Week #2

Wow!! We had such a busy week last week, so we'll try to hit on the highlights!!

Monday, we continued in our language studies. We were also reunited with our final missing bag, Praise the Lord!! While the bag was ripped almost all the way down the middle, there was only one thing missing!! Another, Praise the Lord!! The missing item, was half of Butterbean's sleep positioner thingy, so not a huge deal!!

Tuesday, Arnett went to the "bush" for the first time (I stayed home and went to the ladies Bible storying group). While he was there he got to eat "tow" for the first time!! Tow is an African dish where you take corn or millet and form it into balls (the consistency of playdough) and dip the ball into a sauce. You eat it with your hands out of a common bowl. It was a great trip, with lots of new experiences!

A "bush" village

Tow - Arnett says it taste way better than it looks!! I sure hope so!!

 

 

 

 

Thursday, Arnett left for his first African hunting trip. I stayed here and spent my first night alone in Africa, which wasn't bad at all!! Mitch, Steve, and Arnett all went on the hunting trip. Arnett also got to spend his first night out in the "bush". Which besides it being cold, he said wasn't too bad! Friday morning, they got up and went hunting. Here, they hunt for wart hog, antelope, and different birds (dove, partridge). Their first hunt was unsuccessful, however, Arnett and Mitch did manage to get separated from the hunting group which left them alone in the African "bush" for several hours.

 

 

The hunters walking through the "bush"

 

 

 

The boat they used to cross the river.

 

 

 

Friday, our entire team went to Selengue to a lake for a weekend long  retreat (the hunters met us at the lake). It was so great to get out of the city and bond with our new team mates. We all had a great time and enjoyed the rest and relaxation!!

 

 

Where we stayed, hotel Woloni.

 

 

 

 

 

Our room, which had ac!!

 

 

 

 

 

The restaurant.

 

 

 

  

Some of the sitting spots at the hotel.

 

 

 

   

 

Us and a view of the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

These are just some of the highlights of our busy week!! Our African outfits are also ready, we just haven't been together to take pictures of us in them. We'll try to do that this week and post the pics soon!! Thank you for all your prayers, until next time...

Our first full week

We had a great week and learned a lot. One of the biggest things God showed me is that I cannot do this without Him!!! Wednesday of this week we started language classes. While in class I felt really good about my progress!! Wednesday afternoon to get some practice Arnett and I ventured out of our compound and into the streets of our neighborhood. I quickly realized what I thought I knew I really didn’t know. The people on the street talk so fast and I could not keep up with what they were saying! I quickly realized if I am going to get this language down it is going to take God’s strength, lots of practice, and time!! I am not going to go out of my first (second, third, etc…)language class talking like I’ve lived here all my life!!

We both got African names this week! Names are a big deal here. People also turn last names into a big teasing matter. Depending on what your last name is you can be a thief, a slave, a dog, a king, and a bean eater just to name a few!! Arnett’s new name is Yacuba (Pronounced: Ya Cooba) Dembele (Pronounced: Dumb Belly). My new name is Aminata (pronounced just like its spelled) Tarawele (pronounced: Trawelly). Based on our last names we are cousins and we like to eat beans. Eating beans is not a good thing since beans tend to give you gas (not joking that’s what are language helper told us!!)

We also were able to go to a Bible story testing group. A testing group is where you tell a Bible story and then ask lots of questions about the story and how it relates to the people and the culture. It was very neat to see these men answer and ask lots of questions. While the sole purpose of the testing group is just testing and not evangelism. God is always there working in the hearts of those listening. Arnett also got to taste Malian tea for the first time. Tea is a big to do around here. They serve it in three rounds as a sign of friendship. I also got to use the “squatty potty” for the first time!!

Another exciting thing happened this week... Arnett got to feel Butterbean kick or punch for the first time!! It was so amazing!! Praise God for the gift of life growing inside of me!!

These are just a few of the highlights from our first full week in Mali. We are learning lots and adapting quickly!! We thank you for your prayers, until next time…

Adventures in Hair Cutting

We have had a great week this week!! Praise the Lord one of our two missing bags showed up!! Please continue praying for the other missing bag!! We also started language classes this week. They have proved to be challenging but we are learning a little more each and every day!! Praise God we do not have to do this without Him!! We'll post later all about our week but I couldn't resist sharing with all of you "The adventures of stylist Crystal and her one and only client, the brave Arnett!"

