"Pourqoui?"- ma reponse

So, I've realized that while it may be very obvious to me why I want to go to Côte d'Ivoire for a year (possibly two), some of you might be wondering: "Why in the world does she want to go???" So here are the main reasons:

- Most obviously and perhaps the 'easy' answer is because I love Jesus and loving others tangibly is something He's called all of us to do (check out 1 John 3:18). By His grace, I want to live out His love in Côte d'Ivoire.

- After 4 years of undergrad I still don't know what exactly I want to do with my life (whatever that means). I'm hoping to get away from classroom-style learning and instead learn by doing/serving. And maybe God will continue leading me so I can figure out what I'll be doing for the next few years.

- Honestly, one very practical reason is to improve my French. It may not be the 'pure' French experience I might've gotten spending a summer in Paris, but speaking with Ivorians should still solidify my speaking abilities.

- I have so much material wealth: shelter, health, clothes, good food, transportation, education, opportunities... Out of this abundance I want to give to and serve those who have been given materially less than me.

- I thrive on experiencing and learning from other cultures. God made so many beautiful peoples and gorgeous creation to see and enjoy!! While I might be able to help Ivoirians in many material ways, I know that they will most likely teach me more than I could ever hope to give to them.

- My semester in South Africa helped me realize something about myself: I am drawn to reconciliation. Reconciliation, whether it's between individuals or whole societies, is a small picture of what God's done for us. Jesus has rescued us from the violence and oppression of sin and reconciled us to Himself and so we can also be reconciled to each other (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). South Africa was/is undergoing a long reconciliation after apartheid, which I both learned about and experienced while there. Côte d'Ivoire also has a past of conflict, with a civil war in 2002. I am looking forward to being a part of another culture that's attempting to reconcile.

- I know that God has a lot to teach me while there. These last four years at Arcadia have been mind-blowing!! Can't wait to see what else He's got up His sleeve!!