I have begun to accept the fact that there is going to be sand in every part of the house and that my feet are always going to be dirty. Everywhere you look thre is sand, no grass to be seen. It is hard to keep clean.
Yesterday I was miserably sick. I don't really know what caused it, but today I am better. I definetly begin to miss my mom when I don't feel good. In general though, I am beginning to miss every one. Please keep posting and sending messages. It is quite encouraging and is a huge boost to hear from everybody.
Things are beginning to settle into a routine now. We are beginning to take shifts now at the clinic because there isn't enought to do when we all go. The other day we went to some other villages that are more remote to give vaccines...I got to give several babies their shots, which was pretty cool.
I noticed that every baby cried and pulled away from the pain, and it was clear they did not understand why I had made them hurt. They didn't know it was for their own good. And I thought that this is how we -- or at least I am with God. He often disciplines us and does things to mold into the man or woman we were meant to be-- and it is often painful, and sometimes we don't even know that it is for our own good. We are left with the same question as the children...Why? ----None of the adults cry though because they understand why they are getting the shots.
Please pray for us here, and for the people we are ministering to. Please pray for a girl named Fatou... she is very sick.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Guero
I am now living in a village called guero, where I will stay for the rest of my time here. It is a small country village, which means there is not much here. I had to walk a few miles to get to this computer, still typing on a french keyboard. Please excuse bad grammar and misspelled words.
We have been in this village for a few days now and we have met a lot of people, whose names are difficult to pronounce and remember. They are all very nice and there is a surprising number of people who can speak some english. my language is coming along well.
I met a guy named Mambaay here who may very well be on the verge of becoming a christian. I have also been able to spark some interest in a guy named Babocar who lives next to the clinic where I am working. prayin 'ci turu yeesu' -- in the name of jesus --- always sparks questions.
Please pray for them.
The conditions are very poor here. people are sick, and cuts are very easily infected. I've seen a number of things that you would never see in the US.
There have been both beautiful sights and heartbreaking sights here.---- but one thing is for sure...Africa feels like home.
Thank you for all yur prayers. Keep praying for me, babocar, and mambaay, and the rest of the team. Pray that I will stay filled up with the gospel and that I will rely on God' strength. You should think abut calling me too 011221772442845 !
Matthew, thanks for keeping me on the program. I will keep you and Tara in my prayers.
Atoumang
We have been in this village for a few days now and we have met a lot of people, whose names are difficult to pronounce and remember. They are all very nice and there is a surprising number of people who can speak some english. my language is coming along well.
I met a guy named Mambaay here who may very well be on the verge of becoming a christian. I have also been able to spark some interest in a guy named Babocar who lives next to the clinic where I am working. prayin 'ci turu yeesu' -- in the name of jesus --- always sparks questions.
Please pray for them.
The conditions are very poor here. people are sick, and cuts are very easily infected. I've seen a number of things that you would never see in the US.
There have been both beautiful sights and heartbreaking sights here.---- but one thing is for sure...Africa feels like home.
Thank you for all yur prayers. Keep praying for me, babocar, and mambaay, and the rest of the team. Pray that I will stay filled up with the gospel and that I will rely on God' strength. You should think abut calling me too 011221772442845 !
Matthew, thanks for keeping me on the program. I will keep you and Tara in my prayers.
Atoumang
Saturday, May 17, 2008
When you are walkin down the hall and you hear something fall...
Diarrhea... Yes, i am hving my first bouts with its explosiveness here in africa. The last 24hrs have been interesting and miserable, but I am still praising God. I am beginning to feel better though. Tim said that it i most likely my stomach adjusting, and that there will be much more to come. I cant wait.
oh, and it turns out that the guy I a named after was the chief of his neighborhood. I had been wondering why most of the people i met knew who I was.
A lot more people have arrived here now, but other than that not much has happened. tomorrow we are leaving N`gor and going to a formal orientation in Mborr for about three days and then we will move to our permanent residence here.
It may be a while before anyone hears from me again.
I a typing on a freench keyboard, and it is quite frustrating so I am going to have to cut this short.
Please keep praying. being surrounded by a nation of people who dont know christ is draining... as is diarrhea.
Atoumang
oh, and it turns out that the guy I a named after was the chief of his neighborhood. I had been wondering why most of the people i met knew who I was.
A lot more people have arrived here now, but other than that not much has happened. tomorrow we are leaving N`gor and going to a formal orientation in Mborr for about three days and then we will move to our permanent residence here.
It may be a while before anyone hears from me again.
I a typing on a freench keyboard, and it is quite frustrating so I am going to have to cut this short.
