BB

My teammates and I have been in the capital for a couple of weeks for training. Alyson called our story crafter on Saturday to greet him and his family. He told us that his niece, BB, passed away ealier this week. BB was a great friend to us and had been sick for a while, but we thought she was much better when we left. We prayed for her several times and had our supervisor share a Story with her. As far as we know, she never made a decision to follow the Jesus Road. This just shows the urgency of our job here. Pray for the Songhai people. Pray for workers. Pray for our boldness.

A Lot Happens in a Year

October 18, 2008

Jessica, Alyson, and Me celebrating our One Year Anniversary in Mali!

So a lot can happen in a year, huh?

I can learn to drive a stick shift in the sand.

I can (somewhat) speak a foreign language.

I can eat my weight in rice (maybe).

I can buy a plane ticket at the hardward store.

I can ride a camel a few times.

I can trample over scorpions! (See Luke 10)

Just a fun little side note. When we got here last year, Alyson introduced us to a great new artist, Sara Bareilles. She was confident that Sara would make it big one day. Just last night we played "Many the Miles" in the truck. Alyson began explaining who she was, and our newest teammate who got here a week ago, in a very sweet voice said, "Everyone in America knows who Sara Bareilles is!" We've only been gone a year, and someone who I'd never heard of is now famous throughtout a whole nation!

It's been a great year, though. I wouldn't trade it for anything. And yes, Nafi, I would do it again! With all I've learned and how much more my faith has grown, it's our prayer that the Songhai are coming closer to saving faith in Christ every day! What if when I begin packing my bags next year, I could have a conversation with a Songhai woman and explain who Jesus Christ is....and she might respond, "Everyone in Timbuktu knows who He is!"

Amanda celebrating with us!

Night Out

Getting Ready for a night out at La Maison!

The Steam Boat

For a good six months, all we've heard about is the "steam boat" that will come. The river has been dried up all summer, and has recently returned. Everyone kept saying when the water was deep enough, the boat would come. And come it did. Right in our village, this boat comes and brings all sorts of fruits and veggies...coconuts and watermelons included! We get just as excited as the Africans when it comes. Sometimes it even blows its horn around 4:00 AM and wakes you up, but that's ok! We took a tour the first time we saw it, and we realized we never want to ride this thing. It's cheaper to take a Carribean cruise for a week than to stay in the first class cabin - which isn't so first class! We also got to "drive" the boat. They let you do anything if you're white!