Classes, Travel and Craziness

Tomorrow Kyle will wrap up the last in the three weeks of water technologies courses. It has been a good time and exhausting all at once.

Pray for us as we are entering a really crazy time of travel and family life. I (Jessica) will be heading to a conference next week. Then Kyle will be gone for a couple of days the following week at a conference. We'll be around home for just a couple of very full days after that and then Kyle heads to Kenya.

Pour on the prayers, will ya?

Sorry for the brevity. I've got a wee girl with the sniffles and apparently dishes don't wash themselves. Ummm, someone wanna work on that for me?

Prayer Needs:

• Energy to prepare for the upcoming travel and work ahead
• Patience and love toward one another during this time. 
• Open lines of communication as husband and wife and as we parent through an unusual season
• Millie while I am away and then while Kyle is away for an extended period.

Fall Courses

This is a really busy time of year around Equip. We've already had a few weeks of courses and this week begins the first week of the three week water technologies course series. Kyle will be super busy with assisting in the instructing for these courses.

This week is the water filtration course. You might remember that back in the Spring we actually had a student come to know Christ through this course. Pray that our students would be encouraged and that if any of them don't know Jesus that they would be confronted with the truth of the Gospel and that their hearts would be softened to embrace Him.

Next week will be an especially long one because it is well drilling which means long days in order to get all of the instruction done.

It is a great time of year and we're so blessed to be here doing this work. Thanks for all the love and support! 

Prayer Needs:

• Pray for our students to be encouraged and fully equipped physically and spiritually for the field. 
• Pray for our staff of instructors to communicate clearly.
• Pray for our family as we work to stay flexible and love one another well.

East Africa Here He Comes!

Hi friends and family,

Well, after all of the on again off again Kyle finally has a ticket and itinerary for his November trip to Kenya! Everyone say "YAY!" and then immediately begin to pray for his safety and ministry while he will be in country.

Many of you may be wondering what Millie and I will be up to during Kyle's three week absence. Well, for the first part we will be around home sticking to normal stuff and trying to get a jump on the holiday madness. Then we'll make our rounds for some visits to family and friends.

Kyle arrives back just before Thanksgiving so we've arranged for him to fly back into a city near our family so that we can stay and celebrate the holiday together.

The time between now and when he heads to Kenya is going to be crazy with a side of crazy. Fall water technologies courses start in less than two weeks and then we have a few random events and things on the agenda for the latter part of October- including our 8th anniversary! Woah!

Then to Kenya Kyle goes- I have to try and keep my jealousy down. Although I am not currently jealous of the immunizations and oral typhoid vaccine that he is taking.

Thanks for the way you love our family and how you invest in us. Keep the love and prayers coming!

Weekly Prayer Need:

• Pray for us as we prepare for a very busy season. 
• Pray for additional supporters to join our team. 
• Pray for Kyle as he works out the details of his trip.

Newsletters and Prayer Needs

Hi everyone,
This is gonna be quick! Our newsletters went/are going out this week, both by email and snail mail. You should have already received the e-newsletter, but the mailed newsletter may be a few days behind. If you didn't receive one or the other and would like to please contact us by email. We want you to know all the big picture stuff going on in our lives and the ministry God has called us too and these updates are the best way for that to happen.

As for the rest of life? Well, we are busy, but hoping to squeak in a break over the long Labor Day weekend before Equip fall courses begin.

Prayer Needs:

• Pray for us as we seek God's will for our housing situation. We are blessed to be housesitting for this year, but we are trying to be proactive in seeking out a place for our family to grow and thrive in more long term. Pray that we would be patient and full of faith through the process. 
• Pray for this coming week at Equip. Pray that God would make clear the direction for the ministry and how He wants to grow and sustain it's work. 
• Pray that Kyle and I would be intentional with our time and resources so that every area of our life would be a reflection of Christ. 

All righty. Have a great holiday weekend and enjoy the last lingering days of summer with someone you love.

