Email from Bryon

Bryon sent me an email with information to post on the blog. I am going to copy and past the majority of it here for you to read his own words.


"I’m going to start work on my primary project. I can’t get into too much detail now, but it should have a large impact in the country. My project focuses on radio communications (Mali has more radio stations than any country in Africa) and distributing anti-extremism messages that have the ability to reach 95% of the people in Mali. The project will have a budget over $1 million, work closely with coordination with part of the Department of State as well as the military, and promote education, health awareness, religious tolerance, conflict resolution, and anti-extremism. As I get more into it, there will be more specifics that I’ll be able to share about. The project will give me the opportunity to see a lot of the country. "


"Also, I’ll be making big strides in setting up my post-military career. Africa is going to become an increasing focal point for the government and I saw aspects of that in Ethiopia, and even more of that here. The current focus is Iraq and Afghanistan, but in the aftermath of those conflicts, the focus will be shifting to the open areas in the world, and many of those are in Africa. So I will have spent time in two countries playing key roles on the continent as well as been following the rest of the continent to some extent. "


And I thought this part of the email was cute...

"I drove for the first time around Bamako. Its not quite the free for all like driving in Addis was. People pretty much stay in their lanes, and don’t cram in front of you as much. But the motorbikes and mopeds are everywhere. They drive between lanes and around vehicles and are hard to see in the mirrors. So it’ll be an adventure every time I get behind the wheel here"


You know how much Bryon loves a challenge, He'll love the crazy driving for sure! He was also really excited when he arrived to find out that not only did he have a cook that prepared dinner for them every night, but he also had air conditioning in his house! Yay! While it is the cool season there, the temperatures are still in the upper 80's to mid 90's with no rain and little breeze.



Well, thats all of the update I have for now. Thank you all so much for praying that our communication lines would open up. They certainly have! I've talked to Bryon daily on skype since Saturday and its been so much easier for me being able to see his face every day. Please continue to pray for our brave soldier. I will post more when it comes. Love to you all!