Day Eleven.

I have experienced so much in the past eleven days and it is a bit difficult to try and put it into words. I will do my best.

When I first got off the plane, I smelled the warm, moist air blowing off the ocean. I heard chatter in French and other languages that I was not yet familiar with. It didn’t feel as terrifying as I thought it would. The green trees and the smell of the ocean felt like home. It was a little blessing that God sent me.

My first night in Africa was spent at a lovely hotel right on the beach. I roomed with my new friend Katie whom I imagine I will stay close with till we are old and grey. She is also eighteen, has grown up in the Philippines as a missionary kid, and seeks the Lord every day. She is a great encouragement, has a kind and gentle spirit, and is willing to listen and then pray with me through all my worry and struggle. She is a huge blessing and I am excited to grow closer with her (:

 

We arrived in Bouake the afternoon of the third, and life has not been the same since. We attended a Bible study that evening, and it was a bit over whelming. We were dropped into African worship and they expected us to just go with it. Of course all the Ivorians had grace and just laughed with us, and it turned out being a lot of fun! I could definitely feel the presence of the Lord there and see the passion the people had as they praised His name.

After getting settled into our rooms -feeling a bit more at home- our routine began. Everyday we have bible study and worship at 7:30 AM, then French lesson with Timotee for an hour, next a seminar on culture shock from other missionaries, then finally lunch and a nap. After our rest, we visit people, have more French practice, or do service projects around campus. From 5:00-7:00PM we have free time where we all usually just hang out together investing in each other.  7:00 meant dinner and it was usually an African meal. So far I have liked just about everything that I have been given which is a huge blessing! 

After dinner we talk and fellowship, and before you know it, it’s time to sleep and start all over again. (:

It has felt good having a schedule and knowing what comes next (I guess that is the student in me). It hasn’t all been easy though.

Some struggles that I have faced are of course homesickness. I not only miss my amazing, godly boyfriend Alec, but I also just miss familiarity. Being able to go for a walk in my neighborhood and not be glared at or whistled at. It has been a struggle fully falling into God’s grace and peace. Being here in the Ivorian culture has opened up some wounds that are tough and messy. I have fears and anxiety about my host family, fears about what will happen when I get back to the States, fear about getting sick. Just plain anxiousness. But God is SO clear in telling us to NOT be this way;

 

“..Therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life…Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value then they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?.. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

Matthew 6:25-27;34

 

I am doing my best to truly trust in this and believe in it. God will provide for me because He promises that! I have no reason to worry about what family I will be placed in, about getting a bug while I am here, or about choices for school once I come home. As long as I walking in the direction of God, doing my best to be righteous and seeking wisdom from Him, He will give me that wisdom (James 1:5) and I will be okay. God will not leave me NOR forsake me. I need to be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:5-6) God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace (1 Cor 14:33).

 

I am praying fervently about all these things whenever they are on my mind. I’m staying in the Word and also seeking council from wise people here. I am taking it one day at a time; one step at a time.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

 

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Being away from home. Pray I get comfortable with the differences here and the culture.

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Please keep Alec, his family, and my family in your prayers. They miss me incredibly and I miss them just as much. We are keeping touch through email, phone and facebook, so PRAISE the Lord for technology

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Pray for decisions. Pray about school for when I get back to the States and just when the best time is to start back into school.

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Pray for health and strength. Everyone can always use that prayer (:

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Pray for spiritual growth for both Alec & me. As we grow closer to the Lord, I can feel that we are growing closer to each other and our communication is getting better each time we talk.

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Pray for wisdom in our leadership when placing in our host families. God has a great plan!

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Pray for team unity. There is a HUGE range of personality, ages, and culture.

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Pray for diligence as I continue to learn French and learn true devotion and reliance on the Lord.

 

Thank you all for truly investing in my life and this Journey. It is a huge encouragement to know there are people 7,300 miles away praying for me.

 

Walking in faith each day,

Tiffany Marie Johnson