Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

Hey Friends,
Well, I'm a bit frustrated that I can't get some pictures added to my post. Blogger has some picture issues. Anyway,I wanted you to see a recent picture of my nieces in Guinea. It's very cute, but you'll just have to wait. Here is a fairly recent e-mail that I received from my sister about their new life in Guinea. Please continue to keep them and this ministry in your prayers.
Blessings.

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Hello all! We are so glad to get to Guinea. It has been a long road of training and preparations, and we are almost having a hard time believing that we are really here. But we are! It is right and good for our family – we know that we are in God’s will for our lives. He is blessing us with peace and joy, with community, and His nearness and love. We are so glad to serve a King that is 100% trustworthy, and who cares for us so deeply.

So, what have our first 10 days been like? The words, “really great, really different and really hot” come to mind! Our teammates here have taken great care of us from the minute we stepped off the plane in Conakry. They have fed us, showed us around town, helped us enroll Emma in French school, taught us about the culture here, taken us house hunting, begun training us in our new jobs, listened to us, played with our kids, answered questions, prayed for us and have been caring friends to us. We are glad to be joining a team like this. We pray that we can be a help and encouragement to the translation teams all around Guinea, as we begin our work and lives here.

“Toto, I don’t think that we are in Kansas anymore.”

Life in a third world city is really different. Some of the city roads are paved, but most are not. Sometimes there is electricity and running water, but not all the time. Some of the people here have jobs, get enough to eat and have medical care, but many, many do not. We look around and can easily see evidence of the evil one in the disorder and poverty that seems to rule life here.

Still, we see awesome evidence of God’s presence and Jesus’ love. The creation here is beautiful – the trees and flowers declare His majesty. The joy and smiles from people who greet us remind us that there is more to life and happiness than having lots of money. The desire of many people to have and to read the Bible in their own language – to know more about God and His love for them – encourages us and shows us that His is at work here. Please pray for this country to turn to God, for His Spirit to be poured out here.

It’s dry season. The sky is full of whitish dust from the Sahara, and it hasn’t rained in months. The temperature is about 87 each day. We got on the plane in Paris, where it was very cold, wearing our winter jackets. We got off the plane in Guinea wearing sandals, skirts and short sleeves. We are adjusting to the heat, and our sweat glands are getting a work out! The girls have loved getting to play outdoors many hours each day, and we have gone swimming a couple of times, too.

We are living in the PBT guest house while we look for a place to rent. We have seen many different houses, but so far have not found the right one. Sometimes we like the house, but it does not have any water (including no well water), or the house is fine, but there are security issues, like the walls around the house are not high enough (security is an issue in the big city here, just as it is in the US). Please continue to pray for the right house for our family. We trust God.

We are going through orientation with PBT here. This includes learning how to get around town, where to shop and how to prepare food (one must bleach the vegetables and fruit before eating them), to learning about our jobs and roles with the team, to cultural issues. (If I, M’Liss, took a plate of food to one of the guards here on the office grounds – in my mind thinking it was just a nice thing to do – the man would likely think I was interested in marrying him!) We are glad that we are doing well communicating in French. This week Clint will really begin to learn the ins and outs of his job as branch administrator. I will soon be taking over the job of guest house manager.

Emma has done really well at her new French school. It is run by the French and is just like her school in Tours, France – with a bit of an African touch! Because many of the things are similar, she has adjusted easily. She also knows some of the kids from the mission community who also attend school there. She is making new friends, and during one of her special classes learned how to play African drums and dance an African dance. Please pray that she well continue to make this adjustment well.

Clara and Emma spend a lot of time chasing the many lizards here near the guest house. They play outside as much as possible. Clara got a bit of a heat rash the first week we were here, but has adjusted to the heat. Emma lost her first tooth yesterday, and was very excited.

So, that is the news of our first couple of weeks here. They have actually been better than we imagined they would be! Thank you for your continued prayers for us and the people of Guinea. Stay in touch!
Love, M’Liss, Clint, Emma and Clara