(No.2 in the occasional ‘Day in the Life’ series…)
Day #1 was here
Day #1 was here
I usually aim to achieve one thing per day - sometimes with a potential bonus second or third thing if I’m feeling ambitious. That’s due to the general unpredictability and spontaneity of life here, plus most things just take a lot more time to get done…
Term ended at the Bible school last week so today my targets were:
- Get long overdue rent money from the bank (it’s been complicated…).
- Take even a small step forward in the frustrating quest for some outstanding paperwork for driving.
- Read a bit of my current book on contextualization.
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| Lots of bananas coming on the tree. |
8.30am Got to be honest, only just getting up… I’ve discovered that I need at least a good hour’s more sleep here than I used to - ideally 9 hours. And last night I slept terribly due to a mosquito harassing me, something scuttling around in the room (mouse? cockroach?), and next-door’s dog barking incessantly for what felt like an extraordinary length of time. Plus the usual cockerel / call-to-prayer double whammy before dawn. With having just finished term, I allowed myself a lie-in.
10.30am After spending some quiet time with Father and breakfast etc, I go to the bank (4th time in a week) to achieve target no.1. Thank God - success. I won’t bore you with the story, but suffice it to say: “free cash withdrawals” at ATMs back home has really come to mean something quite remarkable! Continue to visit / placate the landlady who’s shown admirable patience.
Back home, Mama returns from the market. Much to the amusement of Mama and Claris (friend and Mama’s faithful assistant for domestic work), I attempt to carry a big bucket full of food sacks on my head African-style - all the way from the gate to the back of the house.
12pm Make a couple of phone calls regarding target no. 2 above. Tiny steps forward… Again - it’s complicated. I’m not sure how this will sound to Western ears but it’s one of those areas where if you simply go with, “The law says this so that’s simply what you do”, then… well, nothing would really get done! For better or worse, lots of things are rather more grey here. I’m trying to be wise and beyond reproach and I’m resisting frequent offers of going ‘the back way’ to sort out required paperwork… It’s complicated!
1.30pm After lunch (bread with marmite followed by a grapefruit), I spend a bit of time chatting with Mama, stroking Rufus (a bit calmer than sometimes now in the heat of the day), and thanking Uncle Modou (neighbouring handy-man) for some work he’s done attaching mosquito nets to vents of a new outdoor loo block. Shame to hear from Mama that some of her plantains were stolen from the tree overnight.
I also see that Claris sadly had to bring her young daughter with her to the house today (instead of to school) as she’s unwell. Normally bubbly and cheeky, she just lay on the sofa all day. The doctor said yesterday it’s malaria, though they didn’t do a test - lots of fevers and illnesses are ascribed to ‘malaria’ since it’s so common. The medicine she was given doesn’t look particularly great. I’ll send a photo of it to a medic friend and ask. Really I want to find a way to get her a blood test and properly diagnosed. These things here rely on knowing people. Thankfully I know a few. Many people aren’t so fortunate.
2.30pm I read a chapter of my book (target no. 3) - successful day! Thank you, Lord. Stimulating and thought-provoking stuff on the Apostle Paul’s nuanced approach to culture - affirming, relativizing, confronting and transforming culture…
3.30pm It’s hot. Time for a nap.
4.30pm Mama wakes me up to pay a workman who’s fixed her gas hobs - only 2 of them have worked for months. The hobs, I mean, not workmen - though having said that… Cooking every day for 5 hungry lads on 2 hobs is made a lot easier with 1 or 2 more! A slightly awkward exchange ensued when I knew his suggested price was a rip-off. I was confident enough to call his bluff, and had Mama and Claris within earshot backing me up. Eventually he very reluctantly agreed to a more reasonable price. It’s crazy - a drawn-out and emotional interchange over 200 Dalasis (about £3.50). Yet here that means you’re talking in terms of a day’s wages.
5pm I can’t help but find it very amusing when someone comes to the gate, sees little puppy Rufus (now 9 weeks) by my side, and stands there terrified, refusing to enter! That just happened with one of my students - it added some extra contrition to her apology for missing an exam! We agreed she’d sit it tomorrow. She nervously retreated, keeping a careful eye on Rufus...
5.30pm A planning committee meeting about an upcoming children’s outreach day, where participants from recent children’s workers training will have a chance to put their training into practice. A productive and encouraging time - venue, rough timings, theme and Bible story agreed. Could be anywhere between 50 and 150 kids of all ages!
7pm Beef Domoda for dinner - classic Gambian dish in a peanuty-tomatoey sauce. Delicious. Followed by the usual selection of fresh fruit - mangoes, pineapples, melons…
[Shortly after getting dark, the power comes back on having been off all day. Hooray!]
8.30pm Team and I decide to watch a film. They opt for something a bit lighter than the usual Band of Brothers (so good) - this time, The Prince of Egypt: that old combo of brilliant animation, powerfully moving biblical narrative and a generous dose of Disney-esque heresy.
10pm Sadly a pint glass (for water only here!) with Martin Luther’s head on gets knocked over by an excited Gappie. To be honest, I’m surprised it took this long for any of my crockery to get broken! I’m sure Luther wouldn’t have minded the association with the Apostle Paul’s words - “I am being poured out like a drink offering” (Philippians 2:17).
And so to bed. Thank you, Father, for:
- Your power and your faithful redeeming love;
- Targets met, other productive moments, and lessons learned;
- People to speak to about Claris’ daughter;
- Mama’s labour, laughter and love;
- Rufus and fun.
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