Bug-a-bugs

How do you know when a missionary is ready for furlough?  It's easy!  The first year on the field, when a bug flies in his coffee, he throws the coffee out.  The second year, he takes the bug out and drinks the coffee.  The third year, he drinks the coffee along with the bug.  The fourth year, he goes looking for bugs to put in his coffee! I must add that this is more truth than fiction!

Martha came back from the market today with a twinkle in her eye.  She had bought a special treat for us--fried bug-a-bugs!  Yummy!!!  I had told her a story about bug-a-bugs so she knew we liked them.  More about that story in a bit.

Bug-a-bugs are termites, the ones that make the huge ant hills you may have seen in pictures. In February, after the second rain signaling the approach of the rainy season, the female bug-a-bugs fly, searching for their spot to establish a new colony. The Liberians go out with a torch and, since the bugs are attracted to the light, they get their wings singed and fall into the pan which has been placed under the torch. After they are roasted they make a tasty treat.

When Martha was up-country last week for a conference, she said it rained hard twice, so I asked her if the bug-a-bugs flew.  Yes, they did.  That's why she found some in the market today: enterprising folk from the country gathered and roasted some to bring to sell to us city folk!

Now back to that story.  Back in the '80s  when Darrell was pastoring in the States, a missionary appointee came to speak in the church.  He was in our home and proceeded to let us know that when he got to Africa he was going to do this and he was going to do that and he was going to eat what the Africans ate and on and on and on ad nauseum!  I had finally heard enough so went to the freezer and pulled out a treat for him: roasted bug-a-bugs!  (Darrell's folks had been back here for a short visit and brought us a small bottle of the real deal.)  I wish you could have seen the look on the guy's face when I poured some into my hand and offered them to him.  He asked if I was serious and, as I popped a few into my mouth, I assured him I was very serious.  Well, as he turned several shades of green, he took a few.  And guess what!  We didn't hear anything more about all the wonderful things he was going to do in Africa.

Now comes the question: as I sit here with a dish of bugs beside me, does that mean we're ready for furlough?  But we've only been here 2 months!!  I think we're in trouble!!!