Christmas in Africa

It’s a few days before Christmas, but without my usual environmental clues that tell me the season is here, it feels a little like an eternal summer. Every now and then, I long for snow, mittens, and a hot mocha, but then I am thankful for the fresh pineapple and watermelon that we have with every meal, for the sunshine, and the trees blooming outside. Sometimes you don’t realize how important traditions are to you, or the routines you find yourself stuck to, until you leave.. And then you wonder, why are they so important?

Christmas traditions here are a little different than they are in the states. Our church has an all day and night vigil on the 24^th, that starts at 8 am and lasts til around 5 am on the 25^th. The day is full of singing, dancing, and eating. - a big celebration of Jesus’ birth. I'm pretty psyched!

The past 2 weeks, I’ve been working with the kids in Sunday school to make stars (les etoiles) for Noël (Christmas). Colored paper and crayons are a novelty for the kids here, and some had never used them before, let alone drawn a star. This past week, we asked the kids a few questions about Jesus’ birth. One child said he thought Jesus was born in a temple. And when we told him that Jesus was born where the animals are kept, outside, in a small stable, they were amazed. This blew my mind. This little boy thought that Jesus was born in a temple, a place so much nicer than his home. But no, Jesus was born outside, where the animals slept! Here, it is common to see goats, chickens, and rams roaming free, and they sleep outside, on the ground. I know I keep reiterating this, but I desperately want you to get that Jesus came in such a low estate. He literally made Himself nothing, so that none could feel unworthy because of their socioeconomic status or placement in society.

God's growing in me a love for the children here, an answer to my prayers, that He would break my heart for the people here. This past week, Naomi (my roommate) and I went to Centre Providence, a home for former prostitutes (girls aged 10 to 17). I don't want to speak too soon, but I feel that God is preparing a place for us there. My passion is for art, and Naomi's is for music and theater. We both feel a pull towards therapy and counseling, for girls who have been through traumatic situations. And as we sat, talking to some of the staff, they began to get excited, because none of them have talents in the arts and they would love for us to be a part of the program for the girls. We're going to start volunteering our time there in the coming weeks.

I recently took a trip to a pottery village a few miles down the road, to find out how they make pottery here. The process is so much simpler than I'm used to. They retrieve rock, crush it to dust with a mortar and pestle, mix it with water and let sit for a day. The pots are all done by hand, via coil building. I thought it was funny that when I asked what they called their tools, they simply said “le bois” (the wood), and when I asked about the glaze, they said “la sauce” (.. the sauce, which is the same for food, such as rice and sauce). I’m going to go back sometime soon to make a coil pot with the ladies there.

Last weekend, I stayed with an Ivorian family, Soro Salif and Laurentine. They are members of our church, here in Bouaké . Alyssa, my 5 foot tall southern California friend whom I love so much, also spent the weekend there. We learned how to take bucket showers, make Cabato (a corn jello of sorts) and to eat leaf sauce and fish.. which I don’t do very well. God is doing a work in my life in the area of food. I really, really like food.. And some days here, I think I would give my first born child for a block of extra sharp cheddar. I also really miss my grandmother’s apple pie. I’m learning that I have a lot of attachments to food.. And that here in Africa, food is for nourishment. There are a few jems of the cuisine here, however. Alloco, futu banane, and attieke and poulet are among my favorites.

To speak to the current political unrest, briefly, I want you to know that even though Cote d'Ivoire is all over the news, life goes on here. I live 5 hours away from Abijian, where most of violence has taken place. We have plans to move out if need be, but we haven't reached that point, nor do we hope to. Please have peace in the knowledge that we are safe and attentive to the cues of the political environment. But as I said, life goes on. We had lunch on Saturday with the families who hosted us last week. As we sat together at one long table, in the shade of a tree, it was hard to imagine anything abnormal was taking place. Even if we have to leave, the families we were sharing a meal with will stay, and their kids will grow up here.

On a final note, I now understand how it literally feels to have a thorn in my flesh. Last week, I managed to get a palm tree thorn lodged in one of my big toes, and I just removed it yesterday. I also have my first strange skin condition, and my medicine turns my skin bright purple. BUT at least it’s on my leg and not my face. Sometimes, it’s the small things in life that you need to get excited for.

