Week one

In the days that have passed since when I left until now, I cannot possibly fit all of my new experiences in this post, but I'll try to explain some of my favorite things and memories so far.

The Gable family…

Andy and Stephanie are the missionaries I am working under and living next to. They have been so welcoming and hospitable, showing me around town, getting me settled in to the guest house where I am staying, and introducing me to many new friends at the clinic where I will be working.  I am excited to learn more of their work that they do here and ways they are reaching out to the community. Then there’s their kids! There are five of them. They are beautiful, sweet, thoughtful, energetic, and crazy all rolled into one bunch of siblings, and they really make me laugh. Oh yes, and throw in the 2 dogs and 5 puppies that live in and run around the yard. There is never really a dull moment here.

Embracing the things that are different...

Getting used to cockroaches in the house and hearing mice scampering in the ceiling at night. Concerning things I am more excited about, there is the challenge of learning another language with all its ups and downs. Being able to go to the bread store to get fresh baguettes, buying food at the busy and crowded outdoor market. I find myself thinking what my professors from school would say, the ones who taught me entire classes on food safety, as I buy fruits and vegetables with flies swarming all over them, mostly just attracted to the vendors selling raw animal parts a few rows down. But I will just have to unlearn some of my food safety education because I love the experience of buying grilled plantains and acheke from stands on the side of the road.

Fri Feb 14....

First day at the clinic, learning how to take blood pressure and possibly more to come. Apparently anyone on the clinic staff is allowed to learn how to do things like take blood and give shots. I will stick to taking blood pressure for now. In the afternoon, Andy, me and another young man from town named Yaya drive about 45 minutes away to a little village in the bush, where they share bible stories a few times a month. While there I get to meet the Muslim chief of the village. He sits there on His blanket smiling and smiling, wishing us blessings and thanking us for coming. I loved sitting in the village as we read through Acts 13 and 14 with the handful of people who have come, the ones who have grown to like this God of the Bible and the Jesus that saves. As we read people ask questions and Andy answers them.  In French, the one man talks about how this Jesus is very interesting. It is interesting that believing in Jesus is not about what you have to do to be saved, he says. That unlike any other god, this God comes to us. It's not about what we must do but what He has already done.

It is amazing, and I always want to stay in awe of this precious gift. Jesus has paid the price. Now He invites people, everyone and anyone who wants it, to come. Come and have life that is real. He wants the ends of the earth to have the salvation He died for. Please pray for this village, for the people who come to hear and learn about more of Jesus. Pray for Yaya, who wants to follow Jesus but is still counting the very real cost of the effects of following Christ. Here, deciding to follow Jesus often means you will be cut off from your family and community. You risk losing your house, land, husband or wife, and a way of making a living. These problems are great, but our God is greater.

Like Paul wrote in  Romans 8:38, this is our hope...

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."