One Week, Ivorian Style

Quick update: All is well with me here in Cote d'Ivoire. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and the love that you've sent my way. I am always encouraged to hear from friends and family back at home. 

From November 1st through the 8th, I'll be living with an Ivorian family! This week-long stay is part of integration. It'll give me a taste of life in a family here before I move into one for 9 months. Oh, I am so excited about these adventures ahead. I will write more soon.

(Lately I've been quite tired by the increase in French hearing and speaking. My team only speaks French at our meal times now, among many other times throughout the day. Let's just say that I'm mentally and physically wiped out by the end of the day! But it's the kind of tired that is nice and satisfying. That being said, I will try to make more time for writing updates. So much to be said!)

Praises and Requests

Praises and Thanksgivings:

• Team/Community – I am so thankful for my team. Each one of us has a very different background, but Christ unites us together! It is a huge blessing to have other Americans, Germans, and Ivorians living together in community. It’s sometimes challenging to learn and love through our differences, but it is also exciting and rewarding.
• Leadership/Mentorship – God’s graciously given me wonderful leaders who have had years of experience on the missions field, love young adults, and treasure Jesus above everything else.
• Ivorian culture – I thoroughly enjoy the people and way of life here in Cote d’Ivoire. I can hardly wait to live with a host family in another month or two.

Prayer Requests:

• Language learning – Learning conversational French is one of my top priorities right now so that I can start communicating more freely with Ivorians. Pray specifically that I would overcome all fear and discomfort of speaking the little French that I know, so that I can learn through my mistakes.
• Strength/Rest/Health – With all the stress of learning a new language and culture, I easily become tired—mentally and physically. Pray that my strength would come from the Lord and that He would sustain my physical health.
• Friendships – Please continue to pray for authentic friendships to develop. I am hoping for a close friend or two for mutual understanding and encouragement.

Integration

How can it be that a month has come and gone like the clouds on a gusty afternoon? I don’t know, exactly. Time is that way. A bit hard to understand and impossible to hold down. The way time flows here in Cote d’Ivoire is different from the flow it takes on in the States. There’s less rushing and panting; less stiffness. Mornings start early, often before sunrise. Night falls around the same time every evening, and dinner is eaten after the sun goes down at 19:00 o’clock – or 7:00 PM. Our schedule on campus is less African than it is western. The reason for this is that we have seminars and classes that must happen every day. And, with 20 or so people involved, we need to stick to the clock or else nothing would happen.

[Quick summary of our schedule, Monday-Friday]

• 8 am – Bible study and/or worship as a team
• 9 am – French class with Timothee
• 10 am – Seminar (topics examples: cultural adjustment, common illnesses & treatments, history of Cote d’Ivoire)
• 12 pm – Lunch
• 1 pm – Rest
• 2:30 pm – French practice
• 4:30 pm – Free time – Sleep, journal, run, card games, soccer, snack, errands in town
• 7 pm –Dinner
• 8 pm – Team sharing
• 10 pm – Sleep! 

We’re well into our integration period of the year here in Cote d’Ivoire. It’ll probably go  through Thanksgiving time. So, come early December, when Christmas songs, snowflakes, and hot cocoa are prevalent around my Wisconsin home, it is likely that I will be moving into a new home here, gearing up for the hottest time of the year.

[A few highlights from “integration” so far] 

• This past week we heard from an Ivorian nurse. We had “in depth” discussions about diarrhea, parasites, snake bites, cholera, hygiene, and malaria-carrying female mosquitos, among other funny/scary/important topics related to our bodies.
• Trekking through muddy, red clay & dense, tall grass with the Landcruisers on an afternoon journey to a hidden rock quarry. Never before has riding on top of a massive vehicle been more thrilling than the Titan coaster at Six Flags. We spent the evening around a bonfire out on the quarry. The moon was full. We ate spicey beef/onion sandwhiches cooked over the fire (thanks to Rod!), learned about Baobab trees (a symbol of Africa), and shared stories and laughter.
• “Je vais au ville” – Going to the city: watching, listening, smelling, & tasting life here. Babies wrapped snuggly around their mother’s back with a colorful panye. Grilled bananas sold street-side, wrapped in recycled newspaper, exchanged for 50 francs (10 cents). Six laughing children standing in a line, holding hands as they wait to cross a busy street. Well-aware that they don’t have the right-of-way, they wait for several minutes before shuffling to the middle of the street, then again to the other side. 

