It’s September.
Month one of the Race is over. How in the world did time go by so quickly?
We are now two days away from piling 52 people and packs into a bus to drive 12 hours to Ghana.
From there three teams including mine will drive another 8 hours to get to Sunyani where we will be living this month.
And ministry will begin again.
Cote d’Ivoire has treated us and the beginning of this journey well.
My team is incredible and a joy to work with…if our upcoming music video is any indication.
This month has reminded me about what life is like in a third world country and taught me how to handle living in Africa and in community with 31 people.
I was reminded how crazy traffic is and how to cross it properly. Basically when an African crosses the street you know you will be safe. Run after them to stick with them if need be.
I was reminded what it is like to do laundry out of a bucket. And how to fervently pray the rain away so it doesn’t ruin your slowly drying clothes on the line.
I was reminded that wifi is s l o w and will disconnect in a heartbeat and make you talk sweetly to the router and ask if it would be so kind as to give you 5 minutes to post a blog.
I learned that African winter is more like an American spring and it is lovely.
I learned that African church worship, even in French, is incredible; 10/10, would recommend to a friend.
I learned that African time is alive and well. You’re picking us up at 8:30 for church? I’ll wake up at 9. You won’t be here until 9:30.
I learned that when you are walking along with your team to go to that one small store that has ice cream, you will either get proposals yelled at you or, ‘le blanc!” yelled around you as others are alerted that white people are in their midst. Come look.
I learned that living with 31 people meant you don’t always get to shower at the exact time you wanted to, that not everyone agrees with your views on kitchen cleanliness, and you will need to go far to find a place to sit by yourself to have quiet time. Where you’re usually joined by a four-legged animal.
I could go on.
I could talk about entering street evangelism for the first time, how to speak at church with a translator, how to stay awake during an all night prayer vigil.
This month already holds so many memories.
Pastor Matthew and his beautiful family have amazing servant hearts for Christ. We hope and pray that we were able to bless them and their congregation as much as they have blessed us. We are so very thankful to the Father for the relationships we built with them and several members of their church.
“Love deeply, but hold loosely.”
These were words that were spoken over us at training camp.
As we have already discovered, that last part, especially leaving this church and this family is going to be difficult.
But we are at peace as we move forward, knowing that another team will come in the future to love and serve in this place with the intent of picking up and continuing what we have started.
Or rather what God has started through us.
And He never leaves a work unfinished.
I am so grateful for all that we have learned and grown in here in Cote d’Ivoire but now I shift my eyes to see what Month Two holds for us.
Ghana we’ll see you soon.
