Up late but sooo worth it!

So it is 12:30am and I'm up, and probably will be for at least another hour until my heartbeat slows down. I'm pretty pumped! It used to be that my favorite Awana night was pajama night, but I think I might have to change. Yep - tonight was "Leanne night", and now that I think of it I was actually in my pajamas for Leanne night so it definitely is my new favorite night! Kate had made a sticker from this photo for all the kids to wear - how cute is that! The only thing that stinks about Leanne night is that I'm not physically at Awana. But they did a great job of making me feel like I was! When we were saying the pledges she moved the computer a couple times so that I would be facing the correct flag (so cute! made me giggle!). I got to see all the kids, say hi, speak a little French, answer a few questions, and see how they have changed! Oh how I love and miss them! It was also great to speak to the rest of my church family!! I miss my Whiteville family!!

Third English Class

Not that it is all about numbers, but my English class has gotten a bit bigger since the first one. The class is great! The two on the left are students, the guy to my right is a Gabonese entrepreneur, and the rest are from the medical caravan we work with. A great group of people with varing levels of English experience. One of the students started helping some of the other students in the class last week!

Equator

I have passed over the equator at least four times now, but I didn't get a picture until this past time when we went to field forum. If we are going to Bongolo it can be anywhere from an 8hr to a 12hr drive so we don't have a lot of time for stops. Tim told me the first time we passed the equator that I would get to get pictures during the summer when the interns when down with the teams. Well I didn't end up going down with the teams, so no picture. Well our new interns are here... Josh on the left and Anna under the sign. So on our way to field forum (only a 4 hr drive) we stopped to get pictures at the sign. Yeah!

First English Class

So the first English class wasn't a big one, but it was a good one! I had three students: two students and a local businessman. The students are pictured here, the businessman came in after these pictures were taken. I tell them the class starts at 15:00 (3pm), most people arrive between 3-3:30 (but not all), but I start at 3:30 anyway and go till about 5:30 - so they have a chance to catch a taxi before it gets dark. This past Thursday (our second class) the businessman did not come, but Mama Jeanine, Joseph, Josephine, and Edith from the medical caravan came - doubled the class in one week!!

Honesty

Had a friend of mine from the US write the other day. I really appreciated the raw honesty of it and wanted to share it and give a short response

"why does everyone feel they need to leave their ministries HERE for bigger and better ministries. Yes, I finally got ticked at you. I know that it was a God thing - you know that - that became quite clear to me - and I am sure this is too - but the abandonment issues are still real feelings . when others leave - it really stinks."

I love it when you have a friend who is close enough to be angry with you and tell you. My momma once told me "I love you... I am mad at you right now, but I still love you"... telling me there was a difference between love and a short term feeling like anger. The more I read about love, the less I think it is a feeling and the more I believe it is a decision (insert sermon on love here...)

It also reminds me of that verse in Proverbs 27:6...

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

I also love the fact that she feels secure enough in our relationship to be able to express her true feelings; that she can put them out there and we can deal with them.

So to those of you who might be a tad mad at me (it's ok if you are), I'm sorry. But I do feel that God has led me here, not necessarily for bigger and better things but for different things. God knows that I need to grow and I believe that we grow the most through struggles and challenges. Actually this experience has been a humbling one for me... I'm not the big dog at Awana, in fact the greatest thing I've done for the church is to show them how to make pizzas - not quite the same.

But also know that I miss you guys too, and regret not getting to hear the details of your life, how you and your kids continue to grow, being there when you are going through rough times, etc...

I love you,

leannie

Closet treasures

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

It wasn't even wool! I didn't bring any wool... not like I would need it. But there are little moths or bugs that eat away at your clothes here. Discovered this one morning getting ready for church. I have to admit it did sadden me a little, but it also reminded me of the above verse. The cool thing is what happened when I went to church that morning... a girl came up to me and gave me a gift... a bag of clothes! That reminded me of the verses below... a little later in chapter 6.

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Field Forum

Thought I'd show some glimpses of our week...



This is our group photo... the silly one






This is the hotel where we had the conference.







They didn't have a meeting room, so we came up with our own... we affectionately called it the tabernacle




Each missionary gave their "short story" - kind of a report of the last year and what is going on in their life and ministry. I got the chance to give my short story and give them a little background... notice Joanna on the left with her hands up, I think she was identifying with me at this point ... I mentioned that I was an organized person and liked planning... she is a civil engineer.



Lisa Nicky praying for me after my short story.









Melody taught us line dancing!!!








A great time was had by all... it was a really great field forum... Dave Thompson (Field Director) said that in the past these have been more like business meetings. This year's did have business, but it was well mixed with each person's short story, Ralph Trainer's messages, and fun!

Deserted...

Back from Field Forum
Things are a little quiet here, people are still keeping a low profile. But there isn't really any danger other than Cameroon beat Gabon today in football.