Fotmana! (Welcome in Tyembara) I hope all is well for you and your family this awesome Sunday.
This last Wednesday the 6 Korhogo people travelled with Rod back to Bouake for 3 ½ days of debrief and rest with the other 4 Journeyers who are already down in Bouake. It was a bitter sweet reunion. I loved being with everyone again. We lived together 24 hours a day for over 3 months…with that you get used to seeing people and doing things. However, it was such a short visit and saying good-bye is also a difficult thing to do.
So on our little mini-vacation we had the opportunity for community and rest. We did tons of debriefing over the last month being in our families, shared our difficulties and laughed about our short comings (which there were many). We also met in our small groups for a little while to do the same.
After all of the long logistical things happened we got to have fun we went to Hotel Mon Afrik for some ice cream and swimming (it was SO good since the power had been out everywhere else to finally have a refreshment). We also played volleyball and soccer—my two favorite sports to play. And I finally watched Sleepless in Seattle, a movie I had never seen until Friday. We also went to the Rock Quarry for dinner. My favorite part of the night is singing worship around the fire under the stars it’s beautiful. And Holly and I rode on top of the Land Rovers on the way back. Dude dodging trees in the dark is no easy task!
Well the last few days have been a very much needed break. And I am appreciative of that. I like to think of these times as my Sabbath. I hope you get your rest also…its biblical: “on the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.” So I say call your bosses and take a day off [responsibly of course]
Scripture of the Week:
“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:2-11
Our focus for Bouake was all of Phil…and again in church today these verses were emphasized. It’s always a good reminder to be humble.
Prayer Requests:
~the heat!! I am literally dripping sweat and it is driving me crazy…all I am doing is sitting and writing this right now…what the heck haha
~family (RCI & CA)
~our projects
~God would continue to be our strength and our rest
~we will continue to be molded and stretched beyond our wildest imagination
~maladies
Thank you again
Love always Alyssa Grabarkewitz
