April - May

The days have been good; full of late night talks and hard work. But they are slowly coming to an end, and heart breaking goodbyes are just around the corner.

Some of the exciting things that have been going on are…

• In April, our team took an exciting trip to Burkina Faso, where we got to see first hand how missions and environmental protection can fit together. It was also really exciting to see elephants and hippopotamuses for the first time! (Although, I discovered not long after, that there are hippopotamuses here in a lake next to the fields of my teammate Chrissy’s dad!)

• Our library project continues to progress by the grace of God. The room is now painted and equipped with bookshelves and thanks to three churches all sixty-something books recommended by pastors and missionaries of Cote d’Ivoire are being bought and will be brought to Cote d’Ivoire in June with a friend.

• May 7^th  I began a voluntary stage in Maternity at the local hospital of Boundiali. It’s a little crazy balancing work eight hour work days with household chores and Ivorian late night talks but I am really enjoying my time at the hospital. Not only does it improve my French and Dioula, but it gives me a realistic look at the medical field; which is the direction I am thinking about heading in as I start university in September. 

• My host mom is now about eight months pregnant and I’m praying that the baby comes before I have to leave. My host brother decided to start reading a chapter of his bible every day almost a month ago, but reading the bible everyday is a rare thing! 

Travel Plans

Tentative plans are to leave Cote d’Ivoire the beginning of July, stop in Germany for a week, then continue to Thailand where I’ll be for three weeks, then re-entry in Denver and then in Sunnyvale around August 8^th. None of these dates are for sure yet but I’ll try to get official dates to you as soon as I can.