Author name: Lois Gillespie

The kids are back; school started today. Some parents are still here, but will be traveling home by the end of this week – in time for Sunday. As usual, the campus changes dramatically when the students are here. The leisurely pace of break time is over and we are quickly reminded of the reason we are here!

I’m finishing up the details of our server upgrade – those things which only show up when users start using the network. It’s been hectic, but we are pleased that we were able to accomplish the work – after 3 aborted attempts over the past 2 trimesters. We hope the new server software will enable us to better manage the e-mail and internet environment.

Next week our students will be taking the Stanford Achievement Tests which are required here just like they are in the States. We will also be busy preparing for our next Outreach Weekend near the Liberian border of Cote d’Ivoire which will be April 26-28. Please pray now for God to work in the hearts of those who will hear the gospel, probably for the first time. Also pray that those who are going from ICA will be spiritually prepared with “an answer for every man that asks a reason for the hope that is in him.”

Since I’m frantically working on a server hardware and software update which looks like it might be successful this time, I’ll make this very brief. But you can expect our newsletter some time this week – another Spring Break goal that I hope to accomplish!
– The students return on Tuesday of next week, so pray for their safety as they travel. Also, some staff will be returning from their brief stateside vacations and would also appreciate your prayers for their travel safety.

Please continue to pray that God will supply staff for next year. Planning for the coming year has to start early around here since moving to Africa takes a little more forethought than moving somewhere in the states. We know God will provide in His time.

Thanks for praying.

Just a quick note to keep in touch. We’re on a 2-week Spring Break, and I’m in the middle of some upgrades, so I won’t take long.

Bob just returned from a 2-day camping trip with another staff dad and his kids. (It sure makes us miss our kids when we do something with other families!) They saw quite a few hippos in the river where they later swam and some other wildlife, but although they came across some fresh elephant tracks, they didn’t see any elephants. Maybe next time…

Break time is kind of pleasant around here. Some people take short vacations, or even go on other mission projects. Those left on campus spend more time socializing with each other and catch up on ‘honey-do’ lists. Everyone has projects they want to get done (like my upgrade), so it can get tense when the project depends on someone else who has a project, too. But we do look forward to this time to ‘catch our breath’ between the busy school schedules.

Once again, thanks for your prayers. We pray for you, too, so let us know your requests.