2024

Christmas Rain

It is dry season in The Gambia which means our skin is cracked and sore despite putting on lotion 2-3 times per day, the air is crisp and cool, the cool shower before bedtime (no hot water heaters) is a shock to the system and leaves you shivering, and Christmas is near. Well, Christmas isContinue reading “Christmas Rain”

Shift, pivot, stop and go

Life and ministry are always changing and when you live in West Africa the crazy WAWA challenges make things even more likely to change. This past weekend was supposed to be a routine grocery run where we head to the city on a Friday and return home to the village on a Monday. In theContinue reading “Shift, pivot, stop and go”

Ngente

I hope you clicked on this post to find out what “ngente”, a very important Wolof word means. Our language learning process is called Language Acquisition Made Practical (LAMP method) and that means you self direct and learn what you specifically need to learn. Early on it was important to learn what “ngente” meant sinceContinue reading “Ngente”

School

I am busy attending and helping organize our Adult Literacy class facilitator training. The class has been challenging and is definitely helping with my Wolof. Some days I have been so tongue tied in English that I cannot even speak my own heart language. In the evenings our class facilitators have also been learning moreContinue reading “School”

Thankful

As the American Thanksgiving Holiday time approaches, I want to take a moment and say thank you. Thank you for praying and partnering in this ministry, thank you for taking the time to read these blogs and for thinking of us serving here in this little country. This week and next (November 25th – DecemberContinue reading “Thankful”

GPS

Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a training for our new Community Development Ministry. This training was near the urban area and at a place I had never been before. Praise God a teammate offered to join me on day #1 so we could try to find the training center together. There areContinue reading “GPS”

Children

The Wolof word for child is “doom”. In my early language learning I was thrown when someone used the words for mango and child together. It sounded like they were saying “the child of the mango tree.” Guess what, that was what they were saying! Think about it, isn’t a fruit really the child orContinue reading “Children”

Sky High

This last week has been full of many exciting ministry opportunities and adventures. Thanks for your prayers. I hope you enjoy these fun sky high views of the ferry and urban area of The Gambia. (photo credit My Gambia)

“Extra”

(picture is not from this ferry crossing, praise God it was not that busy) The last several weeks life and ministry have been “extra” which can be defined as excessive or extravagant. After a few rough weeks in the village my teammate and I were in need of a break in the city and itContinue reading ““Extra””

Off to the Races

Rainy season is slowing down which means harvest time is here. The millet crop is being cut and dried and is looking great, but the peanut crop still needs more rain. For the last several days young and old, male and female all pile onto the horsecart and take the journey to the fields toContinue reading “Off to the Races”