Day 8 (June 22) - Sirasso to Bobo

We woke up with the roosters again (roosters don't wait for sunset to begin crowing - they like to start around 4AM!) and began setting up the church for service. We were seated up front as guests of honor. It rained very hard from 6:30AM for about an hour and that kept some people away (some travel as far as 10-15 miles on foot or moto to get there). But, there were well over 100 people there. The women all dress in their finest (with skirts reaching their ankles and their heads covered) and looked beautiful. The women and kids sit on one side with the men on the other. A choir and a kids choir sits up front (but not on the platform). They love to sing (and dance) in worship. Their songs are very repetitive and many of them learn truths about Christ and God from song because most of them are illiterate. They use two different kinds of drums played by hand along with a marimba and some kind of bowl with shells attached to the top which is moved up and down for percussion. They asked us to sing two songs in English. We sang "Awesome God" and the chorus to Audio Audrenaline's "Big House." They seemed to enjoy it. Toby taught us a Jula chorus and we sang a song with them. Toby preached in Jula (with a translator into Bobo) on the Fall from Genesis 3. The service also included communion (only taken by those who have been baptized) and an offering. We gave over $100 to go toward buying grain for 5 families in the church who are currently unable to plant their own fields because they have to work on other farms daily for food to live on (they are a living example of what it means to pray for "daily bread"). The service lasted about two and a half hours. The kids sat quietly and attentively the whole time.

The kids choir in Sirasso

The choir singing (and dancing) during the Sunday service

After the service they greeted all of us. We formed a line and EVERYONE (including children) came by and shook our hands saying "nee-chay," which means "thank you" in Jula. We replied with "a-meen-a," which means "amen." We then went out front and had our picture taken with everyone together. After lunch (you guessed it - but, we were also served "to" this time), Kevin "asked for the road" and we got it. However, we had to greet everyone again before we left. We took back Pastor Marcel to stay with his children in Bobo so he can see a doctor. I gave him a "Dunamis" shirt as a gift. We also took back three other men (and a moto) in our trailer. What a ride they received! On our way back, we saw a station wagon (not even a big one) loaded with 19 men as well as 2 motos and other stuff!

All of us along with the Sirasso church after the Sunday worship service

Some of our girls trying to learn the African dances

We arrived back to the Obergs' around 6PM. Bonnie served us a wonderful enchilada casserole for dinner (praise God that rice and sauce is done!) and everyone loved it. We all cleaned up. It had been about three days since we had a real shower. Most of us were tired and went to bed early. It was a full and memorable day. I continue to be impressed by the believers' faith despite what they pay and give up for their faith. Their trust in God and their commitment is admirable. We could learn much from them. So ends our time "in the bush." We were all glad to be back, but also glad to have experienced it. We will not soon forget the people of Sirasso and the northern Kenedougou region.