Language was a good week. That is saying a lot. I met a young punk, ok, not punk, but a young guy. I usually stay away from young guys because they are irritating or want things or even marriage topics come up but now that I am a big 40 year old, I'm thinkin' I can handle it and I am too old for them. This guy actually is a language student. He is on break for the month. The first time I sat at his little shop about 25 kids came around and just stared. I was like, this is not going to work, and I left. The next time, the guy really helped me speak and gave me examples and told me to do things and then explain what I did. I was learning this week about prepositions and such-- on, under, on top, take, bring etc, etc. Pastor Andrew and Jemima used a pen, paper, book, phone and keys and would put the keys on the book. I would then have to say in Dagbani, "you put the keys on the book". We did all sorts of sentences like that. That really helps me to learn. I learn by doing. So, with this young guy, we did the same thing. He told me to put the sugar in the box and I did it and then had to tell him what I did. Later this week a friend left their bicycle at our house and our watchman was asking about it. He only speaks Dagbani. I was able to tell/ask him, "I should take the bicycle inside the house?" (I didn't know if he thought someone would jump over our wall and steal it or something.) He said, "it's ok." I walked into the house happy because I could say that! WooHoo!! It is still a roller coaster ride of learning. But I am thankful.The other night, a cow was tied to my electric pole which is about 20 feet from my window. It must have been sick because the thing moo-ed like you wouldn't believe. It was so loud! I thought it had a microphone...ok, not really. Every time I would be about sleeping it would moo. Ugh! I didn't sleep until 4:30am. Ridiculous. The next morning I was prepared to go and tie the thing somewhere else. Thankfully, some men came and lifted it into their pickup truck and drove off. I wish I took a video of them putting the cow in their truck bed.We had a Northern Team meeting at our house yesterday. Two families from Gushegu came and then Damary and I. We first had lunch and I know this is a paragraph about the meeting but let me say I cooked lunch and I did not do it very well. The meat was way over done, like a mealy meat. It was disappointing. Of course, they are all to gracious to not say anything. But when someone does asks, "What meat is this?" you know, this did not turn out well. How can I love food so much and not be a good cook??? Ok, back to the meeting... it was my turn to lead and we read through and discussed Colossians 3:1-15. Such beautiful, encouraging words. We each shared one of the qualities we would like to put on. Our team is very transparent and it is wonderful to trust such people and work alongside them. We had a time of prayer and then talked about upcoming events. Both families stayed over night. We sat around and talked. We shared experiences, good and bad. We played with their kids. Actually, everyone in the house, except me. is from NorthEast India. I laughed and said, "I'm surrounded by Indians!"It really was not an exciting/special sort of week but it was a good language consistent week with few interruptions. I am still praying for God to lead me into the ministry He has for me. I am still praying to understand people here and love them and, of course, I am still praying to speak this language!Love you. Thanks for praying!!

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