Trip into the countryside

Bryon was able to take a trip a few weeks ago out into the countryside of Mali as part of a support mission. I dont even know all that he was involved in but that he was gone for several days and worked in support of the crisis in Chad.

During his travels, he took a few pictures of the country side that I wanted to share with you all. As many of you know Mali, alongwith a great deal of Africa, is one of the poorest nations in the world. The Land does not support much sustainable agriculture, the people are hungry and homelessness and disease plagues every nation from South Africa to Egypt, Malawi to Mali. Technology is far behind, the political arena corrupt and religion is a free for all with different tribal groups believing in one version of a certain faith combined with local tribal tales and a little witchcraft here and there.

Upon finding out that Bryon is deployed to Mali, many people have said, "Aren't you glad he isnt in Iraq". My initial answer is "Yes, I'm very glad". Well, I still feel that Mali is a safter place in general than in the middle of a war zone, however, this past month that he has been gone, I have come to know a lot of things. One of those topics that I think of often is the related to the question.. "What is worse, Syphilis crazy or Religious crazy?"

What does that mean you ask? The people in Iraq act out of passion for their Muslim faith, they kill people in the name of Allah and believe they will be rewarded for their faithfulness. In Africa, devotion to one's Muslim faith is there, however, it is a different type of Muslim faith than the faith Iraqi's give their life for. In Africa, when people bomb embassy's, attempt to assassinate dignitaries, raid already impoverished refugee camps, it isnt because of total religious fanaticism but I would say a combination of that plus a syphilis type insanity that is bred from prostitution, STD's and AIDS running rampant and an ugly mix of a lack of respect for the value of human life and extreme poverty. Which then, is worse? Religious crazy or syphilis crazy?

The Bible says to feed the hungry before trying to share your faith with them (paraphrased). Why does it say that? Because you have to meet the basic needs of a person, food, water, clothing, shelter, and safety before they are open to anything theoretical and non-tangeable like faith. In Africa, there are so many orphans from parents who have died of AIDS and are left without any family members. From my time working in Malawi and Kenya, I know that there is a religious battle going on for these orphans. Whichever orphanage gets the child, is the faith the child grows to embrace. If a Christian orphanage claims the child, they will become Christian and if a Muslim orphanage claimis the child, they will become Muslim. What a concept! The group who provides the basic needs in life to the child is the direction the child will then follow. Sounds familiar, eh.

I'm so proud of my husband. The work he is doing is making such an incredible difference on the people in Mali as well as other nations in Western Africa. I wish I could write more and I wish I could know more but that is the plight of a military wife, especially an intelligence analyst's wife. No complians though, I have had a great deal of time with the Lord realizing, my faith and strength must lie in him, not my husband. I was reading my Bible the other day about the story of the prodigal son. It is my opinion that Africa is the prodigal son of the world. The son wandered far away and fell into a life unpleasing to the father, however, the son was not lost. There is salvation to all who seek it and open arms of the Lord awaiting the children of Africa. I pray God's blessings on the people of Mali, especially the orphans and widows and all of our troops who give their lives to help give them a safe place to call home, free from terrorism and hate. I thank God for you men and women and for the sacrifaces you make, trying to keep our nation safe.

Enjoy the pictures!