Muddy Water Ministry

A Day at the Beach

So we went to Africa.  I don't know about you, but when I think of Africa I think of prairies, dessert and very dry weather.  Don't you?!!  Well, when we went to Africa, we were near the beach...and we have the opportunity to go...twice!  So, the first time I, Alyse, went to the coast of an ocean was in Africa.  That's pretty awesome if you ask me.  So, here are a few pictures of Andrew and I "suffering for the Lord" on the beach!

Our African Family

So as promised:

Here are another few pictures from our Africa trip.  I would like to introduce you to the family who housed us our entire trip.  Dr. Gratie and her son Michel.  Dr. was such a source of blessing to us and to those around her.  We were humbled by her giving heart.  She didn't think twice about giving to others; whether this was food, clothing, housing or simply her time.  We saw first hand her giving and God's blessing in her life for being obedient.  Like Abraham, she didn't just receive God's blessings...she was a SOURCE of blessing.   We can only pray that we will be as giving as this wonderful woman...our African "maman!"

Settling In

So it has been a little over 2 weeks since we have arrived home from Africa.  Wow!  It has taken that full amount of time to simply adjust.  We have pretty much settled in!   Andrew started his job back up today and I am still looking.  However, we know that God is in control and our needs are met.  

Over the next several weeks we want to share with you some pictures and stories of our trip.  So...I will start with this one!  

There is no real significance to this photo.  We were in a small village in the interior of the country.  This was the first place that the children were amazed and curious at the "white" people!  This little boy never came up to us, never touched us, but was still so curious!  Even when I look at it now, I think, "Really?  We took this!"  Sometimes I think it belongs in a magazine or something!  

Home Sweet Home

We just wanted to post something really quick to let everyone know we are home!  After over 24 hours of traveling and 4 airports we are here.  We have a lot to process in the next few days, but we wanted to give thanks to God.  We want to thank Him for protecting us while we travel, but most of all for this great opportunity. 

More to come soon!  

Merci

Today is the last time we will write you from Cote D'Ivoire. Why? Because today at 9:25 p.m. we leave for the good ole' US of A. There is no way we can possibly explain the feelings we have in leaving this place. Feelings of sadness as we leave our African family. Feelings of excitement as we head back to the Heartland of America. Back to the place we call home. In the midst of all of these feelings we don't want to forget to say thank you to those who helped us on this mission.

Thank you to all those who so faithfully gave to Muddy Water over these last 5 months. We have been so blessed by the generosity of those who have sacrificed for the sake of the kingdom.

Thank you to all of you who faithfully kept us in your prayers. They have been felt on a daily basis. It has been those prayers that have helped sustain us.

Thank you to Pastor Charles Toakesse and your family for the opportunity to serve you and your ministry. Our lives have been forever changed by your love and kindness.

Thank you to World Changers Mission and Living Water Ministries West Africa for allowing us to serve along side of you. Your examples of servanthood and generosity have touched our hearts forever.

To our friends and family in America, we love you and will see you soon. To our friends and family we are leaving behind, we love you and long for the day we will see you again. Au revoir!

Let Them Know

OK. First, to all of you out there who went to visit World Changers website. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! They are elated at having their very own website. Then to look at their stats, read their comments, etc. makes them even more excited about this new opportunity to take their mission worldwide. Your words of encouragement have been a wind in their sails. So from them to us and us to you...thank you. Thank you for letting them know you care.

Second, to those of you who have not yet gone to visit their site....go check it out. Now! www.worldchangersmission.org. Check out the testimony of the pastor and his church. Go inside WCM and see what a typical service in West Africa looks like. Check out their missionaries they have sent to the interior. This is such a huge deal to them and they need to know that all of you back in the U.S. and otherwise are supporting and cheering them on. It takes no time at all to visit their site and go to the contact page. When you get there PLEASE write them a short line of encouragement. What seems petty and insignificant to you brings a smile to the heart of a church here in West Africa. We all have times where we need a little encouragement. At the beginning of this new venture, this is that kind of time for them. Let them know their work here has not gone unnoticed. Let them know that there are people praying for them form a world away. Let them know that they have the support of their brothers and sisters in Christ, even though you have never met them. Let them know! www.worldchangersmission.org

Now Announcing....

We first want to apologize for not posting in a while.  However, we have been very busy.  After many hours of work, dealing with sketchy African internet connections, broken computers, lack of resources and many other challenges, we are happy and excited to announce:   www.worldchangersmission.org

The website is now up and running!   There were days when we thought it wouldn't be possible.  Days where we wanted to just quit.  However,  God's grace was, once again, more than enough!  

We are promoting the website right here.  Please go and show this amazing church some love.  Learn about their history, see pictures of their services and testimonies, discover the challenges of the pastor's life, partner with them or leave a comment for the church!   You can also be a part of this project by sharing the link with everyone you know! 

Once again, the website is:  www.worldchangersmission.org

Check it out!

Abengourou

Last weekend we had the honor and privilege of attending a Bible School Graduation.  It was in a smaller town about 3 hours away from Abidjan.  The graduation was held on Sunday with a 2 day seminar before.  Because it was a smaller town, we were expecting "humble" accommodations.  Boy, were we wrong!    Apparently, the town we were in was still a kingdom and because of that there was money!    So we were put up in the nicest hotel in town:  this included hot water, air conditioning,  a T.V. and a real mattress!   And all this for $30/night!   It was a refreshing break from our normal life here in Abidjan!  

