Joey Update Vol. 21

I find it amazing how when you give your plans over to the Lord, He will
give them back to you, enriched by His having touched them. It was the day
after I wrote the piece on idolatry that the actual plan, no longer an idol
to me having given it to Him, came to pass. Indeed, the very day after I
wrote, we were on the road towards Yao.

This came after a month of rather frustrating stops and starts, but
definitely more stops. We took a truck to a central town and got out there.
We rested a little from the journey of 75 bumpy kilometres. We were told
there might be another truck to take us right to Y. As we were inquiring
into this, a rainstorm overtook the whole area. It rained such that it was
not so much "falling" as being hurled from heaven. Needless to say, the rain
washed the air clean, but also washed our road and the way of our truck out
of our plan.

New plan. Take a pousse the 50 kilometers from this town to Y. A pousse is a
cart drawn by a single horse and driven by a young child, at least ours was.
No problem, except for money and time. The cost was great (due to the recent
pelting rain) and the way was an eight hour sun-baked and bouncy experience.
Still, it was my first ride on a pousse and THE way to travel authentically.
We crossed the river which is now in full swing and at one point the horse
stumbled in the water and we all had to bail off so he could stand up. We
waded the water. During our travel, we got to see much of the countryside.
Picture a scene of savannah minus all the cool animals like lions and
elephants. This, punctuated by the invasive scent of rotting sheep and cows
who died in the recent rains and been left to their rot, and you have a good
picture of our travel. Did I mention the sun was hot and burny?

Anyway, we arrive in Y, greet the sultan and actually get to stay at his
house! Also we salve our burns with some ancient sunscreen I happened to
bring with me (I always forget my nose though). Our time there was good
although we did not share any stories. We mostly hung out with the sultan
and his staff. We were treated to a tour of sorts that was also a quest for
telephone reception, a particularly iffie opportunity in Yao. We found it at
last and saw much of the countryside around Y. When we returned, we were
treated for a trip on Lake Fitri, the lake on which Y. is built. We took the
sultan's boat and motor, which clogged with grass every few minutes and told
not to touch the water from the boat for the many fishing lines that are
left in it. The fishing line is just that, a stick with a string of ten to
twenty hooks tied on at various intervals and planted in the water to wait
for the fish to bite. Large ones I'm told are sold to other countries, while
the small ones are dried and eaten locally.

Although we did not share stories, this being our first trip out, we did
make a few good contacts and establish some presence in town. If people were
surprised that two white guys would travel by pousse all the way to Y.
(which we did and they were) they were likewise surprised and pleased that
these same white guys could speak N. with them! We met the family of the
person who acted more or less as our guide to Y. They invited us back which
we said we would take them up on. In this culture there are certain channels
to go through if you want to meet someone properly and often being
introduced to someone through someone else is better than meeting them
alone. Our friend and guide knew the way and the channels properly and I for
one was grateful to him. We plan to return when the rainy season stops.
Our trip back was the trip there in reverse. Another eight hour trip,
although the sun was now taken into account, another fall- this time due to
a break of the rope that tied the pousse to the horse. No one was too badly
hurt. We did get back home after it all. It was good to finally get to go
and I do hope more comes it than I now know. While the trip was good, it was
not terribly productive as far as direct project goals is concerned.

Hamdu's:
-We finally got to the Bil. Capital!
-The many meetings there were blessed
-My first ride on a pousse!

Du'as:
-Our opportunity to return to the Bil. Capital after rainy season
-The few good contacts we made there
-Our relationship with the man who took us out there- I'll call him Sherman.
He lives in our town but has family in Y.
-Progress on stories now that we're back

Thanks for lifting me up through some of the hard times of waiting. A desire
accomplished is sweet to the soul! I hope to further see my desire to see
the transformation of this PG through His word in their language! Keep on
lifting this up.

-Youssef