{"id":2576,"date":"2013-09-21T10:25:09","date_gmt":"2013-09-21T10:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/?p=2576"},"modified":"2013-09-21T11:54:13","modified_gmt":"2013-09-21T11:54:13","slug":"2-years-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/2013\/09\/21\/2-years-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"2 Years In Africa!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2585\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2585\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7758.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2585 \" title=\"DSC_7758\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7758.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7758.jpg 533w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7758-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7758-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2585\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Today marks 2 years in Africa. Can you believe it?!?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One thing that I have learned on this long voyage is that it is important to celebrate the small successes. \u00a0So every year we celebrate what God has done.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2579\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2579\" style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7091.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2579 \" title=\"DSC_7091\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7091.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7091.jpg 800w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7091-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7091-500x333.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2579\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This year was a year of culture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was a year of humbling ourselves and being willing to not only understand the culture that is around us but enter in and become a part of it.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I learned how to make most of the meals served here.<\/li>\n<li>I conquered\u00a0making\u00a0Ataya (the tea they drink)<\/li>\n<li>We have changed our eating habits to match the rhythm of life here<\/li>\n<li>We have become a part of our church and participate in most of it&#8217;s activities<\/li>\n<li>Joel finished French and feels comfortable enough now to preach and teach in French<\/li>\n<li>The boys are now comfortable conversing in French and have made friends at church<\/li>\n<li>We experienced weddings, funerals, camps, and other cultural celebrations and events<\/li>\n<li>We finally earned the right to really dive deep into the culture and life here, which promises to make the next year even more exciting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2587\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2587\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/P1030110.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2587 \" title=\"P1030110\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/P1030110.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/P1030110.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/P1030110-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/P1030110-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We praise God because he has brought us a long way!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>What We Have Learned<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2582\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2582\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7282.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2582 \" title=\"DSC_7282\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7282.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7282.jpg 533w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7282-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7282-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2582\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We learned the weight of Sacrifice and at times we felt like this truck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This year God taught me complete and utter dependency on him. \u00a0We have experienced amazing things this year and have seen God at work in miraculous ways. However, those experiences often come after we step out of the boat and into the water. \u00a0It is a scary place to be because it is a place of full dependence. \u00a0There were moments this year that we felt like we were sinking under the stress of ministry and the forces of resistance. \u00a0However those were the times when we started looking at the wind and waves around us instead of to Jesus. \u00a0It is not a natural thing to do, but God is teaching us that no matter what we need to keep our eyes on him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run\u00a0with perseverance\u00a0the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,\u00a0the pioneer\u00a0and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,\u00a0scorning its shame,\u00a0and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.\u00a0Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary\u00a0and lose heart.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2581\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2581\" style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7280.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2581 \" title=\"DSC_7280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7280.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7280.jpg 800w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7280-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7280-500x333.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2581\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pray for us this year as we continue the journey God has before us<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>How You Can Pray For Us This Next Year<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2584\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2584\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7507.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2584 \" title=\"DSC_7507\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7507.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7507.jpg 533w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7507-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7507-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2584\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Your prayers make a difference!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>Pray that we would keep our eyes on God at all times<\/li>\n<li>Pray that we would be willing to sacrifice and continue to grow more and more relevant here<\/li>\n<li>Pray for wisdom as we constantly face decisions of how to use our time in ministry. \u00a0There is no shortage of needs!<\/li>\n<li>Pray for me as I attempt to finish French<\/li>\n<li>Pray for the boys as they continue in school and grow in their faith<\/li>\n<li>Pray for Joel as he will be traveling to new villages and making contacts with people NTM would like to work with. \u00a0This is a God size task!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2580\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2580\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7112.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2580 \" title=\"DSC_7112\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7112.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7112.jpg 533w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7112-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7112-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2580\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The end of our next year (August, 2014) will mark the beginning of our first 6 month furlough<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2583\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2583\" style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7467.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2583 \" title=\"DSC_7467\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7467.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7467.jpg 800w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7467-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2013\/09\/DSC_7467-500x333.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2583\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We can&#39;t wait to share more with everyone about what God is doing!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One thing that I have learned on this long voyage is that it is important to celebrate the small successes. \u00a0So every year we celebrate what God has done. It was a year of humbling ourselves and being willing to not only understand the culture that is around us but enter in and become a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":830,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2545],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-updates-and-news","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/830"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}