A lot has gone on since we have been back to Mali; I was accepted at the University of Arizona for a master’s in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Education. I am still on the fence as to if I am going to go or not. It is a hard decision to make, spending all the money, do I go part-time or full-time, should I wait a year gain residency and get in-state tuition….so much to think about.
Secondly, we now have two nieces and ONE nephew! My sister Aubrey and my wonderful brother-in-law Clint had a beautiful baby boy, Trace James Wright. Trace was born on April 22, 2010, weighing 8lbs.8oz and in true Wright fashion he came with chubby little cheeks! We are so excited to go home and meet Trace. Yeah for babies!
Baby Trace- 3 days old.
Trinity loving on her new baby brother.Lastly, WE ARE COMING HOME! We got our official word from Peace Corps a few weeks ago;we will be leaving Mali on June 13th. We are so excited about going home and seeing friends and family, but have mixed emotions about leaving the people we have grown so close to and love dearly. We keep saying our two years went way to fast, but at times way to slow. We have about two more weeks in village before we depart for Bamako to do all of our Close of Service duties; language tests, physicals, exits interviews, paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. The village is planning a big dance for us the day before we leave and we have also been told that they will send us off on May 28th with singing and gun shots (we would rather them not have the guns, but we wouldn’t want to disappoint the Chief of the Village). We miss Mali!
Our rip-off countdown calendar, I can't believe we are this close!
And what comes with leaving but buying souvenirs, here I am buying grass plates from a nomadic ethnic group called the Bella. These women live in our millet fields during hot season in a make shift house and sit under the trees all day and make grass plates to bring into market to sell. It is fascinating.
Hi Joe and Ashley,
ReplyDeleteCongradulations!!! WOW! your sister had her baby already. Your little nephew is soo cute :) Dont you just love the chubby cheeks. I know Anna has chubby cheeks and I kiss them all day.
There is a lot to come home to and I can tell it's going to be hard, to leave your second home, in Mali West Africa. WOW!! your countdown calendar has only 19 days left. Two years has gone by and I still don't know where the time went. I will miss seeing and hearing about Africa. It's been a blessing over the two years to get a little taste of what West Africa is like. You made it and this opportunity will stay with you for the rest of your life. All those tough time may not look so bad after all. I'm sure you both have touched many lives and I don't have to think twice about that. People will remember your beautiful and handsome smiles. What a gift to leave with those you have grown to love. Have a blast at the "BIG DANCE" and just "PARTAY" and enjoy your last moments in Mali. Be safe and see you soon.
Love
Jody, Ben and Anna
IT'S BEEN A BLESSING TO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG
ReplyDeleteI HAVE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. I FEEL SOME TEARS COMING SAD AND HAPPY ONES.
"GOD" I THANK YOU FOR JOE AND ASHLEY WHO LOVE AND WANT TO SERVE YOU. GUIDE THEM AND HELP THEM SEE WHAT YOUR PLAN IS FOR THEIR FUTURE AHEAD. I PRAY FOR A SAFE RETURN HOME. THANK YOU "GOD" FOR THE JOURNEY OF LIFE AND THE SEARCHING AND REACHING OUT WE DO BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR "GOD".
AMEN
LOVE
JODY
Ahhhh I can't wait to hear you voice when you are back in the states. It's been a long time! It was wonderful to talk the one time we did when you were there but I'm ready to be able to call my friend whenever I want to!!! What a journey you have been on. Thanks for blogging and keeping us connected to you. I'm sad that the Africa adventures will be be over because I've been inspired BUT, I'm happy you will be starting a new journey to blog about. Ashley I'll give you my opinion about school via e-mail. :) hee hee. LOVE you guys!!
ReplyDeletejodi is right on, watching and reading about your stay and growth in africa has touched all our lives in some way. to start the beginning of the end in prayer is fitting: "Amen"
ReplyDeleteand thank you jodi for all your "blogging comments" and support of ashley and joe. You are a great inspiration to them and i know they enjoy your writtings as did i. blessings this day are evident. Love You mom...
Thanks Debbie
ReplyDeleteThat was really sweet of you to say what you did.
Your comment just blew me away and I almost started to cry. The same to you, all your "blogging comments" has helped them get through these past two years. Even you going to visit was such a blessing and an experience you will never forget. Take care and thanks again.
Jody
Jody and Debbie your comments made Jerry and I cry, maybe even made Joe and Ashley cry. your comments are so true we have all been on this journey together. It's kind of an emotional time as we see this all come to an end even though we know the journey for Joe and Ashley will once again just be beginning. There will be a constant party from June 14th until July as the wollersheim's and the martin's welcome and celebrate the return of the fabulous joe and ashley.
ReplyDeleteOh to be so loved!!
I'm sure joe and ash will keep up the blog because i know no matter how hard ashley tries to pull in the reins on joe and his next great challenge(he's already talking marathon in Vegas)it might take some doing, so keeping checking the Blog.
I also want to thank joe and ashley on their faithfulness in keeping us updated and entertained on their 2 yr adventure in Africa, it's been a real treat. Joe and ash you don't know how many mornings were spent 1st thing right to the computer to see if THEY wrote anything new, It was fun waiting, reading and re-reading.
Thank-you to all you blog followers. Jody you by far get the praise for the most faithful. Great job Jody!
Joe and Ashley we eargerly await your return and pray for safety and timely air conections.
We are super proud of you and know your smiles and presence will be extremely missed in your village.
Love,
jerry and sue
: ) yay... coming home. such a big step in the next phase of your lives. it'll be a journey in and of itself. don't forget to snot cry when your villagers send you off with dancing and gun shots. soak up every moment because it will most likely never happen again, and after a time from now, it will seem as if it never happened... and so life will go on as it always does. yeah, snot cry, it'll feel good. love you guys.
ReplyDeleteI am crying too. Your village has been so blessed to have you there. We are excited that your next stop will be Phoenix. We can visit you when we come to see Baby Bockholdt-and her parents too. We are looking forward to a big hug and sharing a glass of wine when you return to Sioux City. Love, Sue and Mark
ReplyDeletewow - coming home ....that sounds great! You guys have an amazing blog....a great record of your time in Mali....and everywhere else you have traveled.
ReplyDeleteI hope we get to see you before you go off on new adventures in your life - safe travels home!
Debra