Sounds of The Gambia

A friend who was a missionary overseas for many years shortly before my return to The Gambia asked me if there was a unique smell in The Gambia that made me remember I was home.  Senses are such a powerful thing and although there are not many smells that make me think of this little village (except maybe a big party and the huge yummy pot of food) there are plenty of sounds.  I love the sounds of this rural life, the sounds that prompt me to pray, that make me chuckle, that remind me of God’s amazing design and the variety of His creation.  After living here for many years, I know all of those sounds and they are so comforting to me.  So, I figured I would share with you a short clip of some of the sounds of The Gambia.  Most of these sounds come from my backyard which is pictured;  this is not a quiet place to live.  Make sure you have your volume up and I hope you enjoy these sounds that are home to me.  In case you are wondering the sounds are: the Muslim call to prayer (and some background bat noises), some very happy birds in a light rain, a heavy downpour on my tin roof (yep, you cannot hear anything else when that happens), the kids cheering at the rainy season soccer tournament, the drummers (cheerleaders) at the soccer tournament, the bats calling to each other at night (it is not a truck backing up), a donkey braying, doves cooing to each other happily after the rain (and kids playing happily after the rain) and then some large crunches as the birds tap dance on my metal roof