Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Short Snake story


Caleb and the dog found a viper in the yard yesterday morning.They both did not touch it, (as they are taught to do...) But ran to get me.Armed with my pellet gun, we gave the snake more trouble than he gave us.First snake in our yard EVER since we've been in africa.


The snake was not big, about 15 inches or so...


Thankfully, nobody was hurt. So we're thankful. We hope it is a long time before we see the next one!


Thanks,


Tom


Saturday, November 25, 2006

Party African and American Style

Party African Style- American Style!



We're back in Kadiolo. We arrived after a long trip. Our car, so nicely repaired in Bamako, seems to need a
clutch... At least the clutch seems to be slipping. Buying a used car does have a bit of a repair curve
doesn't it?



We arrived in time to find out that Fatou, a young woman who sells food nearby our study room, is getting
married. She is going to be the 3rd wife of a m-lim man. His other two wives lives in Bamako. So he is going
to be here (at least part time) with her...Anyway, I went over to the reception. I took a gift, and she was so pleased that I came. She re-dressed in her wedding dress so I could take her picture. Fatou is a person that we've made the effort to share the love of Christ. There was singing and dancing, and they sat me down to a big meal of riz gras & meat. (rice and meat sauce...) I prayed and wished the best for her in what I see to be a difficult future.But even tonight there are still loud drums and dancing near her courtyard. We can hear them from our house!So they are happy about the situation...



We also had 2 new girls arrive in Kadiolo. They are working with an organisation called "One Story."The SB mission is hosting them, and asked if we could help with these two girls who are in our region.These two girls are going to be in a village near us. Half an hour away. They are going to be living in the
village chiefs courtyard. No fridge, no ac, no electric, no flushy toilet. They will do this 4-5 days a week,
then they will come to Kadiolo each week for a 2 day rest at our guest house where all of this stuff is
available. Pray for Susan and Amy. They will be learning Shannara, a Senoufou dialect, and after a year of
that, will be translating Bible stories so the people will have them in their own language.





Today, the 25th, we celebrated thanksgiving. We hosted 15 Americans at our house...Ernie and Jan, Susan and Amy (It was their first day down here with us...) and the Curry family, with their 2 short term workers...We were all so thankful for several things. So many of us down in this region, for one. A year ago, it was
Lisa and I... We're thankful for good health. Ernie and Jan particularly. Of course, we had a wonderful meal of mashed potatoes, roast chickens, apple pie, pumkin pie, fruit salad, and other delectibles..




What are you thankful for today? Amy and Susan are sleeping in the village tonight.

I bet they're wishing for a flush toilet! :-) I bet they're thankful it is dry season, and nights are cool.

Last night was down all the way to 68 degrees. Ooh
Thanks for stopping by, God bless,Tom & Lisa Seward


Sunday, November 12, 2006

Bamako Meetings

Bamako Meetings


We came up to Bamako to meet with our other WorldVenture colleagues. We are 5 couples here in Mali, that make up our Mali Worldventure field.Two couples serve in Bamako. One couple does translation in Fourou, but are currently on home assignment. Ernie and Jan Eadelman just arrived from medical leave in America, and will be working again in Kadiolo.


We are so glad to have them back with us.




Part of having them back is meetings with the rest of the field to
make decisions about things we were waiting for the Eadelman's to have input on.
Here is a pic from the meeting.



Bamako is a difficult place to come to. It is nice because there are other missionaries. The kids love it because they have friends here. But the roads are so congested, and police stop you at every whim, it seems.Yesterday we were stopped in our new car. The policeman asked for my car papers. They were all in order. He looked disappointed.

He asked for my drivers license. (Issued in Mali) It is a temporary one, the real one comes in 90 days. He was bothered because the temporary paper had no photo. I said it was your department of motor vehicles that issued me this license, if you don't like it, talk to them.


So then he was bothered about the fact that we have tinted windows. That demands a fine of 15,000 francs. (about $30) Ernie was with us, so he had to talk a good while to work out that problem.So today we are scraping off the tint, so we are legal again!



This morning, (because the window scraping wasn't finished...) we decided to walk to a local protestant church that worships in french. Caleb came to me. "Daddy, please can we go to the American church." One thing the kids look forward to every Bamako trip is to go to English speaking church. There is a body of ex-pats, and missionaries. Some are working in school ministries, medical ministries, or some embassy people. They hold an English speaking Sunday School. We usually try to make the service if we can.(Caleb does Sunday School in Bambara in Kadiolo, Ben's age does it in french.)So how can you refuse a plea to go to church? So we decided not to drive the car yet, but we taxied over.It was a nice morning...And Caleb got to have SS with friends in English.

Here is a pic of his big smile as he sits in Sunday School!



Here is a pic from last week's story. Youth BBQ at our house!



Once again, Thanks for being interested.

Thanks for praying. Thanks for giving.

Tom & Lisa Seward



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Saturday, November 04, 2006

More Pics

These are the two pics from my visit with Hilary in Dakar.
We did go-carts one day, and spent a night in a hotel with air conditioning.
We ordered pizza, and ate ice cream. Just some out of the ordinary fun.
Dad & Daughter. We did have a good time...





Lots of NEWS

Lots of new News!

Yes, I did miss posting the blog last week.
My computer's power cord was shocked out of existance.
I was able to get a new one, and am able to run like normal again.
Oh for reliable electricity! :-)


I had a great visit with Hilary at Dakar Academy.
I was able to visit her for 5 days over a long weekend
break. I hadn't seen the school yet, and while Hilary was/is doing really well there, she wanted me to come see. So I was able to do that.
We enjoyed some things about Dakar. Pizza, Go-carts, and old friends. Our friends from Korhogo days in Cote D'Ivoire, Charley and Sherri Campbell are in Dakar.
Hilary and Erica have been buds for years. So we got to spend some
time with them. (Our Caleb was born on their son Brian's 4th birthday!)


When I got back to Bamako, we began to seriously car search. We had already transferred our car funds from World Venture out the the Mali field. So we were ready. The first car was too new, the second was too old.
The next (like in the three bears...) was just right.
We were able to buy it for a competitive price, and
the seller spent 3 days helping me do all the car papers that are needed to transfer ownership. It is a Mitsubishi Pajero. We really did not expect to be able to afford this kind of car. But God provided, and here it is! Once again, we are amazed by God's provision. Once again He gave over and above what we were expecting.


A BIG thank you to many of you who gave specifically to car fund. Those gifts were saved for such an occasion as this! Thanks so much for your help & generosity!

We are excited about the arrival of our colleagues, Ernie and Jan Eadelman. They come back next week. We're celebrating their arrival by having Mali field meetings. Everyone in Kadiolo is looking forward to seeing them again.

Youth ministries are kicked off again. We had a BBQ at our house last night.
Hamburgers, Watermelon, Sweet Potato fries, Chocolate cake. Most of the kids ate their first hamburger ever last night! We had a good time. Two of our girls were leaving Kadiolo, and we were doing a special goodbye for them. The school situation was not good for them here, and they decided to go back to Ferke, in the
Ivory Coast for school. Everyone will miss them as they were a very active in the group here at church.


Thanks for stopping by- again!
Tom & Lisa Seward

PS I had more pictures than this to upload, but the connection speed wouldn't allow me to do them today. :-(