"Benkadi" -- Together

My first week in Bouake was a bundle of paradoxes. My senses have come alive!

Exhausting and invigorating. Foreign, yet familiar. Vivid emotions, but also uncertain at times.

Since I’ve had so many new experiences this week, I’ve tried to break down the categories below to summarize just a few of them and give you a taste of life in Cote d’Ivoire up to this point…

New Home—

Many of you may know that I’m living on a beautiful campus in Bouake. It used to be an international school for missionary kids. Basically, it’s about 20 acres of green grass, blooming flowers, big trees, and many small houses, dormitories, and classroom-like buildings. In some ways it reminds me of my college campus – Northwestern College – which is a beautiful haven. Yet this place is definitely African in nature and style. The campus here was evacuated over 10 years ago when a civil war started in Cote d’Ivoire. French soldiers lived here during the war, but since then it was given to Journey Corps (aka “Benkadi” – a local word meaning “community” or “together”). Journey Corps rents out some of the houses and dorms to Ivorian families and Ivorian medical students, but a few of the buildings are for our use. I have been delighted to have a safe place to run and play sports. There’s a grassy field with a “track” and even run down tennis and basketball courts. Getting outside to be active and move a bit has helped energize me and clear my mind after hours of French practice!

New Friends—

Two missionary couples (Rod and Angelika – been in Cote d’Ivoire for years. Phil and Mimi – missionaries in Rwanda for 13 years; came here in April). Five Germans arrived when we did (two guys and three girls – all just finished high school). Four new Americans (including myself). One French man (Benjamin—who is doing a project with an unreached people group in a village north of Bouake). Six American Journeyers who have been here for over a year already; a few of them helping with our integration.

It’s a great group of people. Truly. They are a ton of fun! I’ve heard more French and German this past week than ever before in my life. We’re learning how to work together, communicate together, eat together, and live together.

God's Creation—

There are also so many incredible flowers and tropical plants and trees. Acacia has become my favorite, especially the giant ones. I love sitting under them. It’s the end of rainy season here. There’s been a downpour of rain nearly every afternoon, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen storm clouds as beautiful as the ones that blow in here.  The rain is powerful. There are fruit-bearing trees everywhere; grapefruit and lemon trees grow right outside my bedroom window. The avocados and mangos aren’t quite in season, but apparently come February or March, there are too many to eat! I don’t think I’ll mind a bit J

New Transportation—

Of all the new modes for getting around, my favorite is the moto taxi. It costs less than a dollar to ride on the back of a motorcycle from the market place to campus—about 4 miles. The tricky part of the moto is getting on in a skirt. Or maybe it’s straddling the cycle without gripping the driver (hands off!). Or, maybe it’s not falling off the back seat when three people are on it. I got plenty of laughs and smiles from Ivorians watching the white girl try to ride a moto for the first time.

All in all, I give thanks and praise to God for this past week! It has been a magnificent start to this new journey, this new year. May He receive all glory for that is happening here -- in my life, in the team, in the local churches, in the country of Cote d'Ivoire as a whole. 

Please continue to pray. Pray for French learning so that relationships can be built. And the relationships are all about Jesus -- seeing him transforms lives by what he has done for us on the cross. 

Thank you for partnering with me!

Love,

Emily