Tyrone and Cheryl LaValley

Serving as Your Missionaries in Cote dIvoire

News from West Africa

July 2015
Cheryl is now a Commissioned Missionary!
Pictured left: Bishop B.
Michael Watson
commissions Cheryl at a
session of the North
Georgia Annual Conference.
Also pictured, Ty and Rev.
Elizabeth Ackerman, Senior
Pastor of our home church
Marvin UMC in the
Augusta District.

How does a 56 year old pre-k teacher from Augusta, Georgia

become a commissioned missionary serving with Global
Ministries in Cote dIvoire? Lots of preparation from God, both
physical and spiritual. I was given the opportunity of teaching in
a school system for 14 years. I have a loving and kind heart so
when the hymn Here I am Lord was sung in church, my heart
was touched. It took me awhile to listen to Gods call but finally
I did. Even after Ty and I decided to become missionaries, I still
felt like I was only tagging along with Ty. But God had other
plans still. During my training for Global Ministries, I was asked
to write my call to mission speech. I struggled and Debra Tyree
came and talked with me. All of a sudden these words came
out of my mouth, what if God called Ty to mission so I could
do the job I am called to do. WOW!! Within 10 minutes, I
opened an email from Ty that contained basically the same
statement that I had just made. How amazing! Two people on
two different continents both serving one God having the exact
same thought at the same time. I knew right away I had been
called into the mission field and gladly accepted this call from
God.

Cheryl LaValley
Financial Support: Churches and individuals are encouraged to
share in the financial aspects of this mission through Advance
giving. See the box to the right.

Home Church: Marvin UMC

Augusta District

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mailing Address:
EMU-CI
Attn: LaVALLEY, Tyrone or Cheryl
01 BP 1282 Abidjan 01
Cote dIvoire, West Africa

Tyrone LaValley
VOIP: (912) 480-0444 local from USA
Cell: +225 45.82.33.36 Cote dIvoire
Skype: tyrone.lavalley
Email: tlavalley@umcmission.org
Facebook:
UnitedMethodistScoutingCotedIvoire
Blogger:
Tyronelavalley.blogspot.com

Cheryl LaValley
Cell: +225 56.83.04.25 Cote dIvoire
Skype: Cheryl.LaValley2
Email: clavalley@umcmission.org
Facebook:
AssistingChristianTeachersandStudents
inCotedIvoire
Advance Giving
#3022028
Salary Support-Tyrone
#3022055
Salary Support Cheryl
Mail to:

Advance GCFA
PO Box 9068
New York, NY 10087-9068

North Georgia Annual Conference

Serving as Your Missionary in Cote dIvoire

Scouting Ministry News

As previously reported, I was in the United States from May 28 June 25. I
was able to talk to Troop 10 and Pack 316 of the Georgia-Carolina Council,
BSA. Thank you to the churches that opened their doors and hearts to
welcome Cheryl and I while she itinerated. It was a great pleasure to see all
my old colleagues in ministry from the South Georgia and North Georgia
Annual Conferences.

TYRONE LAVALLEY
Scout Ministry Coordinator
United Methodist Church
Cote dIvoire
The Mission: to partner
with the youth civic
movements of the United
Methodist Church of Cote
dIvoire as we seek to make
disciples of Jesus Christ for
the transformation of the
world.
Certified in Christian
Education
Scouting Ministry Specialist
Commissioned Missionary
Bachelor of Science in
Social Science from
Campbell University
Certificate in Christian
Education from GarrettEvangelical Theological
Seminary

In the middle of all this speaking, we either sold, donated, or stored

all of our earthly possessions; leaving the USA with four suitcases,
two carry-ons, and a
cat. Items that I
shipped in January
never left the USA
due to paperwork
issues. We opted to
have nothing
shipped to Cote
dIvoire.
There is more to this
picture than what is
seen. This picture is
not about leaving it
all behind; rather it is about the relationships that we build in
ministry. We were able to trust Vaden Chevrolet, in Savannah, with
the sale of our two cars because of the close relationship we have
with the General Manager Tommy Arden. We also have a
relationship with you. Thank you for trusting us to take the Gospel
into all the world. It is humbling to know that you pray for us.
Ask yourself: What do I really need in life? Are my things holding
me back? What can I discard in an effort to draw closer to God?
You may be surprised what you can live without.
We are settling into our home in Abidjan. The old routine of
filtering water, reconstituting milk, and shopping for our daily bread
serves as a reflection of our need to rely on Gods grace daily. We
anticipate the new school year in September and strive to walk
alongside the local leadership as we make disciples in Sunday school
and Scouting.
There will be a special Email sent out soon. The Boys and Girls
Brigade will build a church in mid-August and an Advance number is
being established for fundraising.