Please keep praying. being surrounded by a nation of people who dont know christ is draining... as is diarrhea.
Atoumang
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Atoumang Dien
Wow, there is so much to talk about...I really don't know where to begin (by the way, wow means yes in Wolof). So much has happened and at the same time not much has happened at all. I appreciate all the posts, they are very encouraging. Please keep sending them.
Atoumang Dien is my new African name... My new friend Thierno Dien named me after his father who died...It was a big honor. I'm getting attached to him.
I'm learning a ton of Wolof...so much that my supervisor Tim sent me out to by bread and garlic from the street vendors by myself...at night...haha! That's freakin' crazy, and I was a little scared. But Senegal people are not like Americans and our opinions on how they might act are often way off base---at least mine were. ---Don't worry Mom and Dad, I am still being careful and I always have someone watching over me...at least for a while. ---Tim actually came after me after a little bit to make sure that I was ok. I have also begun calling taxis and haggling for lower fares. It is definetly an art.
Two new girls came in yesterday (Carla and Katie). They are very nice.
Oh, I almost forgot. We went to an Ngente, which is a baby naming ceremony. It was more or less like a party. it was for Thierno's niece. That took up a huge part of the day, but it was a good opportunity to meet a lot of people and get to know the culture a little better.
Because the rest of the crew hasn't gotten here yet, we haven't done much ministry. But really, I can't do much at the moment because I can't communicate the gospel message in Wolof. Tim said it isn't done so much like it is in the US. I have to gain the trust of my family first before I can even talk to them about Jesus.
If I have learned anything so far...It is that the Sun and moon that sets and rises on us back home, is the same Sun and moon that sets and rises on Africa and the rest of the world. And that God loves the people here as much as he loves me. My heart is broken because 99.9% of the people I have met do not fully understand that love.
Sorry this is so long...there is just so much to talk about, and I have left a great deal out. But we have to pay for the internet, and my time is running out. Keep praying!!
Atoumang
Atoumang Dien is my new African name... My new friend Thierno Dien named me after his father who died...It was a big honor. I'm getting attached to him.
I'm learning a ton of Wolof...so much that my supervisor Tim sent me out to by bread and garlic from the street vendors by myself...at night...haha! That's freakin' crazy, and I was a little scared. But Senegal people are not like Americans and our opinions on how they might act are often way off base---at least mine were. ---Don't worry Mom and Dad, I am still being careful and I always have someone watching over me...at least for a while. ---Tim actually came after me after a little bit to make sure that I was ok. I have also begun calling taxis and haggling for lower fares. It is definetly an art.
Two new girls came in yesterday (Carla and Katie). They are very nice.
Oh, I almost forgot. We went to an Ngente, which is a baby naming ceremony. It was more or less like a party. it was for Thierno's niece. That took up a huge part of the day, but it was a good opportunity to meet a lot of people and get to know the culture a little better.
Because the rest of the crew hasn't gotten here yet, we haven't done much ministry. But really, I can't do much at the moment because I can't communicate the gospel message in Wolof. Tim said it isn't done so much like it is in the US. I have to gain the trust of my family first before I can even talk to them about Jesus.
If I have learned anything so far...It is that the Sun and moon that sets and rises on us back home, is the same Sun and moon that sets and rises on Africa and the rest of the world. And that God loves the people here as much as he loves me. My heart is broken because 99.9% of the people I have met do not fully understand that love.
Sorry this is so long...there is just so much to talk about, and I have left a great deal out. But we have to pay for the internet, and my time is running out. Keep praying!!
Atoumang
Monday, May 12, 2008
Alive!
Nanga def? (that means--How are you?-- in Wolof).
This blog means that I am alive and well in Senegal. Things are quite different here than anything I have ever seen. The people are poor, the houses are...shelter.
For the next few days I am staying with a missionary couple that has been here for about 1 and a half years. We arrived about 5:00 am (1:00 SC time), and as we drove to the house it looked as if the neighborhood had been bombed. I imagined what it might have looked like (of course, the neighborhood hadn't actually been bombed. It just looked that way).
We went to bed about as soon as we got there. I was woke up to a loudspeaker that was calling the almost 100% muslim population to prayer. So far there have been three calls today, two more to go.
Things are a tad slow at the moment, but that is because we are a week early, and it hasn't totally become real that we are staying in poverty because the missionary's house where we are staying is nice compared to those around it. But in about a week I'll be living in something not so luxurious.
We are starting to learn the language...and that is really cool. Right now all we can really do is greet people. There are some other students here that have been here since January...they had a three week language class and then were thrown into the fire. They have been giving us tips.