K&J+M

How the Hoovers Do Vacation

Hi framily, (not a typo)

We're back in our hills and recovering somewhat slowly from our week of family vacation. It was bliss and a reminder that no matter what you are doing in life it is always good, even necessary, to take a break.

It was also just a plain ole' fun time with our extended Hoover family.

By that I mean we ate too much.

Millie got an overdose of her big Hoover cousins- one that she is still recovering from with an almost constant stream of asking for "KayKay and Bubba". We splashed in the pool, played in the sand, took afternoon naps and yes, Kyle and I even snuck a date night or two in.

Here are a few pics to document the week!

Millie with her beloved KayKay

For anyone who knows her it should come as no surprise that Millie's favorite activity was eating...in the house, by the pool, on the beach...wherever. Good thing we brought Chef Poppi along.

Like we said we are in vacation recovery mode. We are putting together our latest newsletter and should have it in the mail within the week. It feels like we have jumped back into life here with both feet and we have a very full fall ahead.

Here are a few things that you can pray for us:

• Pray for us as we plan the next few months. They will be busy with Equip classes, a trip to Kenya for Kyle, a few conferences and the holidays. 
• Pray for Equip as the ministry grows and changes to meet the needs of our missionaries and students.
• Pray for Kyle and myself to be of one mind as we minister, parent and love one another.

Soggy Summer

Folks, we are soggy. Our house already sits on a spring and there is a part of the yard that is so saturated that it is impossible to mow and is slowly turning into a pond. That means that Kyle has had a heck of a time catching up on mowing the lawn after our whirlwind two week trip. It was Millie high by the time we got home and the rain just won't let up long enough to get it mowed...but I digress.

Things are good here in the hills and we are enjoying a couple weeks of normal day to day. We don't have any other big support trips on our horizon. We leave in a week or so to go on our annual Hoover beach week! And all the Hoovers said, "AMEN!"

We're working on prep for fall Equip training courses, marketing and social media (which is my new job, imagine that!), planning for some conferences we will be attending and supporting our folks already serving on the field.

Last Sunday we had the privilege of sharing in Asheville with our church there. Trinity PCA was our church when we lived in Asheville and they have been generous and supportive during our time on the field and now our time here in the U.S. They truly bless us so we were excited to share what we are now doing and encourage the body at Trinity in how they can be a part of God's global work. Thanks Trinity for always welcoming and loving our family! We are incredibly glad to be near Asheville again!

I'm also going to be hopping on board with a new online community for women. Velvet Ashes, is a heart dream in it's early stages. The idea is to create an online community for women serving overseas.

It will be a community that connects these women who face very real challenges and have very real needs with one another for encouragement. Give Velvet Ashes a "Like" on facebook to show your support if you don't mind!

That is the long and short of what is up with us this week. I think Kyle and I just feel like there is so much to be done. There are so many needs and the greatest need is that we get the Gospel to where it is going, I think it was F.H Henry who is known for saying "The Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time." Yeah, we are trying to get it there in time. Pray for us as we do this work God has called us to.

Prayer Needs:

• Pray that we would be focused in our work.
• Pray that the enemy would not find a stronghold to discourage us in support raising and this walk of faith.
• Pray that we would take time to rest in this season of craziness.
• Pray that we would be full of love, patience and compassion as we work alongside others for the same purposes.

There's No Place Like Home!

Welp, we made it through 2+ weeks of travel pretty much in one piece. Since July 5th we have criss-crossed North Carolina and been through 5, count em' 5, states with a toddler in tow. Millie has slept in closets and corners and we have slept in a different bed almost every night, but we've finally made it home!

We were blessed to have good weather almost the entire time. It was a great time of sharing about the ministry and seeing friends and family all over the place in the process. Millie got to see a space shuttle up close and personal when we stopped for a couple of hours to stretch our legs at the Air and Space Museum in D.C. I learned that Maryland is more than coast. Who knew there was so much in that sliver of land between VA, PA and WV? We did get to enjoy the Northeast heat wave and sweated our way through an afternoon in Pittsburgh.

That is just the way we roll, right?

