AVANCE 07

Yeah, for getting to hang out with other singles!

Senegal was a blast. I didn't get a lot of sleep, but then I had a lot of fun. (an average of about 5 hours a night for 10 nights) I have kind of taken a vow to not really sleep again until the middle of September!

When I arrived at the hotel for our regional wide meeting, Emily and I immediately went and put on our bathing suits and jumped in the pool. We laid out for about an hour or so then went and ate fried chicken. That’s right FRIED chicken, a luxury here.

The next two days were spent “hanging out” with missionary kids while their parents were in some before the meeting, meetings. We had a hotel photo scavenger hunt, swam and watched movies.

Saturday all the singles went to this awesome ropes course outside of town. It was up in some trees that are called Baobab trees. It is been a long time since I have tested my body like that. But, the pain was worth it.

The rest of the week was all business. I attended worship (it was great to sing and hear worship in ENGLISH), sessions, team meetings and spent the majority of the time talking our great personnel into sitting down in front of a video camera for me! I spent a lot of time getting prayer request, thank you's and God stories on film.

I also worked on interviews and gather photos for next year’s prayer calendar. Oh and the most important thing, meeting all the new personnel and hearing the great God stories from around the region. He is doing such great works out here right now.

At the end of each day the singles had an activity. I did them all. A luau, movie night, basketball in the dark (the power had went out), worship, game night (I actually won my first game of “hearts”).

Got a hair cut, pedicure and my teeth cleaned!

Though I didn’t get refreshed by sleep I was refreshed to spend time with some great people that God is using in this region. Can’t wait until the next time.

My unborn Nephew

My older brother Jeff and his wife Erin, found out this last
week that their baby has a hole in his skull and some of
the brain is outside in the sac. The baby will not make it.
Please life up my family as we process this. Lift me up as
I am so far away and can do nothing. They will induce
labor at 36 weeks, which is about 4-5 weeks away. Then
there will be a service for the baby. Our Father knows
what he wants to happen in all of this.

Market visits

About a month ago I started visiting a local market once a week. The reason: to meet African women to tell them about Jesus.

It is very difficult to meet African women in my neighborhood, Marcery. I was invited to go with another missionary woman, Stephanie after her original partner, Bobbie, had to return to the states.


At first I dreaded it. But, I knew I had to do it. Stephanie wanted someone to go with her. (Two people who can barely speak and understand French is better than one.) So, I spend most Mondays talking myself into going on Tuesday morning!

We meet with several women, who know who Jesus is. Most of them attend a local church –Catholic, Evangelic, Lutheran, and Assembly of God. Our idea is to get them to be the missionaries of the market. Inspire them to reach out to the women in the stalls next to them.

Because I am new to the visits, I am still getting to know the women, most who are 20+ years older than I am. We talk mostly about their families and work. Their work ranges from selling baby products, a tailor, owner of a nail solon, to selling hair products.

Some want us to pray for them. And we do.

We slowly plod on hoping for a chance to introduce a story, “Creation to Christ,” which tells the main stories of the Old Testament leading up to Jesus’ resurrection. I know it somewhat in English. We are trying to learn it in French.

I know I can never accomplish this on my own. I know it is only by the will, grace and help of God that I will be able to learn this story.

Happy 4th

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I know I did. The mission got together to celebrate. We ate hamburgers, potato salad, fruit and cake. We talked and it rained, all day.

Our original plan had been to play badminton, and the rain did not stop us. We played several rounds and got soaking wet.

The rain has been slow to come and not as much as we need. I think the 4th of July party has changed all that. It has rained off and on since then. And it has been cold here, as low as 75 degrees. We need a whole lot more than we are getting.

But, most of the other West Africa countries are still in need of a lot more rain. Some haven’t gotten any. For them, it has been excruciatingly hot.