W131-In a nutshell

Wow...to think that this semester is going to be ending in a few short days is difficult for me to fathom.  While it seemed like just yesterday I walked into our W131 class.  After dropping a more rigorous honors course, I wasn't sure what to expect when I came to this new class.

I will never forget this class because the first day when I came to class everyone was talking and laughing together.  This is not a bad thing but in my other classes it just didn't happen.  It broke the "awkward ice" that existed in my other classes.   Then there was Wayne in the front of class welcoming everyone!!!!  

From there the class only got more interesting.  I remember when Ms. Brown gave us an assignment to create a blog;  I thought that this lady is going to be a cool teacher.  The dynamics of the class were unlike any other class.  We would sit in a circle and talk about our writings and have class discussions on how to improve our piece.  I enjoyed the encouragement that I got from other students as well as the criticism that was offered.  

Another funny thing about this class was the size.  When we first started the semester it seemed like every seat in the room was full.  Now as we close the semester of Fall 08, we are lucky to have 15 students attend class.  This presented a new element to the class, because the people that came wanted to be there and therefore allowed student to enjoy class more.  It was also a neat way to build relationships.  This way especially true during our debates.  Because of the low numbers we were able to spend more time helping one another and build stronger arguments.  With more students I don't know how successful that would have been.

We saw dynamics change, relationships form, encouragement take place and all this was done in one short semester.  This semester flew by and it is hard to imagine this semester coming to an end.  But like the english proverb says "All good things must come to an end."

Wrapping the Gifts

While in Africa we handed out over 3000 gifts.  It was over 300 man hours to prepare all the gifts.  

Preparing the Gifts from Joel Hayslip on Vimeo.

This is only a glimpse at the work that was required!

Life in Africa-DAY 4

Our third day with the Give A Kid A Christmas program was a great success!

Today we went to three more locations here in Burkina Faso.  The first place we went to was called Camp Bethel.  The children were quiet yet the impact of the drama was lasting.  We handed out over 250 Books of Hope, which is a picture book that conveys the Gospel message.  Camp Bethel has 4 teachers and a director.  Interestingly enough, Camp Bethel was that it was the site of the first Children's Pastor Conference here in Burkina Faso.  Overall this was a great outreach.

The second school that we

 went to was an Assemblies run, private school.  The facilities were maintained very nicely.  When we first arrived to this school the children  swarmed us as if we were celebrities.  All of the children and the staff were extremely kind and welcoming.  At this school we had the opportunity to share the gospel with about 275 children.  Although this is a private-Christian school many of the students are Muslim.  At this school we did a social drama about hygiene, a skit entitled "God doesn't Love Me", we also presented the Gospel skit.  The children were energetic and involved.  The excitement of the children provided encouragement to our team.  

Our third stop for the day was 

not a school, it was a orphanage.  Along with the orphans there were several other children from the village.  At the orphanage we did two skits;  we performed the chair skit and the Gospel skit.  The chair skit begins to depicts the danger of  sin.   At the orphanage we were able to share the Gospel with 80 children.  Because the orphanage will be having a Christmas party in December, we left the presents to be opened for a later day.  The staff members and children were both appreciative and excited!

On the third day of Give A Kid A Christmas we were able to share with over 600 children, 16 adults, and had an impact on 3 different communities.  Numbers will never be able to express the excitement on the faces of the children and the eternal difference that was made in the life of each child!

Life in Africa-DAY 3

What another great day!

Again, woke up late....I'm starting to notice a pattern.

Anywho, things went great today.  We went to three more schools, and these kids were so grateful and happy to get a backpack!!!  It really enabled me to put things into perspective.  The Bible is so true when it says that the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.  There is so much to be done and so much that CAN be done.  The lifestyle is absolutely indescribable.  There are wild animals everywhere (tell about that in a second), wells that people walk miles to get to, and sickness that can be prevented!!!!

I am on medicine for malaria; the medicine cost me a mere 15 dollars.  There are children dying everyday from a disease that could be prevented with a 15 dollar investment.  The costs are extremely low, so why don't we (myself included) take advantage of that opportunity to give a helping hand?   

About those animals.  Today as we were driving down the street, I saw an animal I didn't expect to see.  I'm getting used to the wild donkey, goat, dog, chicken,  and roosters.  But today I saw a wild pig.  The thing was just running down the street.  It's really not that big of a deal but it was very interesting to me.  

About the events: we hosted 3 events today and gave out over 700 gifts to African children.  It was an awesome day.  We have 3 more schools tomorrow....and a lot more kids!!!

I would like to close this post with a little story from today.  As we were handing out gifts in the second school, I was assigned to work one class by myself.  Note that I don't know any French except for what I picked up here.  So I walked into the class and began to hand out the gifts.  The children were ecstatic!!!  Not using 1 word, I was able to communicate with these kids.  It was such a beautiful thing to watch these kids, who know nothing about me, pour out their expression of gratefulness.  It really was a beautiful thing to see....and if I had tear glands I might have even begun to cry!  Until tomorrow, JOSH.

Life in Africa-DAY 2

What a great day.  (Long but awesome)

I started this morning waking up late, although only 15 minutes, I was still late!  I was hurrying to finish up before my ride came to pick me up but I found out that he woke up 25 minutes late!!!  I was a rough morning.  Once everyone was there Joel (missionary) began to speak,  in French, to the other natives that were there.  When Joel finished,  the other Africans began to sing and worship (I am beginning to love African music).

We went to three different schools today, and we handed out approximately 600 gifts!!!!  I was great to see the reactions when these kids got the chance to rip open their presents.  The smiles on their faces were literally indescribable.  And the funny thing is that although I didn't speak a word of French,  it was like we were communicating perfectly.  It was a beautiful thing.

I am beginning to make friends with some of the Africans, as well.  I think it is the van rides and they laugh at me as I try to sing their songs with them.  I was getting tired of them laughing,  so I just decided to clap instead (probably better for everyone)!

I was a long, joyful, and exciting day!  Tomorrow we start at 6:00 AM, and we are going to three different schools.  I will keep you all updated.

Life in Africa-DAY 1

WOW!!!!

I have been in Ouagadougou for an entire day now.  It is very different from America but it is also very different from Kiev.  I am a smell sensitive person.  Kiev smelled like metal in water.  (I don't know how else to explain it) Burkina smells like a constant bar-b-que.  It is extremely hot today; it was about 94 degrees in Ouagadougou.  

Besides the intense heat, I went to an African church service (2.5 hours long).  It was very enlightening.  To see people of a different culture than myself, worshiping the same God as I do, was awesome! 

Tomorrow we begin our outreaches at 6:00 AM, I will need to go to bed now, but I will update again tomorrow!   

Sitting in Paris

I am just waiting for my next flight to Africa in about 30 minutes, so I thought I would jump on and post some of my thoughts thus far. After being on a plane for some time I am ready just to land in Burkina Faso.

My first thought is that I am proud to be an American. So many times we take for granted the things that we have. We complain about security in our airports taking too long. No lie, it took me almost 2 hours to get through security in Paris. I got patted down by a guard (after I walked through the metal detecter with no problem), and then they searched my bag again. They did this for almost EVERY PERSON!!!!!

The airport here, stinks! Like, literally smells bad. I have no idea what it is, but it smells like sewage.

This is a neat place, but I am really looking forward to going to Africa, then coming home. Well, people are starting to line up to board, so I'm out for now! I'll try to keep this updated.