Monday, June 27, 2011

niamey

Well, we’re in Niamey an hour behind schedule and short two bags and a model airplane, but we are SO glad to finally be here!! We filled out all of the paperwork for the missing bags and box and the man in the baggage office, who just happened to speak English, was SUPER nice. He says another flight is coming from New York in the morning and should be carrying our things. Mark will go back in the morning and check. Please pray that everything gets here (Eli is missing his toothbrush already – good thing Parker had an extra one).

We arrived at the Missionary house (which is really more like a resort as beautiful as it is) around 7:30am Niamey time (1:30am our time) and we got to rest for about three hours before our Orientation session. Mark and Parker had lunch for us and we learned ALL kinds of new things about the life and culture of the Songhai people. We even got to do a few things we might see people doing out in the village!! It was a lot of fun.

They had also arranged for some of their most trusted “vendors” to come with souvenirs to sell to us in the missionary “resort.” We got to shop for a few hours right in our backyard and we are thankful Mark was there to dicker for us. Parker made a huge dinner for us (roast beef, green beans, out-of-this-world potatoes, carrots, salad and pound cake) and I thought I was going to LOSE weight here!

It’s 8:00pm here now and we are all EXHAUSTED so we’re headed to bed. We head to the village around 8:00am and we super excited about painting, but more importantly telling a group of people about our Savior who have NEVER heard his Name!! Pray that the power of Jesus’ name will pierce the hearts of the people we encounter tomorrow. Love to ALL!
our team after Orientation
the GUESTHOUSE (more like guest resort)
GUESTHOUSE 2

travel

This post should have happened LAST night....
We’re HERE!! We have FINALLY arrived in Africa. We actually set foot on African soil (well, concrete) when we stepped off of the plane and boarded a bus to the terminal and I think it’s hotter inside this airport than it was outside!! But NO complaining here – it’s gonna be much hotter when we actually get to Niamey in a few hours.

I am actually EXTREMELY surprised at how smoothly everything has gone so far. Aside from the very long line at check-in this morning for our Royal Air Maroc flight and a few rude folks who didn’t speak English cutting line…..OH, and Hannah throwing away her ticket (Doug found it in the trashcan), all has been well. Ironically, all of that happened in New York!! Not a hitch since we’ve been out of the country. I praise God for taking care of us and giving us rest before a week of hard work and extreme temperatures.

We are currently sitting in the food court at the airport in Casablanca awaiting our last flight. We were able to buy 14 waters for 31 American dollars so I haven’t had to exchange any money yet (thank the Lord). We’ve heard the theme for the Godfather THREE times already and the theme from Love Story once (may parents two favorite movies of all times) – a small reminder of home that I am thankful for. Anyway, the youth are playing cards, reading books and enjoying each other’s company!! All is well….no worries….one more airport to go!!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

travel

Well, after beginning our trip with a two hour delay (thank you Delta), we finally made it to New York City with ALL of our luggage and ALL of our students (hehe)!! We met a sweet lady in line to check our luggage this morning who was on her way to England for 18 months and we let her cut line (there were so many of us and only one of her). Later when we saw her on our flight she asked where we were going and it turns out she has spent quite some time in South Africa herself. She handed me a sweet note when we landed in NY filled with some great advice and encourgagement in ministering to a people who so desperately need Jesus!! Thank you Miss Amy!!
We got checked in to our hotel and enjoyed our last [American] supper (at least for a few weeks).....New York style pizza. We have ALL taken our malaria meds (I swollowed mine on the first try) and are ready for BED as we have to get up at 3:45am Central Time to get to the airport on time tomorrow. Please continue to pray for our safe travel. We should arrive in Niamey around 10:45 pm Central Time tomorrow.
Love to ALL!!
Our team (not sure what Justin is doing - showing off his chest, I guess)
The pizza was bigger than MOLLY!!

