What do you hope to not forget?

Another common question is, "What do you hope to not forget about living in West Africa?"

Without hesitancy, the answer is generosity. 

At least, that's what we would call it.  To the West Africans, it's nothing, it's life, it's normal.  They don't even know they do it.  But coming from an individualistic American mindset, their generosity is inspiring.  The motto I give them is, "If you have it, it is for sharing."  

We saw it on a daily basis.  When we had a picnic on the side of the road, we'd share our food with those who passed by.  The children wouldn't gobble it up before someone saw what they had, like American children might.  Instead, they would save it until they could share it.  It was jaw-dropping to me, but it was without a thought by them.  They didn't even want to eat a treat until they could share it.  We have to work hard to teach our kids a fraction of that kind of generosity in a me-saturated culture.  But theirs is a community based culture, which means even when no one is else is looking and without a second thought.

Another time we gave our friend Souley a package of Craisins from America for his family.  The next thing I knew, he had all the neighborhood kids lined up to wash their hands and get a handful of the treat.  Everything in me wanted to say, "No, that was for YOU."

In time, though, we learned to open our hands and whatever was in them.  If you have it, it's for sharing.  The spirit of our home changed as I learned not to ration my care package goodies, but to share them instead.  It doesn't feel "responsible" to live like this, so it's something I had to learn. I had the very best teachers.  Isn't it great when your teacher doesn't even know they are teaching you?  That's how the our friends taught me extreme generosity.  Just by being themselves.