Today, Friday, we will graduate three more men from our four year Bible Institute.  It's been a long haul due to the war.  They should have graduated in December 2002, but when the war started in September of that year we were cut off.  Since that time we've had to revamp the programme, changing it into a "roaming" modular programme.  In the end they were able to finish, and finish well.  We're very proud of them and each of them is currently planting a new church.

At the same time the roof is being finished on the church building in Gbegbessou.

It's the little things like this that keep us encouraged.

On the other hand... today begins like most others with a few twists.  We're treating our dog for snakebite.  It was probably the Mamba that we killed the next day.  The treatment is really just to leave him alone and make sure that he eats and drinks.  He's old and is a war refugee that came to us from another missionary.  We just didn't want to put him down.  This is only the second time in 19 years that we've had a dog bitten by a snake.

Barbara had to push the car again to start the day ;-))

The house across the street now has "concertina" wire all around the top of their wall.  It has been taken by the UN, which should sound like a good thing, but it's really not.  It makes the neighborhood a target for protests and riots.

Have to deliver the plan for the "anti-theft" doors for the new church in Gbegbessou.  The trick is to let the air through, but not the goats and etc.   Africa, gotta love it!!!

It's the little things that keep life intersting ;-)

May God richly bless you today as you serve Him.

Tim

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Tim & Barbara Downs
B.P. 1444
Yamoussoukro
Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
www.WestAfricaNow.com