This is real life

Right now, I'm sitting in an internet cafe in the middle of Bouake, watching men ride by on bicycles piled high with harvested greens, women carrying basins of bread, rice or juice on their heads, and moto-taxis whizzing by every few seconds.. and this is all starting to feel like normal life. I have been waiting for the moment when Cote d'Ivoire would feel like home.. I think it may be more of a process, and that I'm in the midst of it. It's interesting timing, don't you think? If you've been reading the news, you probably know that Cote d'Ivoire has just gone through a major election.. and that 2 presidents have been sworn in. Every day seems to be a different story. Gbagbo has been the president here for nearly 10 years, but he doesn't seem ready to leave. Alassane won the popular vote, and as of yesterday, the international community is officially supporting his election as president. Now we wait, pray, and trust in God for what will come. Friends, please pray for peaceful agreements and outcomes.

The other morning, we walked down the road and through the fields(2 by 2), to the nearest campement to visit some families. Chazz and I sat in a woman’s courtyard for a few hours, doing our best to speak French and the little Jula that we knew. It was hard for me at first. Here, it is normal to sit and take in life together. I had to laugh, because Chazz continually reminded me, “steph, it’s okay, just sit.” We were visiting with a woman who had two small girls, and it was her laundry day. I asked if I could help, which she thought was pretty funny. She told me that she needed to retrieve water from the well, so I took a bucket and she took another. The well was a social gathering of women. One woman would jump up on the cement rim, lower a rubber bag on a rope, dip it in the water, haul it up, dump it into our bucket, and this process repeated until all basins and buckets were filled. Being there gave me a deeper understanding of John 4, when Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. She came to the well at noon, in the heat of the day, to avoid the other women, and so to also avoid shame. But Jesus knew her life and offered her living water. He loved her in despite of her sins. When we returned to the woman’s house with the buckets of water, she filled a few basins and began washing clothes, piece by piece, with a bar of soap. After she washed them once, I washed them a second time.. All the while, neighbors are walking by, laughing. I would hear a gibberish of Jula and French, and then the word “blanche” or “too-baboo”, which both mean “white”. Apparently, it’s pretty out of the ordinary to have a white girl helping you wash clothes in your courtyard. Who would have thought? I was happy to find an activity which seemed to bridge the differences between us, at least a little.

Living here is quickly bringing scripture to life. I can better understand why the Samaritan woman came to the well at noon in a culture that avoids shame at all cost. Or why the 5,000 wanted Jesus’ bread so badly, so they would no longer have to spend long hours preparing food. Here, women often wake up at 4 am to start making food for the day.

The next two nights, we will be living with Ivorian families from our local church. I'm pretty psyched.. but also a little nervous. My French is getting there, but it's still pretty mediocre. And my pagne fastening abilities are not great. (Pagnes are the uniform of Ivorian women - used for skirts, head wraps, carrying babies, vegetables, you name it.)

Now for some photos:

From the orphanage

This boy's name is Dieudonner, "God given" (above)

Jael and Houlda (Bakary's little girls), they live on campus with us

Our Christmas tree

My team and I with all of the WV missionaries in Cote d'Ivoire

It's December and 90 degrees

Check it out, I have some pictures up: HERE

This week, we’ve been decorating for Christmas. The tree is up, complete with lights and ornaments. Since our campus used to be a school, they have lots of boxes full of random things, some being decorations. I must say though, it’s rather strange getting ready for Christmas in 90 degree weather.

A few days ago, I went to visit a few families in Bouake, with Anglelika, Awa, CJ, and Heidi. One of the families had a fire, and we brought them some new mattresses, since theirs had burned. As for the other family, the wife’s father has just come down with Cancer and is down in Abidjan seeking treatment, which isn’t happening very quickly, due to elections. We sat on her front porch for awhile and shared with her in the frustration and sorrow of illness.

A week ago, I ate Thanksgiving dinner with 40 others, at one long table, on a basketball court underneath the stars. Besides the 10 of us and our leadership, we shared the meal with Klana’s and Bakary’s families (our Ivorian neighbors), and all the World Venture missionaries from Cote d’Ivoire. My teammates and I spent the afternoon making green bean casserole, stuffing, creamed corn, sweet potatoes, croissants, and pasta salad, and other goodness. When you cook here, you have to make do with the simplest ingredients. This takes longer, but it also has the best outcome. There was a lot to be thankful for this year

This past weekend, I was incredibly blessed by the stories, struggles, and encouragements of people who have lived here for 30 plus years. Battles with cancer, hiding out in and evacuating from war zones, and miscarriages - all stories that touched my heart. Learning about their everyday lives - treating patients in hospitals in Ferke, translating scripture into local languages, and building an alternative learning school for young girls.