We finally made it back to our hills and we are trying to get back to "normal"- whatever that is! We are home, for the most part, for the next few weeks and then we will take a bit of a breather at the beach for the Hoover family beach week!

Our support raising efforts are an ongoing process and one that we could really use your prayers for. God has continued to bring community around us to encourage our hearts spiritually and financially. We are confident He will complete the good work that He has started, but there are days when we need a boost of encouragement.

So we made it through 2 weeks of travel stateside. Not sure if we're ready to tackle international travel with a toddler. But...you never know with us!

Prayer Needs

• Pray that we will see fruit from our support raising efforts.
• Pray for Equip as the pursuit of a new director continues and fall courses are on the horizon
• Pray for us as a family to remain patient and gracious with one another through a hectic season of life.

On the Road...Again!

The Queen City trip seems like a million years ago at this point! We were home for a rainy 4th and now we are back on the road for a massive two week trip through Eastern NC, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Anyone else already tired? Yeah, me too.

In other news, Equip International just launched their facebook page this week. "Like" the page to see more information about our upcoming classes and to read about our missionaries scattered across the globe. Equip truly is a unique missionary training and sending agency and the facebook page will allow you to experience the uniqueness of the ministry up close and personal. 

We covet your prayers as we travel, share and work on the road all with an 18 month old wiggle worm in tow.

Prayer Needs:

• Safety as we travel
• Grace and patience as a family as we navigate a crazy schedules, unfamiliar places, and long car rides.
• Clarity and passion to communicate our calling to those we are sharing with and faith that God already is preparing the hearts of those we are asking to join our team.

Thanks friends!
The Hoovers (Kyle, Jessica and Millie!)

Trip to the Queen City

We are unpacking our bags from yet another journey. We spent the better part of this week hanging around Charlotte, NC. We were able to stay with family so Millie got to enjoy some good hang time with her Hoover cousins.  {watermelon eating, splash park, playground sliding, Chick-fila, she was a happy girl!)

We spent a year and half prior to our move to Marion living in the Charlotte area so we are familiar with the lay of the land. We have to say that we don't miss it at all, ok with the exception of our church there, we don't miss it at all. We really and truly miss the amazing community that they are and loved seeing some of our Exodus family and updating them on what we are doing.

It was an encouragement to share in the hearing of the Word on Sunday and share meals (full of good conversation and lots of laughter) throughout the week with friends. It truly reminded us that Christ is our bond though miles may separate us. Kyle was even able to share the vision of Equip with another Charlotte area church and hopefully connect them with one of our Equip missionaries for help with future overseas ministry!

This week we'll be doing a bit more planning for the remaining weeks of summer and hope to enjoy a bit of family time around the 4th before we head out on another journey.

A lot of folks have asked about how Millie does traveling. She is a rockstar 90% of the time, but we all have our limits, right? We still have quite a bit of travel a head of us so if you could keep her in your prayers that would be amazing. She is a wiggle worm so prolonged sitting while awake is borderline torture for her.

Other prayer needs:

• Continue to pray for folks to partner with us financially. We believe God has called us to this approach to providing for the ministry we are a part of and so we are trusting that He is on the other side faithful to provide. 
• Pray that Kyle and I will communicate well and love each other well through this season of our family and ministry. 
• Pray for Equip as an organization as we face a time of (good) transition. Pray that vision would be cast and that those working with us would be refreshed and inspired for the work ahead. 

If you are interested in joining our e-newsletter mailing list send your info to internationalhoovers(at)gmail(dot)com 

Early Summer Update

Hello to everyone,

It has been awhile. A whirlwind of awhile and much has happened.

Let me back up a bit. In April we were blessed to make the move to Marion, NC. The day after we moved Kyle began teaching water technologies courses for the Equip Spring semester. That meant 3 weeks of non-stop classes. It was exhausting for us all, but hey, that is why we are here!

