Church visits

Saturday after the basketball camps were all done, we got to visit 3 local churches to speak with the pastors, hear their prayer requests, and encourage them. Bill explained this was even more important than the basketball camps because the Senegalese people notice that the rich white Christians are coming to visit the Christian pastors in the villages, but no rich Arabs are coming to visit the Muslim leaders. It really raises the status of the pastors in the eyes of the people and gives them a new level of respect.





The first village we went to was Guilaye's, he continued on with us to translate at the other villages. (Even though Bill could translate, he likes to have to locals do it. Part of it is to strengthen their English, and build more community between local Christians). This little boy was so scared when 14 Toubabs got out of the can. He began screaming and crying and did not stop until some older kids took him away. Bill said it's possible he'd never seen white people, but more likely, some parents talk of toubabs like the boogeyman and say they'll eat you if you're not good.





These kids weren't as scared and were excited to take pictures with us.




This is the verse over the door of Guilaye's church. I don't know if it's in Wolof or what verse it is but I sent an e-mail to Mary Anne asking her. There were also a few more verses painted inside.




This is the church Guilaye attends. His brother is the senior pastor and he is the youth pastor. He was so great with the kids at the camps that we can definitely see him as a youth pastor. He asked for prayer as he tries to complete the last 3 of a 5 year training in Christian leadership. Also, that he feels called to serve God and not necessarily pursue some kind of career, and that is very difficult to do (even here in America, Eric and I struggle against opposition to that all the time, let alone in a Muslim country). He asked for prayer for faithfulness and to be able to support his wife (he's actually engaged but from what I understand it's similar to Biblical betrothals, where there already like husband and wife in many ways). Also for more supplies and such for the church, they'd love to be able to show the Jesus video, but don't have the resources to play it (projector, screen, etc).





In Soma, the Pastor is making an effort to end a huge problem that is stealing away the young people. Senegal has an enormous job scarcity, and young people are leaving the villages to go to the cities in hopes of finding a job. Unfortunately there are no jobs in the city either, and they end up involved in drugs, alcohol, gangs and other horrible things, or getting into tiny fishing boats to try and get to Europe. In Soma they're really working with MIS and other ministries to create jobs for people in the villages. Here's a millet pounder, so instead of women pounding millet by hand every day from sunrise to sunset, a young man (like the "conductor" here) can run this machine and the women can take care of their children. (Here's a promo video for MIS. It's not the best quality, but at one point they show millet being pounded by hand). They also have sewing machines, a medical clinic, an oven for bread, and several other things most villages don't to create jobs.




This is the church building in Soma, I believe they have a church body of about 500 believers, incredible! I don't remember if he said how many of them are children. 40% of the population in Senegal is under 14 (it's only 20% in the US). The Pastor had some great stories about how the Lord answered prayer for the building and the church body.






This is inside the church building in Soma. On the left is the Conductor (that's what they call him since he runs the millet grinder), in the center is Soma's pastor, and on the right is Guilaye translating. The pastor said their most difficult challenge that they need prayer for is resistance to the Muslim opposition. They try so hard to discredit the Christians and their faith and there is often persecution.





This horse was hanging out at Soma and absolutely beautiful.





It was really neat to go to these other villages and see kids wearing the shirts they got in last year's basketball camp!






Pastor Jugga was the Pastor from last year's basketball camp in the village of Mbadat. It was really neat to get to see him and hear of how he led his family members to Christ. Only his father is still Muslim, and his father said that he will allow Jugga to do whatever he feels is necessary for being a Christian. That's unheard of! Typically family members banish people who become Christian. (Pray for his father to know the Lord as he is in failing health) There is definitely a movement of the Lord there. Jugga thanked us for coming, and said he knows we could have just done our camp this year and been on our way, but it meant so much that we thought of him and came to visit. (We also brought more basketballs!) His family asked for lots of prayer because of Jugga's young age (early twenties) but huge responsibility as the spiritual leader for the area.

The Mosque in Touba

Saturday after lunch we went to Touba, an entirely Muslim city of 1 million people, with a huge very famous mosque that brings 3 million people to the city during Muslim holy days.



Access to the Mosque is limited to entry through these gated walkways. Before we entered our guide made sure we were appropriately dressed, and had several large pieces of fabric to wrap around our heads, or waists if your skirt or pants are not ankle length. You must carry your shoes, and we were informed pictures are encouraged, but men and women could not be together in them.



This was the first time I'd been required to cover my head to go somewhere (I've done it out of respect visiting another mosque but it hadn't been required). Here I am in front of the women's prayer area. Our group was only allowed in women's areas.




The tile on the ground was imported (as was all of the building material). It is amazing because it doesn't get hot. It was in direct sunlight and yet very cool. I believe he said it was from Morocco but I could be wrong.




The mosque has 5 parapets to represent the 5 pillars of Islam.



Everything was so ornate and definitely beautiful on the outside.



Our guide was so proud of the mosque and its beauty, telling us where all the building materials came from and how long it took to build, and what improvements are being made. But it was really so sad to us and felt so oppressing.




We were not able to go inside, but could see people going in to pray, and give offerings.




