Hello,

I can't believe at the end of this month I'll be back in the States again. Weird! Not really sinking in yet but I know as the time gets closer it'll start.

This year has gone by way to fast! I remember people telling me that in the States that my time here was just going to fly by. It seems like yesterday I was on the plane arriving in Abijan. At the same time there's been times where I though this year was never going to end. Time is a weird thing.

This last month for me has been such a good one. My uncle finally got married!

My uncle Eli got married the 17th of September. The day before that I made the cake for the wedding. I was really happy I got to be apart of the wedding in some way. Making the cake was my contribution. I was so thankful that I had Tricia and Justine helping me that day. Definitely couldn't have done it without them. The cake turned out beautifully and exactly the color my uncle wanted rose (pink). I made the cake with real milk for the Fulani people who drive their cattle on the streets here. It was kind of special because I took a class called Perspectives at my church in the States and I did a people report on the Fulani. It's funny how things get connected like that.

The day of the wedding I took a taxi moto side saddle into town because my skirt was definitely too tight to sit on the moto the usual way. After lot's of pictures of the marriage certificate ceremony, I headed with Steph to my church in Bellville where the reception type deal is held. Lots of dancing, singing and hanging out. I got to cut the cake in front of everyone for Eli and Sabine to serve each other.  It was a beautiful wedding and I was exhausted by the end of the night.

I thought the party was over but I was definitely wrong!! When I arrived at my house so many new faces were there. All the extended family from Korhogo and various places were staying the weekend for the wedding. It was even crazier at my house then at the church it seemed.

On Sunday night it was a party again with dancing, singing and eating. Only this time everything was in my front yard. We danced and danced. I love dancing now because I can actually do some of the moves and not look like a completely horrible dancer. Everyone now tells me that I dance really well. But I'm pretty sure they are just being nice. I will never be able to dance like my sisters.

So it's been really interesting for me to get to see first hand what this whole wedding thing in Cote d'Ivoire entails. The groom is the one who plans basically everything and the bride waits and waits until the groom has the money and is ready to throw the wedding and marry her. The wedding is so much the guys responsibility

Sabine, the bride, is living with us now. She has to go back to Ferke for a time to finish up work there so she can come back and find work at a hospital in Bouake. I got to spend about one week with her and then she took off again. Haven't seen her for about three weeks now.

I got a chance to go to the ocean with Angelika the week after the marriage. It was such an amazing time for me because I was so exhausted from the last couple of weeks with the orphanage and the wedding. We stayed with an Ivoiran family that Angelika and Rod knew. It was sweet getting to know them. This town, Basaam, reminded me of the set of a town in Pirates of the Caribbean! The buildings were really beautiful but all run down. Very interesting looking.  I was absolutely amazed at how beautiful the ocean was. The waves were amazing!

As I walked along the beach there were a ton of people trying to sell Angelika and I souvenirs  or food every five minuets. It was annoying but I have been so used to this kind of thing over the year it didn't bother me to much. As the sun was setting Angelika and I bought these little pineapples from a girl probably 10 years old. She cut off the skin and we we ate pineapple and watched the beautiful sunset that look like a red orb.

While in Basaam a new journeyer came in. Her name is Alli and she is from Germany. Angelika is from Germany too so naturally they both speak a lot of German together. I got to learn a few things as well but man it's a hard language! Hiedi also came down to get her parents who came to visit her. I was sitting at dinner and was hearing 4 different languages English, German, Senoufo, and French.  I remember thinking AH! ok too many languages running through my brain right now!

After I got back from Basaam it was straight back to working at the orphanage and helping out with whatever else I need to help with at Ecole Baptist. I now have three rats in cages.

The orphanage is going really well. Working with Nestor, the kids and the staff is good. Yesterday, I held this little baby who was not yet a week old. He had been thrown in the garbage where someone has found him and brought him to the orphanage. Gosh, that baby really stole my heart. It's hard because I wish I could do more for the kids there. But I have to just trust in Christ that he loves each one of them so much more then I could ever love them. I hope all these kids and staff members that I've gotten a chance to meet will see Christ's love for them. I have met a couple women who are Christians who work at the orphanage.  I know I said this in my last blog but more and more I just fall in love with these kids. They are SO difficult and hard to handle once you take one into your lap another starts hitting the one that’s on your lap and visa versa. A little time with them does so much a think. I just try to give them the attention and love that they are lacking. It really breaks my heart some days after I've gone home.

My two sisters Aliema and Ann are doing good as well. Aliema is going to be going back to school on the 24th of October and Ann continues to work at the hospital. I just love my sisters! They treat me so good.

On the 7th of October I headed up to Korhogo for a final time. I wanted to go up to say goodbye to my first family up there.  CJ's parents came to visit so it was a perfect time for me to hop in the car and hitch a ride up. It was a wonderful time just hanging out with my little brothers, Mom, Dad and sister Rebecca. It was definitely bitter sweet.  I took a bus back alone to Bouake on Sunday and after all the craziness of traveling was done I sat on my couch in Belleville and just cried. I was thinking "O that was easier then I thought saying goodbye to Korhogo and my family there." But NO! It all hit me once I got back. I think I'm only just beginning the grieving process. I don't even want to think about what it's going to be saying goodbye to my family here in Bouake.

More and more I realize how hard it's going to be for me to go back to the States. I am so excited to see my American family and my friends. But man I can't even imagine how much I'm going to miss Cote d'Ivoire and all the amazing people I know here. I'm definitely coming back someday  there’s no question.

For debrief all of us journeyers are going to Paris for three days! I'm super stoked for this!

I'll be getting home on October 31st 8:15pm Halloween at SEATAC airport. It's going to be quite a crazy month for me and I'm sure the months to come will bring their own joys and challenges.

Prayer requests

My last couple weeks here would not be draining but that I would find strength in Christ.

The program Journey Corps would continue on and grow.

The leaders for Journey Corps future and present.

Cote d'Ivoire as a country that the political stability now would continue on so that the countries economy can get back on it's feet once more.

Thank you so much for supporting me in prayer and giving.

I'll definitely be writing a final blog either this month or next month when I'm back so this isn't the last one.

God is good!