Moving… again!!!

A year ago, in this same period, we were packing for our move to Canada, Edmonton. I vividly remember all the stress, insomnia and tiredness during two months!

After one year, we are again in the process of moving, this time to British Columbia, Vancouver Island.  We have never been so relaxed, enjoying the beautiful summer in Edmonton! The reason: our stuff will be packed and unpacked by movers. So, we really feel blessed and we are enormously grateful to God.

 

A few days ago, we found our home in Vancouver Island. What a relief! Once again, God was faithful. The house is in Shawnigan Lake, a dream location with its lakes, ocean and mountains, the view is breathtaking!

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy!  😉

 

Thank you to all who think and pray for us. Take care!

 

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Reflection

The positive side of being sick (immobilized at home or in a clinic) is that you have time to converse with God, to remember, to think about situations and circumstances of your life. In fact, for me, this was positive because it prevented me from focusing on my “mountain” (disease) laying  in my way.

During these moments of reflection, something  struck me about my heart and desires . John Eldredge describes it well in his book “the treasures of the heart”: “Taking our heart in the journey of life is the most important mission of our existence, but also the most difficult.” It all depends on what we do with our desire. Life offers countless reasons and occasions to give up on one’s desire.

I suddenly realize that this is what happened to me for some times due to unjust, unpleasant, harsh, incomprehensible and illogical situations … Despite all my efforts, I am stuck in negative thoughts that slowly suffocate me  and I even ended up losing my heart, losing sight of my desires, my passion …
So I try to be strong, I continue my life without asking too many questions, but the worst is that now, I want to “keep my heart more than anything …” (Proverbs 4: 23). After taking a few arrows, would I dare to desire? Then, without realizing it, I closed my heart to build relationships, to dare, to dream … because I do not want to open my heart, only to experience more grief .

Finally, to borrow Eldredge words: I decided to put as much distance as possible between me and my desires. It is both a logical and tragic act.  The tragedy is multiplied when the suicide of the soul is committed,  believing that this is precisely what Christianity recommends .

But when God decides to take action, to insist and reverse this terrible wrong way of thinking, your heart is completely exposed and often ugly to look at. You see, friends, God’s purpose for me as his child is to always take care of my character, my heart, to revive my desire and passion for him to look beyond the mountain (hurt , frustration, failure, …) that stands between me and where He wants to lead me. Unlike me, God does not focus on the circumstances of my life (though He is with me all the way), but He uses them to train me for a perfect goal: to provide a better future that will glorify Him and for my own good.

I finally understood that whatever I went through: right or wrong, pleasant or unpleasant, God will always brings out something wonderful, extraordinary so that my heart, my character looks more and more like Christ’. The sad part will be not realizing that and keep on weeping and feeling sorry for myself, all the while seeking the reason for what paralyses me.

I like Job. He wanted to know the reason for all his misfortunes, but instead of giving him answers, God bombarded Job with issues beyond his understanding and finally blessed him beyond his expectations (Job chap. 38 to chap. 41) Result: Job meets and knows God personally. (Job 42)

“ My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy.  You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering.  If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.” James 1:2-4 ERV

Keep up the good attitude!

There may be two people with all the same life circumstances.

One is miserable, stressed out, and looks twenty years older than he is. The other is the happiest person you could ever meet and looks twenty years younger than he is.

How can this be? The answer is that it is not our life circumstances that make life difficult. Rather, it is the attitude that we view our lives with. Those who are capable of seeing God’s hand, opportunities to reach maturity in every area of ​​their life and take life as God permits, will be able to be better and keep good reactions and attitudes whatever the circumstances!

KEEP UP THE GOOD ATTITUDE!!

TOYS IN MY HEAD!

One morning, our daughter Dara woke up very tired: she hadn’t slept much that night! I asked her the reason for her insomnia, she replied: “I do not know mom, I think I had toys in my head” . It was funny, but it was her way, an 8 years old child, to explain all the thoughts that trotted in her little head that kept her from sleeping. So, for her, insomnia = toys in the head!

I also had this week, “toys in my head.” No way to sleep. The reason: a lot of thoughts, feelings, emotions … in my “little” head! 

Can we say we are too blessed? If this is the case, I feel so blessed! I started to count all the blessings of God in my life and dear God, how I am grateful!

If I was these following characters and I was asked: “how do you see every day that God gives you?” my answer would be:

Artist: one day timed to a masterpiece.

Prisoner: another day to repent of my sins.

Scientist: another day for experiments.

president: another precious day to be a good leader.

Doctor: countless moments to save lives.

Romantic: another day to give lots of hugs.

A child: another whole day to play.

After all, I can be any of these characters for real, every day that God gives me !

I have toys in my head because I discover that every day is a new day full of opportunities to be a better person!

Welcome!!!

By immigrating to Canada, we are aware that we have left behind parents, siblings and precious friends. Thank to God for each of you through the three continents (Africa, Europe and America) that count so much to us!

This blog allows us to share with you: give you our news and receive yours. We will try as much as possible to make you aware of our amazing adventure away from home, adventure full of blessings and surprises!

Feel free to leave us a comment if you want, it will be really appreciated 

But how the family de Vries-Ouattara  found himself in Canada? We get this question since we settled in Alberta. So to start, here is our story …

ENJOY!