Yesenia's Journey in Chad, Africa
Serving as a Student Missonary through La Sierra University at Bere Adventist Hospital from August 2015 to June 2016.
"...because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted..." Luke 4:18
My identity has been transformed. August 5th, 2015, I was no longer Yesenia Sosa, Mexican - American, 19 years old, from Skyline, San Diego, California. No longer the straight A student in H.M.S Richards Divinity School at La Sierra University. No longer Rabbi. (Shout out to my friends at La Sierra.) No longer Tony's little sister (a disclaimer I had attached to me since childhood well through out high school. ) I was no longer Isaiah's girlfriend, lil sinna, tuis roommate. None of the above was no longer attached to my identity. Now I am The American.
I soon began to realize this, as Vianay and I boarded our terminal at the Ethiopian airport. We sat closer than usual as we were the only two girls on our terminal surrounded by men all over 6 feet, dark skin, and dressed in Arabian/Muslim clothing. Not only were we the only woman but we are white, we are small, and we only speak English. Oh yeah, and we're American. All I kept thinking was Lord give us traveling mercies and my mother's words of per caution kept ringing in the back of my head. We boarded our plane to Chad, and there was no turning back now. All I kept think at that point was about our luggage we had no idea if it had gotten to Chad because we were instructed to get our luggage in Ethiopia. We couldn't do that because in order to get luggage one must have a visa for Ethiopia which we didn't. So by faith we boarded hoping it went to Chad. My plan was, land, go through immigration, and find luggage! That's exactly what we did... sort of. We landed and then we just followed the crowd. The capital D'jamena looks a lot like T.J except much, much, more poor and not many buildings, and no paved roads.So, I stepped off the plane and the hot humid air hit me like a brick, I didn't really care I was so focused on finding my luggage, (my bug tent was in there, I was determined to find that luggage! ). So as me and Vianay followed the crowd into immigration we had no idea what we were doing. Everyone was filling out this little card which was in French and we filled it out as best we could. The airport didn't look like an airport just an old little beat up, broken down building. Immigration is this little muggy room where you can smell every body and they mommas armpits. Bugs everywhere, it wasn't the sweetest welcoming. Anyways we just wanted to be allowed into the country so we could get our luggage! Of course, be missionaries as well. So we made it through immigration and then we went into this tiny room where the luggage carousel was and then played the waiting game. But immediately, the workers who help the people get they're luggage wanted to help us. I'll tell you why, we are white, we are American that means we have money, meaning they were expecting a Fat tip. I really didn't care we needed help and I just wanted to get my luggage. So since I over packed... we needed a lot of help. I didn't understand why these men were helping us so much until I got outside and another man was helping me with the rest of my luggage. As the second man came out with me the first man who was helping us began to fight to help me with the rest of my things. The two men started arguing in french I believe and all I understood was American. Then it all made sense, they were so helpful because since I was American I had money and I would tip them. Well that wasn't the case. I am not a rich American (according to American Standards) and I had no money on me to tip them anyways. But Zach, another missionary here who picked us up from the airport took care of that little problem for me. Next day, we headed on a bus to Kélo Chad, an hour give or take away from Béré, where I am now living. In total were 8 hours from the capital. One important thing I learned on the bus ride to bere, CAMERAS/PICTURES ARE ILLEGAL IN CHAD, period. Well I am here in Béré now and the scenery is absolutely breath taking and that is an understatement. But I am constantly reminded that I am The American. First night I ate dinner along side my new family. I love my new family. They're hospitality is amazing and they treat me like a queen and they feed me like a KING. Seriously, they feed me so much and the food is so good. There were many rumors that the food would be nasty but that is a LIE, the food is, for lack of a better term, The Bomb. Anyways, first night my family pulled out they're best chair and a little white table so I could eat. Then, my new momma and my new brothers and sisters ate on one side of me and the men ate on the other side of me and I ate in the middle alone. I wondered why. When I asked Zach he had previously explained to me I am the "third sex." I am a woman so the men won't want to eat with me and the woman do not want to eat with me because "I am the special one, I am the missionary, I am the one who has come to help, I am The American." I understood and it's ok, I am slowly but surely gaining more love and trust from my new family. As I have been getting accustomed with my new home, I have had several wonderful experiences. I love the people here but I especially love the children. The children are so happy, so obedient, so humble, and so so pure. They laugh, laugh, and laugh some more. One of the sweetest sounds to the human ear. Vianay and I have had the opportunity to go out this week on Wednesday and Friday to give Bible Studies to two other villages. I had thought this would be teens or adults but to my surprise it was the children of these villages. As we rode on the motorcycle to these villages the children everywhere would scream Nasara, Nasara. I ignorantly thought that Nasara was a greeting (there are many greetings here) so I said it back to them. In return they would give me a strange, offended, confused look. So I would just keep walking. I finally asked what it meant, Nasara means white person/white people. Everything made a lot more sense now and I stopped saying it back. One of the villages named Non-Churray (sorry if the spelling is wrong), was so much fun. As we made our way into the village children came out of no where screaming Nasara, Nasara, and they ambushed our motorcycles. I couldn't stop laughing. We told them Bible stories and sang songs, and as we left they chased our motorcycles screaming, Nasara, Nasara. Although some might get annoyed with being reminded of how American they are, oddly I have embraced the name Nasara. Why would I mind, when the children mean no harm when they refer to me as Nasara? Yes I am Nasara, I am white, I am American. I am not ashamed to be who I am. Yes I want to fully embrace they're culture and I want to try to understand to the best of my ability to be a Chadian woman; but I will never pretend to mistake I know exactly how they feel because I don't. I bring to their table what I know but I will never be so ignorant to think what I know is all there is to know. I have so much to learn and I have been humbled by my experience so far. But today, was sabbath and their Pathfinder day. This was a big deal. When church was over the pathfinders marched all around the village singing and marching, so proud to be a pathfinder, so proud to be an Adventist, so proud to be a Christian. As the pathfinders marched all of the children followed behind singing and marching. Vianay and I joined in the commotion. As we marched we held the little hands of the little children. As we marched to the Pathfinder song I realized this is the Gospel story in action. God is continually revealing himself to me. This has been a great start to this new adventure. As I held hands with the children I have embraced my new identity. I am Nasara.
1 Comment
Kym Liwanag
8/16/2015 11:39:44 am
May God continue to bless you, Yesenia with your amazing journey! I hope you have many more wonderful experiences to come :)
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November 2015
AuthorYesenia Sosa from San Diego,CA. I have a deep love for God and what he has done for me in my life. Because of Jesus love for me that has compelled me to show his love to others. I love my family,friends, and boyfriend Isaiah very much. I love school and I love to learn. I want to give myself in love and service, as Jesus did for me. Be blessed, never forget, you can do all things through Christ who Strengthens us. |