We're heading off on a trip to Burkina Faso tomorrow so I wanted to get in a quick, general update before we head off. Our old team mates, Brian and Tabitha Hauser have moved to Banfora, Burkina Faso to begin working with the ethnic Jula people there, so we thought we'd take advantage of their hospitality and overrun them with Joneses. At the present, they are what Grace calls a "short" family since they only have two kids, but #3 is due to make her arrival in early April so they are on their way to keeping up with the Joneses. (Adds a whole new meaning to the phrase doesn't it? Ü)
The construction on the lab has been going really quickly. The structure actually has a roof on it now and is ready for plumbing and electricity and interior work. Unfortunately, we're out of money, so things will come to a stop for awhile. EGPAF (The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation) has said they are interested in helping us finish the project so we are praying that our proposal is approved and the lab can continue. It will really be a huge help to the clinic, and especially to the HIV+ population.
Speaking of the HIV+ population, Damon continues the Chronological Bible Story telling sessions with a few Djoula Muslim members of the People Living With AIDS support group, every two weeks. The group is small but it seems to be going well. Pray that those who attend will continue to be faithful and that their hearts and minds will be opened to see God's plan from the very beginning was to save the world through His Son. The picture attached to this post is a few members of the PLWA support group in front of the new lab construction.
The other CBS group that Damon is leading with Salifou at the car wash is really going well. They meet 2 or 3 times a week and the group has grown. Not only Salifou and the young men that work at the car wash, listen, a few taxi drivers have begun stopping in regularly when they see Damon there on the man under the palm trees, telling the stories from the Bible. They have had several good discussions and Damon always comes home encouraged by their sessions. Pray that God will open their hearts and minds to His truth.
Jones baby #6 appears to be doing okay. Keep Juli's pregnancy in your prayers if you will though. At her last dr's visit, the dr thought the baby was measuring a little small for its age and one of her lab tests came back as possibly positive for toxoplasmosis. (Not a great thing while you're pregnant) The dr believes the test was a false positive so she redid the test. At the end of February when we head to Abidjan to pick up our teammates who have been on furlough, Juli will see the dr again, get the results of the blood test and have another ultrasound to monitor the growth of the baby. Pray that all of the results are fine and that we had nothing to worry about. Ü (Even though we're not worrying....just praying)
We'll let you know how our trip turned out when we get back. Who knows...we may even share a few pictures too! We plan to spend a night at Nazinga animal reserve which is well known for it's elephant population, so there may be a few good ones to share.