Serving as Your Missionary in Cote dIvoire

Childrens Ministry News

Greeting from Cote dIvoire:
It has been an exciting couple of months for me. I have finished my training
with Global Ministries and have received my commissioning. The ceremony
was held at the North Georgia Annual Conference in Athens, Georgia on June
18. I am extremely honored and proud to represent you here in Cote dIvoire. I
have to tell you that saying you are selling or storing everything and moving is
a lot easier in words. The move has included a lot of physical,
mental, and emotional energy. All of which have been supplied by
God. The move and flight were smooth, no hiccups along the way.
We arrived safely Friday, June 27. It was nice to go to our house
CHERYL LAVALLEY
and get some rest. I am coming as a teacher to adult Sunday school
teachers but have put on the hat of learner for the time being. I am
Childrens Ministry Trainer
learning about culture, food, language, and getting around the
United Methodist Church
streets of Abdijan. I have met with Bishop Boni and his wife Beth for
Cote dIvoire
a delicious dinner. I just recently met with the Secretary General of
the Annual Conference Isaac Bodje and Conference Lay Leader
The Mission: to partner
Professor Louis Aboua. They were very pleased to have me in the
with the Sunday school
country as it makes Ty a happier person as well. I will be introduced
ministries of the United
to the
Methodist Church of Cote
remaining
dIvoire as we seek to make
leadership
disciples of Jesus Christ for
at a called
the transformation of the
meeting of
world.
the Annual
Conference
on July 17.
Cheryl is an educator with
15 years in public school
classrooms.
Pictured above: Cheryl presents
her call to the laity breakout
session of the South Georgia
Annual Conference in Tifton, GA
Pictured left: Pray for our
daughter Dana who will
continue her studies as a Junior
at Georgia College and State
University in Milledgville, GA.

Certified Teacher in Georgia

with Special Education
Endorsement
Commissioned Missionary
Master of Art in Teaching
Early Childhood Education
from Armstrong Atlantic
State University
Bachelor of Arts in Graphic
Design from Campbell
University

Serving as Your Missionary in Cote dIvoire

How can YOU Assist the Mission in Cote dIvoire?
Your Prayers hold us up with an invisible hand. When you pray to God to protect and guide us your
prayers are heard by God and felt by us. God also uses this prayer time to guide you to support Gods
mission here in Cote dIvoire or in other places around the world.
Your Presence in your local church supports your congregation whose mission we share. Your collective
wisdom in Small Group Studies and Large Group Worship help shape the local church and the larger
mission.
Your Gifts help us do the ministry we have been called to do. Monetary donations can be made to the
Advance. Instructions are on the bottom of the sidebar on the front page of this newsletter. Involve
others in a meaningful fundraiser that mirrors the mission here.
Your Service here in Cote dIvoire will change you forever. Organize a team to help us build churches,
assist in the clinics or hospital, assist with clean water, or help in our education programs.
Your Witness is a force multiplier. When you tell others what Christ is doing here in Cote dIvoire, your
enthusiasm will be contagious. Involve childrens classes, mens groups, womens groups, Scouting
units, and Sunday school classes.
Remember your baptism vows and God will direct you from that point

Thank you for reading this newsletter and sharing in our mission to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ into
all the world. Without your support this mission would not be possible.
Please pass this newsletter on to others and pray that God will touch their hearts to join us in shared
missions around the world.

Bellas Corner
Bella made the flight from Atlanta to Paris to
Abidjan with us and is adjusting to her new
home. She is an 8 year old American shorthair
calico.
She is not fond of the French brand of cat food,
so we found a place that sells Friskies. Imagine
the commercial: Missionary cats choose
Friskies.

Pictured below: Bella takes a break from her carrier at the

airport in Paris. She is comforted by Cheryl.