First Term Updates – Cote d’Ivoire/Senegal

Students and staff are now back to life as usual – for ICA, that is. Many enjoyed time with family and friends over the long weekend. Bob and I spent time with our Chaplain and his wife in Grand Basaam, the commercial center on the Atlantic coast for French West Africa in the early 1900’s. We enjoyed the fellowship as well the time to relax. 

This next weekend, we again pull dorm duty as we cover the 2-day break for the houseparents at the boys junior high dorm. We sailed through our last tour of duty, but this weekend could be different since the boys won’t be in school. Please remember us in prayer this weekend as we ‘parent’ 22 very normal junior high boys!

We also ask that you continue to pray for staffing concerns for the next school year. When we are understaffed, there is a strain on all of us as we try to cover more than we sometimes should (which is why we are covering houseparent time off). God’s grace has been sufficient, but some staff members are ‘running on empty’ and simply maintaining until Easter break.

Thank you for praying for us.

Penny Fair is finally over! Much to our amazement, when Saturday finally arrived, we were ready. When starting time rolled around, and parents, students and visitors came to call, we were prepared to show them a good time. I must say that Bob and I were surprised at the turnout. People had told us that the campus would be packed – everyone shows up – and they were right. It gave us a really warm feeling, and made us feel that all our efforts were not only to raise money for the Class of 2005, but to provide a wholesome fun time for the families of ICA. Although we could hardly drag ourselves home after the cleanup on Saturday, we felt that we would do it all over again if we had to. (And that’s a good thing, since next year, the Class of 2005 puts on the Food Court.) I’ve attached a picture of our class before the big event.

This next weekend is ‘Long Weekend’ – no Friday afternoon classes. Most students will either leave the campus for home or for a friend’s house. Some parents will come and take their kids away for the weekend. Very few stay on campus; those kids who are here actually enjoy the special attention they receive from the dorm parents, including special meals and outings. Please pray for all the traveling that we will do this weekend, keeping in mind the road conditions and the unrest in Cote d’Ivoire.

Speaking of the unrest, there have again been robberies and attacks in Bouake, some in the neighborhood where our Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries live and minister. At least one of these was rather violent. We have been encouraged to be very cautious when we go out (no jewelry, etc.). It has been suggested that we not to go out in the evening, go out only in groups, and not eat in local restaurants. Please pray for our safety; these robberies are being done by the same small group of thugs. Most of our friends in Bouake would protect us if given the opportunity; some of them are even being robbed.

Also, continue to pray for staff for next year. Specifically, we need more grade school and middle school teachers, as well as high school English, French, Math and Music. A building and maintenance supervisor is also needed. Do you know anyone who fits those categories and could come for even 1 year? Give them our e-mail address; we’d love to talk to them about needs.

Thanks again for taking us before the throne.

Hollywood will come to ICA this Saturday with such attractions as Jurasic Park (maze), Jaws (waterslide), The Rock (the jail where you can have your ‘favorite’ people detained and bombarded with waterguns and waterbombs), Toyland (all kinds of kiddie games), Fried Green Tomatoes (a cake walk – like musical chairs with food prizes), Space Jam (on-going sports contests) and Tarzan (‘skyride’). Planet Hollywood, our food court, will also be open for business. All proceeds go to the International Christian Academy Class of 2005

Does it sound like fun? We hope it will be, but for now it’s all WORK! The freshmen are finally joining us in this work with lots of new and creative ideas. It will be interesting to see how it finally comes together. Next week, we’ll send pictures!

It seems our campus is finally healthy again after this last 3-4 week round with a flu-type virus. The only problem is that now our African workers seem to be coming down with the same virus; Bob took our house girl home today at noon.

We are hearing good reports about missions trips that some of you are involved in. These trips are close to our heart because we know how God has used them in our own lives. Any church is blessed when her people become interested and involved in these types of trips, providing first-hand knowledge of life on the mission field. Keep sending those reports; we love to read them.