Arnett woke up this morning and decided we should try out the new clippers we bought yesterday. So we got out the box and looked at what we had. It looked like a pair of American clippers. He was pretty sure he need a #2 guard on the sides and a #3 guard on top. I had no clue, I mean I worked at the bank. I had never used a pair of hair clippers in my life!! So, I put the #2 guard on and started!! The back and sides were looking okay, so I put the #3 guard on. Well, guards here and guards in the states must be different cause it cut it really short!! At that point there was no turning back all I could do was try to make it look the best I could!! Then it came time to trim around the back of his neck and ears. I got the back of his neck done, then started on his ears. Well, that's where we really started running into problems. Like I said, I had never used a pair of hair clippers before so I wasn't exactly sure how I was supposed to be triming the hair around his ears without cutting his ear. The pictures below show you how short it is and that he now has a bald spot above one of his ears. It was quite comical and we got a good laugh out of it. At least it's hair and it will grow back!!

Thank you all for your prayers!! We'll post more later, until next time...

Arnett and his new short hair do!!

Arnett and his new bald spot!!

Our new home

Well, we have had many requests for pics, so here are some of our new home!! Our first few days here have been a little overwhelming but very good!!

Friday, we slept in and then spent the afternoon getting to know our new team mates. Saturday, we went grocery shopping and were blown away by the prices here!! It is expensive and I mean expensive. For example, if you want some cheese you have to buy it by the kilo (which equals about 2 pounds) off a huge block of cheese. A kilo of parmesan cheese was approximately $40 and a kilo of cheddar cheese was approximately $30!! WOW!! We then went to lunch with two of our team mates, Tom and Diane. After lunch with had an orientation meeting with our supervisors, Steve and Susan. After our meeting, Arnett, Steve, and our team mate, Mitch went to buy Arnett a gun and hunting license (can’t even wait 2 days to get that process started!!) :) Sunday, we went to our first African church service. It was great!! We didn't understand a thing but it was so awesome seeing people Praise and Worship the same God that we do in their heart language!! I can only imagine what it will be like when there are members from every tribe and tongue worshipping around the throne of our AWESOME Heavenly Father!! After church we went to lunch with 3 our our team mates, Laverne, Shirley, and Mitch. We then went to the bakery to buy some fresh bread. Then to the market to buy some fabric for clothes. After all this we headed to the tailor to get him to start working on our African gear!! Don't worry as soon as we have it we'll post pics!!

We want to thank all of you for all your prayers. We know it is only by God's grace that we have been able to make it through these first days. Until next time...

Our new home (it's part of a duplex!)

The view of our courtyard from our front porch

Our living room and dining room

Our kitchen

Another view of our kitchen

Our bedroom, please excuse the unmade bed!

Our Bedroom, again

Our tub and shower

Our bathroom (well the toliet and sink)

Butterbean's future room

This is another spare bedroom/office

We have arrived!!

First, thank you all for your prayers as we traveled. We are here, safe and sound!! We're only missing two bags and outta 6 that's not bad!! We had a 3 hour flight delay in Paris so we didn't get into Bamako until 12:30 a.m. there time! 6 of our team members met us and took us to our new home. Our new home is great too!! We'll post pics and more later. Our ride is here to take us to our first team get together!!

We're Off

Well, our adventure is getting it's "official" start tomorrow at 2:44 p.m. Our bags our packed and we are headed off to start our adventure in West Africa. We fly out Wednesday, January 7th at 2:44 from Jacksonville to Atlanta. We leave Atlanta and fly to Paris where we will have a 7 hour lay over. From Paris, we will fly to Bamako, Mali, our home for the next 3 years. Lord willing, we will get into Mali around 9:20 p.m, Thursday night. That is 4:20 p.m Florida time. Once there our team will meet us and take us to our new home and help us get settled in. We should start language lessons next week. We have several prayer requests as we go:
1. Our families.
2. Safe Travels.
3. That all of our luggage would arrive with us.
4. That we would be God's light wherever we are.
5. Through this hectic time that we would keep our eyes on Jesus and stay focused on what matters.