I apologize for my lack of updating recently, but sometimes it's really hard to think of what to share with everybody and put it into writing. Plus things haven't been extremely eventful lately. But now many things are about to be changing and happening so I have a lot to share!

First off, as some of you may have heard, I got malaria. Around 7th or 8th, I started feeling pretty tired and just not myself but I didn't think it was malaria because I didn't have a fever or headache. So I just kept going about my day as usual, I really didn't feel sick, just tired. But on Sunday, after having to walk pretty far to find a moto-taxi, I was sitting in a corner of the church where there are no windows so it was really hot. Towards the end of the three-hour service, we stood up and held hands to pray. At that point I started to feel nauseous and thought, "I just really hope I don't throw up on this lady in front of me." Then everything started to get dark, next thing I know, I'm laying on the bench. It took me a few seconds to even remember where I was, but then I sat outside, got some water, and was feeling fine. As dramatic of an experience as it sounds, it really wasn't so much at all. But hey, it makes for a good story right?

I went home after that and slept all day. On Monday I got the malaria treatment and I've been spending most of this week trying to recuperate and not go crazy being stuck in the dorm so much. So yeah, my first malaria experience really wasn't so bad, I'm just glad I didn't have a fever, I've just been very, very tired!

So Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We're going to be having a conference here at École Baptiste with all the missionaries of WorldVenture in Côte d'Ivoire. Then the Monday right after that, Kelly, Almut, and I will be moving up to Korhogo and will be moved into our host families on the 30th! After a week with them, we're going to hop on a bus to go back down to Bouaké to meet our newest Journeyers (or I should probably say Benkadi volunteers) Steven and Jessica Willman and to welcome back Alyssa and Devin!

There’s a lot to be looking forward too right now and get ready for, and I can’t wait to be able to tell you all about my host family in about a week and a half!