WOW! We really thought life in Africa would operate at a much slower pace, but we were wrong! With unpacking our container and trying to keep up with our workload, we’ve really been busy. But, we praise God that we have our container to unpack – it’s great to be surrounded by some familiar things from home. Thank you again for your prayers.

It is said that “No news is good news”, and that’s how it is this week. Conditions have settled somewhat in town, although one of our workers was robbed of his moped on his way home last week – a substantial loss for him. The work on the ‘wall’ around ICA continues even though we know our true safety is from the Lord; the U.S. Embassy here has strongly suggested this precaution.

As you remember us in prayer tonight, spend some time thanking God for how He has and is providing. Not only has our container arrived, but we are in the final stages of selling our house. God has again been good!

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. We don’t want to get too excited, but it looks like we may have our container by the first of next week – in time for our 25th anniversary! The latest news this morning was that they will have a final money figure for us tomorrow, and once that is paid they will release our container (it’s been in dock since August 7) to be loaded on the truck Monday and started on its way to Bouake. Please pray that this does happen, and that the money figure they give to us isn’t outrageous. We’ve already been told that the required % of estimated value to be paid has again risen from 2% (it was 1%) to 7% just this week!

We also have a very promising offer on our house, and our son David will be working with our realtor to hopefully process this sale within the next couple of weeks. Also pray that this will go through, or that God will provide another buyer.

Retailers use a term called “just-in-time” inventory, meaning that they sell their merchandise as soon as it comes in – just in time to sell. We feel e-mail has given us the privilege of having “just-in-time” prayer support, and we are delighted to keep you posted in this way. Maybe by our next update, we will be able to share that God has answered your prayers, and that our container has arrived here in Bouake.

Things certainly have picked up around here now that school actually started today. For me, there’s the setting up and assignment of 200 accounts and passwords for e-mail use. And then there’s user support for all those who can’t figure it out, or whose stuff just doesn’t work. (And there’s far too much of that!) I’m also monitoring 2 classes as they take Online Courses from Northstar Academy, an ACSI-accredited online high school. These students are taking courses that we don’t presently have the teachers to teach. Bob had his first class in 6, 7, 8 Science and 7, 8 History. He even gave homework on the first day! Since most all the other teachers did too, he wasn’t the only ogre.

It looks like Bob will be going to Abidjan tomorrow to try and work out the final details for the delivery of our container. The business manager from the school is also going to start the paperwork for the school’s container which should be in port soon. Since he’s done this many times before, we have high hopes that we’ll actually accomplish something. 

Please pray that God will go before us and work for the release of our container. 

We received a very special visit from Jim and Rosie Johnson the other day. It made us feel a little more welcome to have someone we actually know from the states stop in to see us. They’ve invited us to spend part of the 6-week Christmas holidays with them at their station about 5 hours from here. I’m sure at Christmastime we’ll be glad for something to take our minds away from the fact that we’re not with family, although Dave and his cousin Ryan may be coming out in December. With the Johnsons were the Abernethys, missionaries here in Bouake who are supported by Gina and Brian’s church in Mount Vernon. What a small world we live in! They have 2 daughters here at the school. We had dinner with them Saturday night and will probably be attending their English-speaking service from time to time. 

Thanks for your prayers on our behalf. We’ll try to make this Wednesday update a regular happening for those of you with e-mail.