I found a guy to butcher a turkey for us for Thanksgiving, (but he charged me extra to cut off the head).We had a great holiday. The McAfee family hosted the dinner, and Heather McAfee made sure our “free range” turkey turned out quite tender! A few African friends came and ate, and we taught one of them, Safi, how to play American football. She caught on quickly! It was a tough match-up since she’s like two inches taller than I am. I know! How is that possible? Here's heather's turkey.
So I don’t have to tell you guys about the American economy. It’s in a bigger slump than those Texas A&M Aggies right now, (and that’s saying a LOT). So, in my heart I think I’d really like to move back to the states when my contract ends Jan. 31, but I’m just not sure that’s wise considering the job market. Should I stay on the mission field, or just head home and take my chances with finding a job? Please pray I can really hear from God about this. As I told someone recently, it would be really easy to confuse a calling to go back home with a serious craving for a chicken fried steak! Updates on some of my friends: Oumou – The college girl I’ve been visiting with Heather on campus. She’s lost interest in our Bible studies, largely due to some romantic drama. DRAMA! This boy has broken her heart. Pray she can learn to put her full dependence on Jesus and realize there is Life after this boy. Pray she can find some healthy diversion so she doesn’t stay depressed! Hausa women – SarahO has been asking for the Jesus stories every week. She has even found a neighbor boy to read to her from a book of Bible stories she found, but she can’t read it herself. She loves talking about how the stories apply to our lives. But even if she thought Jesus was the right way, I’m not sure she thinks it would ever be possible to follow Him. “C’est inderdit,” she says. It’s forbidden. The culture here is so fixed, only God can work to change it. And that might not happen overnight. Pray I can make the rest of our conversations count, and that God can continue to reveal himself to her. Zechariah – This is our M0slim office worker with the rough marriage. I set him up to start Bible studies with Mike McAfee he has been coming (somewhat) regularly. This week he told me he’s glad there is peace with his wife. He has really worked to keep from being provoked into arguing with her, (just like Jesus did when they led him to the cross). This is a seemingly small victory, yet HUGE! I love watching people choose to love, and watching LOVE WIN! (1 Cor. 13:7-8) Two upcoming events to pray about: The M0slim holiday of Tabaski is coming up this week, when they sacrifice sheep to celebrate the day God sent the lamb so Abraham wouldn't have to kill his son. Pray I have opportunities to share the rest of the story ... about the final sacrifice God sent in Jesus. The epic Christmas party! This year, once again, we'll invite all our friends and neighbors to eat and hear the Christmas story. Some might hear it for the first time! Pray for our preparations.
Bonus picture: Here is a little Hausa girl that never has any clothes on! I call her Bebe-Nu. (Naked baby). I'm trying to get some clothes on the kid and she doesn't seem very happy.
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