WIRED at Christmas!

For me, being in Burkina at Christmas time does not at all feel like it should.  But the good news is that all the festivities that are happening because it’s Christmas have been fantastic!  We have had Christmas concerts and Christmas parties and movies and singing.  Its all been very fun!  On Wednesday we had the annual Wired Christmas banquet.  I had the whole youth group (38 people came!) head out to the Chinese restaurant downtown for dinner.  It was so great!  They all wore such fancy clothes and we had such a great time all eating together and hanging out.  After dinner we headed to the Nehlsen’s house for dessert and some games, pictures, and the final revealing of who every person’s Christmas angel was.  It was so much fun – and while I was looking around I could see that every kid that was there was having a great time too!  That made me so happy! 

The White Queen

The new Alice and Wonderland is one of my favorite movies.  I honestly could watch it over and over (and sometimes I do).  I love the White Queen, played by Anne Hathaway, who always walks around with a lovely smile on her face and her arms high in the air all proper and such.  This woman cracks me up.  She talks with her little accent while taking care of everyone she sees and leads her kingdom with such elegance and manner, all the while happy and joyous.  I laugh because I am so not like that and yet I can be.  The White Queen is genuine - and so am I.  I love my job.  And I have been known to walk around humming a joyous tune and genuinely happy.  Joyful really.

But some days are just harder than others.  And if I walked with my arms in the air, today would certainly be one where they would be down by my side. Thankfully though, I am not a White Queen who has to be proper and perfect all the time, but rather - a real person who can put her hands down and have a hard day. What's amazing about all of this is that in the hard times I still love my job (well so far!) and I am still joyful (thank you Holy Spirit).

For those of you who are curious today was just...life.  Its hard being the only youth leader for a youth group.  It's hard to be a youth leader during finals week.  Its also hard to learn French. But praise Jesus - tomorrow is a new day, and so is the next one. :)

French

My French teachers have not showed up to teach me in the last 3 days - I hope they haven't given up on me :(

I did get a text message saying one had malaria though.

Encouragement!

Yesterday I got a TON of encouragement cards from Mercer Creek Church - the Ellensburg CMA and my original home church.  It was amazing - reading each one just made my day, week, month!  I am so grateful to have so many people praying for me!  Thank you!!