More mystery meat, driving lessons, and baby stuff!!

Well, we had another good week - Praise the Lord!! We are finding that our Bambara is getting a little better each day. We are so thankful to the Father for enabling us to learn this new language.

One of the crazy events that happened this week, is we encountered some more mystery meat. First I have to explain the meat counter at the grocery store: It's like an old fashioned butcher shop, no packaged meat, it's just all there in a glass case, you order it by the kilo and they package it once you order it. Sometimes they may not have what you want in the case but may have some in the back. Okay, so it all started a couple of weeks ago...we had gone to the grocery store to buy a few things that one of our volunteer teams needed. One of the items on their list was chicken breasts. Well, unlike the states, chicken breasts are hard to come by here. When you can get them, you better buy in bulk because you don't know how long it will be before you can find them again!! So, on this particular day the grocery store just happened to have some!! So, we got some for the team and then ordered some for us! Well, the teams chicken breasts looked great, you know, like actual chicken breasts. We didn't pay any attention to ours because theirs looked so good. Well, the next day I was putting them away in the freezer and they just didn't look right. So, I asked Arnett to come look at them for me. He did (or so he said!) and told me "It's chicken breasts". I said, "Okay" and continued putting them up. Well, I was cooking supper this past week and was making chicken tetrazini. I was cutting up the "so-called chicken breasts" and having a hard time. They had a lot of cartilage in them, very little meat, and to be honest, they were grossing me out!! So, I called Arnett for help!! He comes into the kitchen and asks, "What is that?" I told him, "It what you told me was chicken breasts!" Well, he then fesses up that he didn't really pay close attention the other day when I asked him to look at them! So, we aren't really sure what part of the chicken we got, we're thinking a thigh off a really skinny chicken. Lesson learned, always LOOK at the meat BEFORE leaving the store!!

Several people have asked about Arnett and pics of him!! So, here he is in one of his new African shirts. It has zebras on it. The tailor picked out the material!!

 

Another exciting event that happened last week is I began driving!! Okay, so I know to most of you that's not really exciting. You're probably thinking, "Didn't she drive in the states?" Well, the answer to that is "Yes, but only automatics!!" Here all the cars are stick shifts and before coming over here I had tried to learn to drive a stick shift 2 or 3 times with no success. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm not really coordinated!! Anyways, traffic here is HORRIBLE and to be quite honest, petrifies me!!! Think, child afraid of the boogeyman in the closet petrified and that's me!! Arnett and I both knew that if I was going to survive here, eventually I would have to learn to drive. I mean 3 years of not driving and depending on him to take me everywhere was going to get old and quick! So, last week, we started our lessons. We started slow, only going on the dirt roads around our house. I was so excited, I was driving in Bamako!! Well, Friday, we were supposed to go to language and something came up and Arnett couldn't go. It was almost 10 and our language class was at 10, so I had two options. 1. Walk to class and be extremely late or 2. Drive to class by myself. I choose option 2. Praise the Lord, I made it!! I actually drove by myself (and didn't hit anything or anyone)!! Okay, so probably not a big deal to some but I was super excited!! I still haven't ventured out onto the paved roads but we're working our way there!! I Praise God that I am teachable and that eventually I will be driving all over the place!! 

Our truck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another praise from this week is that we got 2 trunks full of baby stuff delivered to us!! One of our partnership churches had a team coming over and they agreed to bring 2 trunks that were full of baby stuff we had to leave behind. Praise God for this team and for their willingness to bring these much needed items!! Now Butterbean will have a bouncy seat, play mat thingy, clothes, cloth diapers (Yes, we're cloth diapering), and some other much needed items!

Praises this week:

1. Language gets a little better each day!
2. I'm driving in Bamako!
3. Butterbean and his/her stuff that arrived
4. Our partnering churches, who send 3-4 teams per year to work in the villages here.

Prayer Requests:

1. Language
2. Workers for the upcoming farming project.
3. A teacher for our supervisor's son's class (right now he and his classmates don't have a teacher for next school year).

We thank you again for your prayers!! We know it is because of our Father's faithfulness and your faithfulness to pray for us that we are doing so well here!! Until next time...

