they said difficult days would happen

Remember when I told you about Frances? Well, she needs some prayer again.

She's back in town, and divorced. She returned a few weeks ago and came by to visit. She started helping watch Chandler while I worked with my language tutor. It was nice when Chandler would take a nap and she'd come listen to my language lessons... especially when I was reading Bible stories over and over again. I read them so much that she basically memorized them. One day I had her stay so I could study some with her and working on my grammar in conversation. I had her tell me a Bible story. She repeated the story of the demoniac that I had been practicing in Mark 5. I asked what she thought about the story and she said it was good. It's good that he was healed and normal. I then asked if she knew the story of the woman at the well in John 4. She didn't so I let her read it while I wrote sentences for practice. Again, I asked what she thought about the story. Again, she said it was good. I asked her what she thought about Jesus saying He is the Christ and she agreed that it was true. I was taken back. She claimed the Koran says that... and that He is a prophet. I then explained to her that there is a difference in Jesus being a prophet and being the Savior of the world. She didn't really agree with me about that, so instead of arguing... and well, because I can't really argue in French... I moved on. I continued with my homework and let her read the story of the Fall in Genesis. A few minutes later she said she wanted to ask me a question. I thought, ok, Lord, give me the words in French to understand and answer. And then she asked me for money for a new cell phone. I was a little disappointed, but that's a very cultural thing here. I told her she would get paid on Friday.

Fast forward to Thursday night... I'm frantically searching for my iPad. The last time I used it was early that morning and then Chandler played with it for a few. Now, I couldn't find it, anywhere. Trey and I tore apart the entire house, searching for 2 hours... I even made him look in the washing machine. You never know, right?! We called 3 of the 4 people who were at our house that day (and every day) asking if they saw it, and getting no helpful answers. With much hesitation and heart ache we came to the conclusion that someone had taken it from the home. I was devastated. I was heartbroken. My feelings were genuinely hurt. It wasn't the fact that the iPad was missing. It really had nothing to do with the item. It was the fact that someone I trusted would take something.

The next morning we waited until all of the same people came to the house and Trey talked with them. He gave an opportunity for someone to admit what happened anonymously. No one did. He then let them search the living room and talk amongst themselves about what happened at the house yesterday. We stayed out of the room. Again, no answers. Talking with our house helper, Rigobert, and Trey's language helper it was becoming clear that Frances' story wasn't making sense. She had acted strange the day before, but some people have off days. But... lies were starting to appear in her story. Trey decided to call them one-by-one into his office. After an hour sitting with her, and a translator to make sure everything was clearly communicated, the truth came out. She said she was playing on the iPad and thought she broke it. She was taking it home to get it repaired and would then return it. We got the iPad back.

Like I said in the beginning... this long story is all about your prayer. We feel this situation has given us the opportunity to show Christ's love and forgiveness. Also, to show how God is just. Pray for us as we continue our relationship. Pray that we can forgive. Pray as we decide what changes need to be made in our household so that we don't run into this again. Pray for me as I use this to clearly present the Gospel to her. We long for her and her family to know Jesus. We long to see a radical change in their lives. Pray that this difficult situation for us, is only the beginning of their walk with Christ.

Chandler Renee - 11 months

11 months. 11 MONTHS. ELEVEN. Are you kidding me?! Seriously, she's 11 months today. This past month has been a blast with her. It was like all of the sudden she decided to do a bazillion new "tricks." She hasn't perfected them yet, but she's working on them. She's started trying to dance. Any time she hears music she will bend her little knees or shake her little bum. Seriously, so cute. We have a dance party every morning. She's also working on clapping. Her right hand does better than her left hand, so it's not perfect yet either. But if you say, "Yayyyyyyy," you better believe she'll be hitting her little hands together. She continues to pretend like everything is a cell phone and you must say hello if she puts something to her ear. She does a great job walking all around our living room from couch to table to chair, etc. And sometimes she gets the courage to walk from the couch all the way to the dining room table... and for her little legs, that's a good distance! Some times she tries to repeat what you say. Really, she's probably just making random noises, but it happens to sound like "bye-bye" or "tout à l'heure." Or we really do have an overachieving bilingual child and I'm ok with that.

