Dave, Carla, Janice and Anna have arrived!

Dear Friends at Wickland and around the world,

This is Dave C. writing (not the one you expect from this blog). 

After a long, but interesting trip, we are finally here! The plane trips were uneventful (thank the Lord). Janice almost lost one of her bags, but after a little panic and some looking back in the airport, she found it and we went on with the trip.  We spent several hours in Casablanca with a driver who took us around the city and showed us many things. I bought a table (no, not something you eat on). This is a square drum that should be very interesting to show to everybody. You know I will buy another drum before I leave Africa. 

The guest house is really nice. It's a little like a small hotel. Danielle is here and we are sitting, talking about our activities for these two weeks. I don't know about the rest, but I can't wait to really get started. We will spend time in Konni, Guidan-Roumji, Maradi, and Tessaoua before making the 10 hour trip back to Niamey where we will have a PARTY, and then back to the states.

Okay, I have spent too much time on this computer and it is about time to start traveling. We will not be back on the internet for many days. I will try to get an update as soon as I can. Thanks, Danielle, for letting us use your blog space!  Continue to pray for us, and that we will be able to really make connections with people for God to do His work.

Dave.

Thoughts for today...

Mixed emotions don't seem to encompass all these strong emotions that I've
been feeling in the last few days. We attended a Fulani Believer's
conference this weekend and were blessed beyond belief to worship with
believers from all across this country. The two new believers from my
village and the one that I have been discipling in town all came,
expressing much joy at seeing other Fulani that have also let go of
generations of traditions to follow the One True God. We got to sing songs
in Fulfulde, hear teachings on sin, persecution, prayer and worship and
spend time with other Fulani. As we departed my friends could not stop
telling me how happy they were that they came.

If you have been watching my countdown you know that my time is very
short. It is now less than three weeks until I land in Ft Myers and less
than two until I leave my home of two years and travel to the capital to
finish up office business and say goodbye to the missionaries who have
become my family. It seems like it has flown by, but while living these
past few years I have learned many lessons that will stay with me for the
rest of my life.

I have been through many trials and shed tears. I have seen the departure
of dearly loved team member due to illness and other reasons. It has been
a difficult two years. But, all those trials seem to fade away when I talk
to my friend who, with a sparkle in her eye, tells me the joy she has
found in Jesus. I can now share prayer requests and pray with a dear woman
who has found a hope and joy that she never knew in our Savior Jesus
Christ.

These two believers meet each morning and evening as they carry out
traditional chores of milking the cattle. They have decided to pray
together at these times for the people of their village to see the change
in them and desire to learn more about Jesus.

Please pray for this dear brother and sister of mine as they grow in their
faith and learn what it means to be a child of God.

Please pray for my coworkers as they continue this work in my absence. I
would love to be here to be a part of it, but God has called me to come
home for this period of my life.

Looking ahead, I can not seem to imagine the rest of my life without the
Fulani in it. Seeing them gather together fueled my passion to seem them
reach out and share the gospel among their people and all the other
peoples that they are in contact with across West Africa. Please pray with
me that God would lead me to the path that He has called me to; to rid me
of my own desires and place his where mine once were. We are all called to
make disciples of all nations. I want to be faithful to that call wherever
it leads me.

Thanks for staying with me these two years. I am blessed beyond measure to
know I am surrounded by such a "great cloud of witnesses." People of faith
who believe that God wants to use such as me for His grand purposes.

To Him be all the Glory!!