by Corey Garrett | Apr 14, 2018 | Prayer request
Will (left) and Jake with some gifts we sent them
We are in the midst of our final packing to start our trip tomorrow that will take us to Guinea! Early in the week we will be getting visas from the Guinean embassy in Dakar, taking the girls to orthodontic visits, and then taking Emma and Molly back to school. Then on Thursday we and Wheaton will be heading to Guinea! We will see the boys for the first time on Friday morning.
In the lead-up to this trip, our adoption agency sent us the final tally on our account with them. When we started this process in 2013 we didn’t know how many children we would end up being matched with, nor did we know how long it would take, or what the total cost would be in the end, although we did know it would be expensive. But we believed the Lord was calling us to do this and that He would provide. And we have seen Him do that!
While the financial cost is significant, we believe it is tiny compared to the value of giving Willy and Jacob a family. And, from a financial standpoint, we are past the hardest part! Many of you have already helped us with this adoption. We could not have done this on our own; it has been a group effort and we are so grateful!
We want to let you know what is happening and give you an opportunity to help us get across the finish line if that is on your heart. If you want to help with this last phase, please let us know in the next ten days by emailing or messaging us on Facebook, and we’ll give you the details on how to do that.
This is the only time we will write about this and we don’t want anyone to feel pressured to give. We will be able to cover the remaining costs from our savings even if we don’t get any more help. But we wanted to give you the opportunity to be part of this if you want to!
Here is a brief summary of the large pieces of the financial side of this process. With the help of two large grants and donations from many of you, we have already paid for the three homestudies, US Customs and Immigration fees, lawyer & court fees in Guinea, orphanage costs, and the passport and exit documentation, all totaling just over $48,000.
| Remaining costs: |
|
| Final adoption agency fee: |
$9,454 |
| US Embassy Visa fee: $325 each: |
$650 |
| Medical exam fee: $150 each: |
$300 |
| Plane tickets to Guinea and back: |
$1,610 |
| Lodging for 7 nights in Guinea: |
$539 |
| September trip to US for finalization: |
$4,000 |
| Total remaining: |
$16,553 |
Thanks for your continued prayers for us and for these two precious no-longer-orphan boys! May the Lord knit us together as a family!
by Corey Garrett | Jan 19, 2018 | Praise report, Prayer request
We had a good meeting on Wednesday afternoon, a very warm and open talk with the chief and his son. We talked over some village happenings and also our plans for helping with diabetes and high blood pressure sufferers. The village chief gave his blessing, so we will now start going out to this village regularly to conduct a village-wide health survey to find out who is suffering from diabetes/high blood pressure, and also gain a sense for what the other widespread health problems might be. Pray for this ongoing work as we move forward that God will bless with good relationships and we would have our eyes open to where God is working in this place.
Kody and I will be going out to continue selling scripture in the village markets this evening in a new village to us. Pray also for this work that we would be aware of the Spirit’s moving as we interact with people.
by Corey Garrett | Nov 2, 2017 | Event report, Picture Galleries, Praise report
Yesterday I spent a few hours out in a village we know very well selling the Scripture portions we have labored over for the past several years. I headed out after having lunch in Kaffrine and picked up a few people on the way to the village who were waiting on rides–one of the people waiting was a friend from our village who was going to sell in the louma herself, so I was able to ask her a bit about how selling works.
Louma time
When we arrived in the village, with the help of some other friends selling in the market, I set up my table in a place in the shade of a tree.
Just after setting up
I had for sale our four books plus our 20 booklets.
Four complete books (l-r Luke-Acts, Psalms, Exodus, Genesis) plus the 18 story books and the 2 primers
Of course immediately I had 20 kids looking at the table–at first they thought I was selling the rulers I had brought to weigh down the booklets so the wind didn’t carry them away!
I had a good time seeing some old friends and catching up, and also meeting some new folks who go around day by day and sell at different markets. In fact some of those are good connections, because if I go to a village where I am not known but am known to other market sellers, that helps me find my way a bit.
