Sunny-Side-Up Saturdays

I have been thinking about a blog post like this for quite a while.  When Jen Bauer asked for new contributors, I jumped at the chance.  When trying to choose a name for this post, I was reminded of the Ron Hamilton song, “Keep Your Sunny Side Up.” If you are not familiar with this song, you can go to http://www.majestytunes.com/p-26-patch-the-pirate-goes-to-the-jungle.aspx and listen to it. 

On the mission field, it is easy to become downhearted and discouraged.  The purpose of this blog post is to bring a smile to your face.  Sometimes things happen that are not so funny at the time that they are taking place; but when you look back on them, you can laugh.  Each Saturday, I will share a light-hearted story or two.  If you have any stories that you would like to share, please e-mail them to me at loconsford@gmail.com.  Just include your name and where you are serving.

With three children, we are provided with plenty of entertainment.  Gilbert is seven; Danny is six, and Bonnie is four.  I am not sure where they come up with some of their ideas.  For over ten years now, we have been sending out a daily e-mail to keep our family informed.  That expanded into a blog.  Some days, it is just every day, ho-hum stuff.  But every now and then, there are some hilarious stories!  If you would like to follow along, you can go to www.consfords.com.

Recently, my husband started doing a weekly podcast. (Joe's Podcast) He answers questions that people might have about life in Africa, life as a missionary, etc.  He has also been listening to some motivational type podcasts.  Bonnie, our four-year-old daughter, has heard Daddy talking about podcasts.  The other night after church she said, “Oh man, Mom! I left my phone at home.  Now, I can’t do my podcast.”  She was referring to a little plastic toy that is not even really a phone.  Then, on the way home, she started laughing out loud.  We asked her what was funny.  She said, “Oh, I’m just laughing at something on my podcast.”  She has quite the imagination!  She can often be found “teaching” the refrigerator magnets; they are her students, and they each have been given a name.

We are currently missionaries in Ghana, West Africa.  We were originally in Ivory Coast, West Africa.  After being evacuated from Ivory Coast three times due to civil war, we relocated to Ghana.  Back in 2003, we went to language school for a year in France.  French is the official language in Ivory Coast.  While in language school, we attended the church of another missionary who lived about an hour away from the language school.  After we had been in language school for a couple months, the other missionary had to return to the States for a few weeks.  He asked my husband, Joe, to coach his basketball team for him while he was gone.  Joe went to practice with him once before he left to meet the boys.  The boys on the team ranged in age from ten to twelve.    When it came time for Joe’s first practice, he soon realized that he did not know any basketball terms in French – “Dribble, shoot, etc.”  So, he dribbled the ball and asked the boys how to say that.  They told him a word.  Then, he shot the ball and asked them how to say shoot.  They told him another word.  He came home pretty encouraged; he had really enjoyed himself.  When it came time for the first game, he ran into a problem.  During the game, he was yelling, “Dribble,” “Shoot,” etc.; at least, he thought that was what he was saying.  One of the parents came to him after the game and said, “Why are you cussing at our boys?”  Joe was shocked, and the whole team looked a little sheepish.  The parent caught on very quickly to what had taken place.  Those boys were in big trouble!  The moral of the story is: Do not take language tips from a child!

Until next week, keep your sunny side up!