Koutiala - Around Town

Some of the best pictures I have are from walking around Koutiala. In general, I have found the Malians to be very warm and open, whether in Bamako, Koutiala, Mopti or Dogon Country.

Some random pictures:

Typical baby carrying method of Malian women. (Yes, this baby has eye-liner on!)

Same cute baby and her mom with a friend, happy to let us take a picture.

Moto filling station

Donkey cart. I almost got run over by one of these.

Neighbor kids

This man saw Lori's camera and stopped, wanting his picture taken.


Selling donuts

Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children

Belated Post! Lori and I visited Koutiala our first 2 weeks in Mali (last half of August). It's hard to take many pictures of/within the hospital in light of respecting patients' privacy and dignity. So, here are the few pictures I took for those interested in the medical side.

Pharmacy

Operating Room --the best in Mali

Ventilator


Childcare services.
This girl nannies for one of the nurses.
(Yes, this baby is wearing a wool hat in 90+ degree weather.)

The rewards of giving blood in Koutiala--you know who gets your blood, and even get to see them receive it (since there is such a need). A 15-year-old girl received my blood.
Even though she died, it still felt like such an honor to give to her, since I saw how she suffered the last days of her life. It really puts getting-stuck-by-a-needle in perspective.

Mopti pictures

Lori and I went for a boat ride. This salesman was so persistent to sell us some of his necklaces that he came with us on our boat ride and proceeded to display his goods. I had to take a picture! I have to say, (even though I was annoyed) I can't blame him for trying to make a living. He is a hard worker. We bought some necklaces.


Because I speak horrible French, I thought the guys were going to let me try to steer the boat. So I went over by the driver and he wouldn't let me! He told me to sit down. Here's the awkward picture.


You would almost think it was Venice... ??


Village on the water. I think these people are from the Bobo tribe.

Mopti

Because it is a two day travel (if you don't want to travel at night), we stopped in Mopti and spent the day there. Some call it the "Venice of Mali." I was in culture shock again, as it felt even busier than Bamako--lots of people in transit, trading, selling...

Lori bought Taureg fabric and this guy was kind enough to show her how to properly wrap her head. Awesome.

More Dogon Pictures

Dogon Pictures - Kids!

Running water = children and women running to get it

Dogon Country

Lori and I were blessed to visit Dogon Country last weekend and be a part of village life for a few days. Lori has some friends there with the Peace Corps, and so we got to "get inside" rather than be tourists. The Dogon people received us as honored guests. We ate with the chief 2 evenings, got to dance with his wives, learned how to do a proper greeting in Dogon, tried to carry peanuts on our head, and played with kids.

Random Pictures - Bamako

The Zoo

BAMAKO

Mali... right there next to Burkina Faso

August 19... Arrived in Mali!

Fun Facts about Mali:

• Timbuktu is in Mali
  
• There is hot season, rainy-hot season, and hot-hot season
• That's all I have for now. More to come as I blog...
  

Kenyan Adventures

Kenya Airways experienced a strike which began the day we arrived to Kenya. What was supposed to be just a short stopover ended up being 4 days of being stuck in Kenya. Our days were spent being in line all day with thousands of nervous passangers (leaving the hotel at 4am to get in line), and then racing passengers for a hotel reservation (which was non-existant when we arrived to the hotel with our vouchers), waiting for overwhelmed hotel shuttles for hours, then hitching rides with newly-made-friends to race to the next hotel before the shuttles arrived with the then-extremely-angry passengers. Other than being extremely exhausted, we very much enjoyed the random friends we made from all over the world. This opportunity gave us a chance to talk to people from Kenya and many countries in western Africa. We were also greatly reminded of how God is in control and takes care of us, even when things seem out of control.

Reflections - Namibia

As a team, we studied the book of Ephesians together. I was so blessed by studying this book in depth, personally and with my teammates. I discovered that the book is filled with many super-long sentences loaded with deep truth. Here is one of those sentences:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

that according to the riches of his glory

he may grant you to be strengthened with power

through his Spirit in your inner being,

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--

that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

may have strength to comprehend with all the saints

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

Winter in Namibia

Being from Minnesota, I had to take this picture of our friend James all bundled up for the 40 plus degree weather Namibia has at night in winter.

The Coaster

With so many on the team, we got to ride around in this sweet rental bus.

The Team

Team Photo!

Meat

Singles Quarters....

Meat is one of the most important food items to Namibians. If there is no meat, it's not a meal. This is a place we went to (not too often) after a day on campus.

Pictured: Lori eating street meat with peri-peri and salt. Namibian selling meat for about 25 cents a piece. Mmmm good.