This month she got settled back into her home and bedroom in Benin. She loves to play with the toys in her bedroom! I think she knows it's her space. We spent a week alone without Trey. It was like a slumber party every night - even the night we didn't have power for 5+ hours and had to help the guard refill the generator with gas at 2 a.m. :) She hasn't done much world traveling this month, but did make a trip to the Togo border. It should have only taken 4 hours total and took over 6 hours! She did great on the trip. She's started to wear shoes! I know, they aren't supposed to wear shoes while learning to walk, and most days she doesn't put a pair on. But when we're going out and she might walk in a dirty place, she wears shoes. She's getting better at walking in them.

I'm going to do my best to cherish this next month before we have a 1 YEAR OLD child! I'm sad that this month is so short. It will fly by faster than usual. But alas, here's to the last month of Chandler's first year!

the perfect sacrifice

Today we made our monthly trip to the Benin-Togo border. We go once a month to get a "laisser passer" (let pass) for our Togo truck to be driven in Benin. The drive on the main road is pretty horrible due to construction. We thought about driving the beach road there, but it's pretty bumpy. We usually take the beach road back just to give us a change of scenery (and the scenery is much more pretty than red clay & construction). Nothing of this has anything to do with what I really want to write about, but I'm just letting you know that this drive is pretty normal for us. Like I said, we do it monthly.

On our trip back, we're driving the beach route. The entire way we pass fishing villages. It really puts things in perspective. These people work hard just to survive. They also work as a community to support themselves. We passed a small community repairing their nets and another pulling in their net, which is really an incredible site to see. As we drove by them I rolled down the window to listen to their song. A little boy noticed us and yelled out, "Yo-vo, yo-vo," which means white person. Several others looked our way and we waved and told them good work!

We continued to drive and passed some sheep. This is not out of the ordinary. We pass lots of animals while driving on a daily basis, even in our "urban" city. As I watch sheep, I am humbled when God compares us to them. They are the dumbest animals, but that's a different post. Today, it dawned on me, I've never seen a spotless lamb. Seriously, not one without blemish. Often when we drive this beach route along the fishing villages, I think about some of the first disciples who were fishermen. I think about how before Jesus, these people, who didn't have much, would have to provide spotless lambs as a sacrifice. I mean, I wasn't there during that time, and maybe I'm taking too much literary freedom here, but I would think these people would be a good comparison. Those sheep we passed, filled with blemishes and spots, would have been owned by these fisherman. When the time came for that sacrifice, they would have needed to find the money to buy a new sheep, a perfect sheep.

I think we often take Jesus dying on the cross for granted. You see, these fishermen are the working class here. Yes, there are people that make more money than them, but for the most part, it's them. Most of us could be considered in that working class. And if we were alive before Jesus' death, we too would have had to find the money or the way to buy that perfect spotless lamb. But, thankfully, we've had a perfect, spotless - no blemishes, no scraggly hair, no spots, or gross looking fur - lamb take the place of those sacrifices - the place that we deserved.

I hope that daily I'm reminded of the sacrifice He made. More specifically, every time we have to stop the car to let a lamb walk down the middle of cross the road, I hope I am thankful for the place He took. My place.

2013: a look back

Wow. 2013 has been one of the most incredible years ever. The theme of our marriage has not stopped. Still lots of traveling and moving this year, but we are at least settled for a while.

This year started with us in Nigeria. After an unsettling event, we began to question if we were in the right place for us. We returned to the states to have Chandler, not knowing what we should do. After much prayer, conversation, and reflection, we decided to look for other positions in our organization that were in a less tumultuous place. We settled on Benin and then focused on our baby coming!



Chandler was born March 13. The day that forever changed us. There are small details of the day I may forget, but for the most part I can remember everything. Trey tells me that I've already forgotten about the pain of the contractions. I mean, they weren't that bad, right?! I was determined to have her on the 13th, though, because I thought it would be a cool birthday - 3.13.13 - cool, right?!