When I saw this man I began to lose my composure. He was obviously mentally handicapped and his job was to guide people into the washing area. I just looked at him and was so heartbroken that he doesn't even have the capability to question what he's told to believe. It just made me think of my brother and how thankful I am he's in a Christian home. I just really have to cling to God's sovereignty and know that He is a just God.



The influence of the city of Touba is so huge, that cars, trucks, and businesses will have Touba written on them, even if they have nothing to do with the city. Bill said it's just so influential on the country, I guess they think they'll have blessings or protection if they do that.




This is my favorite picture I took of the mosque because it is such a visual for what we felt there. Although we felt a kind of bubble of protection around us, we definitely felt a heavy spiritual oppression and darkness the whole time we were in the city. God has given me such a burden for the people of Islam and a desire for them to hear His gospel just once, and it was so difficult to be in a place where I would be stoned for trying to share it.

Church at the Center

We had the blessing of attending the church at the Center on Sunday morning. It was so neat to have open sharing, first of praise and thankfulness for God. So much of their thankfulness was directed towards Him bringing us to Senegal, and our thankfulness for the opportunity to serve Him there and see His goodness at work across the world. Then there was open sharing of prayer requests, everything from comfort for a woman who just lost her husband, to better facilities at the Center, to protection and spiritual growth for the children. Brian got to go up front and share, and he read




They had a children's choir that was absolutely amazing! I'm looking forward to making the video and including their singing. My heart just soared in worship listening to them praise God. One neat thing, they were directed by a child as well, and he was wearing an Upwards Basketball shirt from last year!



This little girl was so adorable and grinning like crazy, until the camera was pointed at her!






Eric and I wore our African outfits to church that morning. Poor Eric was feeling pretty sick and hadn't been able to sleep the night before, so he had to lie down during the service.






It was so fun taking pictures with the church members after the service.





We loved this woman and her baby. Melissa asked if she could take a picture of her, and the woman misunderstood and untied her baby to tie him onto Melissa's back!



By the way, I loved the way the women carried their babies so much, I had the tailor make me a baby carrier. (Hopefully thinking at least a few years into the future!)






This little boy was so cute, after I showed him this picture on the camera, he marched around raising his hand so everyone would know he was the one in the photo.


Bright colors, collared shirts, and fancier fabrics were definitely prevalent for Sunday dress.






The kids who had Bibles obviously valued them and always held them close.





After church we had lunch at the restaurant at the hotel some of our team stayed in (don't think American hotel, it's not like that). Soda always comes in a recycled glass bottle at restaurants. If you buy it in a glass bottle at a shop, it costs more unless you bring a bottle to exchange.

African Safari!!

Monday was the start of our debrief time. In the morning we went to the Bandia animal reserve and had an awesome adventure.



We piled into the back of two trucks. It was great to be in the open air and not one of the SUVs because it was the bumpiest ride I've ever been on, and I would have gotten so car sick if we were enclosed.



A lot of the animals just stopped and stared at us like they were posing for pictures!



I think my favorite animal sighting was in the evening driving past the preserve on the way back from the beach, a monkey like this guy was sitting at the side of the road on the wrong side of the preserve fence!


The birds in Senegal are so beautiful with amazing colors.



Here Alyia was actually trying to get a picture of a crocodile, but got this cool shot when a flock of birds flew into frame.



Everyone's favorite animal was probably the baby giraffe. He was adorable and so curious about us. It was amazing to be able to get out of the truck and be so close to them. What funny, magnificent creatures.








The rhinos were amazing too. We were a little nervous about getting out, but our guide walked right up to this one. We still kept a little distance though.

By the way, our guides absolute favorite thing to point out several times was "rhino s**t!"

When we spotted this rhino up the road, our guide shouted for everyone to get in the truck. Apparently the other rhino was male, and the female is the one who charges and gets angry. To Jason's great disappointment, she did not ram our truck as we drove by.





When we came upon the tortoise area, two had been fighting and this guy had been flipped over by the other one. Our guide flipped him back and said if they can't get flipped back over in a day they will die.


The tortoises ignored us for the most part and dug into their food, even when we were trying to pick them up (way heavy!)



Jason needed a snack!




I call this the toddler tortoise. He's actually 2 years old. How cute!




Hmmm, which should I bring home with me, Eric or the adorable toddler tortoise. Kidding!







Very interesting, it's a superstition in Senegal that if you bury the bones of artists (painters, storytellers, dancers, musicians) in the ground, there will be drought in the land. So they put their bodies in the baobab trees. Bill told us an example of how Satan keeps his hold over the people through these ancient superstitions. A president of Senegal announced that this was an old superstition and made a law that they had to be buried in the ground. That year was followed by several years of drought. There is a spiritual battle, on a whole different level from what we're used to, going on there.



Do you see the elephant in this baobab? No, I mean the trunk of the tree looks like an elephant!





Because it's the dry season, this bridge took us over an empty ravine.



The fruit hanging on the baobab is called monkey bread fruit. It's a green pod filled with large black seeds, around each seed is a small amount of white meat that's very tart. We were excited to try it, since we'd seen it growing everywhere, but not very impressed.






Our guide told us that the crocodiles eat birds, fish, and "white meat"! Hmmm, we were wondering what kept them on the other side of the river from us and didn't stand there too long.


More beautifully colored birds.