December 30, 2008
In a one horse open sleigh
Charlie's December newsletter is now up, and if you missed the November one, that's there as well.
December 29, 2008
Happy Christmas Djibo
I hope you all had a happy and peaceful Christmas, wherever you celebrated it. Here in Djibo, we had a really good time, throwing a Christmas Eve feast at church for about three hundred Muslim friends and acquaintances. Those present included one truck-load of Tuareg refugees, three truckloads of men and women from our immediate neighbourhood, herders, tailors, donkey-cart makers, rich men, poor men, magicians and thiefs - even our grouchy landlord Belko Sambo turned up to hear the Christmas message. Before the feast got underway, I talked a bit about the coming of the wise-men. Fulani people reckon they can tell from the stars if a king has died, but have never heard of a star portending the birth of a king. Now they have :-) Of course, it's one thing to see the star, it's another to make the journey. And quite another to prostrate yourself before the king, as the Magi did. Please continue to pray for our Fulani friends here, that God would give them the imagination and courage to respond to Jesus for themselves.
On Christmas morning we had a party for our neighbours' children. Charlie organized an around-the-yard hunt for milk-flavoured boiled sweets and then we showed them the first part of the film Magdalena. It's made by the same people who made the Jesus film and focusses mostly on telling Mary's story.
We went and had Christmas lunch with our friends Mark and Cheryl, who are English SIM missionaries from Rugby. No turkey, of course, but the chicken and roast potatoes went down a treat - they even shared their Christmas pudding with us, bless em.
Talking of turkey, Turkish Sophie is now in shops, and the books have a new range of covers and chapter illustrations. Sophie now sports a fashionable sunhat and her blonde hair tumbles all the way down to her knees. Chobbal is tuftier and smugger than ever and has taken on a pinkish hue - obviously been washed with the reds by mistake. Moussa ag-Litni is as round and menancing as any Ali Baba villain, and Crepe-Sombo is repulsive. Thanks are due to Gokce Akgul for his zany and eyecatching rendering of the Gorom-Gorom set.
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December 28, 2008
A pat on the back for Christian missionaries
I have always enjoyed Matthew Parris's articles in the London Times and admired his honesty and good sense. And just yesterday, writing in the Times, Mr Parris admits to having changed his mind about the presence of Christian evangelists in Africa. It seems he now thinks they're doing an okay job. There's a snippet below, but really it's worth reading the whole article: As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God
'Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.'
December 13, 2008
Djibo parade
Here are a couple more photos from Thursday's festival. By the way, independence day in Burkina is on 5 August, but in August everyone is tired from cultivating their fields and not in the mood to party.
The Djibo parade was a fascinating cross-section of different castes and unions - 'Fishermen of Djibo', 'Hunters of Djibo', 'Butchers of Djibo', 'Metal-workers of Djibo' and pictured below, beekeepers of Djibo!
And pictured below, horse-riders of Djibo :-)
December 12, 2008
Hacking Timbuktu draft cover
This is the first draft of the Hacking Timbuktu cover - a parkour/hacking fest set in London and Africa. Since this cover is still in the process of development, your honest comments would be appreciated. Especially if you are a twelve year-old boy!
Independence Day
Thousands of people turned out yesterday for the independence day celebrations in Djibo - a parade, speeches and races. Charlie took part in the last event of the day - a five furlong horse-race through the market! Her horse Silale was ahead at three furlongs but then ran out of steam! They finished a very creditable fourth.
Here are the horses approaching the finish line:
And here is the ugliest camel in Djibo:
We'll put some more photos online as soon as our internet connection permits.
