Hello Everyone,
Our three newest team members have provided some thoughts for tonight’s update.
It is Thursday evening and we have just arrived back in the city of Thies from our village, Ndiadiane. The villagers accepted us with open arms and extended much hospitality to us over the past four days. They hosted an evening of dancing on Wednesday night to traditional Serer music. They seemed to really enjoy sharing the dance floor with us as they clapped and cheered us on. For each dance the drum beat starts off steady and slow and increases rapidly toward the end off the song. The villagers dance faster and faster until the song’s ending that involves kicking your feet very fast and kicking up a lot of sand. We truly felt like a part of their family and were touched by the joy they all seemed to have regardless of the daily struggles that they face.
-Elise Kidd
A few thoughts from Justin on his experience in Senegal….
A few weeks ago at Eastern Hills, Doug talked about how incredibly rich we are. At the time, the things Doug had to say really made me stop and think how blessed I am to have a job, a place to live, and good health. While here in Senegal I have gained a whole new perspective on just how rich we are in the USA. In Ndiadiane, a place where villagers only have dirt roads and the main mode of transportation is to walk or to ride a horse-drawn cart (if you are one of the few wealthy people in the community); I was amazed at how challenging daily life could be. For the Senegalese living in Ndiadiane, necessities like basic food that families grow themselves and water that comes from wells (which can sometimes become contaminated and unsafe) are the only things readily available. Frills like processed foods and meat are extremely expensive for them to purchase and things that we take for granted in the USA like electricity and running water aren’t even available. Real medical care is only available if you have enough money to pay for an expensive several hour car trip into the city and an expensive medical bill to see a nurse. Although the people in Ndiadiane have so much less than we have at home, I have been amazed at how upbeat and cheerful the Christian community in Ndiadiane is and how such little things mean so much to them. I am very thankful that God has shown me so much on this trip about how incredibly wealthy and blessed we are at home in the USA.
-Justin Beers
Behind the clinic, on a mat in a sea of sand sand under a tree, was our prayer ‘corner.’ The villagers were told that if they wanted they could receive prayer, and before long a line had formed. A Senegalese pastor, a translator, a couple of Americans and I made up the prayer team for that day. If we felt inadequate to pray before we heard the prayer requests, only imagine how we felt after. In addition to requests for healing and blessing, there was a true pouring out of souls. A young mother told how her husband had taken a second and third wife while abandoning her and her three children with little means of survival, as the woman’s parents had died – and could we pray for her. The translator spoke with great compassion and I saw her fight back tears. It was only later that I learned that the translator’s husband had divorced her because she became a Christian, and that a few days earlier, she and her daughter had nothing to eat for two days. She told me, ‘the women are suffering.’ Our hearts broke as we interceded before God on their behalf.
-Bonnie Beers
As you can see, we’ve had a variety of experiences, and we’re looking forward to sharing them with most of you in person. Tomorrow we’ll spend some time together as a team and start our debriefing, and head to the airport for a very early morning flight out of Dakar.
Thanks again for your prayers and support,
The Senegal team.
