Bobo, my hometown since childhood........but oh how it has changed!........All paved streets......many of the old buildings......but changed streets.....even the route out to our old home of Santidougou is half the miles and a completely different road!........Arriving in Bobo, we were warmly welcomed by the Schaeffers.....Esther had arranged a great schedule for us there.........First thing was put our luggage in the guest house and go to their home across the yard for a dinner party!......Several couples there, old friends whom we had known since their childhood........even Fernand from France happened to be there on vacation so was included........it was a beautifully set table, with lots of food and lively conversation! How we appreciated the Schadffers for their organization of our program while in Bobo........That evening the kids went out on the town to visit old haunts and we had a lovely evening meal with Peg and Jet in their home......it seemed like old times, so many memories! To ward off the hot nights, Esther insisted we use the AC for sleeping so we were ready to start a big day after a good sleep.
The road to Santidougou, how it had changed.....the beautiful old kapok trees and the bridge had all been taken out and the road deviated through that area.......the villages had not changed.....nor the dry, barren fields.....it looked like home again!! Who would be content living in such a dry, barren area, dried mud villages and no electricity......but God's call to a people and a place had made this home sweet home to us!......The road was shorter now with the pavement making a new path to our home.....as we approached the village, there was loud singing and drumming and crowds of people......we stopped the car and we all got out.....Dad was ahead of us and when he reached Santidougou he bent down and kissed the ground to the cheers of the people........We were being met outside the village so as to walk the last half kilometer, accompanied by crowds of people, singing and drums!.....And of course many kisses (two on each cheek) and greetings in Bobo!......They led us directly to the huge new church at the edge of the town and beside the main road, stopping along the way to hug and give four kisses to all and sundry!......Wow - what a church, huge and it was FULL!.......
To our surprise, everything was done in Bobo - songs, Scripture, greetings, everything.......We had thought they would want us to speak in French and have it translated.......no it was a Bobo fete, and so we threw away our French notes.....and winged it in Bobo.....amazing how it came back to us after all these years of disuse! ........the church is truly beautiful.....a high cement platform......Scripture text and the Alliance symbol painted on the walls.........everyone was singing and dancing when we entered........and soon we joined in the dancing as well - our whole family.......delegations had come from so many many churches......some we had never see.......others we had helped to plant! How the Bobos have grown - it was like a miracle!......the name of a village would be called out and the leader would get up and say a few words of greeting.....this went on for a very long time......then everyone would dissolve into singing and dancing again......it was truly a grade fête!!
Afterwards we toured the old mission compound....visited the graves of two pastor friends now in heaven.... were given lunch in our old dining room.....the kids had fun touring the old homestead and reminiscing about times long past......this was our home for many years......After lunch we visited in the homes of others and the greetings and conversations continued! Wow, what a day!! Our hearts were so full of praise to God for the great things He had done and continues to do among our people, the Bobos.........
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