This is a first...

For the first time since coming to Africa in 1987, we have another American couple on our staff team! Incredible. We love it.

Meet Kirk and Becca Tjaden from Clearwater, Kansas!

They arrived almost 2 weeks ago and we have LOVED getting to know them and helping them learn about our city.

There has been a pile of "Birky's" by the front door.  Fortunately we all wear different sizes so there is no confusion.

We had Thanksgiving dinner together.

We have been to the dorms on campus together and "just happened" to knock on the door of a group of students studying English. At one point we were 16 women crowded into one small dorm room.   We are excited about new friendships forming there.  (Tom and Kirk have been on campus as well but they don't take pictures like we do!)

 We've shopped for fabric a couple of times!

And then we sent them off in the "school bus" for their first day of school (French language learning).

We are so grateful for their safe arrival and the miraculous arrival of a lost suitcase.  Please pray for us as we search the neighborhoods for a house as well as for good French language acquisition for them.