After the classes ended in early May we were able to settle into our new home a bit more, but only a bit more because since the beginning of May we have burned up the highways traveling and reconnecting with friends far and wide.  We hope that many of them will grow into a community of supporters for our family and ministry. That really is what this summer is all about.

We've been all around Western NC, all throughout Georgia and around the Triad (Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem area) for support trips thus far. It has been fruitful to reconnect with old friends and share with close friends and family the details of what we are doing both here in Marion and around the world.

We will be heading out on a few more trips to other parts of North Carolina this month and up into Pennsylvania and Ohio in July. We would love to see many of you along the way!

Kyle was originally planning to go to Kenya in July but that trip has been postponed until November to accommodate the schedule of a Kenyan pastor who will be accompanying him. That will allow us to solely focus on support raising this summer which is a blessing.

In the fall Kyle will be teaching more training courses and will be working full time with Equip.

That is a quick update for curious folks!

I will be blogging once a week from here on out and always feel free to contact us at internationalhoovers(at)gmail(dot)com

Weekly Prayer Needs:

• Pray for encouragement as we support raise.
• Pray that we would be constant in prayer and steadfast in our faith that God will provide.
• Pray for wisdom as we get involved in our local community. 
• Pray for protection as we travel.

She's Walking and We're Walking By Faith

Well, we all knew it would happen someday despite my attempts to knock her feet out from under her. Yes, Miss Millie took her first steps this past week. She is wobbly at best and she still holds tight to her old faithful (and quick) mode of transportation; crawling. However, she is well on her way to joining the ranks of the rest of us two footed folks. I'll update with pictures soon.

In other news we are putting together a new print letter and e-newsletter. Look for that in your mailbox and inbox very soon! We are continuing to walk in faith toward our calling at Equip. We ask that you prayerfully consider walking with us. We hope to be at Equip full time by the end of this coming March. Gulp.

That means some big steps in the near future. A few points of prayer if you don't mind.

• Ministry Partners (both individuals and churches)

• Housing (We need a place to live in...obviously. We also need wisdom to know if we should buy, rent or depend on a temporary place that is low or no cost.)

• Finances (We are depending on God to make our ends meet both now and in the future) 

• Energy (Energy to do all we need to do in the next few month to prepare for the ministry ahead)

 We are praying that this season of Advent is proving to be a time full of expectation and joy over the King who came in swaddling clothes and over the same King who  is coming again. Look for more pictures from all our holiday adventures in the near future!

Short Week

We had a short one last week because we stole a couple of days of rest at the beginning of the week- but somehow when you have a short week it always ends up being crazier in the end. You have to cram 5 days into 3 days! We’ve come to expect this and we are hanging on here in Liberia with each passing week and standing in awe of God’s ability to sustain through even the most unexpected of situations. It doesn’t take being a missionary in the middle of nowhere Liberia to experience God’s grace and sustaining love in our lives. I hope that you’re experiencing that right where you are.

Staff meeting, spiders, new faces, lots of laughter, even more headaches and a few bumpy car rides, Liberian English ruining our vocabulary…that just about sums up the week.

This week Kyle heads back out to New Yourpea to finish a few things on the water system that he installed a couple of weeks ago. Plus, someone (and it isn’t me!) has a Birthday this week. He doesn’t really want to talk about it, but personally I do, because he’s a great man and 30 is not something to cry over- not that he’s been crying over it just misting a little bit- and I think that 30 is going to be the best decade yet for us! I’m not going to mention that I have a couple of years left in my 20s…that makes him feel bad. phhhhttttt…Leave him some Birthday love on the blog this Wednesday and read tomorrow’s post to find out about his Birthday present.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for us as we travel this week

Pray for rest and endurance to continue this race.

Pray for our marriage as we struggle to carve out time for one another here.

Pray for those that we serve and serve with to see and hear the Gospel clearly.

Weekend Away

Over the weekend we made a break for it to Monrovia. Kyle’s eyes were beginning to look glassy and I feared I was losing him to the dark side. It was time for a little R&R. We’re feeling much better- amazing what hot water and internet that moves faster than a tree sloth can do for the soul!

