Monday, October 17, 2011

What October Has Looked Like

So these last couple of weeks have been going by really fast, and I am upon my last full week here in Korhogo. I can’t believe how fast time is passing by!

Lots has been happening. I’ve been all over town visiting people and getting last minute souvenirs, and spending every possible moment hanging out with my friends and family here. I’ve been to a wedding nearly every weekend for the past month, and played guitar in two of them. This last week I spent a fair bit of time with my church buddy CJ and her parents, visiting from the States. We climbed the hill next to my house and climbed Mount Korhogo, and had adventures in the marketplace looking for pentads. I also had a lot of good times hanging out with Chazz and Devin, who came to stay with me a few days.

This is a week of goodbye’s. It’s really weird realized that every day is my last of that day in Korhogo. Tonight I’m asking my family “for the road”, something you have to do well enough in advance so they can prepare a gift for you. Every time I talk to my friends and family it comes up that I’m leaving next Sunday, something that is hard to accept but is a reality. Saying goodbye to people you love is never an easy thing to do!

CJ’s brother Pierre left for Togo already, so he gave us some traditional clothes as a gift, and my friends from Abidjan are leaving Wednesday afternoon, and then I’m leaving just a few days after that.

I am already thinking about coming back. I’d love to return sometime next year for a short-term trip, doing a recording seminar here in Korhogo and maybe bringing some much needed equipment with me. I want to start organizing that already so that I can look for people who’d go with me.

Spiritually, God is kind of rocking my world right now. Everyday seems to show me ways in which I’m not trusting Him enough or trying to control my circumstances. With all the crazy schedules, the preparing to say by to some very close friends, trying to find gifts for people here and back home…it had made spending time in prayer and the word more difficult. Those are no excuse, if anything I should be spending more time with God as a result. It’s just been a struggle because I’m tired a lot lately, and I also have a cold again, boo. Anyways, God is still getting his messages through to me, through reading, prayer, and interactions with people, and I’m stumbling along behind Jesus, getting closer to where I’m going but not always very gracefully.

So here are a few pictures from the last week or two, enjoy! See you all soon!


Joel spent two weeks making this shirt for me!

After church with some friends, CJ wearing a similar gift

After this weekend's marriage, jamming outside

Ivorians know how to have a good time

I know how to have a good time too

Gifts from Pierre! Handmade dresses/robe

Pentad/Chicken market

Saying goodbye to Pierre

A view from the hill by my house

Devin, Me, CJ, and her mom, Marsha. I climbed the mountain behind us the next day.

2 comments:

  1. It's hard to believe you've been gone a year! Time has flown by, and yet, so much has changed. It's weird how life just keeps going. Enjoy your last few days. If nothing else, heaven will be a great place for a reunion. I know I'm looking forward to seeing a few friends there that I met in Africa. That's the beauty of the God we serve. Good byes aren't forever. :) See you soon, Deet. We are all excited to see you again.

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  2. We're praying for you back in Fresno! Thanks for sharing pictures and your experiences
    -Brandi

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