Do you think the mission field is exotic?  Try coming back home to the States after a few years of being away! Here are some random memories I have of my recent furlough. :

—The first time I held American change again, I was amazed how light and small it felt.

—I got confused trying to figure out how to use a credit card in stores. How do I slide it through this thing?

—It was a challenge to speak English without throwing in French words. I had to stop and think what some things are called in English. On a domestic flight, I called out to a steward without thinking, “S’il vous plaît, Monsieur.” My seatmate was rather amused, as was I.

—When I arrived at the airport, I walked right past my dad and my uncle at the gate because I was expecting to see them at the baggage claim.

—I enjoyed doing presentations in three Adventist schools and three Sabbath Schools. Everyone liked the car and motorcycle made from bug-spray cans.

—Thanks to one of my good friends, I was able to go camping twice. First, three of us stayed in a refurbished fire tower in the Idaho mountains. It was nice and peaceful, but the water supply was a half mile down a steep hill. Next came a canoe trip to Upper Priest Lake in Idaho. We arrived late and ended up paddling to the campsite in the pitch dark. Thankfully, my friends had been there before.

The lake was so beautiful! I took a swim, and it was cold but very refreshing.

—I had several reunions with people I hadn’t see in a long time. The first was with my cousin whom I haven’t seen in about 11 years. We had a nice long chat to catch up and reminisce about old times.
I was also able to meet up with Tamara Steffen. Back before she married, she and I spent 1993 together in Mongolia working with the Jollys. We had a nice chat and then went apple picking. She was pregnant and several days overdue. (Note if you don’t use the picture of us you can take out that sentence.) 

—I was delighted to get to see several of my sponsors at the Wenatchee camp meeting October 3-5 in Wenatchee, Washington. The company was good, the speaker was excellent, and I was able to chat with lots of people. I was able to stay with my “second mom” and her husband while there, and it was good to see them again. I was able to help them get their house ready to sell.

—I visited the west coast of Washington to see some school friends and speak at the Startup SDA church. I had a nice time visiting them and meeting some sponsors. The drive through the mountains was beautiful and awe inspiring. That Saturday evening, we drove to Rosario beach for a Walla Walla College alumni reunion—another beautiful place.

—My parents and I spent 10 days in Nevada and California visiting my grandma, my aunt, my cousin, and my sister and her family. It was nice to see everyone. There I had the privilege of giving a 15-minunte talk to the small church in Silver Springs, Nevada. It was a joy to meet a few of the faithful in that part of the country. We visited several museums and learned the history of Virginia City, Nevada and the Oregon Trail. The trees were just changing color, and the hillsides were covered with reds and yellows and oranges. Highway 88 was just awesome as the Aspens were all turning bright yellow.

—I was delighted to finally get to meet Mrs. Muriel Munson. She kept my mom and I entertained with stories. She is a wonderful lady. I wish we could have stayed longer.

—I spent one Sunday helping a friend sell his pet birds. Talk about noise—Wow!

Having enjoyed a wonderful furlough, I am now back in Benin to continue health education and outreach with the people I have come to love over the past four years.
I invite you to continue playing your important part in this project with your financial support as well as your many prayers. If you haven’t yet become a part of this project, I invite you to join us with your prayers and finances. (I also appreciate all the letters you send). May God return a portion of the blessing you are to us and to the Ottammari.

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