Last week was an interesting week. Kyle went to the village where they are transporting refugees to the camp (they call it a way station) to oversee the installation of an emergency water system. Can anyone else put “emergency water system installation” on their resume? Didn’t think so!

I spent a couple of days in maternity ward of Saclepea Comprehensive Health Center (SCHC) and got to see a couple of births and work with some expectant moms! I have to say that I was incredibly impressed with the midwives at SCHC. They have been doing this for years and I learned a lot just watching them. Just my element! Also exciting news is that I was able to finish all requirements to submit for certification with DONA International as a birth doula! I will FINALLY be certified! Kyle is happy about this because he thinks the hoops that I have had to jump through are ABSOLUTELY ridiculous- in some ways he is right…but it’s what you do! Soon and very soon I can put CD(DONA) behind my name…Ahhhhhhh….

We’re headed back up to our Ganta home either today (Monday) or Tuesday morning. We hop right back into the thick of things. The majority of the refugee influx has moved to the south (another county is now being heavily impacted) as fighting has moved south towards the capital of Cote d’Ivoire. The situation in Ivory Coast is increasingly desperate and civil war is imminent. The international press is giving little to no attention to the situation in light of Libya, Japan and the riots in the Middle East.

It’s hard to remember in the midst of all of that is going on in the world that God is always, eternally, now and forever in control. Through our time here in Liberia we have been reminded how little control we have over this world. It’s easy to think in the perceived safety of our daily lives, routines and schedules that we exert some little tidbit of control over everything that happens. That is pride folks. Dirty, stinkin’ rotten pride and God hates it. Sorry to be so blunt- but we live with people who have been through decades of civil war. There is no pretense of control here- lots of other issues- but no pretense of control. No, God is the one that has numbered the hairs on our heads and holds everything together. Living here in Liberia we are reminded just how tenuous life is. It is a lesson that I hope Kyle and I won’t soon forget.

So in that light we move forward- trusting that God has us in the palm of His hand. Won’t you trust Him with us?

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for continued rest in the midst of busyness and craziness!

Pray for safety as we travel

Pray for wisdom as we look towards the future

Pray for a vision for ministry that reaches deep into the needs of those we encounter on a daily basis.

Pray for our marriage as we daily seek to honor God through the gift of marriage.

Mouse in the House on a Monday

Top of the Mornin’ to Ya! (said in my best leprechaun voice- sorry we missed St. Patrick’s Day)

Hope that Monday in North America is all you ever dreamed it could be. Phhhhhhttttttttt…..yeah, right.

We’re sleepin’ off the week and heeding God’s command to take a day of rest as I write this. Problem is we need more than one day of rest. When I say “we” I mean Kyle. Kyle is exhausted from work and playing mean tricks on me. What is that you say? Kyle? Play tricks on you? No. Never. It just can’t be. Yes, mean tricks on his gorgeous, hard working, intelligent, incredibly forgiving wife.

Picture the scene:

I’m walking across our front yard with arms full of brooms, mops, household cleaners with my heart, mind and muscles set to destroy that black icky stuff growing in our shower. Kyle, walking to the car, passes me by with a smile and sweetly says there is a surprise for me in the house. Awwwwww, my husband in the midst of exhaustion and stress has taken the time to remember his (insert description from the end of the previous paragraph) wife. He gets in the car because his work for the week is not yet through and he must continue on to the far reaches of Nimba County, my knight…sigh….I rush to the front door, unlock it with trembling hands, dropping the broom and mop. I enter the room eyes scanning for a glimpse of my surprise! Then I see it...lying supine on the floor, nose pointed to the ceiling.

WARNING: The following photos may induce panic attacks in those of you that suffer from musophobia (fear of mice).

My surprise was a dead mouse.

