We're Back!

After 2 crazy weeks abroad, we are back home, safe and sound. We had 10 wild and amazing days in Nigeria and 3 recovery days in Paris. There is no way that we could begin to explain the trip with words so here are some highlights via pictures. You'll have to call us or come see us for the full story. Enjoy!

After a short flight to Atlanta, a 8 hour layover and a 11 hour flight to Lagos, Nigeria we were welcomed with a note on the baggage trolley that said our bag didn't make it on the flight. We wouldn't see it again for 5 days. We spent the night in Lagos before flying to Calabar.
This was the view flying it...its a jungle out there.
Breakfast the first morning was some fried monitor lizard. This was actually quite unusual for even them. Tasted great (not exactly like chicken).
This was home sweet home for the week. The guest house we were supposed to stay in fell through last minute to they built this house in 2 days for us. And yes, in case you don't believe your eyes, it is a 2x4 shell covered in a plastic tarp with a tin roof. It had, no joke, built in wiring for our work station and 4 separate "rooms". Pretty impressive really. Notice the private shower on the right.
One of our dinners, cassava and soup. The soup was great but the cassava had its way with me (Brian) for the next two days.
Kate, Ben and local architect Godwin conducting a design review.
Brian and Rob (right) visits with Todd who was one of two clients that EMI was there to serve. We had a 3 hour meeting to review what the vision was for the site while I tried not to passed out from being sick and the crazy heat and humidity. Turns out plastic walls don't breath real well...
Rob and I conducting a very scientific evaporation experiment. In case the note to not touch the water didn't work, the local way of telling people to keep their hands off is to put a palm branch in the ground as shown.
We had to go pay homage to the village chief of where the site was located. It was quite the to do and drew a crowd of about 100 people. Notice the elephant heads on his chair. The video of the meeting is priceless (ie. come visit us to see it).
Kate and her token picture with all the kids.
The team hard at work.
A picture of the site. It's what you could call a "green" site.
It's a jungle out there. A unique challenge for the survey team when they need guys with machetes clearing the path. The vision is to turn this thick jungle into a training center where they teach people to farm fish and plants.
Mode of transportation to and from the site. Victor (the driver) runs a taxi service when he's not working on the farm. His record for people on his motorcycle is 6 and he made it sound like 7 would be no big deal! That is a 125 cc motorcycle!
Alas, all good things must come to an end. This is Kate and I with the family that hosted us along with some of their extended family. This post doesn't begin to scratch the surface of what all went on but we do hope that its enough of a taste that you'll call or come see us to hear more. God is doing some amazing things through these people and we're excited to report more as the project progresses.
I leave you with this darling picture of my wife eating escargot in Paris where we spent 3 days recovering from our "vacation". The snails were actually quite delicious despite what Kate's face may tell you. There are many more pictures and stories about Paris but that is for another day. Until then, Au revoir!