Riding a Bike

{Preface: Okay – this may be a really bad idea. Forgive me, all of you writers out there reading this. I’ve decided to post this little, um, poem (if that’s what you call it), that I scratched down yesterday. There are no rules to writing, right? I will probably look back (maybe even tomorrow) and laugh (or crinkle my nose) at this. But hey, the words are true.}

Riding a bike

clears my mind

though my legs work

harder than on my bike back

home. where things feel simpler

but actually aren’t

most of the time.

is it strange how heavy breathing and

honking horns,

a sweating forehead and

squinting eyes

are all together restful? no,

it’s the mind that needs

a break from the trying

and toiling and tinkering

so that it can finally

think

about the things that matter.

like the fact that

God is real;

He is Creator;

Savior;

the Name above names.

colors are bright on

people but dull on the

ground.

the sky is blue at times, and at others

clothed in gray,

carrying water

for the thirsty plants under

its sinking weight.

people look and stare, or smile

or question or laugh

at the toubabou

riding a bike

past their home where they

cook rice and sauce.

or past their field

where they bend from the waist

and pick, pull, pile, and plant

as they have done for

generations past.

or past the little ones,

walking home from school

with happiness or sadness

displayed without a veil.

so much to look at,

so much to ponder but not

without prayer.

because the One who is

with me

knows not only me and

speaks not only my language.

He knows those i see and

He speaks

their language too

and hears their prayers if they

pray in Jesus’ name,

but most of them don’t

because they haven’t been told

of this One who

died for them and seeks to

cover them in a

righteous gown

that’s more beautiful

than the loveliest cloth

they can find.

it is simple, this Gift.

and free.

all that is needed is faith

because Jesus

finished the work and seeks to

save

the lost.

there is a need

for messengers who will

love and live and labor

for and with and among

the people of

Cote d’Ivoire.

there is a need

for relationships to form

and transformation to happen

in Jesus’ name.

i pray for God’s glory

to come. Be present

in the hearts of those

i pass while

riding a bike.

            

"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

Abijan, Cote d'Ivoire

Speed Scrabble

Pretty Chair

Our arrival into Cote d'Ivoire was smooth. Immigration and customs were unusually easy to navigate, and our luggage all arrived on time. I'm so thankful to be here and already sense that I'm going to love this place. Today was a day of rest. My team--Rebecca, Haylie, Eric & myself--along with Rod (long time missionary; Ivorian at heart),  Devin & Tricia (Journeyer's who are helping us integrate), enjoyed chatting, eating, resting, napping, game-playing, and more chatting. I think we've already tasted a bit of the Ivorian view of time and relationships. Relationships first, schedules second. Lunch lasted three hours but felt like one. And, I took not just one, but two naps today.  :)

Guest House

Garage Treasures

Jehovah Jireh

My visa has arrived -- I'm officially welcome in the country of Cote d'Ivoire. God has been gracious to bring me to this point... closing in on a week or so left in the States. He is Jehovah Jireh -- Provider. Here are just a few things I'm thankful to Him for...

• A wonderful partnership team -- so many people who have decided to join me in prayer and finances, partnering in God's ministry in Cote d'Ivoire for the sake of the Gospel. 
• My financial needs are nearly met. Just a few % away from being fully supported.
• Many, many sweet and some tearful good-byes last week in Minneapolis, my home for the past 3 years.
• Walks with the Lord, reflecting on His faithfulness day by day. 
• Great time with the family in creation this past weekend -- a day in Door County and a day at Point Beach State Park.
• Chocolate ice cream.