In the west, we are particular about our bathrooms. We are accustomed for them to look a certain way, and many of us like our commode at home best. (How many of you bolted off the bus because you wouldn't use the school bathrooms?) And when we travel abroad, we are often concerned about the “facilities.” In fact, we actually require a lesson in order to use some bathrooms in the world (like a traditional Thai toilet or bath).
In Africa, it is pretty obvious what to do when the bathroom is a hole in the ground. However, a recent trip to the bathroom in Kagbaray village left me with an important question. My question then became, “To whom do I ask this important question?” The answer was Hawa. Hawa is an amazing lady that Mike met in Freetown when he visited Sierra Leone in March. Not only is she smart, beautiful, full of the love of Christ, promoting social justice in Sierra Leone and seeing changes take place by God’s hand and grace, she’s also kind and fun. If you knew Hawa, you’d love her and want to spend time with her, too!
Now, back to my important question… Kathy and I look forward to our weekly prayer meetings with Hawa on Friday nights. And I chose last Friday to inquire of Hawa (after a lead-in that explained how silly I felt asking this question but needing to know the answer so I could at the very least instruct teams that visit in the future), “When you visit a village and the bathroom is a pile of rocks, what do you do if you need to poop?”
Her answer went something like this, “You should go out in the grass. If you want to, you can use some grass or dirt to kind of cover it up when you’re done.”
“Just out in the grass?” I continued. “Not in the hut with the rocks?”
“Yes, in the grass.” Hawa was patient to explain. “Pick some tall grass off the footpath.”
And then she offered this most useful bit of wisdom: “When you visit the village, you should stay on the footpath. You don’t know what you might find when you leave the footpath. Yes, in the village, stay on the footpath.”
Of course we all laughed. I thanked Hawa for her instruction and insight. And I was doubly glad that I’d asked the question.
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1 comment:
Oh, Krisnee! I'm sooooo glad you have found "the person" to ask questions of. That is such a blessing; I know you know! Keep on being the person with a soft enough head to ask. I work hard at teaching my girls to be that way.
I have also just found out that we Americans need to learn some footpath ettiquite. Here at the primitive county park there are nice port-o-potties, and a heated bath house (with lots of "stalls"). And yet my girls track me down at least once a week with "someone else pooped in the woods. Mom, go clean it up!"
I've actually thought of putting up a pictoral/cartoon set of instructions on our camp bulletin board to help people who can't wait and won't ask know what to do...especially the "cover it up" part.
Take care and "walk circumspectly!"
CGross
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