April Update
posted by Jesse on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Click here to download a copy of this update on our letterhead (PDF format).
These are exciting days in the Shanks family! Our container is going to arrive on the 25th of April, and so we should be moved into our home around the end of the first week in May. Right now our house is in the process of being fixed up by the landlord, and it’s starting to look very nice. We are very excited about having our first permanent house since getting married.
Our original plan for getting a vehicle was to have one shipped from overseas. However, with a change in the tax rate for imported vehicles, we decided that this was going to cost way more than we were willing to pay. Then, out of nowhere we got a call about a vehicle for sale in Lomé, which is the capital city six hours south of us in Kara. The next day I hitched a ride there with some other missionaries and met up with the Togolese guy who had found the vehicle. I had the intention of purchasing it the next morning and getting all of the paperwork done so I could return to Kara the following morning. That was my American idea. Africa had its own idea.
What happened after that, over the next five days, can only be described by saying “W.A.W.A.,” which is a common saying here among missionaries meaning “West Africa Wins Again.” There was no one catastrophic event, but just a lot of little delays that caused me to realize that I truly am in a completely different culture where my way of doing things do not matter one bit. To summarize, it was a great lesson learned!
In the New Testament Survey course that I have been teaching to Yélé, we are currently in the book of Romans. It has been such an encouragement for me to see him as he is beginning to understand some of the rich doctrinal truths that are presented there. He has a great hunger to learn the Word, and I hope that you will continue to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in his life.
We hope to write our next update letter from our own home! Until then, we greatly appreciate your prayers regarding the container’s arrival and the process of moving.
Thank you for your prayer and support!
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Category: all updates, prayer letters