I have been spending my Sunday mornings with preschool kids at church. Last week, we were talking about how God created the moon and the stars. The kids were all given a 2” square piece of white paper and a pencil, to draw the sky. They spent so much time on their pictures. At home, kids have lots of markers, crayons, different colored paper. The difference struck me. Later on, they were given mismatched puzzle pieces, and they took incredible joy in fitting them together in any odd way possible.

We visited the orphanage in Bouake, played with the children, sang songs, held them, and carried them. Here in Cote d’Ivoire, when a parent passes away or cannot take care of a child, they are passed on to a relative that can support the child. In this light, orphanages make little sense here in this culture - something to ponder. Nonetheless, it was a blessing and joy to love on those children for awhile.

I am forming some friendships with the kids that live here on our campus. One little girl, Songemey, is a riot. When you push her on the swing, she yells and laughs and sings as loud as she can.

One Sunday night, I rode into the bush on the top of a Land Cruiser to the top of a nearby rock quarry, where we watched the sunset and then the stars. The night sky is beautiful here. It’s pretty incredible to see an entirely different part of the sky than I’ve grown up with.

Malaria is a much bigger deal here than I originally understood. In the month that I’ve been here, 3 members of our campus family have had it - all have recovered. And if you're worrying about me, stop, because I and my teammates are taking anti-malarials, which are not 100%, but do help a great deal. It's people who live here permanently that I'm most concerned for. You hear in the states that malaria is common in places such as west Africa, and now I understand. Treatments are easily attainable, but most people here do not catch it quickly enough or do not have the money to buy it. One of the missionary doctors from Ferke told me that 1/3 of the patients that come to the hospital are treated for malaria. It is best to treat it quickly, even if you aren’t positive you have it. Otherwise, the symptoms can get much worse very fast.

Right now, we are patiently waiting to hear the results of Cote d’Ivoire’s presidential election. Yesterday, the results were blocked at least 3 times from being announced. We heard rumors last night that the results were finalized, but the government has not yet allowed any final information to be shared. Pray that the results are accepted peacefully throughout Cote d’Ivoire.

A not so brief overview

I am having a hard time describing life here.. But I’ll do my best.

Today (Sunday): I spent this morning singing songs, praying, and talking about God’s creation with 3 to 6 year-olds, at church. Yes, they only spoke French, but the phrases I used the most were “assise” (sit), “viens” (come), “qui prie?” (who wants to pray), “qui chante?” (who wants to sing?). It was good. When I spend time with kids, I feel purposeful. It feels good to know you are doing something God created you for.

Week days, I wake up at 6, then I often go for a run, followed by breakfast and some refreshing worship and devotional time. At 8, we have a group bible study and prayer time, followed by French class, some cultural classes, and lunch at noon. The afternoon starts with a siest, followed by more sessions or a visit into Bouake market. The evening holds adventures, dinner, and more adventures. We play lots of sports once the heat of the day subsides.

I am the first to admit that where we are living is bit of an African oasis. But it is also a perfect home base, from which to orient our selves as we prepare to serve here. Though I get to experience segments of African life now, in town, church and visiting villages, for the next 2 months we are learning the language, the culture, and what ministry options there are to plug into. After Christmas, we will be living in a village setting., and luxuries like washing machines and showers are nice for now.. but will be replaced with buckets very very soon.

It’s really encouraging to hear the multiple ministry opportunities that there are here. So far, I could work with former prostitutes - leading art therapy activities; I could paint murals for translating and language teaching; I could teach women to create things they can sell for money, to supplement their family’s income. And these are only the known options.. I’m sure many more will come. For now, I'm volunteering in sunday school.

The MARKET is an experience, to say the least. The first day, I walked most of it, and in one word, I would call it “chaos” (to my American comfort level). Imagine streets filled with taxis and motos whizzing by, lined with wooden cubicles of pagnes, fruit, veggies, school supplies, shoes, electronics..). You feel a sense of invincibility, even though you just felt a moto-taxi brush by you 2 seconds prior. Then you enter into an alleyway, with littered streets and booths filled to the brim, to a wooden maze of tailors, sewing and cutting.. It feels like you can find anything you’d ever need there.. But without the convenience that we take for granted in the states. You may be redirected to 10 different places, and still not find the thing you’re looking for.

