Thoroughly Embarrassed

Well, today was one of the worst and most embarrassing days I've had since we arrived in Mali!! I'll get to what happened but first I have to explain a few things... Last week, we all went out to D-village. We had a great trip, Praise the Lord!! The women were telling me that next Thursday (aka TODAY!) they were going to have a wedding in the village. They wanted me to come, so I told them I would. Tradition here is a lot of the women go together and buy the same fabric. Then, they get outfits made (not the same outfit, just the same fabric). They call these outfits their "wedding uniforms". Well, I was there the day they bought the fabric, so I bought some fabric too. I was so excited!! I just knew that this would be such a way to bond with the ladies!! Our plan was to go out Tuesday or Wednesday of this week and stay in D-village until Friday. That way, we would be able to see all of the festivities!! Well, as most of you know, plans are often changed. Over the weekend, Zeke came down with a cold. Arnett wasn't feeling good either. Finally, he went to the doctor on Wednesday and was diagnosed with malaria. We promptly started treatment which is often worse than the disease itself. So, he's been outta commission since he got home from D-village last Friday!! Despite all that, I knew I had to go to D-village today to be a part of the wedding festivities!! So, this morning I got up, got dressed in my wedding uniform and Zeke and I headed out. I get there and the women come and greet me but none of them are dressed up. I thought, "No big deal, they are just waiting until a little later when the festivities begin". They all greeted me big and gave me tons of compliments on my uniform. Well, as the day progressed, nothing was getting started, and no one else was putting their uniforms on. I was beginning to feel a little odd but still wasn't too concerned. Finally, I learned, the bride wasn't even there!! She wouldn't be there until tonight!! And the wedding wouldn't be until TOMORROW!!! So, at this point, I was ready to cry, jump in the car, and head back to town! Okay, so no big deal, I've only encountered the women in our hosts courtyard...a dozen at best, right? WRONG!! They then start beating the drum (a way to call the village together), in order to call all the women to come and help get the millet ready for the festivities tomorrow!! So, I get to greet ALL the women of the village in my wedding uniform on the wrong day!! So, maybe it's not that big of a deal but I was thoroughly embarrassed. I shared my embarrassment with my friend in the village. She assured me to not be embarrassed that my outfit was very beautiful!! Her words did keep me from crying but I still felt like an idiot!! Ah the joys of living in a different culture!! So, tomorrow, Zeke and I will head back to the village for the actual wedding!! Except this time, I'll bring my uniform and change when I get there and see all the women wearing theirs!! Here's a few pics of Zeke and I this morning before we left!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Arnett having malaria...the treatment should get rid of it. However, it tends to bring all the malaria bugs out, so he feels even worse than before. He's got a day and a half of treatment left. Please, pray for a speedy recovery!! Zeke is feeling better. He still coughs a little and has a little bit of a runny nose. We thank you for your prayers!! Until next time...

So, here's the truth...

So, the past few days I've been convicted about not really sharing how things are going here. I've kinda sugar coated things and made them seem like all is well. Well, the truth of the matter...all has not been well. Things have been tough, really tough!!

Lately, Arnett and I have both struggled with a sense of feeling purposeless here. While, this feeling has just sent me into the dumps, it has sent Arnett into a bad case of homesickness! We don't doubt that we are exactly where God wants us but we have been doubting that He wants to do anything with us! For the past several months we've been walking in the desert with God, even though at times I've wondered if He was even still there. Recently, though, I've been encouraged by this. Throughout history God has sent people into the desert before doing something big through them. I pray, that is the case with us. I pray that God is on the brink of doing a mighty work in and through us!

So, where does all this leave us?? Well, we aren't giving up yet and God's not giving up on us either...Praise Him for that!! Today(2/4), Arnett left to go on a 6 day trip to the bush. He's leading a vision team, which means, it's a group of volunteers whose church is looking to partner with us. He'll come back in and get rested up and then we'll go out as a family. Where are we going? We don't know yet. All we know is the general direction we're going in. Where are we going to stay? We don't know that either. All we know is that Africans are the most hospitable people we've ever met, so we'll be relying on them to give us shelter for the night! What are we going to eat? Well, we don't know that either. I'm sure "to" (pronounced toe) will be on the menu, as once again, we'll be relying on the Africans to feed us! So, why are we embarking on this adventure? Well, we are trusting God to show us the village He has for us and to fulfill  His purpose for us. We are trusting God to show us this village, then we hope to start going there once a week to start a storying group. And believe it or not, we hope to build a house in this village and start staying out there several nights a week. I know, shocking for those who really know me and know that I am not a bush girl. What can I say...God is big and He can do anything!! Even turn this prissy, girly-girly girl into a bush girl!!

So, what can you do for us???

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

What can you pray for?

1. That God will lead us to His village.
2. That God will give us a vision for the work we are to do in this village.
3. That we will have boldness and courage as we are out. (personally, this little adventure scares me to death!!)
4. That the people we meet will be open to hearing more about the God who loves them and who died for them.

We thank each and everyone of you for embarking on this journey with us! Without your constant prayers for us, we would have probably given up by now!! Praise God that He is in control!! Until next time...

A great visit and after...

Well, it's been a while so I figured I'd catch everyone up on all of our happenings...

The end of December brought my parents and sister out for a visit. They were here for about 12 days. We had such a good time. We went on a New Year's Eve camping trip with some of the people we work with. We ate lunch with our tailor one day. Spent several days shopping in the various markets around Bamako. And most importantly spent time together and they spoiled Zeke rotten. 

Dad, Autumn, Zeke and Mom watching a movie together.

 

 

Autumn and Zeke.

 

 

 

 

 

The waterfall we went to.

 

 

 

 

Zeke and his nana.

 

 

 

 

 

Me, Zeke, and Autumn

 

 

 

 

Me, Autumn, Zeke and Mom.

 

 

 

 

Mom, our tailor, Zeke, Dad,and Autumn.

 

 

 

Mom, Zeke, Dad, Me, and Autumn.

 

 

 

 

So, after their visit. We returned to our normal routine. I am still meeting with our language tutor. We've worked on translating my testimony into Bambara. Then, we worked on translating different Bible stories. Susan and I are still going to meet with one lady on Friday mornings to disciple her. Two weeks ago I was able to share with her the story of Levi in Bambara. And ask her the follow-up questions. Praise God for this!!

Arnett has been busy going out to the bush. We have a team coming in next week from Georgia to look at adopting a new village. Please pray for this team and for Arnett as he will be leading this team.

Zeke is busy, busy, busy too. He turned 8 months old last week. We can't believe how big he's gotten!! At his last month check he was 19 pounds. He's crawling now. He's also gotten 2 teeth. He's pulling up on everything. He's also babbling a lot. He babbles Dadda and if he get's really upset he'll get something out that sounds like Mama! Here are a few recent pics...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We appreciate your prayers. God is definitely hearing them. We had hoped to begin work in Q-village but God has shut that door. We found out that there is a local pastor going once a week to meet with the few believer's there. Praise God for this. Pray that God would show us the work He has for us!! We know he didn't call us without having a purpose for us here.

Until next time...