 

Back to the graduation!   Andrew and I had Friday night off.  We enjoyed sitting and receiving on Friday night.   Then Saturday the madness began!  Saturday there were two seminar sessions.  Each session had two speakers.  So, Andrew spoke in the morning about how to be a disciple of Christ.  I spoke in the afternoon on the Compassion of Christ.   We were prepared  and so were the people who attended.   God showed up and the people were blessed! 

On Sunday our group of 5 broke up and went to two different churches to speak.  Andrew,  another missionary (our translator), and I went to a 4 square church.   Man, did we have fun!  Think of old school Pentecostal dancing meets Africa!  Wow!  Praise and Worship was fun, energetic and tiring to say the least!  Andrew preached and the people received.  We met up with the rest of our group, did a quick change of clothes, ate very fast and headed on to graduation! 

We arrived on time (which is a feat in itself in Africa)!  The graduates were there (13) and maybe twenty other people.  I was really disappointed for the graduates.  They had spent two years of their lives preparing for this day and no one showed up?  Alas, so quickly I forget African time!  Within the hour the place was full!  We praised, we worshipped, the graduates were encouraged, when they received their diplomas we cheered, wives ran up for a kiss, moms hugged, supporters cheered!  It was so fun!   The students' faces said it all!  By the time they walked out of the church, diploma in hand they were beaming!   We didn't know any of their stories, but we know that each one of them has one.  Each one of them made sacrifices to follow Christ.  Each one counted the cost.  Each one endured.  Each one was experiencing God's greatness in their lives!  And we were part of that!

 

After many pictures, hugs and goodbyes we all packed into the SUV and took the 3 hour drive back to Abidjan.  God is doing some amazing things in Cote D'Ivoire.  There is rich soil and a rich harvest is coming!  We are honored to be a part of it!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Well, we finally have a fairly stable internet...so, here are several pictures of life in Africa.  Some are funny, some strange, some sobering, but all are things we have experienced while we have been here!  So, tell us, what do you think?  We want to know!  Let us know you are there.  

Day one!  The Conley Family dropped us off and wished us well.  There were hugs, kisses and maybe a few tears!  But...Africa...here we come!

Lunch in the Garden....yes, those are palm trees that are shading us!  Life is good.

A common sight outside of the church....

Fish anyone?  This is a dried and grilled fish that you can eat as you see it....Yes, Alyse ate some.  No, Andrew did not!  

Pastor Charles laying hands on a woman who came to church on a crutch.  Praise God she left without the crutch!

Andrew laying hands and praying for a man who accepted Christ as Savior for the first time!  

Alyse doing the same.

In Africa, when we praise and worship....we PRAISE and WORSHIP!!!

Andrew getting his preach on in a small town called "Abooboo!"

Let's finish in prayer!

Hope you enjoy these pix!  We have so enjoyed our stay so far.  Please post comments!  Let us know what you think!

Close Encounters...

As of Friday,  April 17, we were officially in the last half of our trip!  The trip has been exciting, busy and full of new experiences.  Nothing has been scary or out of the ordinary....until that day!  Once again, my wonderful husband wanted to add some excitement in our life and he did just that!!

On Friday we were invited to shoot the photography for a wedding.  We started the morning at the salon and everything was going just fine.  In true woman fashion, the bride was running late so we were in quite a hurry to get to the ceremony.  In addition to being late, there was a lot of traffic.   Andrew decided that we were not late enough and here the story begins!   While we were sitting in traffic a huge and awesome military truck pulled up next to us.  Within it, there was about 15-20 military personal armed with fully automatic weapons.  I had the camera on my lap and I saw Andrew look first at the truck, then the camera.  All I said was, "No."   Being the man who wants to document everything, especially something as cool as this truck, he snapped a shot.  It all seemed like it was going well, he didn't get caught and we got a great picture! 

Would I be posting something if this was the end of the story?  Absolutely not!  All of a sudden, in the middle of traffic, the truck stopped and two of the military men ran over to our vehicle.  Now, we are learning French, but still are not fluent.  By the way they were yelling and the looks on their faces, I don't think they were happy.   One of the men reached into the back seat, where we were and grabbed the camera out of Andrew's hand.  Andrew and the man struggled a few seconds with the camera.  Andrew decided to let him have it, as he says, "Because I didn't want him to break it!"   So here we are, no camera, in the middle of traffic, already late for a wedding and now following a military truck full of armed soldiers. 

I just want to thank God for the bilingual people He has given us on this trip.  That day, our driver was bilingual.  Once the truck pulled over and we stopped behind it, our driver was trying to get our camera back.  We found out that taking pictures of military and their equipment is apparently illegal in Cote D'Ivoire.  oops!   The military men explained that because of the political tension between France and Cote D'Ivoire, this was a law.  Much to Andrew's dismay, the military thought that he was French, hence the reason for the "freak out."  Once our driver explained that we were indeed proud citizens of the U.S.A., they apologized, gave us our camera back and shook hands all around. 

And that was it.  No one in the car said another word about it, the military truck took a different route than us and we proceeded to a beautiful wedding.   Thank you Jesus that Andrew is not locked up in an African jail somewhere!  Even more evidence that He is with us everyday! 

On a wifely note:  I do want to take this opportunity to wash my hands of this situation!  I did tell Andrew not to take a picture.  I didn't know it was illegal, nor did our driver, but I was not going to take the chance with 15-20 fully automatic weapons!!  So, husbands....just listen to us!  Sometimes we do have the voice of reason!!

Andrew's Rebuttal:  For those of you who's hobby is photography (Mocha and Amie); when that shot comes along, you just have to take it.  This was that shot.  However, upon receiving my camera back, I was forced to erase the photo.  Man!!!  All that mess and I don't even have the shot to show you.  However, here is a photo from the wedding we attended.