It is interresting to us at our age to see how missions has changed. There are probably not many workers left in the world who have remained with one people group all of their lives and lived in the same area of a country like we did. We changed houses many time, but from day one until we left Burkina forty years later, we remained in touch with our people group, the Bobo Madare. We branched out and did many other kinds of work besides evangelism and church planting among the Bobo. We were involved in mission leadership and education and translation. But underneath it all was the work with the Bobo which continued until our leaving in 1998.
Joel and Elin, you folks have been blessed with such a variety of ministries. God has given you gifts in so many areas, and you have been willing to step up to whatever is needed: church planting, teaching, Marriage Encounter, Mission leadership. And along with these various ministries you have also had to move around a lot!
Before you and Joel finally got together, Elin, we visited you in Ouarkoye and also in Ouagadougou. You rode that Yamaha Dame and travelled on those long, dusty roads. We prayed much for your protection during that time. It seems to me you were in Ouaga when there was unrest and you watched the throngs in the street from your balcony apartment windows with your local friends! That was when you worked with World Relief.
After a year working with WRC you returned to the States and you and Joel finally got together. That was a happy wedding! In our home church and Bubnas' pastorate, Long Hill Chapel. Debbi came and the Phenicie's flew in from Lebanon just in time for it. We stayed with Paul and Jeanie and had a wonderful time, all of us together. Grandpa and Grandma were there too.
When you returned from your honeymoon, you went to live in the parsonage in Coudersport where Joel had been working. That was a nice home with a good yard. We all went there to visit you soon after you arrived there and before we returned to Africa. I remember how you were afraid you would never have a night's sleep again as Joel snored so loudly at night!! We were just there a couple days and had to fly back to Burkina. We appreciated so much your taking John and Jennie in to live with you as they were at a loose end at that time.
One thing about all five of you kids and your spouses, you are always there for each other! That means a lot to us as parents. Family solidarity is a wonderful thing, and something you do not see in all families. We are indeed blessed by all you kids!
The next home you had was in Paris, a second floor apartment in a busy quartier there in the city. Josiah was just a baby when we flew over to see you there for Christmas that year. It was our first glimpse of Josiah and how we enjoyed him. We did not have the money for a trip but scraped and saved. I remember selling my electric sewing machine for that trip - I never used it anyhow! We had fun with you, all cozy in that small apartment. We had African students in for Christmas. And it was at that time we rented a car and all drove together to Normandy to take Fernand back to school. Fun memories!
When you arrived in Côte d'Ivoire, you were sent to the town of Daloa to learn Baoulé. We used to go to Daloa during that period to check our translation project with Lynell Zogbo, so we were able to get a paid trip to go and visit you. Dad remembers how the septic system in that house was all plugged up and he and Joel worked on it for hours. We also helped you get unpacked and I can still picture myself in Joel's office unpacking his books and putting them into the bookcase. We enjoyed Josiah of course in between our time checking the translation.
Later on you lived in Abidjan, first of all out towards the airport. I got to go to Abidjan quite often because I had CEFCA, CPE and FATEAC meetings there as I was a member of all those boards. I usually stayed with you and again had fun seeing Josiah grow up. He always talked French and I loved engaging him in conversation just to hear his beautiful French.
You lived in so many houses there in Abidjan and I think we visited you in all of them. Up on Deux Plateaux and the house where we stayed with the children while you had a Marriage Encounter Weekend. We had fun times with you, sometimes going to the beach or to Bassam to the artisan market. Josiah was having to learn English as you wanted him to attend International School, so I would read to him in English in the evenings when I visited. I remember that he had to do so many hours of English reading and then he got the reward of reading French, which he was used to from French School.
During that period, we were also with you when you were starting that new church. I remember joining the small group in prayer meetings in your living room. Then the house you rented for church services and Angèle's lovely dedication which we attended and the whole church rejoiced and had a meal together afterwards.
We were also in Abidjan when Angèle was born and we visited you in that beautiful Pisam Hospital, overlooking the city. It was fun having a baby in the family again. Later when we lived in San Pedro you came to visit us there and that was special. Later on that year we were at the hospital for the birth of little Nadia, again a very special event.
As overseas workers for so many years, we went through hard times of separation from you all as you grew up. And yet it was amazing to us how often the Lord worked it out that we could be together and watch all of our grandchildren grow in RCI and Burkina and even in Lebanon! That year in 2000 when we worked a year in Côte d'Ivoire at San Pedro was special as we were able to welcome both you folks and Clousers to our home there, as well as visit you in Abidjan.
No one can say that any of us has had a boring lifetime. To this day, our lives continue to be enjoyable, in a different context for sure, but God enriches our lives through all of you kids, as well as through other blessings He loads upon us. Thanks for being part of all this!!
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