7:00 am wake up call!!

Hello again!! I just had to share with everyone what happened this past Saturday morning...

So, my cell phone rings at 6:50 am!! Of course I go into a "Oh my gosh, what's wrong" mode!! On the other end of the line is Sherry, a lady that's serving as a 6 month volunteer here in Mali! Before I start the story let me give you some background info... 1) Sherry lives at Shirley's house. 2) Shirley is one of our team mates who's currently in the states on furlough 3) Shirley has two dogs... Jingles a 1/2 dalmatian 1/2 boxer and Bell a mini-pinscher.  So, now onto the story Sherry then tells me...

"Crystal, last night Jingles and Bell started making a ruckus, which isn't abnormal. So, I got up to see what all the fuss was about cause I heard Jingles whimpering. I got up and saw Jingles in a fight with a rat!! So, I immediately slammed the door. Crystal, I am petrified, I mean petrified of rats!! If you want to know my number 1 fear...it's rats!! I opened my door this morning and the rat is dead in the middle of the hall and I can't bring myself to walk past this rat!! You have to come get rid of it for me!!"

I'm thinking... "I don't have a key to your house to get in, meaning we've got to call Caitlin, who works in the office, to go get us a key!" And I'm thinking... "You've got to be kidding me, it's a rat, it's dead, it's 7:00 am on a Saturday and my baby is sleeping!!!" Of course, we called Caitlin and got her up to go get us a key! When Caitlin and I arrived at Sherry's we couldn't get the key to work. So, we told Sherry, "You're going to have to come and let us in so we can get rid of it for you" Sherry was like, "I don't know if I can do that" Caitlin and I told her, "Don't look at it and just run!" Well, after about 10 minutes, Sherry finally ran down the hall - screaming! By the time she got to the door she was in tears, which made me realize okay, she really is scared to death of rats!! I then walk to the hall and that's when I see it!! This isn't a rat, looks more like a small cat!!! That thing was huge!!! So, I took a broom and pushed it out the door and into the street. I then picked it up by the tail and threw it in the trash can!!

Looking back it was all quite a funny experience, even though Sherry's still not laughing about it!! So, here are the pics of the giant rat...

Here I've got the rat out of the house!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the rat. I wear a size 7 shoe. And it's body was longer than my foot!!

 

Bye! Bye! Mr. Rat!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just had to share this story!! Hope none of you catch one of these guys in your homes!!! Until next time...

A volunteer team, colds, rain, and language...

Hello all!! Well...Mommy, Daddy, and I have had a lot going on the past few weeks.

In my last post I asked you to pray for the volunteer team that was in town. Well, pray you did and answer God did!! During that week there were several new believers added to the family of Christ...Praise God!!! The team had an incredible week and they were able to plant many seeds.

 

    Here's Daddy and me!! And then one of just me!! 

During that same week I caught my first cold...no fun at all!! Then Mommy got my cold and then Daddy. Needless to say we've all been sniffling and coughing. But Praise God cause we are all better now!!

 

I'm a happy boy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Praise I have is...rain!! In my last post I asked you to pray for rain for "the farm". Well, the rain has come, so planting has begun!! Daddy left last Saturday and stayed out until Tuesday. He left again yesterday and will be back Wednesday or Thursday. Mommy and I sure do miss him while he's gone but we Praise God for the rain and that he's able to go and help out. Daddy sure does love to farm and I know he enjoys being out there!!

Here's Uncle Mitch working in the field... African style!

 

 

 

Here's the way the African's plow their fields!!

 

 

 

 

Mommy's been going to language class everyday for the past 2 weeks. Some days, she's ready to quit and go home. Please, pray that she'll have the ability to remember all the Bambara she knew before she left. Pray for open ears to hear and a tongue to be able to speak Bambara. Pray, also that we'll both be well enough and she'll have the courage to get out and go talk to the people she's made friends with!

Mommy and me!

 

 

 

 

 

I think that's pretty much all that's been happening. At my last doctor's appointment I was up to 11.5 pounds!! I'm growing like a weed! Mommy and Daddy can't believe that pretty soon I'll be 2 months old!!

