Issue #21
May 30, 1999

Dear Friends and Family,
It has been a few weeks since I have written. The first week there wasn't much to write about so I decided to wait, and the last two have been so busy that I haven't had the time. I don't see the next 5 weeks of school being any less busy either.

Some of the events that have happened recently:
May 19 was mid-term. Time for all of the grades to be turned in and for parents to find out how their kids are doing. A joyous time for some, and not so joyous time for others.

May 20 was Open House. This is an opportunity for parents, dorm parents, and other students to go around and see what is going on in the different classes around school. My class did a play called, "Cedric the Centipede." It was based on I Corinthians 12. We had the classroom all displayed with kids work and lots of people came through to see. There was also an art contest going on. One of the girls in my class won one of the prizes. She was very excited. Her picture will now go to Abidjan for the next level of the competition, along with 8 others from the school.

May 21 was the beginning of Free Weekend so we got out at noon. I wasn't planning on going on a trip. I just decided to go on Thursday night. A student teacher, Kristine and I, headed out to go to Goumere and then on up to Bouna for our Bible Institute's graduation. Kristine hadn't had a chance to see much of Africa except Bouake and Abidjan so I thought this would be a good chance to see what Africa is really like. We followed Darell Nichols and his daughter's, Sarah and Rebekah, who he has just picked up from ICA, to Goumere. We stayed with them for the night. We got to visit their farm of animals, ducks, goats, chickens, deer, dogs, rabbits, etc. The next morning, we followed Darrell up to Bouna for the graduation. It was really neat to be there. I was also able to see the Forlines, (General Director for Free Will Baptist Foreign Missions, and his wife.) We stayed at the Cousineau’s house that night. We left to go back to Bouake the next day. It would have been an uneventful trip except when we got to the bridge. They had it completely blocked off so we couldn't cross it. If we didn't get to cross it we would have to turn around and go a long way back to get on a different road. Mike Cousineau went and talked to the guys on the bridge and was able to get them to move so we could go on across. I was glad we were following him. If anyone could get them to move, Mike could.

May 24 was a big event. Our first grade teacher, Kathy, who was my roommate until she got married last year, gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Matthew Ryan, at the Baptist Hospital in Ferke. We had all be anxiously awaiting his birth.

May 26 started our semi-annual Field Council Meeting. I had to spend the prevous few days getting ready for a substitute. Finding a sub these days is kind of difficult since we are short staffed. The field council meetings went well. It was also our spiritual retreat. Bro. James Forlines spoke. He did a good job. On Friday my sub was sick, so I had to find another one. I think my class had 3 different sub's in that day. The field council was over on Friday.

May 29. The Holland's were still here because Ernest went to Yamosoukro for the graduation of another of FWB guys from the Bible Institute. Elaine and the kids spent the day with me at ICA. That evening, Mary Ruth Wisehart and her niece, Jennifer, arrived in Bouake so I went out to eat with them.

May 30. That brings us to today. I did my usual teaching Sunday School. I hadn't had my class in two weeks though. I was sick two weeks ago, and we don't have Sunday School on Free Weekend. It was nice to have that time with them again. I arrived at church to realize that I was supposed to be playing with the band and completely forgot about it. Ooops! I don't think this week is going to be any less busy. I'll just have to hit the ground running.

Does anyone there who reads this know much about dogs or know a vet who might have some wisdom? My dog is still sick. He was getting better but his skin broke out again this week. He has a rash with sores all over his body and most of his hair has fallen out. He has been to the vet here and has had several shots and been on several different medications. As I said his skin was almost cleared up until this week, and he has started to get hair on his face again. He has been treated for fungus, parasites, and/or mites, so it doesn't seem that there could be any other living creature in or on him. After talking with a doctor, it seems like maybe the only possible option now is an allergy, like maybe something he eats. So if anyone out there has any knowledge about anything like this, I would appreciate it. I am at my wits end as to know what to do and feel really sorry for him. He is a 5 1/2 month old German Shepherd.

Prayer Request:
I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago. We though it was over but it isn't. The students around Cote d'Ivoire are still striking. This week they got destructive. They went through town tearing things up. There are many boken windows in town and very few stoplights that still work. Most of them are mangled. We have heard there is to be another demonstration this week. When I was coming home last night, I noticed six or seven armed military in front of one of the schools. (This is to keep the students from coming in at night and tearing up the school.) Please pray that this will end soon, and that people who do have to go through town will be kept safe. I think I'm just staying out at ICA for awhile.

Also pray for a couple of my friends that I work with here. I can't really mention any details, but both of them are having things going on with their families at home. These are both difficult situations and it makes it hard to be separated by all of the miles.

Pray for all of the people who are planning to go home for good or home for furlough that they can get everything ready. Even though we still have 5 weeks left of school, people are even now having to begin making plans.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
In Christ,
Traci