Traveling in the Bush… What an adventure!

We awoke in the dark of night and quietly packed our vehicle in preparation for our journey. It was 4 am and both sons still slept as we tip toed through the house checking off the list of items we would need. As I stood outside in the warm, wet air the sun began to peak in the distance over the villages 300 year old mango trees. Red, Yellow and Orange light burst out horizontally and illuminated the Sahara sand that lingers in the air during dry season. Now that day had broke we loaded the kids, 1 large suitcase, 2 small suitcases, a bucket of diapers, a pail of laundry soap, a toilet training potty, jars of food, a bucket of rice and our national friend. We began what we thought would be an 8-day trip up country to visit a family working among a people group in the mountains. We decided to take the more adventurous direct route to the first stop on our journey. We had heard there were large mountains and beautiful waterfalls along the way. I can hardly describe my excitement. I felt like a little girl waiting for daddy to wake up so I could open my Christmas presents.
As we approached the foothills the Harmattan hid anything we may have seen there. There seemed to be about a 200ft visibility. All we could see was the base of the mountain range that surrounded us. As we passed through villages along our route we pulled to the side of the dirt road, that was more holes than it was road; to greet people in their mother-tongue and make sure we were going the right direction. Dark little faces smashed against our side windows as they yelled “Fote, Fote” (foreigner, foreigner) and marveled at the white babies in the back seat.
As we arrived at our first destination, Aidnik* we were filled with joy as we met our national friends family and greeted people in the market place. We then drove to the outskirts of the bustling town and hiked to the gorgeous falls that seemed to not fit their surroundings. It was like an Oasis in the midst of the dessert tucked away just for us. No one standing their pointing and laughing as we tried to enjoy ourselves. It was truly a blessing from the Lord. After several hours of swimming and relaxing we hit the road and headed to Uomam* where we would rest our heads for the night. On the way, our guide book spoke of a hidden water fall that was not the be missed; so we ventured down a dirt trail and tried to communicate what we were looking for and realized that no one understood the tribal language we were speaking. We were in a completely different region only hours from our current home. Thankfully our national friend spoke French and was able to communicate with one of the older kids what we were looking for. He took off on his bike and we followed up the windy trail with our vehicle that in some places barely fit. Before we realized it every kid within a half-mile was running through the bush trying to keep up with us. We were the first white faces some of these kids had ever seen. Corey handed some good news books to the older kids in their native language and after seeing the gorgeous falls we headed to Uomam*.
As we parted ways with our national brother, my husband, Corey, spotted a puddle of oil under our car and for the next 5 days we were stuck there until the correct parts could be brought out from the capitol now 5 hours away. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as we enjoyed each others company and the company of some other families that passed through. We also were able to hike in the mountains looking for some caves we had heard about.
The Lord blessed us with a fixed vehicle and we finally headed to our destination. We spent four incredible days with our fellow workers and were blessed to see the way they do life. Every morning we froze in the 45-50 degree (Fahrenheit) weather. I loved it! We awoke at 6:00am and by 6:30 all 4 foreign families in the village came and played ultimate Frisbee! It was so much fun. All the women came in long skirts and head wraps, I shook my head and thought "there is no way I can play in this ridiculous thing", but lo and behold it was possible. Difficult, but possible. We were so encouraged to see a family that is healthily serving the Lord and at all times desiring to have a positive attitude. After 15 or so years in this country they had set up a home completely sufficient without running water or town electricity. A home completely on solar with 24 hour electricity, refrigeration and all. We saw many things that we are wanting to apply to our own situation. For example these ladies taught me how to make yogurt from scratch! I tried on my own, and accidentally made cottage cheese. haha. Now I know how to make both! And my son Fisher loves it! I cannot get him to drink milk to save my life but he will eat my homemade yogurt. Who knew, all it is is milk! Go figure. The most impressionable moment of the entire trip was when I went with the mother and daughter to a neighbors house who has cerebral palsy. She is a 15 year old girl (the same age as the daughter) and is unable to do mostly anything for herself. Day after day she lies on the cement floor staring at the dirty cement wall. So this family we were visiting tore up a national geographic and filled the wall with pictures of butterflies, tigers, monkeys, dolphins, anything they could find to bring her just a little bit of joy as she lay there. We stayed for a couple hours and danced for her and teased her about having a crush on this families son. It was REAL! It is what we are here to do. To meet people where they are at and love them so that we might have the opportunity to share with them this Jesus that has given Himself up for them. May we take hold of every opportunity the Lord sends our way.
Our last few days we headed back to the capitol in which time our tire flew off while I was driving up the mountain. After walking a mile looking for lug nuts i returned to the car and watched Corey put the tire back on. Unfortunately I could only find 5 out of 6 so we had to find a mechanic and get another one without the ability to communicate verbally. It was ridiculous, but hilarious at the same time. I praise the Lord for giving us the ability to play charades like champs! After the tire fiasco we spent a couple days at these rustic cabins a mission has built here, high on top of one of the villages. It was freezing up there and for the first time in a year we were able to sit and warm ourselves by a fire. One of my favorite things in the world. Now... most people go there to relax and lay around away from the culture, but not the Pendergrasses. We decided to find a place to swim. So we looked up in our guide book a village that had a huge lake and because we were not able to communicate well verbally we would stop at some old people on the side of the road and say the name of the village, then i would pretend to be swimming and Corey would make his arms really big to show that it was a large place to swim. So we did this for about an hour and got sent literally into the bush and bushes. lol. When we were about to give up we crested a hill and there it was. The most beautiful thing i had ever seen. A lake, a crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains. The heat of the sun and the fresh cool breeze was the perfect combination. We played and played. It was incredibly refreshing. As 3pm approached we decided to head back an give ourselves an hour because we were meeting someone at 4pm. So we packed up the car and as we left this small village we noticed a large dirt road running through its center, so we decided to ask where it led. Sure enough we got on this road and in 5 minutes we were at the cabins! When we got back we looked off the porch and sure enough you could see the lake from where we were staying! What had taken us an hour to find should have only taken 5 minutes. Our route had a better view though. ;)
As our time there wound down we headed back to the capital to resupply and return to our town. The night we arrived in the capital we had a Louisianan shrimp boil with several other families that live there. What a blessing. (That's the meal that was served at our wedding for those of you who did not attend). After having seen a lot of this country side and visiting many other families, I am satisfied to see where we are after only 1 year here. We have great friends and deep relationships that have been built. There is no doubt in my mind that this is where God wants my family right now, and that knowledge is comforting. No matter how hard it may be at times i know that we are walking in obedience.