Wise Men in Koudougou
I taught Alan and Amy at home because there were no schools available in Koudougou. Alan was in the fifth grade and Amy just started first.
One morning in mid-December, we were having a math lesson in the living room of our rented house - across town from the Rural Training Center where we would be moving in a few months. The rented house was about 500 sq.ft. cinder block house with a tin roof. There was a cinder block fence around the courtyard which was normal for most property in the town.
Alan was facing the front glass doors that looked out onto the courtyard. He looked up from his book and in an excited voice yelled, "Wise men are here!"
When Amy and I looked up, we were amazed to see Fulani men on camels at the front gate.
Without the least bit of caution, we left that math lesson and went to the gate. Since we didn't speak their language, we relied on the words of French and More' that they knew, along with a lot of gestures, and the help of a nearby neighbor from the Catholic Girls' School (who was also curious to see the men on camels) to discover why they had stopped at our gate.
We learned where they were coming from and what they needed: water for themselves and their camels. They had crossed the Sahara and were going to market to sell the wares they had with them.
When bread and fruit were offered and the camels were watered, one of the "wise men" led his camel to kneel on the ground and gestured to the children - offering them a short ride in the field outside our courtyard.
I am not sure who was more grateful for the visit of the wise men that Christmas season - Alan and Amy for the memorable ride and getting out of math class that day - OR the Fulani tradesmen for the food and water.
I do know that it was the Best Christmas gift that we got that year. I remember the surprise of that day, every January 6th, when Epiphany arrives.
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