Since it looks like things are cooling off and we might have some rain looming on the distant horizon here in Oklahoma, I thought this was an interesting newsletter. There is a PS that makes it even more interesting. I'm not sure our dorm mom and the dog were amused by it though.
Prayers and warm wishes.
charley.

Issue #67
September 12, 2000

Dear Friends and Family,
Hello! It has been a couple of weeks since I have written. Some how last week just passed by. I'm sure those of you in Oklahoma would appreciate the weather we are having right now. We are having quite a rainstorm. I was laughing at myself as I was walking down to the offices tonight. I have to be in the library in a few minutes for evening study hall, so I had to be out even though it is a downpour. I was walking up here all huddled under my umbrella, trying to stay a bit dry, which is not really possible with the wind. I was freezing. That is the funny part. It is in the 70's, so it isn't cold at all, but my body thinks it is. I guess I can tell I have been in Africa for awhile.

We received our container over the weekend. If you remember how long we prayed for the container last year, this is one came in quickly. It wasn't sent until late because of the turmoil in the country. Everything arrived without damage or being stolen this year. It is nice to have all our schoolbooks now, and the fun extras from the American food order. I spent a large portion of today sorting through boxes of school supplies.

Please remember the Nehlsen and Barnes families. Steve and Amy Nehlsen are missionaries in Bouake. Two of their children attend ICA. Steve's father, Herb, passed away recently. He was a missionary out here for many years, so many people knew him. Pray for them as they spend the last week in the States with their family and return to Africa. Our fifth grade teacher, Becky Barnes', mother passed away last week. Pray for Becky as she takes care of her mother's things, spends time with family and returns later this week. Becky's dad passed away last November, so this has been a really hard time for her family.

I am now continuing this message on Tuesday morning. The rain that I mentioned at the beginning of this email ended up being a full-fledged storm. We spent quite a bit of time sitting in the dark last night. It was only because of autosave that I still have this message. The kids who had a lot of homework weren't too excited about sitting in the dark, but I did have a couple of high school girls that serenaded me while we were sitting in pitch black. It was quite funny. It wasn't until after the lights came on that we found out someone else was even in the library.

I have elementary teacher's meeting so I will bring this message to a close. Thanks so much for your ongoing prayers and support.

In Christ,
Traci

P.S. I'm not sure when you will actually receive this newsletter. I guess the storm last night was a little more than I had thought. Apparently lightning struck several places on campus. One dorm mom and a dog got zapped. They are both fine now but were tingling for quite awhile. Well, according to the dorm mom anyway. Belle the dog couldn't really tell us how she felt. I think our modem got zapped so that knocks out email for a while. All the phone lines were down last night. I think some may be working now. Several of the men were out for quite awhile last night trying to restore electricity and phones. We most of all want to praise God for safety. That no one was really hurt even with the close calls.