I had a huge prayer answered a few weeks ago. A friend of mine here in Mekhe who is a Wolof welder was talking with me as I introduced to him my guests. He met Justin, a youth pastor, and asked him what he did for work. I translated that he taught the Bible to youth. And my friend excitedly proclaimed, “can you teach me? I want to learn.” I was absolutely floored! So eagerly we set up a time to meet and tell stories.
The day we met, I translated the story of creation as well as the story of Adam and Eve and their sin. We talked specifically on the idea that Adam and Eve sinned just like everyone sins, we mentioned that God required a sacrifice from a living animal to pay for that sin-an innocent animal had to die. And we discussed that our relationship with God was broken because of that sin since Adam and Eve could not go back to the garden. It was a good lesson, and I will share more with my friend.
This was a great start into sharing with my friend. I look forward to going to his house and continuing to build this relationship with him. He has been given a Wolof New Testament Bible to have and read when he can. And although he has pushed aside the Word when his friends are around (which is what any Muslim would do culturally), privately he is eager to hear more stories. He knew these stories well, and was saying them to us in Wolof better than I could say them in Wolof. I do pray that together we may continue to share the truth about Jesus.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
New Happenings
Now that we are done with the volunteer teams here for the summer, you may be wondering just what I am going to be doing with the time I have. Well, I’ll try to give you a little summary of what I would like to do with my time here in Mekhe. But before I do, here’s the plans for the next few weeks.
-We have a regional workshop to attend in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire at the end of the month. I will be attending this to gain insight on effective entry and effective presentation of the gospel. I’ll also get to meet other missionaries from West Africa and begin to hear their stories.
-I have highspeed internet! So I will hope to keep in touch better with family and friends once I catch up on the work that I have been missing here. With the internet maybe I’ll even catch a cubs game on the radio. And I look forward to exercising to Adventures in Odyssey, and hearing a few sermons as well.
-After the regional workshop, I will begin Wolof classes again. These classes will be 3 days a week for 3 hours each day. This will give me time to not only grow in my Wolof, but I will have off days to begin working on telling stories and doing ministry in Mekhe. So I’m very excited about continuing language study, and for the chance that it will give me to ask questions as I go.
I know that seems like a lot, but I do like to stay busy. I don’t think this is too much to chew on, and once I get into a rhythm I should be able to get this done each day. I believe this will also make me look forward to resting on the weekends. I’ll keep you updated how the schedule is working.
-We have a regional workshop to attend in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire at the end of the month. I will be attending this to gain insight on effective entry and effective presentation of the gospel. I’ll also get to meet other missionaries from West Africa and begin to hear their stories.
-I have highspeed internet! So I will hope to keep in touch better with family and friends once I catch up on the work that I have been missing here. With the internet maybe I’ll even catch a cubs game on the radio. And I look forward to exercising to Adventures in Odyssey, and hearing a few sermons as well.
-After the regional workshop, I will begin Wolof classes again. These classes will be 3 days a week for 3 hours each day. This will give me time to not only grow in my Wolof, but I will have off days to begin working on telling stories and doing ministry in Mekhe. So I’m very excited about continuing language study, and for the chance that it will give me to ask questions as I go.
I know that seems like a lot, but I do like to stay busy. I don’t think this is too much to chew on, and once I get into a rhythm I should be able to get this done each day. I believe this will also make me look forward to resting on the weekends. I’ll keep you updated how the schedule is working.
a day of rest!
I was awful tired one day, and I didn’t realize it. With the work that we had all been doing the last few weeks, I was getting 5-6 hours of sleep each night. Usually when I am tired and I’m not active I can fall asleep no problem. And I started taking light naps in the afternoons. Elliott would even pick on me for taking naps, which I didn’t mind but I did try to stay away so that he wouldn’t have anything to say to me. But one day, I took a nap for 2 hours before lunch. After the nap I felt even worse, so I thought to myself, “Oh no! I’m getting sick.” So after lunch I took a nap to see if it would make me feel better. After that nap I went with 2 of the boys to visit a friend of ours, and I couldn’t hold my head up during the visit. After bringing them back to Elliott’s house, I went home to go to bed, and slept for 12 hours. I felt much better after the rest and was back to my old self. So after sleeping for 17 hours in one day, I was caught up with the sleep I needed. I guess my body will shut itself down to catch up on much needed sleep.
