Hanging out

Sunday evening we stopped by Jerome's and found Jerome, Marie Claire, Mulins, Alioune, Christophe and Anna making tea. We were invited to hang out for a round.

From the Road

Adjou, my dog is doing just fine and has relaxed a lot since I got back.

Lorrie, Tom, Ishmael and Catherine

Lorrie, Ishmael, Catherine and I after Sunday lunch on our way into town for some visiting.

4th of July village Style

Our fantastic 4th of July BBQ Feast. Kabobs, salad and rice.

Picnics on the veranda!!

Roasting Cashews

Cashews grow at the step of a cashew apple. After the fruit has been consumed the nuts are collected and then roasted over the fire. When the nuts have cooled, you use a stick to crack them open on a rock. It's no wonder why they are so expensive! Today is the first day of vacation for the high school students who took their exams last week. So they celebrated by roasting cashews behind the training center.

Marietou gives Tom and Lorrie a laundry Lesson

Daniel the Gardener

Daniel told me the other day that as a child, a man came to his school and taught them about cultivating fruit trees and vegetables. Since then he has enjoyed gardening. He was sent to us by a friend of mine from Dakar. I had been praying for several months for a gardener to help maintain the large property that our house rests on. God told me that I would know when the right person arrived and not to put my hand to it. Sure enough, when Daniel came to me, he was perfect for the job. He loves his work and takes a careful hand out all of our flowers and fruit trees. Since he has come our trees are alive and growing well.

Wild Fruit

On the property of the CFM there are so many different kinds of wild fruits and things to eat. Today our gardener's wife came by to collect the pods that hang from the tree near the house. They eat the yellow fruit inside and afterwards dry the seeds which become something called "netetu" used to make thieboudiene, the plate Senegalese.

Jesus Bears

My friend Cherie makes these bears with the name of Jesus on them. I love giving them to the children in our neighborhood. The children are from either Muslim or Animist families. The bear reminds them of Jesus' love for them. Thanks Cherie.

Dakar

Dakar

Return to Senegal

I returned to Senegal on June 27th. We arrived but four of our bags did not. We left the airport with faith that God would bring our bags to Senegal. God did bring our bags to Senegal. The last bag arrived the morning that we wanted to leave on the boat.

Our stay in Dakar was fantastic. Roger Diatta's family hosted us. Roger started a Jola church in Dakar many years ago. The church has grown since then and has it's own property in Dakar now in and they have tripled in numbers.

During our four days in Dakar Tom and Lorrie were able to practice their French and Jola greetings. They were even given Jola names. Tom's new name is Samba which means strong like a lion. Lorrie's new Jola name (I can't remember exactly) but it means forceful worker. Everyone in Oussouye was pleased to learn their new Jola names.

Tom also had his first Attai Tea lesson. Our time was tremendously fruitful and fun despite all the logistical challenges.

UCF Garage Sale

Letchworth

Letchworth

Woman of Faith with UCF Rochester, NY

Visit to Western New York

Visit to Western New York

Friday I traveled to my hometown Westfield, NY. Saturday I went to a retreat hosted by the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship women at Camp Findley. My old camping stomping grounds. Sunday I was able to share a message with the Lighthouse church in Westfield, NY and then lunch with some friends. It was a fantastic trip!

ESF Small Group Hanging Out

Westcott St. Kinship