Courtyards are another common setting here in Cote d’Ivoire. Life happens there, in the middle of village life. You are welcomed to sit, offered water, and then you rest and take in your surroundings. All the while, small conversation is made - about health, family, and jobs. Often, someone else is making food, children are playing, a ram is impatiently pacing in its pen. It’s a peaceful sitting and taking in life together. And unlike America, it’s perfectly ok to not say a lot. It is hard to get over my “keep to yourself” mentality that I often have back at home. Here, it’s rude if you don’t stop by someone’s home to greet them, or stop and ask how they are doing when you pass by. In fact, you should not just ask how they themselves are doing, but also about their family, job, and health. This is true for here on campus as well. There are Ivorians who live here and work here, whom I greet in French daily, saying “Bon jour! Ca va?”, and after lunch, it changes to “bon soir”.

Cote d’Ivoire is in the middle of a major election, something the president has been postponing for nearly 10 years. The second round of voting happens at the end of this month. The decision could change a lot of things, but then again, we all know that politics promise change and don’t always follow through.. We will see. Pray that God’s in charge of the ultimate outcome.

Lizards and ants rule the grounds here. Geckos are as common as squirrels in suburban America, and driver ants create inch wide lines that flow across paths and sometimes into houses. If you disturb their line, they attack your feet.. Not a fun experience! I have to step over one or two every time I go running.

I have eaten fresh coconut milk straight from the tree, passion fruit, fried plantains, ignames, millet.. Most of our food is Ivorian. I’ve had dairy twice since I arrived here: a yogurt this morning, and cheese pizza last week. I’m enjoying it while I can.

Good chocolate and coffee don’t really exist here, even though Cote d’Ivoire is the largest grower of cocoa and produces lots of coffee beans. However, cocoa powder and Nescafe can be found in abundance.

It’s been in the 80s and very high humidity since we’ve been here. The temperature is rising, and the moisture is subsiding, as we are entering the dry season. I’ve heard mixed reviews on which season is more comfortable: wet or dry. I am willing my skin to stop sweating so much.

If you’d like to check out some of the awesome people I am living here with, here are their blogs:

Naomi, Heidi, CJ, Jason, Jamie, Alyssa, Devin, Chazz, Holly

a glimpse

the team on halloween

view of campus from the water tower

me cj and naomi

J'arrive a Bouake!

Dear friends,

If you get anything out of this blog post, let it be this:

A. I am “tres bien” (very well), safe and secure here at Mission Baptiste in Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire.

B. Where I live is beyond beautiful - full of fruit trees, singing birds, vibrant flowers, and in the best company I could ask for. I stop and praise God every hour, if not more.

C. God is good. We arrived safe, as did our bags. The smoothest traveling I’ve ever experienced There is much to praise Him for here. It is a strange mix of extreme excitement and newness, along side overwhelming adjustments. One of our leaders said, “nothing can prepare you for this,” and I now understand exactly what they meant.

　

Now for the details.

Words cannot describe the past few days. Though the journey here was long, including 4 flights, a 6 hour sleep in Abidjan, and a 5 hour bus ride to Bouake, it was unnaturally issue-free. I remember the ride from the airport by its smells. First, there was the aroma of pineapples, then cocoa, and then coffee and dust - all flooding through the windows of our van. I kept thinking, “we are going home!.. And it’s for a year!” No getting on another plane next week. But don’t interpret that as a hardship, because that’s not what I feel. I feel extremely content beyond words. I find myself often sitting and taking in what’s going on. I have to. It’s like I’m a child again, and I have to ask lots of questions. By the way, I really did ask a lot of questions as a child. Everything is new: the birds that I hear, the fruit trees (I have grapefruits, limes, lemons, papayas, mangoes, pineapples, avocados, passion fruit, guava, coconut, and banana trees ALL right outside! - though it takes a bit of climbing and searching for ripe ones), the geckos, the heat lightning storms, the humidity (a bit like our Philadelphia summer), the food (the first night, we had fresh killed chicken with cucumber, tomato and onion salad, attieke -similar to cous cous, spicy tomato chili sauce, and hot peppers. You mixed it all in your hand, squeezed it, then popped the handful into your mouth.. Which takes some grace I have not yet developed. For desert, fried plantain pieces, delicious!), the people, their customs and the language (French and Dyula).