Two and a half months later we boarded our plane to Benin. We landing in French speaking Africa and already felt a peace. It was very different than Nigeria. Still a very lost area, just a different kind. We immediately jumped into language study and worked on getting our house ready to move in. With in two weeks we were moved in and doing full time language study.


Shortly after our arrival, we headed to Kenya for a retreat. The time with other workers from our organization was amazing. And the weather was absolutely wonderful on top of the mountain! Seriously, it was freezing at night. Chandler slept in footie pajama's, two swaddling blankets, a fleece blanket, and a hat! After the retreat was over we had the opportunity to go on a Safari! Once in a lifetime opportunity. I encourage anyone who EVER has the opportunity to go on a safari - jump on it. Seriously, incredible. And we didn't even see all the animals.

We made it back to Benin and back into French study. We were able to help with a few volunteer teams here. That gave us great insight in to Benin and the people here. We also got to do the touristy things with them and had the chance to visit Ganvie for the first time. We got introduced to Frances early on in our arrival to Benin. We also met her family. Her uncle has become a good friend of ours and through him Trey had the opportunity to share the gospel with his friend and see a new believer. We also had a volunteer team come from Hiland Park Baptist to do a pastor's training. It was nice to have friends visit.

In August, I experienced my first time driving in Africa. Seriously, that's a feat worthy of mentioning in the yearly post. In October, we took a trip to Ghana for a short break. We really enjoyed our time with friends. In November, we celebrated Thanksgiving at the American Ambassador's house! It's as close to America as we could get. We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, football, and ate turkey & ham and other American classics made by guests.

December started with us preparing to come to the states for Christmas. We headed to Florida and had a great time with family & friends. The whole time we were back and forth between Panama City & Pensacola. We celebrated the marriage of one of my best friends, Michelle (and Jeremy), at the end of December in Dothan. Then, Trey's birthday on December 29th. New Year's Even was simple since we had a sick kiddo, but she quickly got over that.

This year really has been incredible. We are so thankful for the opportunities the Lord has provided us with this year. We are so thankful for your support, prayers, and encouragement as we strive to do what we have been called to.

Chandler Renee - 10 months

Finally, caught up. 10 months. This happened so quickly. Watching a child grow is truly an amazing thing. I thank God daily for allowing us to be a part of Chandler's life. I am also amazed at how He has designed us to grow. Seriously.

Most of this month was spent in America. She celebrated her first Christmas and New Year's! She got to see so many family and friends that she had not seen in months. And she did great with all of it. In Africa, she never meets a stranger. I was afraid, though, after so much travel and lack of sleep and transition she wouldn't do well in America. After an 8 hour car ride, 6 hour plane ride, 8 hour layover, 9 hour plane ride, and another 5 hour car ride we arrived at Trey's parents house. One of my biggest fears was that she would cry when she saw them because of exhaustion. She proved us wrong and jumped right in, at midnight, and started playing with them! It took a few days to adjust to the time difference, but her grandparents and great grandparents didn't mind getting up with her at 5 a.m. and letting us sleep :) We spent the first few days in Panama City, then drove to Pensacola for a week, and back to Panama City for a wedding in Dothan. Then Trey headed to California for the National Championship game and me & Chandler went back to Pensacola. Every car ride she did great! Like I said last month... she's so flexible. Since we got back to Benin, it only took a day or two to adjust to the time difference. We are SO thankful!

Rigo was right. She was saving her second tooth for America! Within a few days of arriving, her second tooth cut through. And we could see her top teeth start moving in. She cut her first top tooth the day she turned 10 months old! This month was much like the first time she rolled over. Chandler took her first steps on Christmas Eve!! And then didn't take anymore. Once we got back to Benin, she got her courage back and began taking more steps. She's showed off for everyone here. We wanted her to get as much baby socialization as possible so she went to Mother's Day Out and the nursery every chance she could. She also loved playing with her cousin, Owen, even though sometimes he wasn't too fond of her taking his toys :) Along, with her first steps she got her first real runny nose from the cold weather and a bought with RSV at the very end of our trip. She kicked it quickly, thankfully, and got a clear check up from the doctor just before we left.