A friend selling rice, onions, and other food near my table
Selling batteries in the louma
Many people came over wanting to know what I was selling, so I got to explain to a number of folks what the books are, what is in them, how much they are, etc. There were really only a couple of moments that I didn’t have a crowd of adults around the table. During those couple of times I walked around and talked to other folks in the market.
A page from the primer. Clockwise from top left, the Roman script letter, corresponding Arabic script letter, the Arabic script word and the Roman script word with a picture of the word in the center.
People were very interested in the primers–I sold four of those quickly. They are books that show each Roman script letter, its corresponding Arabic script letter, an example word in both scripts, and an image of the word. As I told people in the market, it won’t teach you either script, but it will help you remember what you’ve learned if you are a bit rusty. Other than that I only sold one booklet, the Creation story. Although I would have loved to sell more, this is not unexpected for the first time out. In coming weeks as I return, I hope to sell more. The highlights were two times that we got into looking into the stories. One time there was a crowd of 10-13 year old boys around the table and I asked who was the best at reading Arabic script. None of the boys wanted to say they could read it well, but one boy volunteered another. He read the first page of the story of the Fall from Genesis 3, and I read the rest of it.
Then shortly after that I was standing in front of the table with a group of about six men and explaining to some new folks what the booklets and the books were. The title of the one I was holding was “God Evicts Adam and Eve from Eden,” and I was showing how the title was the same on both sides, just in different scripts. One of the men asked, “So why did God kick Adam and Eve out of Eden?” I started reading the story out loud dramatically from the Arabic script side. The guys all listened intently, and when I finished reading I started with the questions from Discipleship Bible Study; What did we learn about God? What did we learn about human beings? and If this is from God, how should we change our lives? We had a good long conversation about the story! This is what we’re after: scripture engagement. I would have loved to sell more books, but really getting into the Scripture stories and what they mean is our goal.
Looking at a book with a friend (this shot was set up by a village friend!)
At this point I plan on going back to the louma in this village a few more times, and then going to loumas in some other villages and seeing how things go. Keep praying for the books to get into peoples’ hands and hearts!
Watermelons for sale
Radio repair
Ready-to-wear clothes, underwear, backpacks, lotion, perfume…what else can you see here?
by Corey Garrett | Oct 5, 2016 | Uncategorized
What a great summer (plus) it’s been! We’ve been so encouraged over these months and we are excited to head back to Senegal! We’re heading out tonight to catch a 5:45 a.m. flight. Pray us over all day Wednesday, then we’ll arrive in Senegal 1:30 a.m. EST on Thursday morning.
by Corey Garrett | May 19, 2016 | Praise report, Prayer request
We are a week away from leaving Kaffrine en route to a plane to the USA for our three-month home assignment! Lots of excitement about seeing family and friends for the first time in three years, as well as many last-minute things to take care of here in Kaffrine for our three-month absence.
Check out our schedule and let us know if you want to get together while we are in your area. We’d love to get to share with you face-to-face about this last term and what God is doing here.
- May 29: Arrive in Charlotte, NC
- June 8-15: In Asheville, NC
- June 15: Fly to Connecticut
- June 19: @ the Barn (Covenant Presbyterian)
- June 26: @ Trinity Episcopal Church Tariffville
- July 10: @ Bakerville Methodist Church
- July 11-25: Midwest road trip (PA, OH, IN, IL, IA)
- July 31: @ Ft. Square Pres. Church, Quincy, MA
- Aug. 7: @ Valley Brook Community Church
- Aug 9-15: @ Browncroft Church, Rochester, NY
- Aug. 17-26: In Maine
- August 21: @ Windham Baptist Church, Windham, ME
- Aug. 28: Goodbye Sunday at the Barn
- Sept. 2: Fly back to Senegal
We saw some camels on the way to the Workshop!
In other news, the Wolofal Workshop went well, and although we had some last-minute cancellations, we had seven great participants who gave all their energy and left reading, writing, and typing in Arabic script.
Wheaton finished her school year yesterday and so will be free during the summer in the US! I doubt the other two will be so fortunate….
We’re looking forward to seeing all you who are Stateside soon!
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