The past two weeks...

Well, the past two weeks have been busy but not really any excitement going on. We've spent the majority of our time in language class.

On Friday, March 6th, we had a team from the States come over. They came over on a vision trip to see where and how God wanted to use them here in Mali. They are looking to do some work in Bamako. They were here 1 week. While they were here we were able to go out with them several times. Each time we had good visits and enjoyed being with the native people and with the team. We were even able to put our limited Bambara skills to work and translate the best we could for them.

Thursday, March 12th was not one of my best days. Once again I found myself desiring to be home and not here!!! God really spoke to me through this and re-assured me of my calling to be here. He also reminded me that He didn't promise that I would be comfortable 100% of the time, just that He would be with me every step of the way. I just have to put ALL my trust in Him, not just the little pieces I have been trusting Him with. He also reminded me I can't do this without Him. And that sometimes, we have to quit trying to run this race, and let our creator Himself carry us!! I am so used to being "Miss Independent" that it's hard to give up total control but that's what He's called us to do... give control to Him!! In the end, He's the one who really is in control, not us!!

This past weekend was a good weekend. We were able to spend some time together as a team, which is always nice! And we were able to rest and relax some!!

Praises:

1. We have seen some progress in our language learning.
2. The past two weeks have been mostly good.
3. Good health, for us and Butterbean.
4. Butterbean - our little "Kung Fu Warrior".
5. God molding us into who He wants us to be.

Prayer Requests:

1. Language, of course!!
2. Despite everything going on, we will focus on Him.
3. God will strengthen the faith of the local believers.
4. Those that God was speaking to while the volunteers were here last week, will listen and be obedient to His calling.

Thank you again for your prayers and support!! Until next time...

And my God will meet all your needs...

Philppians 4:19 says "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Well, that is exactly what He did last week (the week of 2/23). After a difficult week, God met us right where we were and gave us an AWESOME week! I know I normally just give the highlights of our week but last week was so AWESOME I have to share a little something about everyday!!

Monday, I had to do a round of prenatal lab work (a glucose test to test for gestational diabetes). Wasn't much fun but Praise the Lord, the lab tech's were gentle. This is a rarity around here since they are all French trained and tend to lack the TLC we are used to in America. We also, Praise God that we are able to get the same tests here that we would be doing if we were in the States. 

Tuesday, I tried and successfully baked my first ever homemade chocolate cake with homemade icing. They don't sell box caked mixes and cans of frosting here. So, if you want a cake you have to bake it from scratch. Praise the Lord the cake was delicious and hit the spot right when we needed it most!!

Here's a picture of me and the cake. Can you tell how proud I am??

 

 

 

 

Here's another shot. I think Arnett took this one, just to show off Butterbean!

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, we had class in the afternoon (we normally go in the morning but we had a team meeting). Neither one of us wanted to go but we still went. We were so glad we didn't call and cancel our class. We were able to stump our teacher with the word "squirrel". It was hilarious and provided a good laugh for all. It also, lightened our spirits and we had a great class! Praise God for laughter!!

Thursday, I had my 2nd prenatal appointment. Praise God all my lab work done on Monday came back great. Butterbean's heart beat was great. My total weight gain so far is only 11 pounds and my belly had grown from 22 cm. to 27 cm. A little bit more on Butterbean, he/she continues to grow more and more each day. Arnett will go to the bush for a couple of days and come home and tell me, "I think your belly's growing overnight, it sure looks bigger than when I left!" Butterbean continues to amaze us with his/her kung fu skills. We lay in bed pretty much every night and watch in amazement as the life inside of me is steadily kicking and punching my insides and we can feel it and see it on the outside. He/she is pretty much into a routine. About 7:00-8:00 a.m he/she is up. Then around 12:00-1:00, up again. After this it varies but every night about 10:30-11:00, he/she's up practicing his/her kung fu skills. We Thank and Praise the Lord for Butterbean and for a GREAT checkup!!

Here's another shot of Butterbean. We can't believe he/she is expected to be here in less than three months!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, our team got together for a "game night". We ate homemade pizza and played "Catch Phrase" for a couple of hours. It was great time of fellowship, laughter and fun!!