The Second Group
The second group that we had here working with us as volunteers came all the way from Poquoson Baptist Church in Virginia. Like the first group, this group had the chance to work with the high school students here in Mekhe. They played games-usually basketball-and taught the Senegalese students a few American games—such as Uno, football (American style), and some other card games. They also shared dances that each prepared. There was a group of 3 boys here in Mekhe that dance together and performed for us, and the Poquoson group prepared dances to share as well. It turned out to be quite a fun time for all involved.
With this second group we also learned to laugh at ourselves. Many days we said things that seemed to come out wrong-me included! Some of those sayings that you just had to be there to see the humor. And we learned a lot about ourselves and what makes us different from others. We realized that we all have gifts we can take to the throne, and God can use them in a special way. I am glad that even as I am 28 I am still learning things about myself so that I may work better with others.
With this second group we also learned to laugh at ourselves. Many days we said things that seemed to come out wrong-me included! Some of those sayings that you just had to be there to see the humor. And we learned a lot about ourselves and what makes us different from others. We realized that we all have gifts we can take to the throne, and God can use them in a special way. I am glad that even as I am 28 I am still learning things about myself so that I may work better with others.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Which would you rather have??
Over the last week the guys at my house created a number of games. One game we came up with was “you know you’ve been in Africa too long when…” and we’d complete the sentence. One way we were reminded of being in Africa was the water cutting off each day. Fortunately it would come on at night so we could get showers, but in the morning we wouldn’t have any water. When I realized the pattern, I stayed up filling water bottles with the filter so we would have drinking water for the next day. And I’d be the last to take a shower and go to bed. But the lack of water got me to think-what would I rather have, water or power?
In Dakar there has been terrible power outages lately. I am not sure if it is from the change in temperature and more people are running fans, or if there is a shortage of power available. At any rate, when the power is cut off, people here cannot work. Seamstresses cannot sew, factories cannot produce goods, computers cannot work-in short, life is at a stand still for the 5-6 hours that there is no power. The water just this week has become an issue as well. I understand that there was a main water line cut in Dakar, and apparently all the water in various cities is being sent to Dakar to alleviate the shortage. But it doesn’t help us in the other cities. We sacrifice all our water so they may have some. Just a reminder of being in Africa.
Now, to answer the question-which would I rather have? Without a doubt, I’d rather have water than power. I can do everything I need to do at my house without power. I can cook on my gas stove, I can flush and shower (the water powers itself when it is on), and I can read during the day or go out and talk to friends. No power at night makes for a boring evening, but I can still talk to my guard until I’m sleepy enough to lay down. But if I don’t have water, I cannot shower, I cannot cook (unless I use bottled water-which I will keep on hand), and I can’t refresh myself. I do have a reserve tank of water that I can store and run through my lines in my house, but it is a weaker pressure and does not make it to the kitchen. Also, I used to really enjoy the power outages that we had at home during a thunder storm. But if I’m without one or the other for an extended time, I’d rather not have power than not have water.
In Dakar there has been terrible power outages lately. I am not sure if it is from the change in temperature and more people are running fans, or if there is a shortage of power available. At any rate, when the power is cut off, people here cannot work. Seamstresses cannot sew, factories cannot produce goods, computers cannot work-in short, life is at a stand still for the 5-6 hours that there is no power. The water just this week has become an issue as well. I understand that there was a main water line cut in Dakar, and apparently all the water in various cities is being sent to Dakar to alleviate the shortage. But it doesn’t help us in the other cities. We sacrifice all our water so they may have some. Just a reminder of being in Africa.
Now, to answer the question-which would I rather have? Without a doubt, I’d rather have water than power. I can do everything I need to do at my house without power. I can cook on my gas stove, I can flush and shower (the water powers itself when it is on), and I can read during the day or go out and talk to friends. No power at night makes for a boring evening, but I can still talk to my guard until I’m sleepy enough to lay down. But if I don’t have water, I cannot shower, I cannot cook (unless I use bottled water-which I will keep on hand), and I can’t refresh myself. I do have a reserve tank of water that I can store and run through my lines in my house, but it is a weaker pressure and does not make it to the kitchen. Also, I used to really enjoy the power outages that we had at home during a thunder storm. But if I’m without one or the other for an extended time, I’d rather not have power than not have water.
No Rest for the Weary
Anyone who has small kids, or who has ever been a youth minister can relate to being tired after a camp, or being tired in general from caring for children. And this is not to say that I am complaining about being tired, I am just surprised at how tired I was. While the Hickory Grove group was here, I slept most nights for 5 hours-1:30-6:30. Occasionally I would get a few more winks, but some nights I also got less. I’m one of those people that can handle 5 hours of sleep, as long as I’m active and working. If I’m idle, that makes it tough.