Right now, at this moment, it is torrential down pouring. It does this every now and then, as we are at the end of the rainy season. Yesterday, we were sitting in a training session, the sun was out, and we heard this loud pounding on the roof, then saw the rain through the windows. So we ran outside, and there was the BIGGEST rainbow I have every seen, stretching across the entire sky. Absolutely beautiful. It is said that rainbows are symbols of “God’s promise”. And the rain reminds me of God’s healing. There have been a handful of memorable rainstorms in my life. This perhaps tops them all. It came at a time when we were struggling with our own expectations of what Africa would be like, alongside of the customs, language, and differences that we were learning. I couldn't help myself and ran out into the rain. We praised God together, for his restoring power, and for the rain and rainbow that reminded us of Him.

I mentioned at the beginning that I feel very content. This is partly because of all of the excitement, but I know I need to credit it mostly to God. I am content knowing that THIS is what He has for me right now. And man, do I praise God SO MUCH for everything here.. I wish I could say the same about life back in the US.. Sometimes it takes nuances to remind us to praise Him. There’s an incredible feeling when you realize you are living out God’s plan - and it is in that knowledge that I am free.

There is so much more I'd like to say, but for now, I am working on processing it first, before I start spitting it all out here on my blog... because there would be too much to read. Also, pictures are coming soon. I am taking it in for now.

One last word on relationships. I came here with 9 others, and there are a handful of leaders here. God could not have handpicked a better group of people to live together and serve, in community, in Bouake. Again, we have much to praise God for.

Ways you can pray for me:

Patience: in relationships, language learning, understanding. Good health. That we will take on a missionary living lifestyle, including waking up at 6, and living the way that the people do here.. with humility and not pride. For community and deep relationships (praise Jesus, they form fast here). That I would seek God for His will, for my time here. And as always, for my own heart, that God would do great works in it and with it.

"Hey ho let's go!"

Tomorrow evening, I hop on a plane for Denver, Colorado, where my lovely friends Kate and Jordan Egli will pick me up and take me to Colorado Springs for a few days (to see their new home). THEN, on Sunday, I will go to Littleton for training. There I'll meet up with 9 other folks, plus a few leaders, who will be my new family for the next year. And THEN we will all travel to Cote d'Ivoire on October 28th! That's 4 flights and at least 1 bus in my near future. Oh what an adventure it will be.

Yesterday my brother and I cleaned out my whole car. This may not sound like such a feat, but it was. Man, we're a pretty awesome team. In fact, if careers don't work out for either one of us, perhaps we could just clean cars together... no, I'm not banking on that, and on second thought, I'd rather not. I also sent out a large stack of prayer postcards and successfully sent in all of my preliminary grad school application items (for fall of 2012.. I have always been a plan ahead type person.. even if God does change plans closer to the date). Feeling pretty on top of all that.. packing is a whole different animal though. I have bought all that I need (save a few things), said goodbye to Walmart (happily), and now it's down to 2 suitcases and ziplock bags (lots and lots of them). My first flight to Colorado limits me 80 lbs, which isn't hard. Clothes wise, I'm not taking much and it's pretty light. It's the liquids, really - the year supply of deodorant, toothpaste, my mini medicine cabinet, etc. Tonight, as I look at my larger suitcase, I am realizing that I need to get rid of a few things.. maybe I don't need the febreeze or the pack of markers.. no, probably not.

I've been thinking about what I'm most excited for in Cote d'Ivoire. The list starts with food, go figure. My friend Rebecca spent some time in the Peace Core, and lived near Bouaké, where I'll be, and she's super excited for me to try the food. Beckie, our french teacher on the base, just went over a week or so ago and wrote this blog that made my mouth water. You can read it HERE. Subject A:

"Attieke - its like sticky couscous, made from a root plant, served with a salsa sauce with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. You make it into balls with your hands and eat it with fresh killed chicken."

Ok, maybe that's not gourmet or anything, but I'm really excited to try it. I'm also excited to live without a car for awhile - to rely on walking, bikes, and taxis. To live without buying new clothes, unless I pick out the fabric, go to an African tailor, and have them made. Sweat shop free, and I LOVE fabric. I used to spend hours in Joan Fabrics, looking for the perfect print to make a bag out of. No joke. ULTIMATELY, I'm really excited to devote this year to God's work. Not that I don't do that anyway in America, but this feels different. Maybe it's because I am a missionary. Any way you look at it, my time and energy is His and when we give our lives to Him, our efforts are so much more fruitful than when we do things without Him. I am guilty of this, just as much as you are. It's hard to give up our own desires and follow His.