We took her for her 9 month well baby check up when we first got there. She weighed 17 pounds 7 ounces, 26.25 inches long, and her head is 18 inches around. She's thinned out since she started crawling and seems to be a shorty. Not sure where she gets that from! But we do love our petite little girl.

Chandler Renee - 9 months

Chandler turned 9 months right after we got back to the states for vacation. This meant I was a really bad mom and I didn't get her official 9 month pictures, but of course, I have plenty of other pictures.

This month Chandler celebrated her first Thanksgiving!! We were supposed to get together with some other American's at our supervisors house, but after Barbara battling with sickness, we weren't able to. We decided to accept an invitation to attend a dinner at the American Ambassador's house! I mean, can't say we've done that before. They had really good meat, which is hard to find here. Ham & turkey. However, Chandler only had veggies I brought from home. Sorry, kid. She enjoyed it, though! There was so much going on and so many other kids to watch. We also visited our house-helper's home. She was great with his daughters (he has 8!), and really loved the oldest. 

The best part about this month was that Chandler decided to take a bottle!!!! I have no idea why all of the sudden. We had been leaving a sippy cup with our babysitter while we went to language. She wouldn't usually drink much from it, but it was enough to keep her happy/distracted after she got up from her nap until I got home. One day I was fixing the sippy cup, gave it to her, and the "no-leak" cup started leaking. Her other cup was dirty and she was screaming for it. I quickly put it in a bottle thinking it's worth a shot... she downed it!! This made things so much easier. The babysitter began giving her a bottle every day and we gave her one in the morning as well. It had to be a God thing. Her taking a bottle meant we could have some free time and her grandparents could watch her whenever they wanted while we were home. 

This month our One-Tooth-Wonder lives on! Rigo, our house-helper, keeps saying she's saving the second for America. She decided to grow attached to a particular toy this month. She doesn't drag it around with her, but it comforts her when she's sleepy and fussy. She can be upset and you pick her up trying to calm her down, and that works, sort of. But if you pick her up and give her the bunny, she's silent :) This helped on our trip home! Bunny helped her stay calm for most of the trip. She began cheering on her Noles this month & playing ball with daddy. I think he's pretty happy about both of these things! The biggest thing that happened this month was traveling to America. She hadn't done that trip since she was 2.5 months old! It was very different this time, but all-in-all we can't complain. We've got a very flexible baby.

Chandler Renee - 8 months

I'm playing catch up and finally posting Chandler's monthly update. Sometimes 2 months can seem like such a short time, but when I try to think back to what Chandler was doing just two months ago, it seems like a lifetime! Time really does go faster the older you get. Enjoy it while you're young, kids.

Chandler turned 8 months on November 13th. After having some... well, we'll call it "tummy issues, " for at least 2 months, we finally solved the problem. However, those issues never slowed her down. She continued to get into EVERYTHING! I know, people always tell you that, but until you experience it, you can't understand. Not to mention, it blows my mind how she can find the smallest speck of something on the ground, pick it up, and put it in her mouth... but then give food a dirty look. ha! This month she got better and better at pulling up on things. She began to stand alone for a few seconds, but not often. She still only had 1 tooth at 8 months... our little "One-Tooth-Wonder."

We were finally able to get her room ready for her to sleep in. After all of our traveling, unpacking, and flat out busyness, she moved into her own room. With that came sleeping through the night again!! We were thrilled for this. She hadn't done that since we came to Africa, when she was an incredible sleeper before. We also got her on a good bedtime routine, that I think helped with her sleep.

This month Chandler went to Ganvie for the second time. She did great when we went into a local family's home... for a minute. Then when she was fussy, she wanted our tour guide to hold her. She really liked him. She also experienced her first solar eclipse... sort of. She wore sunglasses and a hat while we tried to look at it with makeshift glasses. She also traveled to Bohicon (a little further north in Benin) for the first time and did her first photo bomb. And how can I forget her first Halloween. Even though we had no where to trick-or-treat, we dressed her up and went to the expat grocery store :)