Life is busy......

Sorry that we haven't been as good on our blogging the last few weeks! We are finding that life is getting busier as we are settling in. We are still deep in language learning. Today I am really encouraged with our french, of course that is today...we will see what I say tomorrow! ;-) My mind changes everyday whether I am learning anything or not! We are out of our regularly scheduled language classes the next two weeks, we are spending these weeks learning about urban church planting. Pray that we will remember all that we have learned to this point!

I think culture shock has finally hit me...the last few weeks have been tough. I have a day where I am really homesick and then have a good day. Thankfully, we all have our days at different times. I realize this will be part of it, but the good days are always a blessing!

We are starting to get our house set up. We finally got a table and chairs and a hutch for the dining room. We also got a lazyboy recliner from a missionary that was leaving. Now we all fight over it! In the next couple of months, we will be getting a couch and the remaining furniture that we need. It will be good to finally get the house set up.

Continue to pray for our language learning and for Autumn a friend. There are two other teenage girls in the city for the next two weeks. Autumn has been having a great time with them. We know that God will provide in just the right time.

Teresa

Life in Abidjan

I know its small.....

Hi everyone! We are settling in well. Our teammates have been great, always willing to show us around or take us shopping. We are back to a schedule with about 6-7 hours a day of french. This consists of 2 hours with a tutor and then the remaining hours on our own studying or out in the community trying to practice what we have learned. I have a friend in the neighborhood that has a vegetable stand at the end of our road, she lets me come and sit with her to practice my french. Its feels good to actually be able to have a conversation (well, a small conversation;-). French is a tough language to learn but it is coming.

We had our second visit to the medical clinic this week. This time it was Autumn. She started running a fever on Monday night and it continued to get higher, so Friday morning we decided to take her to the clinic. She had a virus that caused blisters on her throat. After the visit we got her some medicine and she is doing much better today. I don't know what is wrong with her and Jon, they are usually the healthly ones and I'm usually the one always sick! Of course, I'm ok with staying well! ;-)

Our excitement for the week was a snake in our bathroom. It was small (ok very small, but a snake is a snake to me!). It was about 2 in the morning when I saw it. It looked like a worm, but it moved around like a snake. I went and woke Jon up....of course he said, "It is only a gecko." Well, when I finally got him up to look at it, he decided it was some sort of snake. After searching the internet, we found that it was the worlds smallest snake called a flowerpot snake. Of course Jon didn't want to kill it...he just wanted to let it go outside. You can see a picture of how small it was above.

Continue to pray for our language learning and for us to find Autumn a friend. She is suppose to go play soccer with a girl that lives down the road this afternoon. Please pray that it will go well. At the end of this month another missionary is coming to train our team for two weeks in urban church planting. He will be bringing his two teenage daughters. This should be a good two weeks for Autumn.

I have posted a couple pictures of the outside of our house. We love the screened in front porch! When we get some furniture, I will post some pictures of the inside.

Enjoy your cold weather! If it gets too cold for you, get on a plane and come to Abidjan! ;-)

Teresa

Settling into Abidjan

One view of Abidjan

Hello everyone,

It has been some time since I have done a blog. We have been trying to get into a regular routine (not really possible) and everything is going well. I was sick my first night in the city and spent most of the next day in the emergency room, the doctor ultimately treated me for malaria but they were not for sure the exact cause of my sickness. Many of you want to know what an emergency room visit is like in Africa but I will say they took good care of me and I was thankful in my distress that the hospital was here. You would not find this type of medical care in much of West Africa but Abidjan is very modern for the region.

The past couple of weeks, Teresa and I have been setting up house for the long term outlook. We are in a nice and spacious home and are using furniture, ect, from the mission board that they have allowed us to use. We will soon have everything replaced with our own stuff. Our teammates have been showing us around and teaching us all about Abidjan. Mike and Heather have two children and arrived one year ago, we will join them in what they are learning and doing in urban church planting. They have also just finished their one year of French learning and will soon start learning a second African language which we will also do after one year of learning French. As you can see, much of our first three year term is about learning the city, the people, the culture, and the language. That seems like alot to learn but all of this will be saturated with opportunities to share the gospel.

We hope and pray that all of you had a great Christmas fellowship with family and friends and again want you to know that we covet and appreciate your prayers on our behalf. I know many of you have given to the Lottie Moon offering this season which makes such an impact on our lives and ministry in Africa. We are able to live, drive, eat, set up our home, educate our daughter, and share Christ because of your giving. Thank you for this support that we see everyday and also for the spiritual support through your prayers that make so much difference.

I will blog again soon and give more insight into a typical day here in Abidjan. Have a great week.

Blessings,

Jon