right or wrong but rather shame or honor. Stealing is not wrong unless you get caught and bring shame to your family. In this culture, it’s hard to imagine, but a woman would rather have an abortion than bring shame to her family. 

There are many unfinished homes in Guinea. When someone earns money they invest that money and start building a house one bit at a time instead of saving. 

AS YOU WILL NOTICE NOT ONLY DO THE WOMAN CARRY HEAVY LOADS ON THEIR HEADS THE CARS DO AS WELL.

PRAYER:

Unfortunately, my prayer guide ends today which is very unfortunate planning on my part because I need prayer now more than ever.

I am entering my last 10 days here in Guinea, I have so many mixed emotions about this. I am swelling with excitement to go home but also aching to leave this slower pace lifestyle with intense learning and discipleship.

Prayer that I would remember the truth that I don’t have to earn His love

Prayer that I would stop focusing on other people’s walks with the Lord and just turn my gaze to Jesus

Prayer that I would whole heartedly surrender my will and control of the future. That I would lay down my plans and my worries at his feet and trust him fully

Prayer that I would have the courage to lean into his will and jump into faith following his calling

Prayer for my fellow interns who are struggling through the next direction for the Lord for when they go home.