November 16th
Today was a pretty uninteresting day as a whole. I got up and went
to visit the Emmits after breakfast. I ended up speaking with Mrs.
Emmit for about an hour or so, then I went to the market to get
her some things don’t know if I told you but the Emmits are an
elderly couple in their 80s who previously served in Sierra Leone
and are continually serving wherever the Leads them, that often
including Haiti. They amaze me with their willingness to serve at
age where I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want to get out of bed in the
morning. On the way to the market I saw Abu and invited him to
come along though I didn’t particularly want to. It’s such a struggle
to deal with him. I am the first person who should be showing up
to show him grace. The friends I made at Mount brought such
change to my life; they showed me grace so often when I don’t
think I could have. They taught me how to love and what it means
to be loved when I didn’t think I was worth loving. Without them I
have no idea where I would be at right now, certainly not here in
Africa. Anyway, having experienced such grace in those
relationships I feel that I need to show the same to him but he
makes it so hard. I’m not going to go into details but he has the
Asher’s so close to turning him out as he’s a constant source of
frustration for them, and between them. As much as I would hate
to see that in the short time I’ve been here I can see why they
might want to. Pray that God would use me to touch his life,
because if he doesn’t change I can’t imagine he will make it very
far. We couldn’t get anything we wanted from the market but
bread because ¾ of the shops in town were closed when we went
because of a Muslim holiday, I think it has a name but even the
Muslims just called today “pray day” I prayed alright, that God
would lead them to see Christ as more than just a prophet, but as
savior. Returning to the house I helped Karen straighten things up
a bit in the living room where they store a lot of their food and
some other stuff. Karen is doing much better, moving around
pretty well with minimal pain. I wouldn’t believe a knee injury that
kept her from standing that first day would heal this fast, but I
think it’s one part sheer willpower and one part prayer, because
it’s amazing how well she’s doing. After that I went for a walk to
try and find a nice quiet place to do devotions but there are
Africans everywhere. I ran into a group resting by the roadside,
they needed me to help them lift these huge bags of Cassava up
onto their heads. I can’t believe the weight they carry on their
heads, I think it would break my neck. I never did find a place.
After that I pretty much spent the rest of the day cleaning glasses
and helping Karen get some progress made on the project she has
going, which is trying to prepare glasses and get them to the
people who need them. We just stopped a little bit ago (it’s after
12am now) and we still have a good number more to do. We’ve
scanned almost three hundred pairs so far, they were told they
need at least a thousand to have a good chance of matching the
needs of any possible person. Anyway, I’m tired so this is where
it ends. Have a great morning/day/night.

Greetings from Kamakwie,
Ryan Brooks