We are safe, happy, clean and well fed in Africa. After three flights, a nine hour bus ride, two boat rides and a total of four days of travel we arrived in the small town of Mahpleu, Cote D’Ivoire, Africa. We didn’t know what to expect, and if you read my last blog, you know that I was more than a little apprehensive about what we would find here. What we have found was better than I could have asked for or imagined, because God loves us and knows what it is we need.
I would not describe our week as one of comfort, but we have had more than we needed in most every way—except, maybe alone time. We live in a small guest house that we believe was built because we were coming. Our team of five women sleep in a room together, three of us on foam mattresses draped with mosquito nets from the ceilings. The other two opted for their tents (without rainfly) and their sleeping pads. There is an unfinished bathroom in our room, but they did not have enough time to complete it before we arrived. But we are still blessed. There are about 5 other small bedrooms that many villagers sleep in with us, don’t ask me how many it’s been hard to keep track of who is living with us and who is just visiting. Regardless, on the first night they told us we are family. We have electricity and a clean well nearby—which they have not let us draw water from ourselves…yet. We eat more than our fill everyday and often first. It’s not food we’re used to, but we enjoy it nevertheless. Eggs, catfish (we think), rice, vegetables, oatmeal, and chicken have all been on our plates…oh, and lots of bread.
If you’re wondering about our bathroom situation, well, it’s definitely uncomfortable, but also, much better than we expected. Their is a crude outhouse type building with a cement floor and a hole over a very deep pit. This is big enough for our daily bucket showers and where we take care of our business. I’ll let you imagine the rest. We are grateful it is new and clean.
Cote D’Ivoire is a country of GREAT hospitality and its been a huge blessing. We’ve been humbled by how well and often we are served, oftentimes feeling uncomfortable because they won’t let us even move a chair. Needless to say, we’re starting to get used to it and finding rest in them serving us. A blessing that God provides in the midst of the discomfort we feel.
No one really speaks English. Our days are filled with voices speaking French and the local Yocama dialect. We—thank GOD—have a translator, and while communication is still a struggle with a translator we make do.
Our home is almost always full of voices, children laughing, women singing, deep laughs, loud prayer and quiet conversation. It’s a home full of our new family, that is more like a small village of our own than a house we happen to be staying in for a month.
Since we have been here we have danced with the women and children. We’ve tried to speak in French to express our gratitude. We’ve played the drums and sung for them with the guitar. They have watched us eat, read, try to do laundry ourselves. We have greeted the two chiefs who have welcomed us to their villages. We met with and prayed for a local government official who also gave her permission for us to be here.
We took part in a crusade, part in our honor, part because we are here and will draw people to hear the gospel. On the way there we paraded through the town clapping, singing, and dancing with the locals. Hand in hand with our host, the Prophetess, and attracting people to the crusade. Not for the first time my eyes were filled with tears, overwhelmed with where God had brought me and what I was witnessing. At this crusade our team introduced ourselves and sang two of our favorite worship songs, despite our lack of experience and confidence. We prayed over a microphone for the land and the city. At the end of the day five people stood up to receive Christ.
We’ve experienced an African church service in our living room, full of power and praise and we danced as we sang. And testimonies of the miracles these people have witnessed in their lives. The faith here is tangible and unbelievable.
This morning as our team enjoyed our sabbath, we had our own little English church service and worship time. And after (though it was because of a mistake with translation) we were invited to dance with the women here. It was a time I will never forget. Of joy and celebration.
We start visiting local schools and teaching bible study and evangelizing in the local villages tomorrow. We aren’t sure what these days will hold, but we are excited and expectant for God to show up.
Pleas join us in prayer over:
- The language barrier, that it is not a faith barrier and that translations whether with a translator or via google translate are clear.
- Health, we are in a country with a high risk for malaria, all are well now and we are believing we will continue to be while being wise and diligent with our heath.
- Boldness; Church, worship and faith are very different here and we want to walk in it boldly.
- Strength in my leadership abilities, they call me “Chief Sara” and it’s entertaining, but also draining because I am the point person and front man of almost everything. This is not really The World Race’s perception of leadership or mine, but culturally it is here. My team is great and stands with me but it’s a spotlight I wasn’t expecting.
- Pray for Mahpleu, this village is strong in faith and they are growing. We believe they will do great things and we are humbled to be apart of it.
I have missed my final deadline for fundraising, but Adventures in Missions has allowed me to continue as long as the funds I have raised are enough to cover my expenses. I only need about $3,600 more to meet my goal, this means that if just 90 people gave $40 I would be fully funded. Would you consider giving $40 today? All donations through this site are tax deductible.
I am truly grateful for all of you who have donated to get me this far. I am always humbled when thanking about how God has provided through generous donors like you.
A note about connectivity this month. We are in the land of no WiFi which means that pictures, videos and most social media is limited to the little bit of data we purchase as a team. So bare with me and use your imagination. Pictures will come when I have good WiFi again around the 1st.
