Lunch with our neighbors.

A few weeks back, I went to say hi to some neighbors, it was not the first time that I had talked with them, but they asked me to eat with them, I accepted and ate pot and sauce and beans, it was wonderful, I enjoyed my time spent with the ladies. The two ladies that I am speaking of are Mama Romeo and Mama Christian, Mama Christian is Catholic and Mama Romeo says she is Baptist, but I am not sure if she is saved or not. Please be praying for them both and families.

About a week ago I invited the two families to come and eat with us during the noon meal, yesterday at 1:00 they came all dressed up, it was wonderful, we ate spaghetti under our gazebo and had a great time. They ate tons of food and tons of bread, after lunch I served the ladies some hot tea because it was a cool day, they loved the sugar and milk that I gave them for the tea, they never buy liquid milk so they were really excited when they saw that.

Please pray for these ladies to see Christ in my life and that they would be willing to hear the gospel and become children of God. Also please pray that the Lord will give me more opportunities to share the Love of Christ with these wonderful people around me.

A funny story: after we finished our lunch everyone left accept the two ladies and some children. The ladies and I were talking when I saw one of the little girls start descending the stairs of the gazebo pulling her panties down, I know what that means she is going to go pee-pee in our yard, I could not stop her, neither could the ladies, they had a frantic look on their faces and I just told them ça va (no problem do not worry about it) I just laughed it off, it is not everyday that you have a little girl pee-pee right by the steps of your house. Life in Africa is great. I did clean it up just to let you know, thank you Lord it was just pee-pee.

Twin babies with out a mommy.

While in the pharmacy the other day I saw a older lady with a baby on her back, only the lady was to old to have a baby, I was talking to her and she told me the mommy died after she gave birth to the baby, and that they are staying at sos the hospital in Kara, I said good bye and left, I thought of the baby a few times during the week.
When Jesse had Malaria we went to have him tested to see if he had it and I saw the same lady at sos hospital, I asked her how the baby was doing and she said come with me and you can see her, but to my amazement when I arrived I saw two babies laying on the bed, the mom had twins one boy and one girl, my heart dropped I could not believe two babies have lost there momma.
I returned to the hospital yesterday to hold the babies, I was able to hold the little boy and Heidi a missionary friend was able to hold the little girl, Beni the boy was smiling at me every time I talked to him, I was loving it. I was able to meet the father of the little twins, he also has a little boy who is 5 years old, I asked the father how he was doing and he said he continues to ask about his mother, and he tells him she went to the village, I am not sure if that is what they tell children if a parent dies, the little boy snuggled right up to Heidi, you could tell he needed some loving on. Please be praying for the father and the twins and this little boy who does not have his mother anymore. The fathers name is Etienne.

Malaria in the Shanks house

Yesterday Jesse said he was not feeling well, by the time he went to bed last night he had a temp of 102, this morning he was down to 100, he is feeling better now but we are waiting it out. He is taking some med. but we are not sure how well it works, because it is the first time we have personally used it for malaria. Please be praying for Jesse, and wisdom in what we should do.

Bible Hour pictures

Coconut grove pictures

A wonderful greeting.

The night we came back from Lome we were greeted by a wonderful sound, all of the kids in the neighborhood were yelling, and running up to the truck, one girl especially, she is the little one I have been trying to hold, she was screaming at the top of her lungs and waving her hands frantically, I don't think she knew exactly what she was so excited about, she was just copying everyone else. When I went down to see them they all came running, arms open wide giving big hugs, it was the best feeling in the world, dirty hands, wet clothes, dirty faces I did not care, I love these kids. I pray that someday soon I will see them become children of God.

Excited to be back home.

We arrived home on Sat from a long trip, we went on vacation to the Coconut grove for 3 days in Guana, we also picked up the Huff's at the airport they are some missionaries that we will be working with. It was a wonderful vacation and a wonderful trip, but I am glad to be back in my own home and bed. Nothing like home. While on vacation we went on a canopy walk in Guana in the rain forest it was a little scary, will not be doing that again. We also went to a slave castle, it was very disturbing, it made me very thankful for my life that the Lord has given me.