Ok so this blog I guess I’m announcing some pretty big news/changes in my journey here in Africa…

The Big news is... I've moving from Korhogo back down to Bouake. I'm doing this because there are more opportunities to work with animals in Bouake then in Korhogo as of now. It's sad because I do miss my family in Korhogo and I'll visit them often. I was a really good goodbye to them and explaining what I wanted to do in Bouake. But I'm moving in with a different Ivorian family in Bouake and going to a different church. I feel like the Lord is leading back to work with animals here and I'm really excited to do it. I'll still be involved with other ministries as well working with the Sunday school and the youth club.

 I kind of like it because now I have more connections and friends in Bouake and in Korhogo. Wherever I'm at I have somewhere to lay my head at night. And I love that. It's just a change in the journey for me but I feel like it's where God wants me to be. Journey Corps is a pilot program so I like the fact that I have the flexibility to move families and change up plans if I want to to figure out what's best for me.

So here’s some highlights that have happened over the last month.

So I made s'mores with my family in Korhogo.....THEY WERE A HIT!! Chocolate was everywhere since it had melted. The marshmallows were really funny because my family hadn't seen anything like them before. We put the marshmallows on forks and cooked them over hot coals that my mom usually uses for making all the meals. It turned out to be kind of a party :) I just demonstrated how to make the s'mores once and then everyone dove in roasting their marshmallows while I broke the gram crackers and got the chocolate on. Thank you family in Washington for sending over the supplies!

 4/9/11 I went to my first Ivorian wedding. One of the workers that worked to make good for us while all the Journeyers are here at Ecole Baptist got married. His name is Tenena. Everyone got all dressed up in their best Ivorian panyas and shirts. We walked to the wedding the sat down in chairs that were placed all around an open area where people would dance and sing. The bride and groom were at the mayor's office signing the official documents. They showed up about an hour later into the party/ reception. They sat on couches and everyone gave a song or a dance. All us white people gave a dance of the electric slide! haha! It was great everyone cheered for us. It was kind of hard for me to dance in a panya though. I think there were probably over 300 people at the wedding. People came and gave gifts and then after that we went and had the wedding dinner of rice and sauce. I sat at the same table as the bride and groom. I was thinking to myself ( I do not deserve this special treatment!) I hadn't even met the bride before the wedding. O well a lot of times you just have to do and follow what people tell you to do. Story of my life. I walked back home with Beckie and over all it was a great time. I love to dance Senefou style.

Gbagbo was captured and arrested. Things are returning back to normal in Abijan. The ports are open for chocolate and mangos. THANK YOU for all your prayers. It is looking so good for Cote d'Ivoire now! Things seem to be clearing up politically and I am really excited to see the change that will bring for the country and the people here.

4/24/11 Easter was a success! I went back up to Korhogo on the bus to spend the weekend with my family. I felt super independent because I went on the bus up to Korhogo with a student and his wife from the seminary in Korhogo. On Saturday night there was a huge party at the church all night long! It was great lots of dancing, singing and preaching. I didn't leave the church until four in the morning! I would dance then sleep on a wooden bench then get up and dance again! I remember walking home and hearing the roosters crowing. I slept in until 8:30 the next morning. I then headed up to another church for a party and soccer game with Naomi and family. It was a good time. On Easter morning I said "He has risen" in French. and my family members would say "He has risen indeed" It was sweet they already knew that saying. I definitely felt that air of celebration in the air on Easter I was really happy about that.

Ok prayer requests

Pray for me with getting adjusted with a new family. I'm not sure when I move in yet but it'll be in the next two weeks hopefully. I am really excited to get to know new people and compare with my last family.

Pray for the country to recover from this long horrible political situation. This country and it's people don't need to be in this hell hole of war and conflict any longer.

 Pray for me in just reaching out to God in the hard times. God is definitely teaching and growing and stretching me A LOT at this time in my life.

Thank you for supporting me!!