8 months

I've passed the 8 month mark & am just chillin' in Senegal with my mom waiting for Isabelle to get here. Mark will be here in a week and then we'll officially be ready for her to come!


Only 23 days left til D-Day!


My mom & I by the Atlantic Ocean.

saying goodbye to niger ... for a while

Before leaving Niger, I had two send-offs. One was in Ayorou when my ladies & favorite kiddos came to say good-bye. The other was from my fellow missionaries in Niger who threw me a fabulous baby shower.


Hamsatou & some of the kiddos that came to say good-bye. My other ladies wouldn't get in the picture! It was very hard to leave them. They wouldn't let me cry because they said it would hurt the baby. So I waited until we were out the gate!


Laying hands on Isabelle!


This is a wonderful gift - it's what I'll use to tie Isabelle on my back when we go strolling through Ayorou. Thanks Cindy!


A diaper cake! Who knew? Even though we'll be using cloth diapers most of the time, it'll be good to have all these disposable ones on hand for all our many travels. Thanks Shelley & Michelle!


My cake. Seriously, who knew they could make something like this in Niamey? Sally, my wonderful baby shower hostess, took them a plate that had this design on it & voila ... my delicious cake made right in Niger!

gettin ready for isabelle

Our home in Ayorou is all ready for its new arrival! We got our furniture made & set up right before I left for Senegal. The only thing missing is her bedding which is on its way with Mark's brother.

Changing table where we'll take turns changing those diapers. Oh yes, we're taking turns even if Mark doesn't know it yet!

The view from entering Isabelle's little nook of a room.

The armoire which is full of cute onesies & a some really cute outfits provided by family & friends. This child is going to be stylin' in Africa!

Mark spent a whole afternoon getting Isabelle's stroller & car seat set up. He needed a little practice with the car seat!

Isa

For those of you who receive our newsletters you'll be familiar with Isa. He was the man who, as I was standing on the path praying for a man of peace, called me out by name to come talk to him.
Since that day back in January I have met consistently with him. Last Thursday he came by my house and said "I don't have time to talk right now but I just wanted to come tell you I'm ready to follow Jesus." On Monday he stepped out of a stream that for centuries has carried the Songhai people away from God and into the stream of life.
After explaining the Gospel one more time he responded in faith. After talking about baptism he responded much like the Ethiopian in Acts and said "why not right now?"
So we went to the river and I baptized my new brother in Christ.
Isa already feels burdened to share with his family and friends the hope he has in Christ. Isa can read both French and Songhai which means discipleship will not be strictly based on oral methods. Isa is a Songhai man with Songhai roots. Isa is an influential member of the community with family and friend ties. In other words, we feel God has called Isa out to reach the Songhai.
Isa's new life is not a result of our faithfulness. It's not because we have a slick methodology. Isa is a child of God because God is faithful to His promises and He promises that where His name is proclaimed He will draw men to Himself. Isa is a new creation because our gracious Father heard and responded to your prayers. Isa is clothed in righteousness because the One, True, Living God has a plan for the Songhai and all the nations. Isa will be one of those with knee bowed and tongue confessing "Jesus Christ it is you who is Lord" to the glory of God!