Rainy Season

Yes, it is “Rainy Season” in The Gambia. We don’t really have Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. We have Rainy Season and Dry Season. Where I live in the rural village most people make their living growing peanuts, millet or corn. Everyday life revolves around these crops and the rain they need. There is no means of irrigation for the farms other than the rain the Lord sends. Almost daily, my prayer is God send the right amount of rain.

Everything around me is beautifully green and wet which is good for this time of year. However, it definitely can make life a bit challenging. Our only power is solar and when it rains all day long the solar batteries cannot charge and you are left being very conservative and praying a lot over fans, fridges and freezers (lights you can live without). There is mold and moisture everywhere and you are constantly monitoring for leaking corrugate roofs. Most of my Gambian friends still cook outside over an open fire so meal prep is challenging and there are many health risks associated with them moving their cooking inside or starting the cooking fires with plastic! Everything occurs outdoors so when it rains life kind of shuts down. Work start times are loose for many of our employees since they cannot walk in the rain and mud. If it is not raining then everyone hurries out to the farms to work on the never ending task of keeping weeds under control.

Ministry and visits look very different during rainy season. Anyone who is physically able is at the farm, so my visits are more with the older ladies who are taking care of the youngest babies at home. And, If you are out walking and it starts to rain the nearest house is expected to invite you in to stay dry and provide you with tea, a meal and a bed if it gets late enough. So, I am cautious about when I go out so I don’t get stuck at someone’s home. My Gambian neighbors are appalled that American strangers don’t invite you in out of the rain and that if they did we would definitely not go in!

Pray for the right amount of rain, pray for good crops, pray for safety for those working on the farms pray for strong houses (mud block homes don’t do well in rain) and pray for us as we strive to point to the living water of Jesus during this season.