Not really what I was hoping for. Panic attacks are not good surprises…ironically enough. The panic didn’t come from the dead mouse. No, the mouse was not the problem. It was the unknown killer of the dead mouse. Is it me or does it seem weird that a mouse would die mid-stride in the middle of the floor? My first thought was a snake! As you recall we had a snake in our house about a week after getting here, but Kyle reminded me that the snake would have eaten the mouse. Then I thought maybe it’s a spider! If it was the spider left no marks and disappeared into the ether (otherwise known as our ceiling). So that leaves a short list of ways that the mouseketeer could have died; a health issue (I’ve heard heart disease is the #1 leading cause of death in mice- all that cheese and peanut butter they steal off of mouse traps) or a tragic accident. I guess we’ll never know.

That is life in Liberia- dead mice in your house, lizards and spiders ogling you from the walls, disgusting smells that you can’t locate wafting across your olfactory nerves on a near constant basis. Yes, life in Liberia- truly unforgettable. (cue the Nat King Cole)

What else happened last week you might ask? Kyle managed to finish up sighting some new well locations at the 1st refugee camp along with his hundred other responsibilities. I finished up a few projects that I’ve been working on and spent some more time getting to know the kiddos that I’m investing in for my Bible Club of sorts. Martin is still my favorite.

Next week Kyle is headed back out to New Yourpea along the border to finish installing a water system. The rush of refugees has calmed over the last week as the conflict has moved to the south of Nimba, so breathe out and know that it’s still safe for Kyle to go out there. I will be spending some time in the maternity ward at Saclepea Comprehensive Health Center. I am excited to spend some time observing there and hopefully giving some input so that Liberian nurses and midwives can better serve their patients.

God continues to be faithful to us here in Liberia. Though we have had times in recent days that we thought we just couldn’t be stretched any further God always proves one step ahead and endlessly merciful. Isn’t that what this is all about anyway? Glorifying God and enjoying Him forever? Right now is a part of forever so we are living here in Liberia, ministering out of our weakness and trying to live out a life of glorifying and enjoying Him in the here and now forever. Thanks for journeying along with us.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for our safety as we travel and work.

Pray for rest in the midst of busyness.

Pray for our hearts to be softened to the Word of God.

Pray for those we work with to be softened by the Holy Spirit to the truth of the Gospel.

No Two Days are Alike But Every Day is the Same

Welp, another week has come and gone in northern Liberia. It’s honestly been a blur. A blur of craziness- every day is different, but full of the same problems and hurdles. Liberia is not the place to come if you value doing things in a timely fashion or expect things to go as planned. You will not survive if that is the case. If you don’t believe that ask Kyle- a guy inquired about working here via email the other day and well, Kyle shot him straight- Liberia is not for anyone that can’t go with the flow.

We did have a public holiday on Wednesday- Decoration Day! That is the day that everyone goes and puts flowers on the graves of their loved ones. I actually think that is a day that we could use in America. A day to set aside to remember the one’s we love that have died. Someone want to start a petition for that? Cuz, petitions seem to work so effectively.

Last week I spent some time doing a little field work. By field work I mean playing with kids. I’ve been getting to know the kids that I am starting a Bible Club for and so far my favorite is this little guy named Martin. I don’t have a pictures of him yet because once you break out a camera in front of Liberian kids you have to be prepared to take everyone’s picture…multiple times. But let me offer up a description in lieu of a picture. Martin lives down at Hope for the Nations (rehab for malnourished kiddos) and he has a huge head. Not just huge because of malnourishment issues, but like huge because that is the way he looks- like a funny lookin’ kid (FLK, if you will). Martin, the FLK, has a head the size of an adult, but a body the size of a 3 year old. He’s been malnourished so who knows he might be 17 there is no real way to know for sure, but nonetheless he is one FLK. He is also a funny actin’ kid, the other day when I was having some of the kids help me with a small work project (yes, I do enlist child labor on a regular basis- it’s what missionaries do) and most of the kids are more than eager to help- obnoxiously eager at times- and in walks Martin. Martin, all 3 feet of him, struts around the place (without any pants on mind you) scoping out the work and doing what only can be described as “supervising”. Not once does he make a motion to help or act eager like the other children. Nope, Martin struts around the place, checks out the lay of the land, tips his proverbial hat to me and with a spring in his step exits the building.