Saturday, we went to the market. Praise the Lord, I was able to successfully bargain... in Bambara!!! I was thrilled!! I thank God for giving us the little bit of language that we do have down!!

Keeping with the "cake" theme. I found this "birthday cake material" in one of the  markets. It was too funny not to get and have an outfit made!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, we rested and met with our team for worship. It was a great time of just coming together and worshipping our Heavenly Father!!

So, as you can see we had a week full of PRAISES!! We give all the Glory to God. We know without Him, none of them would have been possible!!

Prayer request this week:

1. Language
2. We need several volunteers to come work on a farm project we are starting in a couple of months. Pray God will call out these workers.
3. That no matter what we would be obedient to whatever God calls us to.

As always, THANK YOU so much for your prayers!! We hope you can see how much they are helping us here!! We know it is because of Him and your faithfulness to pray for us that we are doing so well!! Until next time...

What are we doing here? Oh yeah!!!

Well, I'm still running a week behind on our blog. Just can't seem to get it together!! Hopefully I can post about this past week (the week of 2/23) in a couple of days. So, this post is about the week of 2/16...

Last week was not one of our best weeks here. I think between the both of us we had 2 "ticket days"! A "ticket day" is what we call those days, that if you had a ticket in your hand, you'd be outta here on the first available flight!! We praise God that these days have been very few and don't seem to happen on the same day. Even though, last week, we both had a "ticket day" together. Here's what happened...

The week started out a little rough when on our way across town we about ran over a man on a moto. We were going through a round about and were stopped, the man on the moto was trying to go left and we wanted to go straight. Well, instead of waiting for us to go straight, he tried to cut in front of us and go ahead and go left. Well, as he comes in front of us, he grazes the front of our truck and then lost control and "ate" the pavement. Praise God, he got up, said "I'm okay, it's my fault", and then drove away!! We are very, very thankful that God was with us and the man was okay!

Tuesday, we had language class. Because I had been sick it had been almost a week since I had been. Well, I got into class and felt like a complete moron! Our teacher was reviewing stuff we had already gone over and it was like I had never seen it before in my life!! So, I was just ready to pack it all up and go home!! Then we got home and Arnett had contracted a guy to put some "African insulation" on our roof. They had agreed on a price but when the man got here he changed the price. Arnett was furious but couldn't do much about it because he doesn't have the time to do this himself. After this, we went to lunch and both sat there thinking the same thing, "Today, I could go home! What are we doing here?" Thankfully, God met us right where we were!!

Here's our new "African insulation" Simply grass mats on the roof. Trust me, they make a HUGE difference. The house is a lot cooler now!!

 

 

Thursday, I went to language by myself cause Arnett went to the bush. Well, it was the same as Tuesday. I felt like a moron!! I walked home from language and could have cried the whole way home!! Praise God, He poured out His grace and once again met me right where I was!!

When Arnett got home on Saturday, he was pumped!! They had an AWESOME visit in the village!! They met with some new believers and they were asking all sorts of questions!! For example, "what do we pray before we eat?" "Do we have to do any special moves when we pray?" (this comes from the other world religion here). WOW!! These guys truly did not know how to follow Jesus!! Once again, God met Arnett right where he was and showed him the reason we are here!! We are here to tell these people that God loves them and desires to have a relationship with them!! So, no matter how many bad days we may have, God is so worth everyone of them!!

Okay, so don't laugh but here's one of my newest African outfits (minus the head wrap). I like to call it my mumu!! And I know it's not flattering AT ALL!! But let me tell you, when you have to wear a dress or skirt in 100 degree weather, the bigger and flowier the better!!!

 

 

A side view. You can't even really tell Butterbean's in there!! Arnett is not a fan of this outfit!! We went to dinner the day I wore it and he asked me, "You're really going to wear that to dinner?" I said, "YES!!"

 

 

 

 

 

We cannot say "THANK YOU!" enough for all your prayers!! God has definitely heard them. Every day, He continues to mold and shape us into who He wants us to be!! While, it sounds like this week was horrible, looking back, it really wasn't that bad!! We Praise God, that we don't have to face any of this alone, He is right by our side every step of the way!!! Until next time...