Washing Machines & Internet Connections

Breaking News Bulletin … We now have wireless Internet access in our apartment. That’s right, wireless Internet right here in West Africa. Don’t get too excited –- it’s still just a high-speed dial up connection, it still doesn’t work all the time, and we still have to pay by the minute. But it’s WONDERFUL that we don’t have to pack up our computer and walk downstairs to the workroom every time we want to get online … or wait for someone to get off the Internet so we can get on. We love it!

Here in West Africa, it’s the lack of modern conveniences that often frustrate us the most … things like slow Internet connections, no car, bad mail service, and no fast food joints. But every time we start getting too disgruntled, the Lord reminds us of all that we do have.

Recently in French class we learned phrases such as “doing the dishes” and “doing the laundry.” It was a real eye-opener to hear that our well-educated, middle class teacher, who I believe has a law degree as well as an education degree, still washes her clothes by hand –- washing machines are a luxury most Burkinabé people simply cannot afford.

Wow -– we would die if we had to wash clothes by hand on top of everything else we have to do! Many Burkinabé don’t even have running water in their home – they share a faucet with the other people in their courtyard. We Americans are so spoiled! It becomes more and more evident to us each day we live here.

Several weeks ago in the church we attend here the pastor shared the story of Luke and Lukey, two boys who each had a heavy sack to carry. God told them He would answer one prayer for each of them. Lukey prayed for his sack to grow lighter so that it wouldn't be such a heavy burden anymore. Luke, on the other hand, prayed that he would grow taller and stronger, so that he wouldn't have to struggle so hard with his existing load.

A few years later, both boys were given new sacks to carry. Lukey struggled with his sack -- it was larger than before, but he had not grown any. Luke, on the other hand, could easily handle this newer, bigger, sack because he was taller and stronger than he had been a few years before.

Our prayer is that we will be like Luke -- facing our "sacks" with strength and joy rather than praying God will lessen our loads ... and we pray also that we'll have proper perspective on the loads He has given us to carry. Afterall, it could be a lot worse -- we could be washing our clothes by hand!