Guinea Update

A few weeks ago I went to Bend and met with First Baptist's missions board and was introduced in church. I was later that week accepted as one of their missionaries by a unanimous vote! I received a call from Brenda Allen the woman I will be working with in Guinea and learned that I will not be able to go the Guinea until mid-July based on furlow arrangements. So I am taking this in-stide and can see a lot of benefits to going a little later. It gives me a lot more time to get things done on this end as well as spend more time with friends and family. The down side is that I will now need to do an internship here in Portland in the spring. Please pray that the right one will come up!

I learned a lot about Guinea and Kankan when on the phone. It is very primitive. There is not much of anything out there and it is super hot. The people associate with Islam but are actually very animistic in their daily life. There isn't much food there and variety is slim. The two churches in Kankan are filled with mostly the university students and I am excited to get to know some young people there.

When I get to Guinea it will be during the rainy season and planting, so I will not be teaching community health right away like before. Instead I will have a few months to learn my way around and work on Maninka the language of the people I am going to be working on. I will also have more time to learn French as well. Please be praying that I will be faithful in studying French while I am state-side.

I am really excited and also a little nervous about everything. This is a huge commitment and a radical change of life! I truly believe that this is where Christ is calling me and that He will be with me every step of the way.

As far as my application goes... I hope to send off the last of it (my physical and lab results) later today! We are still waiting on the psychologists clearance on my mental status. HAHA! Don't laugh. It is because he has been gone, not because I am crazy... well that is debatable... anyway so there are just a few strings left to be tied up and then the World Venture board will review my application and hopefully in the next few weeks I will be accepted!

Please pray for:
my application and acceptance
my French
getting information out
support team - building a prayer team and financial team
a new internship
a deeper love for Jesus
and that He would be glorified through this process

Thank you so much for your time and prayers!
In Christ,
Bethany