So the solar oven is not a flop, but rather the timing of its completion was poorly arranged. There are no days with consistent sunlight, but through salvaging my first attempt to cook at home I got the idea to make an "oven" that rested on the charcoal stove. Rod and I welded together a steel frame; wrapped it in aluminum sheeting (roofing pounded flat); and filled it with fiberglass insulation. It has been at my house for about a week now, but I have been hesitant to test it in front of my host mom, who is anxious for it to work. We knew it needed to cook off the paper lining, and I was nervous that it would frighten her from using it, if this large metal box started bellowing out smoke. Last night I cautiously agreed to go for it, as it might be awhile until I had the opportunity. Smoke was filtering through every gap and rolled up along the wall spilling into the outer courtyard. Between the smoke and the smell, from the outside, one would have assumed either the house was burning or someone could not cook.

Yes my sister has a fro.  They took out her braids, and it is hard to resist playing with the giant puff ball on her head.

The smoke eventually stopped, as I hoped, and the little dial thermometer had already passed the maximum and was still climbing. The directions said about 15-20 minutes at 400F for the little muffins. After about eight minutes I caught the faintest hint of burning, so we opened it up and they perfect, besides the burnt bottoms. Things learned: we had too much charcoal; the cake pan needs elevated off the flat steel plate directly over the heat, preferably on a grate a few inches higher; and the oven worked great, about 460 degrees of greatness.

Our church is having a wedding this Saturday. To make it cooler, it is the host brother of one of the Journeyers. Because we know the to-be groom pretty well, we get to do more than just sit in the back: Chazz is the photographer; Holly and Steph are making the cakes, yeah that means a lot of baking; and I am the responsable de installation. It is not an critical position, but a funny story as to how it happened. The youth of the church play a pretty vital role in the planning and setup for weddings. The morning of the previous wedding/the morning after the all night dance party, the youth helped get everything to the church and started setting up the large tents. Devin with literally no sleep and no breakfast does not have the same patience as one hopes. That combined with a lack of forethought, but no lack of confidence, in the tent setup process drove me to assume a more commanding role. I saw it as a low that day, and wished I had gone about helping with a more patient and loving heart. The tent certainly got up quite quickly, but that day came back to bite me. Apparently I was not brusque enough, because on account on my efficiency I was elected to be in charge of setting-up the tents and chairs. What better way to learn patience then being trapped in meeting after meeting of people arguing in French about things that you can just barely follow. Besides the meetings, I am glad to be apart of the wedding in this way and not feel like some statue on display.

Please keep me in your prayers this coming week. I got my Mali visa and will try to buy a bus ticket today for Bamako. I plan on leaving Sunday morning to be in Bamako Monday for a week-long project to install solar panels. I do not know much about the project, but I am more interested in meeting the missionary heading it, with whom I would like to continue collaborating next year. Its a long and tiring trip, but also pray that God will give us an unity of spirit and open the door that I may continue working with/learning from him next year.

If you need to be reminded of how big God is, read Isiah 40. Regardless of the present circumstances that seem to be all there is, remember that God is the master cog controlling the whole universe and the details of your life. Trust in His perfectness.