Well, I'm here.  

I have been spending the last 2 days getting my feet under me and taking it all in.  

I'm seeing, hearing, smelling and feeling so many new things.  I feel flies, sweat running down my back and dust coating my throat. 

 But l I feel at peace, I feel at home.  

From the instant I stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac (you go directly onto the runway off of the plane) I felt 100% peaceful. 

 I feel like I have finally come home after a journey that has taken many years.  There are so many things here that are totally mind boggling, from the man carrying an insane amount of sticks on a moto to the 5 year old boy that wanders down the middle of the highway alone to the amazing African overload.  But all around I see joy, people laughing and smiling, pointing and waving as we drive by.  The fact that these people can have joy in a situation that most of us couldn't handle is amazing.  It is such a blessing to see people that take joy in the little things.

 

We are still in the capitol, Ouagadougou getting things handled like phones, visas and supplies, hence the internet, which has been on and off all day.  A family on our team came to pick us up so we have been getting used to fitting 11 people into a 7 seater car driving on very bumpy roads, it provides a lot of laughs!  We are staying in the CMA guest house here and are enjoying being with friends.
 I can't wait to get to our house ( a 8 hr drive away on very bumpy roads) and start settling into life.  I'll try to get some more pics up and keep y'all updated!!

Prayer Requests
continued transition
continued language learning and starting to learn the west-African french accent
safe travels to our new house on the 31st
 weather acquisition, we had a 40 degree temp increase when we first got here!!

I'd love to keep in contact with you guys from here, just let me know what will work best and we'll get it done!!

Love in Christ,
Jana

I'm in Burkina!!  Can you believe it!?!?! 

So, I was bad and didn't take near as many pics as I should have.  But I was busy chowing down on delicious food and playing with beautiful babies, so I think I have a good excuse!!  It was such a blessing to be able to spend time with the amazing folks that the Lord has brought into out life. 

(the first 2 pics are in our apartment so you can kinda see what it looks like.)

So for anyone who knows The Count of Monte Cristo voila, Château d'If.

Château d'If is off the coast of Marseille on a small island, so we took a ferry over and checked it out.  It was super cool to see, the castle was amazing.  I can't imagine what it must have been to live in building of these proportions.

After we saw the Château we went to a little island that was nearby.  It was absolutely magnificent.

Being able to be on a little island in the middle of the ocean, practically alone was amazing.  This was the first time since we have been in France that we have been sorta alone.  It was such a blessing to just walk around this little island, it was so peaceful.  If I disappear anytime soon you may just find me living on a rocky, Mediterranean island. 

(This is the train station.  I had no idea what it would look like, so if you were curious...)

remember to ask any questions if you have them here!

Well, Marseille wasn't exactly what we expected it to be but being able to be on the beach made up for everything else.  If you ever go to a beach in France I suggest that you bring sandals, running barefoot on rocks is quite painful.  Also it was great to be able to go to the beach again, it'll be the last time for the next 3 years!  Anyway, pics of Château d'If soon!!

On our school break we were able to go to Annacy, a smallish town about 4 hours outside of Paris.  Our friends that came to visit had gone to Annacy last year so it was cool to see it after we had heard so much about it from them.
After being in Paris for so long it was amazing to see mountains again!!  It was such a blessing to be in our "natural habitat".  Some of you guys know that for a while we had been planning on going to language school in Albertville, which isn't very far from Annacy.  I think we all struggled a little bit coming back to Paris knowing that we could have been in Alberville.
But then we were reminded that God has a reason for us being here, even if it isn't our top choice.  We can already see the people that He has brought into our lives for a reason.  And we're all looking forward to see what He will continue to do!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 





















(because doors are really cool)