I've got an analogy for you. Elizabeth Elliot talks about the acorn that becomes an oak tree. When it's planted, the acorn only feels the splitting and breaking, not the grand tree it will become. But when you look at the oak tree, the acorn does not feel like a loss, it's a part of the process, a reminder of how God "works all things together for the good of those who love Him," (Romans 8:28). Even the aches and longings that come with trusting in His way, when we don't understand why our situation is so hard or why it's trying our patience. He needs to trim the branches of the vine so that it will produce much fruit, and we (the branches) get our nourishment from Him (the vine) so we must abide in Him in our waiting (John 15).

That's a little of what He's been showing me lately. I hope it speaks to you as well.

It's also my mom's birthday today, happy birthday, mom! Couldn't have done this without you.

The next time you hear from me, I'll most likely be in Africa. That being said, Au Revoir!! "Until we meet again." And thank you for reading this. It truly means a lot to me that you want to be a part of this with me. I love writing and I also love sharing my experiences with others. And I love comments, so comment away, please!

Silence

Why do I worry and agonize endlessly over the small things -
And forget how big God is?

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

What do you think of when you hear the word "silence"? I used to think of my bus driver who would scream "SHUT UP!" about 5 times every morning, from kindergarten to 11th grade, or the dreaded time-out, which later became "quiet room" and ultimately - detention. But lately, I've seen silence a bit differently. It's waking up at 7 am before anyone else is stirring to sit on the front porch with coffee or laying outside on the hammock - watching the sky for a shooting star. And it's in those places that I've heard God speak. Not to mention the healing that has come from this sacred silence over the past months - because man, did I need it. One of my favorite stories of all time is 1 Kings 19. Elijah is fleeing from an angry King Jezebel to Mount Sinai, and here's what God does at the top.

Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by." A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?"

We often cry out to God, "hey! Do something big!" but He is waiting for us in the stillness, in the silence. God is quite contradictory. As I'm preparing to go, I feel like He is trying to tell me, "Be still and know that I am God." But the amazing thing is, worrying about the small things - like the MAT I want to take on Friday for grad school, which malaria pills to get, or my vaccinations that cost a lot more than I thought they would so now I may not be able to get fully reimbursed - does not help. What does help is finding a quiet place and saying "God, help me with this, I need you to carry this for me, it's giving me a headache and hindering me from getting anything done." Man, it looks so simple in hindsight.

I leave you with an excerpt from Come Away My Beloved, Frances Roberts:

I have waited for you to wear yourself out. I knew you would find it eventually - the secret of silence and rest, of solitude and of song. I will rebuild your strength - not to work again in foolish frenzy, but just for the sake of making you strong and well.

I'm going, I've got a plane ticket!

I suppose you could say that now it's official. Last week, our plane tickets to Cote d'Ivoire were bought! October 28th is the date, and it's a one way. I'm finally starting to feel like it's really happening.. though I'm sure I won't fully realize it until next month sometime. In the meantime, I'm filling my days with French learning, reading, painting, getting rid of things, buying new things, filling out visa paperwork, getting immunizations, and oh yeah - making muffins. I just made a batch of blueberry, my new favorite.

How am I feeling about all of this? Humbled, thankful, and a bit of restless excitement. I am incredibly blessed to have 100% of the money that I need for this coming year in Africa. Seriously, PRAISE GOD that I been surrounded by people in my life who support me, as well as people who don't know me but who God has laid it on their heart to give. In case you don't know, at the end of July, a grant organization in my community anonymously gave me HALF of what I needed to raise. It was an incredible affirmation that I'm really supposed to do this.. because I can assure you, that would not have happened if this going to Africa thing wasn't meant to be. As for the restless excitement, what can I say, I have itchy feet!

By the way, you should check out CJ's blog. She has a plane ticket as well, and is working on raising the rest of her money in the next month! Keep her in your prayers as well as the other 7 (plus our leadership team) who are gearing up to go!

