Everybody gets a lick!
We have some of the best experiences in Africa. This morning before church got started, I was talking to some of the members. Isaac came up to me with sucker in his mouth. Then one of the African girls came up to me and told me that the sucker was hers. I am not totally sure but the African tradition is when one kid has a lollipop it is necessary to share licks with all the other kids. Yes, that is right. A sucker is a precious commodity. When one kid gets one, they pass it around and every kid gets a lick. I think that Isaac was given a lick but decided that he didn’t want to pass it on. I know what most of you are thinking, “How could you let your kid suck a sucker after 10 African kids have already?” We have learned that:
#1 – It is inevitable, you either lock your kids in the house or they are going to take a lick. We don’t push it or tell them to do it, but you can’t stop it.
#2 – If you are a germ freak, don’t come here.
#3 – If you want to fit in, take a lick.
#4 – If you want a good immune system, come live with us, we will help you build one.
Seriously, to be a missionary in a third world country, sometimes you have to accept things that aren’t normal. Well, it is normal for them(Africans) but not normal for us(Americans). The Apostle Paul said that he would become all things to all men. So don’t worry, just take a lick.
January 14th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Best blog of the year. Hands down. Great job brother Keith.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:03 am
Enjoyed reading this blog. Miss you guys,
Jason, Heather, and Rocco Willis
January 14th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I’m sending a bag of lollipops so each one can all have their own!=)
Anne
January 16th, 2008 at 9:20 am
[…] This Post from Africa I just read a great missionary post from Missionary Keith Shumaker in Burkina Faso about what you have to go through to reach […]
January 16th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I’ve seen it happen here in the states too. Let’s face it, kids are kids no matter where they may be located on a world map 🙂
January 31st, 2008 at 1:08 am
[…] barest of scratch; losing some of the typical mommy paranoia about what might taint our kids. Take this, for instance.Merely thinking about this gives me the shivers, but it’s like Keith wrote, […]
March 10th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
[…] I had a previous post about how kids eat a lollipop here in Burkina Faso. If you missed it, you can read it here, everybody gets a lick. […]