Anyway, this week I was able to get some much needed rest. All I had on my agenda was to clean my house, cook for myself, visit 2 friends, order my internet for my house, and rest, rest, rest. Although it was a very hot week, I was surprised that even though I would sleep in til 8am, I could still get a 3 hour nap in the afternoon, and yet still fall asleep at night. A few days I was extremely tired-maybe I slept too much! But some days I could not keep my eyes opened when I was reading. It’s been awhile since I have been that exhausted. I was grateful for this week to recuperate, and now I am ready for the next group to come.
Anyway, this week I was able to get some much needed rest. All I had on my agenda was to clean my house, cook for myself, visit 2 friends, order my internet for my house, and rest, rest, rest. Although it was a very hot week, I was surprised that even though I would sleep in til 8am, I could still get a 3 hour nap in the afternoon, and yet still fall asleep at night. A few days I was extremely tired-maybe I slept too much! But some days I could not keep my eyes opened when I was reading. It’s been awhile since I have been that exhausted. I was grateful for this week to recuperate, and now I am ready for the next group to come.
The Hickory Grove Group
This group was a church youth group from Charlotte, NC, who came to do ministry work with the youth at the highschool in Mekhe. They were a large group for Mekhe, 15 people came! But what an amazing and outgoing group. Not only did they learn greetings, they took initiative during each day of the week to speak with friends they were making, or even strangers on the road.
This group also braved the elements of Mekhe. Each day we had to battle for running water, which is not fun in a house of 7 guys. And they braved the 110 degree heat of Senegal. I was very pleased with their work.
They even came up with a new nickname for me, Biv or Bivster. It comes from the acronym for learning the colors of the rainbow. It’s still growing on me, but this group earned the right to call me bivster. It was/is cute.
What was their schedule like during the day? Well, they would get up, shower, and eat breakfast, and be ready to go by 9am. From 9-1 we usually did whatever we could, whether prayer walking, visiting friends, or for a couple of days we visited the school and spoke in the classroom with the kids. After lunch we would rest until 4 or 5, when we would really get going with visiting friends at the school. We would play soccer or basketball until dark, then eat supper and have debrief time until 10:30. And after the dust settled, the guys would go back to my place and we’d turn in for bed around 12.
I think that this group got to share with 12-15 different students, which is amazing! We did a really big outreach in showing the chronicles of narnia on a projector outside my house. Several of the Senegalese students were able to ask questions after the movie, and from the responses they did seem to get the message behind the story.
My take home message from this group is to never think that I have to work before sharing the gospel message with those around me. This group took it upon themselves to go straight for the gospel message with the students-sharing their faith, sharing who they believe Jesus is and what it means to be a Christian. I have been waiting to share—waiting to be more comfortable in Wolof, waiting to share the right stories before going to the Cross. Now I know that I don’t necessarily have to wait. I can share right away, and let God’s Spirit do the work.
This group also braved the elements of Mekhe. Each day we had to battle for running water, which is not fun in a house of 7 guys. And they braved the 110 degree heat of Senegal. I was very pleased with their work.
They even came up with a new nickname for me, Biv or Bivster. It comes from the acronym for learning the colors of the rainbow. It’s still growing on me, but this group earned the right to call me bivster. It was/is cute.
What was their schedule like during the day? Well, they would get up, shower, and eat breakfast, and be ready to go by 9am. From 9-1 we usually did whatever we could, whether prayer walking, visiting friends, or for a couple of days we visited the school and spoke in the classroom with the kids. After lunch we would rest until 4 or 5, when we would really get going with visiting friends at the school. We would play soccer or basketball until dark, then eat supper and have debrief time until 10:30. And after the dust settled, the guys would go back to my place and we’d turn in for bed around 12.
I think that this group got to share with 12-15 different students, which is amazing! We did a really big outreach in showing the chronicles of narnia on a projector outside my house. Several of the Senegalese students were able to ask questions after the movie, and from the responses they did seem to get the message behind the story.
My take home message from this group is to never think that I have to work before sharing the gospel message with those around me. This group took it upon themselves to go straight for the gospel message with the students-sharing their faith, sharing who they believe Jesus is and what it means to be a Christian. I have been waiting to share—waiting to be more comfortable in Wolof, waiting to share the right stories before going to the Cross. Now I know that I don’t necessarily have to wait. I can share right away, and let God’s Spirit do the work.
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