Misc. and Malaria

     This last month has been really busy so I’m going to summarize using bullet points.

Ø  May 10-11—Homeschool Beach Trip.  We took 12 kids from different missionary families on a camping trip to the beach, a conclusion to our monthly homeschool meetings.

Ø  May 17—Last day of swimming plus Pablo’s birthday party at the pool.  Jesse was diving down to the bottom of the pool.

Ø  May 18—Children’s Ministry Training.  I did a training for 20 leaders from 3 different churches in Sangaredi.  This was part two to the training I had given earlier in the year.

Ø  May 25—Soccer Team Beach Day.  Andres and I drove the champions out to Bel Air beach as an end of the year celebration.  Our host cooked us fish and rice.  We played soccer on the beach and nearly sunk a boat.  The boys had a great time!

Ø  May 29—Andrew and Jen’s 9^th wedding anniversary.  I cooked pancakes and bacon (Jen’s favorite and a rare treat in Guinea).  On the 31^st the Galvez babysat for us and we went out to eat in Kamsar.  We also did grocery shopping.  Very romantic!

Ø  June 1^st—Hannah Jensen’s graduation party in Tarensa.  We joined the other missionary families for one last get together, celebrating one of the missionary girls’ completion of her high school courses.  We also played volleyball.

Ø  June 7^th—Last day of school.  Having already finished all our exams and packed up the school the day before, we canceled class and let the kids sleep in (the teachers got to sleep in too!).  We concluded the year with a celebration lunch for the whole school, the parents, and our helpers. 

Ø  June 9^th—Farewell Church Service.  From 9 to 11:30 we had a nice short service (I gave the sermon).  Then from 11:30 to 1 there was a formal goodbye ceremony, including speeches from the Boke, Sangaredi, and Kamsar pastors and the 3 heads of the missionary families (Cees, Andres, and I).  There were also gifts, songs, and official goodbye certificates.  Following this we then went up to the pastor’s house for a goodbye lunch.  The people were extremely generous and appreciative despite the fact that we have only been here one year and the Galvez and Snetselaar’s are planning on returning.

Ø  June 10-12—Packing up.  We have almost everything packed up already and Fatim is helping clean the house.  Yesterday Saliou also hosted a soccer “gala” in our honor.  I scored two goals (one was counted offsides) and our team won 2-1(should have been 3-0). 

Ø  June 16^th—Departure.  Only a few days left now and we’ll be heading out.  Here is our itinerary:

§  Boke to Conakry, departing June 16^th at 11 a.m.

§  Conakry to Brussels (with a stop in Dakar, Senegal).

§  Brussels to Chicago

§  Chicago to Seattle, arriving June 17^th at 5:30 p.m.

o   Total Travel Time: approx. 38 hours.

o   Total Time Change:  8 hours difference.

o   Total Exhaustion Level:  150%

     It’s crazy that our Guinean adventure is finally ending.  It’s been an amazing year.  What a great experience.  I have no words to sum everything up.  I hope the blog this year is enough to capture an overall taste of what it’s been like.  I’m sure I’ve left out plenty, but it’s the best I could do.

     Thanks to all of you who have followed the blog and prayed for us.  As we finish up we ask for your continued prayers for the following:

          Pray for smooth and safe travels as we fly to the U.S.

          Pray for an easy transition back into U.S. culture.

Pray for God’s provision and direction for a job, a home, a church, and schools.

Pray for God’s continued work in our lives and amongst the people of Guinea, especially the Jahango people group.

     I’ll try to update with a couple more posts as we land in the U.S. and figure out what we’re doing next.  Thanks so much for all your support.  May God’s peace and blessings be over your lives as well!  Praise be to God!

p.s.  After having written this post I contracted a pretty severe case of malaria.  After having passed out in the Dr’s office, I spent about four hours in the clinic hooked up to an IV.  I’m now on three different kinds of medicine.  I’m feeling a lot better than I did yesterday but am still not 100%.  Thanks to all of you praying.  Please keep praying.  I really need to be at full strength for our long travel home, and we really need the whole family to be healthy.  Thank you!