Sunday afternoons have always been a special time for us. While still in the States, they were a time to go out with friends, to eat entirely too much, to relax while it all settled, to take naps, to catch up on little projects around the house - simply put, they were always a restful time. Although the surroundings are different here in Dano, things really haven't changed all that much.

We have made it a tradition to spend Sunday afternoons down at Barry's. Barry is a tailor who also owns a shop along the main road in town. He has been a true friend to us on countless occasions, helping us weave our way through several cultural and legal matters, in addition to being a great pal. Perhaps because he himself is a foreigner (although he grew up in Dano and is wholly fluent in Dagara, Barry belongs to a different tribe), he has shown special interest in making us comfortable.

Following our church service with our teammates, we make the challenging trek down the hill through the weekly Sunday market (the road does not technically pass through the market, but the Dano market is a respecter of no boundaries!). We take a few minutes to greet everyone at Barry's (he has a huge extended family) before we all head behind the shop to his courtyard. Two mango trees provide all the shade you could want, although you do run the risk of being knocked in the head by a mango (as Melissa was this week!).

The menu at the Barry Family Restaurant consists of two items: Dirty Rice ('dirty' in the sense of fried and spiced, not in the actual sense of dirty…) or White Rice with Sauce. We, of course, take some of both! This is one of our most pleasant meals each week, parked under a shade tree eating tasty rice with Barry, a friend with a quick laugh and quirky stories. After Melissa has had seconds and Andy and Barry have finished off their thirds (we're telling you - this stuff is good), we chase it all down with a round of very stout tea prepared by Barry himself over his little charcoal stove.

It simply struck us this week, what a great tradition this is. Aside from the good company that Barry is, the atmosphere is great. Looking around the courtyard, we see clothes drying, chickens clucking, a few old men chatting, a few others dozing, old women shelling peanuts and (we imagine) gossiping, kids playing soccer with their homemade (from leaves) soccer ball, and a naked two year old doing her best to be involved in it all! Chili's has nothing on Barry's!

Of course, the whole afternoon isn't perfect. Each Sunday about 2:30 Barry has to step aside, do his ritual washings, and pray with the other Muslim men in the courtyard. For all their generosity and kindness, the Barry's are a Muslim family, none of whom have yet accepted Christ. We'd like to ask that, before your next Sunday afternoon nap, you pray for our friends, that this kind and generous family might somehow come to know its Savior.

In the meantime, we'll keep going on Sundays, keep eating the rice and sauce, and keep nurturing this friendship.

Wonder what those chickens would do to a recliner…never hurts to dream!

God bless your Sundays and all the others.

Andy and Melissa

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