Now for an update on my second last week in Philadelphia (yeah, I found a reason to go back again)





I spent last week in Philadelphia, to help prepare for and set up an exhibition of the kids' artwork from camp. As you can see from the pictures, we made muffins! It was quite a project, but it was awesome for the kids, to be as much a part of the exhibition as they could be. A lot more kids helped, but often they'd run in and out of the house.. as is typical for 3234 Potter St., no matter who is living there. Two days later, we decorated them with icing and sprinkles of various colors and flavors, which was SO much fun. I think they loved that part even more. A handful of them got to come to the exhibition as well, which had an incredible turnout! We also went up front with them and sang a few songs from camp, including "whose side are you leaning on?", "Undignified", and "Baby shark". Can't say I didn't feel pretty ridiculous dancing around and shouting in front of a bunch of grownups and trying to get them to join in - instead of the normal group of kids on camp mornings. All in all, it was encouraging to see the kids taking part in the art opening, and to see them lead songs while I just stood on the sidelines. Yeah, it was a perfect finale to my time in Philadelphia, but mostly, I think it was great for the kids to be part of something where other people came to see them and their work.

Potter Street Camp

Last night, I laid awake, asking God why He chose now to break my heart for Philadelphia. After 4 years of living here, He waited until the last month. And the very next morning, I wake up to a notification in my email, telling me that two rather large donations for my trip to Cote d'Ivoire have finally appeared in my account! It was as if God was taking away that little bit of doubt in my heart, saying "no, I still want you to go to Africa in October. It figures – sometimes His timing makes absolutely no sense. However, I would like to tell you in short exactly what it is about this great city of Philadelphia that has a handle on my heart.

In July, amongst job searching and support raising, I stumbled upon a camp that an organization called the Simple Way was running in Kensington. As it turned out, Potter Street camp was looking for someone to lead an art segment with the kids. I came in assuming I would only be there 3 days of the week, and instead, I spent all of the free time that I had in Kensington. This was partially because of the completely awesome people who were volunteering with me, but mostly because of the kids that we blew bubbles with, taught scripture to, sang “Baby shark” with day after day, and even sat in time out with for countless hours. And like most situations in which you are serving others, it is you – the one serving – who learns much. Those kids taught me joy, patience, humility, courage, strength, peace, and most of all, love. Jesus said that when you give a child a glass of water, you are giving it to him, and it was that scripture that got me through the day sometimes. They had a hope within them that many of their parents seemed to have lost through the years. I will never forget the day that Tyreek saw the box of honey buns on our counter, and handed all of them out on the street without even keeping one for himself. How something as simple as a single dance move could make a 10-year-old girl named Precious laugh for hours, or how much the littlest ones loved to be swung back and forth by their hands and feet. How a little 3-year-old girl named Yameli came to the camp on the first day, shy and quiet, without knowing any English, and how she ran up to me with arms wide on the last day and left singing “baby shark do do– do do –do do “. The day I stood by her side while she took a very long time in the port-a-potty, the day she painted my whole arm red, and her laugh that will turn any frown into a smile. A boy named Louie who we had to send home from camp after many occasions of punching innocents and grabbing inappropriate areas. Yet the same boy once helped me carry a water cooler back to the storage room after camp was over, and then held my hand as he walked peacefully back home. A little girl named Isyss who spent an hour writing me a letter instead of playing with the other kids on the last water day of camp. And just two nights ago, when I played hot potato with a very expressive little girl named Tymeka. When the “potato” finally cooled down enough to eat, she told me that it was strawberry flavored.

I could go on and on with these stories, and I thank God for every single one of them. I thought this summer would be solely about preparing for Africa, but God had other plans. He knew that I needed this experience, that it would teach me SO MUCH that I will take with me to Cote d’Ivoire. He never ceases to amaze me. That is for sure. How deep His love is for me, how vast beyond all measure, as it is for all of His children. I praise Him with every breath, for how He has taught me to love like Him… but mostly how He is still teaching me. I still fall short every day, but that is ok because He loves me just the same.

New Journey Corps video!

This is really cool, the team made this video in Bouaké on their last trip over to Côte d'Ivoire:
CHECK IT OUT

You're probably wondering..

Why do I want to go to Côte d'Ivoire, Africa next year?

In short: To love the people of Côte d'Ivoire. Beyond the political turmoil, trafficking, trauma, food shortage, poverty, or any other issues they may face. I would love more than anything to be able to help even one of them to seek freedom from whatever oppression or deficit they face, but I believe that to simply love them will fulfill God's purpose for me there.

