Burkina...the story of today.

Forty-eight hours after the events of Thursday, the massive demonstrations that ultimately resulted in the resignation of Burkina's president Blaise Compaore and the ensuing violence, looting and vandalism that erupted.....things in Burkina Faso finally quieted down today.

The situation here is still very fragile. When a government has been completely dissolved and a country is having to start from scratch with its leadership, it is realistic that stability is going to take a while to be restored. The people's confidence in their leadership is not going to be earned overnight. 

The country certainly has a long way to go before they have a better understanding of what their future will look like outside of Compaore's rule. 

But in the meantime, while their future is getting sorted out, and the opposition and military are determining the best course of action to take to move forward.....

....the people decided to go back out on the streets today.

But this time it was not to protest. 

It was not to loot, or destroy. 

But to clean up. 

Because they take great pride in their country. 

These past two days have taught me a lot about the Burkinabé and what national pride really looks like. 

This country is very poor. It is considered one of the poorest most undeveloped and illiterate countries in the entire world. And that's how much of the world sees them. Through the narrow scope of that limited view. 

But that's not what the Burkinabé see. That's not what they see. That's not how they view themselves. 

They see a country worth fighting for. They see poverty but they also see promise. They see illiteracy but they also see the absolute value and necessity of education maybe more than any western country can appreciate. They see a country worth cleaning. A country worth picking up a straw broom, a shovel, and a garbage bag and joining together to restore what was broken. 

(photo courtesy Burkina24)

This country may not look like much through the eyes of the world....but it means a lot to them. They take pride in what they have. Even with all of the world's statistics stacked against them....they have pride in their country. 

Yes, poverty is rampant, they are under developed, and the majority of the population is uneducated. 

All true. 

But what the world sees when it looks at Burkina Faso is only part true, because it's only part of their story. 

It's not their whole story. 

The whole story is that this is a beautiful country. With beautiful people. And a rich deep culture. It may not boast impressive skyscrapers, million dollar mansions, top notch health care, beautiful beaches, a notable education system, or world class tourism.....but they take pride in what they do have. 

And while what they have may not be on the same affluent scale as the rest of the world, it still means a lot to them. 

And so I just want to take a moment to highlight the events that transpired today. The whole story of what's unfolding during this time of  unrest. Something positive and praiseworthy that I found so admirable in the aftermath of the chaos.

                           

(photo courtesy Burkina24)

A story that BBC and France24 and CNN won't cover. Because painting a country out to be full of a bunch of violent impulsive power hungry neanderthals garners a lot more viewers than showing the placid people who went back out on the streets today cleaning up their country out of nothing more than national pride. 

             

(photo courtesy Burkina24)

The same pride that moved them to stand up to the transgression of their government also moved them to pick up a straw broom and clean up their streets.

            

(photo courtesy Burkina24)

And this is noteworthy too. This, is just as relevant as what happened on Thursday. Today's news may not sell like yesterdays, but it speaks volumes about the character of these people as they banded together to clean up the rubble.

Because working side by side in unity to clean up what has been broken is invaluable for restoring a nations weary spirit in times of turmoil, unrest, and fear.

They have a long way to go to rebuild. To restore order. And regain credibility in this region thats been severed due to the events of this week. The situation here is still very delicate. But they are not a lost cause. This country is valuable and worth the effort needed to rebuild. And it is my earnest prayer that peace and stability will return to this nation. That reason and caution will guide people's future actions. That the next generation will set an example and precedence for honesty, hard work, and pride for who they are and what they have. And that they may live up to their name.....

the land of upright people.