Monday, June 20, 2011

last minute details

Our PASSPORTS are HERE!!!! We sent our passports off to the Embassy of Niger in Washington DC about 6 weeks ago and although their website says it only takes 2 weeks for them to process visas, we STILL didn't have our passports back last week. I was starting to panic! After a few phone calls, emails, a prepaid return envelope, a scheduled pickup and a tracking number, they finally arrived the end of last week. Shew!

We met for the final time on Saturday night as a team at Dale and Lana Carol Houk's house. (Thanks Dale for the good cookin' and Lana Carol for being a great hostess.) We had a great time of fellowship and devo together. I cannot believe that this time next week we'll be IN Africa!

Please pray for safe travel - the part I'm worried about most is getting everyone and everything through the airports, security checks and customs!! Pray for the people of Tagabati as we enter their village. Pray that God will somehow use us (young, white folk from across the world that don't even speak their language) to share HIS LOVE with a people who need Him! Pray that we will be willing and open to whatever He asks of us and that as we obey He will change our hearts as well.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Eating Contest

TCBC Youth have been locked in mortal combat to determine which of them will emerge as the ultimate champion. They have faced off in events like UNO, Trouble, Musical Chairs, Paper/Rock/Scissors, and Wii bowling, yet nothing prepared them for what took place last Sunday night. The first ever TCBC eating contest featured hotdogs, jello, and peanut butter! Highlights of the contest included stained red jello faces, Eli eating less than one hotdog, and June eating eight hotdogs in one and a half minutes. Here is what it all looked like (current standings to follow the pics):

The anticipation builds

Kaleb's early strategy...suck it out

Eli getting mentally prepared

The red jello ring of death

Did I mention there were no hands allowed?

Megan with the best idea of the day, dump it then lick the table

Ben loves his PB!

Eli got more on his face than in his mouth!

Lets just say that Mary had about this much on her plate when she was done too!
Two thumbs up for food contest!

"I'm done" - ummm...no

Did I mention she at 8 dogs?

Chow down!

Eat, eat, eat!
Current Game Standings
Justin - 118
June - 113
Kaleb - 111.5
Shawna - 105.5
Megan - 97
Hannah - 71
Brianna - 70
Natalie S. - 68.5
Paul - 63.5
Eli - 56.5
Natalie M. - 56.5
Mary - 44
Ben - 24

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Sunday Night Live - GAME NIGHTS!

The hunt for the Great Red Pumpkin was an amazing time! Thanks to all the teams that showed up and made it the most epic hunt yet! Now I have to start thinking about how to top it next year.

As most of you know, we have been having "game nights" during Sunday Night Live. There are points given out to each participtant every game. There will be a gift basket for the winner as well as other prizes! If you haven't been to one yet, don't worry you can make up ground fast. Paul missed the first 3 games, yet he almost caught up with pack in only two games this week!

After 2 weeks the standings are (starting with last place):

Paul - 19
Natalie M. - 19.5
Eli - 19.5
Mary - 22
June - 24
Hannah - 30
Megan - 33
Breanna - 35
Kaleb - 36
Shawna - 36
Natalie S. - 39
Justin - 46

Monday, October 19, 2009

GREAT RED PUMPKIN HUNT (and other info)

Ok people, tent revival is over and it is time to get YOUTH going full blast again. If you missed Sunday Night Live on 10/19, you missed a great night of games. These games were the kickoff to a month and a half long contest. Each Sunday night we will play games that give each player an opportunity to win points that will be added each week to your personal total. At the end of the gaming season there will be prizes passed out to the top 3. ALSO, if you missed Sunday night, you also missed a clue that could help you during the GREAT RED PUMPKIN HUNT!

Speaking of the GREAT RED PUMPKIN HUNT, you need to have your teams together and find a driver before Wednesday night youth! If you are having problems finding a team or a diver let me know and I will help you out! I can say with confidence that this will be the most difficult pumpkin hunt of all time! As always, $cash$ prizes for the winners!

So, mark you calendars for this week:
Wednesday @ 6:00 - YOUTH
Friday @ 5:30 - GREAT RED PUMPKIN HUNT (@ TCBC)
Sunday @ 6:00 - Sunday Night Live