Every great voyage has it's end

We left this morning back to reality. What a wonderful trip I had. There is nothing like bringing Jesus to someone who never had the chance to meet him before.

A breakfast of Oysters

Oysters are plentiful on the island we stayed. Our last morning everyone delved into a gift of Oysters roasted on our campfire.

Campfire Tales

It was so cold on the islands. Every morning and evening we sat around the campfire. Stories were told, there was so much laughter as we warmed ourselves by the fires heat. The mega voice was always present, to hear the word of God in Jola. What amazing fellowship I shared around this fiery wood.

Trip to the Islands

Trip to the Islands

Trip to the Islands

This is the boat Marcel and I think would be great for our island ministry. We'll need this and a sturdy Yamaha motor. Anybody want to buy one for us?

The island of Diague

The island of Diague

The island of Itou

The island of Itou

Island of Itou

Sharing Christ through Mega Voice

Mega Voice is a project of Senegal Linguistics. They recorded someone reading the Jola New Testament and put it on an MP 3 player. It recharges with sunlight or electricity. It's a great tool for people who do not know how to read. Like our friend in the next photos.

Trip to the Islands

Trip to the Islands

Sunday March 29th - 31st, Pastors and young people from the Oussouye Church and Pastor Offie Bolie from Ziguinchor visited several islands in our region. It's been our vision for a long time to spend some days on these islands teaching people about Jesus and praying. This trip we landed on Vendaye and stayed there with a family. Monday we traveled to Itou, Diague and Karabane. We returned to Vendaye in the evening and shared the Gospel some more there. Then we left early Tuesday back to Elinkine and finally home. This trip was absolutely amazing. Everyone is catching vision for this unreached land. We handed out Bibles to people who had never held one in their hands, preached Jesus to so many people who have never heard about the Grace of Jesus Christ. One old man who would sit with us continually at the home we were staying in, loved listening to the New Testament on the MEGA VOICE. Hearing about Jesus in his own Jola language. You could watch his eyes bug out during different parts. During the story of the woman caught in adultery, he ssshhhh'd us all so he could hear it clearly. On Itou, Jerome told a group of 20 school children about Jesus.

This was my first visit to Diague and that place reminds me of Elinkine and Cap Skirring rolled into one. It's a fishing villages with people from all over Senegal and West Africa. Each bringing his own religion, idolatry, drugs, prostitutes and everything else. The place is dark and chaotic. Many people shared with us that there are no fish and the river is moving into their village. We prayed there and shared the gospel with only a few.

Our stop in Karabane was brief and just meant so that everyone could walk around and see the place. It's more of a tourist island. But it happened to be a cool stop for me. I saw one of the boys who is always at my house on Wednesdays. I had forgotten he was from Karaban. This was great because I met his whole family.

The trip was truely amazing and God blessed it in every way.

Beach Trip

Beach Trip

Tapping the trees

Tapping the trees

A man named Justin is now a regular at the training center, preparing and tapping our trees for palm wine. The process makes me think if maple sugaring, which is so Little House on the Prairie. A month or so ago he came and started preparing the trees. He cut off the higher branches and used them to make taps for the wine to come out. Then he attaches bottles to them. Yesterday I asked if I could take his picture.

Recent Photos of the property

I can't thank God enough for our new gardener, Daniel. He is doing a fantastic job. Our fruit trees are growing like crazy. I have flowers on my bougainvillea, and every time we spot a snake, it dies. This property is difficult to maintain because it's so large and can become so wild. But thanks to God's provision there is someone to care for the land. I sadly have a black thumb. My friends have often brought plants back to life that I have killed. Again, Daniel is at work. Making things I thought were lost forever, regain life. He is doing his work, and I am doing mine. It's only through Christ that people are restored and live again. I shared this with our gardener on Monday. Please pray for Daniel. His wife has recently received Christ, but is still involved in the fetish. Daniel, is experiencing something entirely new. Everyday he is here, he watches people come and go from the training center, receiving something that is changing them. I am believing that Daniel receives new life, as he has brought the trees back to life, so Christ can bring him to life!