Here I am in my stylish cloth diapers!! Which Mommy loves!! They are just as easy as disposables! You can get your own at www.cottonbabies.com
Praises:

1. The new believers in "S neighborhood".
2. The rain at "the farm'!
3. We're all well again!
4. Mommy's driving skills are getting better! She's even ventured across the bridge - a HUGE accomplishment!

Prayer Requests:

1. The new believer's in "S neighborhood".
2. Rain for the crops.
3. Language for both Mommy and Daddy.
4. Courage to get out there and use the little language they have. Even if that means sounding like a goof ball!!

Thank you again for your faithful prayers. As you can see...God is listening, answering, and working all the time!! Until next time...

So Blessed...

Okay, I just couldn't resist posting these pics I took this morning. God has truly blessed Arnett and I beyond anything we could have ever imagined. Guess that's why He tells us in His word...

⁸ "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
       neither are your ways my ways,"
       declares the LORD.

⁹ "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
       so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Here it comes..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There it is!! A big  smile!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know... I'm the cutest thing ever!

 

 

 

 

Until next time...

We're home...

Well, it's been 2 weeks since my last post, please forgive me for not updating this sooner. I've been a little busy trying to get adjusted to all my new surroundings. Thank you all so much for praying for us about our flight home. God answered your prayers in a mighty way! I ate right as we sat down on the plane, was sound asleep before we even took off, and then didn't wake up until we were in our house!! Mommy was very relieved and very happy that I did so well!!

Mommy and I

 

 

 

 

 

 

The past two weeks we've spent unpacking and trying to get adjusted to being back in Mali. My first weekend here we went with our entire team on a retreat. We went to a town about 2 hours outside of Bamako. We spent the weekend swimming in the pool, playing games, and even had a bonfire. Complete with roasted hot dogs and S'Mores of course!! A big THANK YOU to those who sent the S'Mores ingredients...they were YUMMY!

  Here's Daddy and I at the lake!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mommy and Daddy also took me to the market to  meet all their friends. Of course, they all just loved me!! All the ladies wanted to hold me and passed me around like  a football. I didn't mind a bit. It was a lot of fun and it made Mommy and Daddy very happy to see the joy on the faces of their friends as they met me for the first time.

Here I am in a chair my Daddy had made for me!!

 

 

Another exciting outing I had this week was I got to go out with Mommy and Aunt Susan to greet some ladies they knew. Here all the African babies get tied onto their Mommy's backs. Of course I want to fit in, so I tried this out too. I know it doesn't look very comfortable and it looks like I'm going to fall out but trust me it's perfectly fine! I really like it back there. I've managed to get some good sleeping done tied to Mommy's back. It also helps Mommy fit it and build relationships with the women here. Mommy was told several times while I was tied to her back that she is now a Malian woman!! A very big compliment!!

Here we are... all ready to go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another exciting thing that's happened in the past two weeks is I turned a month old!! Mommy and Daddy can't believe I've been here for a month and how much I've grown. They weighed me the other day and I'm up to somewhere between 10-11 pounds!! See how big I've gotten...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praises:

1. A GREAT trip home.
2. We are all adjusting very well to being back in Mali.
3. Time to get away with our team and just hang out.
4. I'm growing and am a very healthy and good baby.

Prayer Requests:

1. Mommy and Daddy will start back in language class next week. Pray they will be able to quickly pick up where they left off .
2. We have a group of volunteers in right now, pray for the people they will encounter. Pray that God will open the hearts of the people and they will come to know Him as their Lord and Savior.
3. Our company has recently put a freeze on hiring new people due to under giving. Pray that this freeze would soon be lifted and that more people would give despite these economic conditions. Pray too for those who were in the process of going and now not able to as a result of the freeze.
4. The Farming Project. The corn has been planted but hasn't received any rain. If it doesn't get rain in a few days it will have to be replanted. Also, due to lack of rain we haven't been able to plant anything else. Pray that God would bring the rain and the harvest!!

Thank you for your faithful prayers! We couldn't do it without you back home faithfully praying for us!!! God is hearing and answering your prayers. He is faithful and good!! Until next time...