"For right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

The full story: I am accepted to World Venture’s cross-cultural ministry, Journey Corps, in Côte d'Ivoire, Africa! The program is a designed for young people, aged 20 - 32, who have a college degree, to use their talents, gifts, and hands to serve the people of Africa. Throughout my last semester of college, I have been praying for God to direct my next steps in life, and I have felt at peace with taking a gap year before grad school. When I went to Urbana over winter break, I sought out organizations to speak to with which I could serve for a year, using my passions for art and for children. I am studying art therapy, and I have seen the peace children can gain from focusing their energy into a positive activity such as painting or forming something out of clay. In learning about children in war-torn areas of Africa, both in the past year and at Urbana, my heart has been broken for them. My eyes have been opened to how art can be a dynamic tool for connecting to these children and a great aid in the healing process, as most of them have seen traumatizing things.

I am excited about Journey Core because it will be a hands-on program, in which we will be working alongside missionaries already living in Côte d'Ivoire and in the surrounding area. I will have a chance to live in a culture, learning their customs, language, and needs, all the while learning how to be a better example of Jesus. Part of the program is focused on studying scripture, to equip young people to enter the mission field. It is designed to be a one or two year immersion in which journeyers will seek God’s calling in their lives, whether it is a lifetime in the mission field or a return to their own culture to serve the people of the US. I am not sure which God is calling me towards, but I am excited to use this opportunity to seek His will.




What will it take to go?

I will need to raise $1,500 for every month that I am there. For one year, that’s $18,000 by August 1, 2010 so that I can begin the program in September. This is a large sum of money, and to be honest, I have no idea how I can raise that much. However, I know that if it is God’s will for me to be part of this program, then He will provide. In fact, it is already taken care of. I know that He will use this process to build my faith immensely. I also know that if Journey Core is not in His plan for my life, then He will shut doors on this opportunity and open others elsewhere. I know this because I have been praying this prayer since January. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God has given me a peace of mind and knowledge that He loves me and has a purpose for my life, so all of this will come together in His timing. His ways are so much higher than mine, as Isaiah 55 reminds me, and His thoughts far beyond my own.


Picture 1 taken from here
And picture 2 from here

What is Journey Corps?

"Journey Corps is a one-to two-year, cross-cultural service ministry designed for young people to use their gifts and passions as they live in community, learn missions, and labor together.

We offer hands-on service experience.
Community based ministry.
Over 65 years of missions experience.
Mentors for the journey."

Where is it???

"The Journey Corps Training Center is located near Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire. It’s a 32-acre campus situated just outside the second largest city in Cote d’Ivoire."



"Côte d'Ivoire was one of the most prosperous nations in sub-Saharan Africa until the December 1999 coup d'état. Due to continuing political and military turmoil and the destruction of schools, most SIM missionaries were evacuated out of the country in November 2004 and have not been able to return. Recent presidential elections will hopefully result in long-term stability." (http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/ci)

"The small and diverse country of Côte d’Ivoire lies on the underside of the West African “bulge.” Often referred to as “Ivory Coast,” the nation is about the size of New Mexico. The southern part of the country has experienced much prosperity compared to other African nations, while the north is underdeveloped and many people there live in poverty. The coastline of Côte d’Ivoire varies from small rocky cliffs in the west to flat, sandy beaches in the east. Moving north, the country’s tropical forest changes to savanna. The climate is temperate to hot, with ample rainfall.

Of the nearly 17.6 million people living in Côte d’Ivoire, more than 30 percent are of foreign origin. Côte d’Ivoire is home to at least 66 language dialects. The expanding Sahara, tribal conflicts, political upheavals, and the sway of Islam along with the spread of AIDS have left the peoples of West Africa economically and spiritually impoverished. The church needs workers trained to present the gospel in ways that spark these peoples’ interest and feeds their physical and spiritual hungers

Where I'll be living: Journey Corps Training Center in Bouaké:
For more than 30 years the campus was a state of the art boarding school known as International Christian Academy (ICA).
Tribal conflict from 2000 and 2003 made it impossible to continue boarding students at ICA, and it sat partially vacant for years while being leased and maintained by the French military. The 32-acre campus is enclosed in a security wall and is located a mere eight kilometers (almost five miles) from town."

(taken from http://myjourneycorps.com)