Greetings once again from Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire. Yesterday we said goodbye to 6 of our Journey Corps volunteers in Korhogo as they loaded up their bags and bikes to head out to their homes for the next few months. After 3 days of orientation during which we sat with pastors and host families talking about what each one could expect, it was time to head out. It was not easy for me to see these great kids load up and leave. They are entering a world that will have a profound effect on their lives and it is our prayer that they will also deeply impact the world into which they headed yesterday. Each family seems highly motivated to share their world with our Journey Corps volunteers. Already, during our 3 days of orientation, in addition to learning more French, the host families and pastors were already teaching them Cebaara, the particular brand of Senoufo spoken in Korhogo.

We were able to have the volunteers from Bouaké with us in Korhogo to help with the Korhogo orientation. They did everything from cook and bake to put bikes together which will serve as local transportation in town. They made sure that there was coffee ready along with cookies each morning for our "pause café" and that the bikes were ready to go yesterday at noon with the 6 Journey Corps volunteers staying in Korhogo. We could not have pulled it off without their good help and Nema Diakité who organized the noon meal each day of the orientation for the whole crew.

The Korhogo orientation went extremely well and we hope that tomorrow here in Bouaké it will be as good. By this time on Saturday, it is our hope that all of our Journey Corps volunteers will be well installed in their homes and that they will begin learning how to follow Christ in the context of West Africa with the challenges and opportunities it brings.

Thanks for your prayers for Alyssa, Heidi, Naomi, Holly and Jason who are in their homes in Korhogo even as I write. Continue to pray that the orientation for the Bouaké crew, Stephanie, Jamie, Chazz and Devin will go well and that their transitions into their host families will go well.

Obviously, we are excited and encouraged by the enthusiasm that has been evident during the orientation period. I should mention that the rains have begun which is early for us. This brings an end to all of the dust which is a relief but it is troublesome because rains normally don't begin until March. Thanks for your prayers and interest in Journey Corps West Africa!

Rod Ragsdale
Director - Journey Corps West Africa