Reality

So after a month and a half of being in Africa reality has set in that I am really here in Africa and I am really going to be here for another 3 months living in a grass hut. Really? Yes. We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens who was tempted in all ways yet was with out sin so He could sympathize with us (see Hebrews ch 4) Just like Paul became all things to all people that he might save some I am here becoming like the Africans doing life the way they do it that some of them might be saved (see first corinthians ch 10) These are just a couple of things that the Lord has made a reality to me as life in Africa has become a reality this past week. The family in our compound has really become our African family. We sit around outside and eat dinner together late at night and laugh and talk with the little bit of language that we have over hot tea. We have so much fun together! On Wednesday the guys... there are 3 right around our age that are a ton of fun... they set up a high jump thing atleast 5 feet tall and after a running start cleared this thing! We all laughed and yelled and had a good time. We had a really great rain on Thursday with a sand storm to start it off. Our little grass hut is surprisingly sturdy againt the elements! We have 3 days left of language learning and I am so excited to be done with it. We are by no means fluent, but are doing pretty well for only 3 weeks of learning. After this week we will begin prayer walking and mapping out our village on a GPS system and I'm really excited about prayer walking! We found out our cheif really likes coffee too so while they do tea this week at night I'm going to bring out my coffee press and see if I can get some ministry going sharing coffee! There is a young lady that was a little intimidating when we first got to our compound and she was just real stand off ish but this past week she has opened up and we call each other hegoam which means my friend! I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord does with that relationship. One morning this past week she had a lot to do around her hut so she just passed off her precious 6 month old little girl who promptly fell asleep in my lap! I got to watch her sleep and then bounced her and played. I joked with her mom and told her I was talking her to America with me and she laughed at me :) I would really bring her home with me if it wasn't illegal! We actually get to go in to our supervisor's house every weekend which was a surprise blessing to get a really shower and sleep in air conditioning every weekend! It gives me a little bit of time to be away from our African family and miss them for a little bit. I'm ready to go back out by Monday morning :) Ways to pray this week... We're still in Ramadan so continue to pray for the people to be sick of old meaningless traditions. Ask for the Lord to give them the life that only He can. Continue to pray for encouragement for Lauren and I for the Lord to make us aware of the simple joys around us like getting to go to our shade tree alone and getting to look up into a sky absolutley FILLED with stars and laughing with our African family! I love you all thanks sooo much!