First Term Updates – Cote d’Ivoire/Senegal

This will probably be the last update that we send out from this side of the ‘big pond’. We are busily handling last minute details and packing – and repacking. We’re filled with mixed emotions as we say our ‘good-byes’. We’re very excited to be returning to ICA at last, but so sad to be leaving our friends and family for a while.

God is using you and your overwhelming response to our support needs to show us once again that returning to ICA at this time is what He wants for us – and for ICA. We are close, very close, to being 100% supported; we believe that God will supply even the small deficit before we leave on June 1st.

We will try to send these updates every couple of weeks, but communication from the campus of ICA is one thing that needs to be restored. Currently there are no phone lines to the campus. We will be using an internet caf? in Bouak? for e-mails.

Please pray:
— For our family members. Everyone one of them is supportive of what we’re doing, but good-byes are tough!
— For travel safety, especially within the country of Ivory Coast on Friday of next week. A friend who recently made the trip faced 21 official/unofficial road stops before getting to ICA. These can be very tense situations, especially when you’re communicating with someone in a foreign language.

Today Bob is in Florida with our son David visiting his parents and a supporting church while I am staying with our daughter Gina and her husband Brian. This is a very special week of ?connecting? for us, especially as we know that in less than 4 weeks, we will once again board an airplane for Cote d?Ivoire.

We are again amazed at what God is doing. When we left Quebec 2 weeks ago, we were looking at a schedule packed full of meetings with new and old friends. The need to raise an additional $430/month in support in this short time before leaving was on our minds. But as we started preparing for our meetings, we were reminded again at how awesome our God is. Much like the 12 stones used to build an altar on the other side of the Jordan which served as a physical reminder to the children of Israel what God had done, our presentation has reminded us of what God has done. What?s so special about remembering? Remembering the blessings of the past gives hope and encouragement for the future, not only to those who lived that past, but to others with whom it is shared. That?s what we want to communicate to you as we share our ministry story.

We thank you so much for responding as you have. In the 2 short weeks since we left Quebec, we have added many new prayer supporters to our team, and learned of 2 new churches and 1 couple who have joined our financial supporters. One of our first supporting churches has also increased our support, bringing our total of needed additional support down to $180/month. Yes, our God is awesome.

This week in Abidjan, the school board of International Christian Academy (ICA) is meeting to further determine how ICA will re-open in September. You will recall that the decision to re-open was made in January by an amazingly united school board who reported how God had individually worked in their hearts to bring about that unexpected outcome. This week, they will work out some of the details. Please pray for these meetings, that God?s spirit will again unite their hearts and guide their choices.

Pray also for our continued preparations to depart on June 1^st ? so much to do and so little time!

This will be our last update from Quebec. We will leave our home of the past 8 months early Friday morning and return to Ohio from where we will visit some of you over the next month before we leave for Cote d?Ivoire June 1st. But right now, we have 7 exams to take this week.

During this long 8 months, we have made many new friends whom we will find hard to leave. Some of them are fellow missionaries, some are our language partners and/or our tutors who have become friends, some are fellow classmates, and some are francophone friends we have made at our churches or other activities with which we?ve become involved. Many know the Lord closely while others know Him but have had limited opportunities to grow. Then there are those with whom we?ve had opportunities to share, praying that they respond to the light which has been given

Bob gave my book – The Purpose-Driven Life – to his language partner last night who promised to read the book and to correspond with him about it. I gave the same book to my language partner last week. Tonight, she went to the church-plant Bible study (covering this book) with us where she met a ?new language partner? who happens to be another missionary stationed here in Quebec to help with the church plant. 

In many ways, we feel as if our ?work? here is not complete. Although we have learned some French, there is most definitely so much more to know. And although we have planted some seed, there is lots of watering to be done. Please continue to pray for those who faithfully ?work? for the kingdom here in Quebec and for those who are considering the kingdom for the first time.