I’m in love.

What a man.

Speaking of amazing men, Kyle is hanging on for dear life. Somewhere in the last 4 months he became the person that everyone calls for the answers to life’s most burning questions like, “Mr. Kyle, when are you coming to the office?”, “Mr. Kyle, where is my money for unloading the truck?”, “Mr. Kyle, Mobile 3 needs new bushings…so we need some money.” “Mr. Kyle, Mr. Kyle, Mr. Kyle, MR.KYLE!!!!!” I think God’s preparing him for children…yeah, I’ll stick with that answer.

So that leads us to this week. A week where the only certain thing is that life in Liberia is full of uncertainty…and weird smells…really, there is some weird smell in our house that I can’t find and it is driving me crazy. Arggggghhhhhhh….so pray for us, mmmmkkkkk?

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray we maintain sanity.

Pray for rest.

Pray for communion for us as husband and wife and with the Lord.

Pray for us as we minister to those around us who need to be touched by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pray for vision and purpose as we plan for the next 7 months and beyond.

When Plans Change

We’ve been here in Liberia four months. Four months in which nothing has gone as planned. Nope, our plans have been flipped upside down by a few thousand (try 50,000+) refugees milling around Liberia’s eastern border. This past week we began to hear about fighting on the other side. Everyone take a deep breath and be reassured that we are in no immediate danger. Kyle and I are a long way from the border, 5 hours away to be exact, and the fighting is in the Ivory Coast not here in Liberia.

The fighting has however sent a rush of refugees over the border into the areas surrounding our clinics. The last month or so felt like a stale mate as far as the refugee “crisis” was concerned. This feels as if a dam has broken that had been holding thousands of refugees back. One of our colleagues that went out to our Buutuo clinic, a hotspot for Ivorian refugees crossing over, reported thousands of refugees packed like sardines into a local school to sleep.

We’ve had such an unusual experience in the time that we have been here. Lots of curve balls have been thrown our way and it’s left us wondering what it is that God is trying to accomplish through our hands here.  The needs are great. The work is plenty. Pray that the Gospel can be made known through our lives and through this situation. We are praying for peace in Ivory Coast and continued peace in Liberia.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for peace in Ivory Coast and for peace to reign in our own hearts.

Pray for rest for us.

Pray for safety wherever we may travel.

Pray for wisdom on the way forward in our ministry here.

February Flying By…

Welp, here comes another week. A week in which we promise to be better at blogging. O.k., we’ll really try- I retract my promise.

I (Jessica) wrapped up the Clinical Management of Rape training on Friday and there are now 17 clinicians trained to treat victims of sexual violence in Nimba County! Kyle’s WATSAN team has been working all over Nimba repairing water points and even doing much needed repairs to the roads. Last Friday refugees began to be moved to the camp. So yeah, we’ve been busy!

This week is the monthly staff meeting. We’ll share the highlights at the end of the week!

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for our family as we miss them and they miss us!

Pray for our travels all around the county and back and forth to Monrovia

Pray for our relationships with those we work with that they would be fruitful for the Gospel.

Pray for us as we endure the heat of Liberia- without A/C or a fan.

M.I.A. on a Monday

Hey Folks and Faithful Readers,

Sorry about yesterday (and the majority of today!). We spent a few days relaxing in Monrovia before returning back to our home here in Nimba County. It was a nice break from Ganta and our constant work. We ate something other than rice and beans and enjoyed Dubai One, our new favorite Middle Eastern television station. All in all a really nice weekend- just too short!

We returned back to Ganta late Sunday. We put away all the goodies we got from the grocery store and readjusted our bodies to sleeping without air conditioning. Even a couple days of A/C spoiled us!

This week is a busy one as usual!

I (Jessica) am organizing and conducting a training on the Clinical Management of Rape. This training will allow many clinics across Nimba County to serve women (and men) who are the victims of rape or other sexual gender based violence across their communities. Kyle is continuing to direct his WATSAN team across Nimba. Our work (both health and WATSAN) now encompasses both our regular responsibilities as well as work with the Ivorian refugee population. Kyle and his team have much work to do in the next 3 months!

