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