November 27, 2012

     This past weekend was busy.  On Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving as a team.  It was Jen and I’s first time hosting a Thanksgiving.  We had lots of fun rearranging the furniture, setting the table, and putting up decorations.  The meal itself was really tasty, and made me quite happy.  It was a little strange celebrating with a crowd that normally do not have Thanksgiving, and it was definitely strange that no one else in Guinea was celebrating along with us, but all in all we had a great time. 

     This year I am especially thankful for having the opportunity to be here in Guinea.  It was just about a year ago that we received the invitation to come here.  This year has been a welcome change of pace and scenery. We are also particularly grateful for the opportunity to support an “unreached peoples” project, watching God work to bring all nations into His Kingdom.  Since we have gotten here we’ve also been extremely grateful for the way God has answered so many of our prayers.  Protection, health, transition, a comfortable home, space and freedom from demanding neighbors, new ministry opportunities, all are things we’re so thankful to have.

   The day after Thanksgiving, as per our tradition, we redecorated our house with a Christmas theme.  Last year we had sent some of our Christmas stuff ahead with Andres’ parents.  The Galvez were also very thoughtful in buying some decorations from departing missionaries, including a fake Christmas tree and ornaments.  As we were decorating the house, the neighbor girls happened to show up for a lesson.  Instead, we invited them in, and they helped us decorate.  I then sat down with them and went through the Christmas story, explaining some of our themes like the stars and angel, the nativity scene, etc…  I don’t know if they understood it all, but they sure had fun.  Nathanael and Abi also enjoyed themselves, and are finally old enough to begin anticipating the big day.  Nat kept asking when we were going to fill his stocking. 

    Saturday, I taught a conference for the Sangaredi church.  We were expecting between 6 to 10 people, and ended up with 20.  The people seemed very appreciative, and the youth pastor held a small meeting afterwards to get people to commit to teaching the kids.  Up till now children’s ministry has mainly been babysitting the small kids while the adults sit in the service.  The pastor was excited that the kids would now be able to receive real teachings. 

     On Sunday we returned to Sangaredi for a marathon service (about 2 ½ hours).  One of the reasons it went so long was because they had a young man give a special bible study at the beginning of the service.  I think it was supposed to be like a Sunday School class, but instead of being separate from the service, they just added it as part of the program.  So, we were blessed to get two sermons for the price of one. 

     Following the service we then went on a tour of the BCG mine.  This is something we had hoped to do as a field trip for the kids, but the mine would only let us do it on a Sunday when there is less heavy machinery operating.  Mining bauxite and other minerals is one of Guinea’s greatest natural resources.  It’s so abundant, they don’t even go underground.  Instead, big tractors and trucks just dig it right out of the mountainside, leveling whole plateaus.  They then send it via a train to Kamsar, before shipping it off to Europe and the States.  They use this bauxite to produce aluminum, and it’s the sole reason for the more advanced community in Kamsar, the shopping center, the internet, and the pool.  Sangaredi also is more modern, with many neighborhoods looking almost like a suburban community in the U.S.  Of course, these homes are mostly for the foreign workers, not the nationals.  This is the same company that gives the mission free shipping and pool passes.  So of course after the tour of the mine, we had to go swimming.

     Back at school, we are now three and a half weeks away from Christmas break.  Each weekend before then will be equally packed with shopping trips, a missionary homeschool meeting, Jen’s birthday, and another seminar.  It seems like a lot, but I know time will fly.  Over Christmas we are planning to go to the mountains with the Galvez.  They promise us cooler weather and lots of good hiking.  I don’t think it will snow, but it’s the closest we’ll be able to get to a White Christmas.   We’re looking forward to the cold and the rest.

“Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings.  Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers.  Continue to manifest your power and love on our behalf. And please pour out your grace and forgiveness on our neighbors and the Jahango people.  Reveal yourself to them, soften their hearts, and send forth your Word with power.  Amen!”