Dear Ministry and Prayer Partners,

It has been nearly two months since we have sent you an update on the happenings in Ivory Coast. Forgive us for the delay, but at times we find it difficult to write. Sometimes we are unsure of what to pray for ourselves, therefore making it hard to know what to ask of YOU. So bear with us.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? Cindy and the children have begun week two in this new year in home school. We all enjoyed the holiday break. Guy is in French language study each morning with a tutor. Although we had to cease our Grebo studies, French is predominately the language throughout many West African countries and will be an asset in most places of ministry.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Several weeks ago, we applied for a transfer with another people group in West Africa. Just today we have received word that our transfer has been approved. We will be moving, again! Cotonou, Benin will be the new home for the DeMars family as of the end of this month. From cocoa capital to voo-doo capital. Our email address will stay the same, but connection is poor, so we ask each of you to keep this in mind when mailing us. Do NOT send any forwards, photos, or downloaded cards or screens from the internet. We will be living in the guest house until a house if found for us and we are able to set it up with appliances, furniture, etc. As we know our address and other information to share we will write.
WHAT ABOUT IVORY COAST? The war continues to go on in pockets throughout IC. We've not been able to return to our home in Tabou, other than the quick trip Guy made almost two and one-half months ago to retrieve small personal belongings. It is obvious to us that the ministry among the Grebo cannot continue at this point due to situation near our village of Tabou being very unpredictable. Many of you have asked, and, No, we most likely will not have the opportunity to retrieve the other belongings in our home as rebel and government fighting is much nearer out home in Tabou now. We have been affected, but not anywhere near comparison to our friends in Tabou. Many of them have family members missing and they have had to leave all they own and walk for miles on foot with nothing. Some shelters do not even have roofs to protect them from the sun or rain. We have no room to complain as we have all been kept safe and together throughout this ordeal.
PRAYER REQUESTS
* Life here is hard, but even more difficult in a crisis like this, so continue to pray for the Grebo and peoples of Ivory Coast. Pray for the Christians who are in rebel held territory. Nearly all missionary presence is gone, of any denomination. Pray that the Christians will be able to persevere, hold to the truths they have learned, and be able to share them boldly during this time.
* Pray for another transition in our lives with the upcoming move to another country as well as a job change.
* Pray for travel. We will drive from Abidjan across two more countries to get to Benin which is located east of Ivory Coast. We are looking at a 2-3 day drive with good conditions. Pray for traveling grace, no breakdowns, little to no carsickness, and especially for the border crossings (there will be 3).
* Continue to pray for our health. Derrick hurt his arm badly just after Christmas and during the curfew hours. We did make it to a hospital without being stopped and he was treated and had nothing broken. He just had to wear a type of sling for a few days and take something for inflammation, nothing serious. Thanks for praying regularly for us!
* Pray for fluffy rice. Guy compares learning French to rice. Sometimes when one cooks rice it is nice and fluffy. Other times, it is sticky and gooey--all mashed up together and unable to separate. This is how our brain sometimes feels when we are in class. Somedays it is sticky rice and others nice and fluffy.

In His Name,

Guy & Cindy DeMars
Missionaries to West Africa
***If you receive this update by regular postal mail and would like to be added to our email posts, just notify us at guy_d83@yahoo.com. Please do not send any other correspondence to our Tabou address and at this time our Abidjan address has not been very reliable. Thanks for your understanding.

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