Trust wall

When we arrived at our new house, on one wall there was a 6 foot long
reed mat. Most missionaries use it to hang pictures of family and
friends. We brought our pictures digitally, so for a few weeks it just
hung there bare. Then I had an idea, I would make it a "trust wall."

You see I am in the phase of culture shock called "withdraw," or as I
like to call it "blah." The four stages of culture shock are the
honeymoon, anger, withdraw, and acceptance. We are in the awkward stage
of language learning when you can say a few phrases and understand bits
and pieces, but by no means can you carry on a full conversation, let
alone one of importance. So it is tempting to retreat and watch American
movies or dream of eating sushi.

To bring myself back to reality and learn to trust God more, I made the
"trust wall." On it I have put little sticky notes to remind me of ways
God has blessed us since we have been here. The idea is to remember what
He has done and have confidence that I can trust Him with whatever
happens today.

An example of a note on the wall is one that says "eggs." When we first
got to Gamboula, I didn't know how to go about getting food and we don't
have a car to drive us to the market. One morning I prayed, "Please
Lord, bring someone to my door who is selling eggs." Everyday people
come and sell fruit and vegetables, but no one had ever brought eggs.
That day someone came with eggs!

Yesterday I added 2 more notes!

For the last month, there has been a young, female, medical student here
working at the hospital. It was such a blessing to have someone my age
to pal around with. Yesterday, she left a few weeks early. I was really
bummed. Withdraw set in again. We love all of the other missionaries on
the station here, but they joke that we moved to the "retirement home."
There is just something about having friends your own age, especially in
a foreign land when you already feel so different. You just want someone
that understands you. Not an hour passed after she left that we heard
the Huntleys were coming to visit for the day! They are a young couple
with 2 little boys that live about 2 hours away. It was so great to have
lunch with them and talk while our kids played together! I intend to
make sure we hang out as much as possible! The Huntleys have made the board!

The other note says, "English lessons." Josh and I have been talking
about what we want to do when we can communicate. I say, "Something with
kids." It is frustrating to be so close physically to the people we
desire to work with, but yet so far linguistically. But God surprised me
again! He literally brought two boys to my door- who wanted me to tutor
them in English a few times a week. It is great- I get to work with kids
and they can help me learn Sango. God can still use me even though I
only know Sango "kete kete" (a little).

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own
understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make
your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Josh speaks again!

So I hijacked another email from Josh to his parents. I thought it would be nice for you to hear another perspective of our life in Gamboula! But like any good wife, I will add my two cents in here and there!


Sorry guys for not communicating!  It has been a little crazy here.  I've been very involved in fixing the mass hysteria known as their computer systems here.  I've looked at over 30 computers, removed viruses, fixed power supplies, updated service packs, and on and on and on...  They need lots of work.  I've also gotten very involved in the new properties power systems.  We are building a hybrid solar/diesel power plant with 12volt and 220 volt power.  It's a bit crazy especially considering the budget size.  Our own hydro plant here is having a few issues as well and I've been doing lots of research on how to fix it along with Luke.  (Luke is another missionary here in Gamboula)We've got some super fancy diagnostic equipment here from Younde that will hopefully let us fine tune it.  I've got so many stories I don't know where to start.  Maybe I'll just summarize:

1. I got to be present in the operating room to watch a lady get a hysterectomy.  It was so hot in there I had to walk out about half way through. 
2. I went on a long hike from our compound to the new property the other day with Ben (teacher age 22) and Alisa (doctor age 24).
3. We have lunch everyday with our house help and babysitter.  Lori is speaking Sango well and I'm mostly cheating by speaking in French.
4.  I drove for the first time in Africa the other day.  SCARY!!  I got yelled at by a police officer for parking too close to the center of town but by the grace of God didn't have to pay any fines. 
5.  I saw a lady try to slash another lady with an axe because she slept with her husband.
6.  There are tons of super poisonous snakes all around this place.  We seem to find 1-2 snakes per week a short distance from our house.  They are commonly Green Mambas...  One guy got bit the other day but it looks like no venom was injected.
7.  I've been working with Luke a lot on the hospital systems including the photo spectrometer and their bleach maker.  I've enjoyed learning from Luke!
8.  There is a mysterious short in our electrical system that makes everything that touches our water supply get jacked up to 230 volts.  It just comes and goes each night at around 5pm-7pm.  Every house on the system gets energized... hope no one wants to shower then!

Emotionally we are doing well although today was a bit of a downer (Josh was tired).  I'm sure tomorrow will be better.  We are having fun with our friends Ben and Alisa playing games, watching movies, hiking, talking... actually lots of talking.  They are fun southerners! 

Charlotte is happy as a clam especially with all the attention she gets from Bonard and Fredoline (our hourhelp and nanny).  She speaks better Sango than I do!  The other day I couldn't remember the word for "tomorrow" and Charlotte yelled out kekekeke which is pretty close to the right work kekeleke.  Sometimes she says things in Sango that we have to ask Fredoline what they mean. (she knows how to say- one, come, tomorrow, and hello in Sango!)

Lori and I were looking through our wedding pictures the other night.  One thing is clear...we don't look that good anymore!  It's been nice spending lots of time with Lori and Charlie, something that didn't happen as often in the states.

Pray that God gives us meaningful things that we can do while we learn the languages.  It kind of stinks to be so restricted because we can't communicate well.  We are learning at an alarming rate though.  The tension of not being able to get a lot done each day is really bothering me.  I know it is 'just the way Africa is', but when you calculate how much money we are spending just to be here, it makes the words "overhead" run constantly through my mind.  Seeing all the good that comes out of this place and knowing that I'm part of it usually puts my concerns to rest though.

Write us and let us know how you are doing.

Love you,
Joshua