This is beginning to get long. keep praying. The last week or so, I haven't really been able to hear God, or feel his presence. It is like I can hear the silence. It is a little frightening, but I know that he is faithful. I will try to take some pictures soon.
Buttcheekonhim---if you run that all together, it says "see you later" in Wolof!
This blog means that I am alive and well in Senegal. Things are quite different here than anything I have ever seen. The people are poor, the houses are...shelter.
For the next few days I am staying with a missionary couple that has been here for about 1 and a half years. We arrived about 5:00 am (1:00 SC time), and as we drove to the house it looked as if the neighborhood had been bombed. I imagined what it might have looked like (of course, the neighborhood hadn't actually been bombed. It just looked that way).
We went to bed about as soon as we got there. I was woke up to a loudspeaker that was calling the almost 100% muslim population to prayer. So far there have been three calls today, two more to go.
Things are a tad slow at the moment, but that is because we are a week early, and it hasn't totally become real that we are staying in poverty because the missionary's house where we are staying is nice compared to those around it. But in about a week I'll be living in something not so luxurious.
We are starting to learn the language...and that is really cool. Right now all we can really do is greet people. There are some other students here that have been here since January...they had a three week language class and then were thrown into the fire. They have been giving us tips.
This is beginning to get long. keep praying. The last week or so, I haven't really been able to hear God, or feel his presence. It is like I can hear the silence. It is a little frightening, but I know that he is faithful. I will try to take some pictures soon.
Buttcheekonhim---if you run that all together, it says "see you later" in Wolof!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A Minor Detail
Ok, so I was looking at the itenerary for my flight yesterday when, much to my dismay, I noticed that the flight was scheduled for May 5th, not May 11th like it was supposed to be. I couldn't tell you how it happened, but it did. I panicked. But I guess all problems can be fixed with money...right? This minor detail cost me $237. I cringe every time I think of the hole I just burned into my bank account.
On a lighter note, I was able to get SC Chester county EMS to donate some medical supplies that I can take over on the trip. Thanks Chester!
God is still soveriegn, and though that minor detail was a curveball for me, it wasn't for God.
On a lighter note, I was able to get SC Chester county EMS to donate some medical supplies that I can take over on the trip. Thanks Chester!
God is still soveriegn, and though that minor detail was a curveball for me, it wasn't for God.
Monday, May 5, 2008
BEGINNINGS
It is a little less than a week before I leave for Senegal, Africa. I just got home from school two days ago, so I have been running around trying to get everything together for the two month trip. I am quite excited.
What will I be doing? Well, I'll be working in a medical clinic in Dakar (capital city) for about two months, living with a local family, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people there as I get the opportunity.
Why am I writing this? The goal of this blog is to keep you informed of what is going on in my life while I'm in Senegal. It is to be able to share my joys and sorrows, laughter and tears. And so, when you know what is going on, you'll know better how to pray for me.
What can you do? Pray for me, for the team, and the people.
Here are a few standing prayer requests:
1. That God would prepare my heart, mind, and my body for the road ahead
2. That God would break my heart for the people of Senegal.
3. That God would help me to push the team toward the cross when we are discouraged and tired, and joy has left us.
4. That God would prepare the hearts of the people to hear the Gospel message and receive Christ's love.
5. That out of our ministry this summer, God would raise up two young Lebou men (that is the people group we will mostly be ministering to) to lead their people towards the Cross of Christ.
I'm not quite sure what kind of access to the internet I will have while I am gone, but I will try to post something here at least once a week (more if I can). So, you should check up on me once or twice a week. I'll also try to post some of my pictures here too.
What will I be doing? Well, I'll be working in a medical clinic in Dakar (capital city) for about two months, living with a local family, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people there as I get the opportunity.
Why am I writing this? The goal of this blog is to keep you informed of what is going on in my life while I'm in Senegal. It is to be able to share my joys and sorrows, laughter and tears. And so, when you know what is going on, you'll know better how to pray for me.
What can you do? Pray for me, for the team, and the people.
Here are a few standing prayer requests:
1. That God would prepare my heart, mind, and my body for the road ahead
2. That God would break my heart for the people of Senegal.
3. That God would help me to push the team toward the cross when we are discouraged and tired, and joy has left us.
4. That God would prepare the hearts of the people to hear the Gospel message and receive Christ's love.
5. That out of our ministry this summer, God would raise up two young Lebou men (that is the people group we will mostly be ministering to) to lead their people towards the Cross of Christ.
I'm not quite sure what kind of access to the internet I will have while I am gone, but I will try to post something here at least once a week (more if I can). So, you should check up on me once or twice a week. I'll also try to post some of my pictures here too.
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