We will write more later to fill you in on the details of our work and the way that the Lord is working in our hearts and through our work. We confess that words fall short all too often.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for our sanity through long days, short nights and complicated work.

Pray for the Word to be alive in our hearts and in our lives.

Pray for our relationships with everyone we work with and alongside of here in Liberia.

P. S. There was a “devil” in Ganta yesterday. He was a Valentines devil apparently. Our friend Kristen had to pay him off so he would stop dancing next to the car. Happens. All. the. Time. Welcome to Liberia.

Short Week, Long Weekend!

Last week we worked hard and enjoyed the likes of Grandpa. Glad to know he is a big hit even outside of Liberia! This week we are cutting it short in Ganta and on Thursday will be heading down south (not to the land of the pine unfortunately, pat on the back for the Old Crow Medicine Show reference) to Monrovia for a long holiday weekend. What holiday might you ask? Armed Forces Day…ironic in a country that has been disarmed, but we will ignore that small oversight and take a few days of a much needed break.

Just in case you needed to see Grandpa again…

Remember the story about the bats? The roasted ones on the side of the road by the pineapples? Well, turns out one of our drivers, Franklin (or Frankie to his friends) is a true Nimba-ite and picked a few up on his way back from the bush. Our friend/co-worker Kristen stood in shock and awe as Frankie proudly pulled his bats out of the glove compartment of his vehicle. I’m sad to say that I was not there and once again failed to get a shot of the bats. The next day when I saw Frankie I gave him a big “No sir!” about the bat-mongering. He was perplexed and clung to the fact that they are sweet and delicious. So we had to ask, “What’s the best part of the bat?” All Frankie said as a delighted grin crept over his face was “the entrails”.

Oh, golly goodness. We’re not in Kansas anymore.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for rest.

Pray for endurance and patience when days are long and frustrating

Pray for us as the weather heats back up. Our few days of cool nights and mornings are beginning to pass.

Pray for discipline to stay in the Word and be led by the Spirit in all we do.

Pray for Jessica as she plans a Bible Club for children in the EQUIP neighborhood.

Pray for Kyle as he hires new WATSAN workers to complete the work ahead.

Pray that our lives would be conduits of the Gospel to those that we work with.

Officially Monday

Officially at the 3 month mark.

Officially “some” rain has returned (not full on rainy season just the occasional rain to knock the dust off)

Officially seeing a little bit of a slow down from the crazy pace of a couple of weeks ago. A little bit of a slow down…

Officially almost through with Season 2 of House…We officially love Chinese bootleg DVDs.

Officially 30,000+ refugees in Nimba County according to UNHCR.

Last week was busy, but we ended the week with our monthly staff meeting. That is when almost all of the EQUIP Liberia staff come to Ganta for a 3 day meeting of the minds. We talk about the previous month and usually laugh a good bit. It’s a strange/funny/interesting/unpredictable time. It’s meeting in which someone’s chair being taken can result in a 2 hr. long side meeting about chair etiquette. If you ever doubted Liberian’s ability to argue and discuss completely banal things well, just come over for a staff meeting. All I can say is “WOW!”  We eat Liberian food for lunch- rice and greens, pumpkin soup…It’s pretty good. It’s 3 days of surprise every time! I would have taken pictures, but my camera batteries died. Sorry-o

We’re going to go out into the field some this week- hopefully! We’ve had a lot of issues with our vehicles, meaning…

 Too much work + Not enough vehicles = Difficulty in getting stuff done!

Although, word on the street is that there is a new truck in Monrovia! WAHOO!

I’m keeping the Monday update short this week…officially short…

God is officially good. Liberia is officially hot. We are officially blessed.

Weekly Prayer Needs:

Pray for our sanity.

Pray for continued good health.

Pray for our use of time and resources.

Pray for our marriage to grow and be a light to all around us.