Thank you for helping us be the Church

The journey is coming to an end but Gods work here is just beginning and with all of your help we have been able to be a part of the story here in Abengourou. We were the first white people to live among the Djoula people in Abengourou. Being the first to live in the community we were able to experience God in many ways.

Daily an old muslim man on our walking route sprang up with excitement to greet our coming and going. His face reflected pure joy. Surely this man greeted us the same way Jesus greeted His brothers and sisters.

A young woman became a friend when we stumbled upon her food stand outside the Chateau. She fed us physically but filled us up spiritually. When we told her we were leaving she invited us into her home. She gave us food when many here have none to give. She broke her alabaster jar and asked for nothing in return. In her i caught a glimpse of the Church.

Children fill our mornings with the sound of their laughter. Perhaps they will be the hardest people here to leave. No matter what satan had placed in our day the children always bring a smile to our faces. Surely the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these as Jesus says.

There are so many more stories that i would to share. So many people have been such a blessing here and its all because of the blessings of the people who support us. I thank you all for allowing me to have such a wonderful God filled experience

In Christ Love

Cole

A Good Day

Take two guys throw them into a poor muslim community and let them be in charge of cooking for one night. This past Thursday Drew and I had the opportunity to cook for our famiy. What started as a family dinner soon turned into a community affair. We gave fair warning a week in advance of our longing to prepare for our household. When the day finally arrived they were in disbelief that we actually started to cook for them. Men do not prepare food in this community, especially white men that are guest of the family. During our cooking venture numerous moments became comedic relief for the Dou family. I think we both gained tremendous respect for those who prepare for us everyday. It's a rough job. It's a full time job that is physically draining. We were warned by others that food that we enjoy will probably be disliked by almost every Ivorian. With that in mind we sprang a new gameplan into action. Here in Abengourou a pepper known as pemmont is used in almost every dish. It is a hot almost flavorless pepper that spices up any dish. We made ten pounds of noodles and our secret sauce included plenty of pemmont. Our hopes were that the people would enjoy the food if something familiar were mixed with it. The food turned out to be a major success. We ended up feeding somewhere around 25 people. It was an unexpected community event. It was an unexpected God moment in my life. One of our main goals this summer is to engage the Djoula community. It is the reason we live and breathe with the Djoula people. What we thought to be a normal family dinner turned out to be an event that helped bridge our ministry with the Djoula people. It's amazing to see what God can do in the small things. I will forever remember the night two white guys cooked dinner.

The next chapter

We've been living with the Djoula people for two weeks now and i personally feel as though we have become a part of the family. Moma Dou is very hospitable. He makes sure that we always get treated with the highest regard. If we start doing something that resembles work he makes sure someone else takes over. This past week has been rather interesting. We've started discussing how we want to go about with the water project in Cafe Tu. Its a difficult discussion because either projects are extremely expensive or they require to many steps for an Ivorian to care to try. First we need to test the well water in the area to make sure a water filtration project needs to take place at all. Continue to pray for this opportunity. A method that looks promising for this area is known as the SODIS method. SODIS uses PET plastic bottles to filter poor water. The bottles are placed in the sun where eventually the suns rays destroy any bacteria in the water. Pray that if we move forward with this process the people are willing to take part in it. It will probably take some convincing to even get the project going. Please surround it with your prayers.

Drew and I are doing well. The Ivory Coast is a completely different ballgame compared to missionary packed eastern Africa. Here in Abengourou there are two Christian missionary families. Both have been a huge blessing to us while we've been on the field. It has to be difficult for them being so few in a culture that needs so many. Again i ask that you pray for what is taking place here through these missionaries. Pray for their families and for their strength to keep the kingdom work going. Thank you so much for your support and prayers. I will update more information as we uncover more. Thanks for being such a blessing in my life.

In Christ love,

Cole

We are here

Well, Drew and I arrived safe in Abengourou, Ivory Coast. We've been spoiled with good food and missionary hospitality. Just yesterday we started our French lessens with a man named Asalee. We now know the basic greetings and goodbyes in the French language. The language barrier is very difficult but the people are kind and welcoming. We are preparing for our final move to a very poor location on the outskirts of town. The area is known as Coco Teran. There we will be living with a notable Muslim man known as Mama Dou. Our objective while living in Coca Teran is to take note of everything we witness within the culture. We will essentially be making ourselves a part of the Djoula people that live there. The information we gather will be a stepping stone for the missionaries here to get their foot in the door with the community of the Coca Teran. Once they have more information they can identify their problems and hopefully eventually set up a CHE (Community Health Evangelism) program in the area in the next few months. It will also be our job to research ways to create an inexpensive water filtration device for the water that comes from their wells. If we are able to find a way to do this we hope to be implementing the product in mid-July. The move to Coco Teran will be a difficult one for Drew and I. The living conditions are much different than what we have now and the food......well lets just say it's not what we've been having here recently. I want to thank everyone that made this trip possible for Drew and I. We are safe and we are learning more everyday than we can even fully comprehend. Continue to support us through your prayers and we will continue praying people back home. Hope all is well in the states.

Cole Bonifacius...

Soon and Very Soon

In less than two weeks I begin my journey to the Cote d'Ivoire. May 26 is the start of a five day training period that will prepare us interns for what lies ahead. I'm nervous, excited, eager, scared, anxious, and ready to see what God is going to do there. I know He will use His people to break me. I hope and pray that i can be a reflection of Christ to anyone I come into contact with. Time has flown by and soon i will have to leave behind family, friends, a girlfriend, and most of all the comfort of a small middle-American town. These things can never be replaced and I will truly miss them. I know God has more family and friends waiting to meet me when i get off the plane. They may not look like me or talk like me but they will be my new brothers and sisters.... God is good my friends.

Cole Bonifacius