it's sunday!

Good evening! -Bom Tarde- :)

I have come down with a case of... homesickness! But it's okay.. I'm pressing on!!
Tonight has been a really good night as Rhoda thinks of us in every way.
She made us Chicken, baked potatoes, salad with ranch, and bread. There is bread pudding waiting for us at the seminary for dessert- and possibly even a board game! Pray for her... blessings on her, because she and Dave are both SO great. They're our home away from home and encourage us every day. We would be lost without them. She is also a nurse, which is a great thing, just incase!

Anyways, we experienced our first Sunday! Whoo..
I am ALWAYS full here! They expect us to eat after every gathering that takes place inside a church. In fact, if you don't eat, it's extremely rude. So we eat, and eat. Which sounds so odd, I know I thought so too, but it's their culture. They share everything with everyone! So we also had a little surprise that Jerry was preaching! And we were leading worship! "The key to missions IS... Flexibility" Indeed. It went well and we were able to teach everyone "waves of mercy" with every hand motion that is physically possible involved too. Needless to say, they loved it!! We are also getting used to many many pictures... people have walked up to us to take our pictures and the children love to pet our hair. We're trying our best to keep them from making us the attention and concentrating on loving them like they are one of us. I know they will begin to see us a little more normally over time, just as the seminary kids do now.

We have been riding around in the Restrick's bus/van/car whatever you would call it. It fits 8 people.. but we usually have around 12 plus some kids when we go off campus. Driving here is an adventure in itself. I have truly learned what it means to be car sick. I wish I could explain the driving, but I think I would need a video camera or something to do so. But the roads are not roads... they are more like little dirt paths around the massive holes, bumps, and boulders.. People all PILE in cars too, and I do mean pile, almost to the point of never getting out. It's always an adventure. T.I.A. haha.

So as far as the prayers, thank you so much. Specifically, I would ask you to pray for the guidance of those leading us, and continuously for our adjustment as we are being submerged into such a different culture. We have definitely felt major emotional and stressful culture shock, and it has begun to take its toll on our stomachs. But we are pressing on.. and just taking one day at a time. 'This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.' -That's our anthem for sure. We don't know all the plans that lie ahead, but we're really learning that we don't need to. Today (as I was thinking about my homesickness, and my fiance sickness :) ) I really had to sit back and think about the whole picture. I know I am here for a purpose. God never promises it will be easy, but he promises to never leave us. and he always fufills his promises. We know that we have an end date to this journey that actually takes place here in Africa, but we don't know exactly what the next 43 days will hold. All we know is that God has our BEST intrest in mind. And he will use us as long as we are willing.

Today Rhoda was sharing a word of encouragment with us and she shared this story. 'As I was watching the dentist perform a root canal... I saw myself in the eyes of the patient. She was terrified and could not fully trust the dentist because her fear got in the way. She wanted to put her hands infront of her mouth and delay his plans, and just could not control her feelings. But without her knowing it... he had a bigger plan in mind. He had her best interest in mind. And that is exactly how God is with us. Even when we cannot see the big picture, he has our best interest in mind and he can see the big picture. I know that you all may be afraid or hesitant at times along this journey, but God is on control of the plans he has for you.'

I miss you and love you all.. I'll be writing when I can :)
Love Always, Allyson