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”

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”

“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””

Foot on the Gas

The last few posts have been about looking for ministry opportunities and the guessing game of ferry travel in The Gambia. As I reflected on my recent ferry crossing which happened to be a very swift one I was reminded of the need to have my “foot on the gas” and always be ready toContinue reading “Foot on the Gas”

Helpers

While on vacation and hauling my luggage, groceries and everything else I really missed our Gambian “helpers”. As the trip progressed and all the walking started taking a toll on my body I counted down the number of times I would have to haul my heavy luggage by myself. I excitedly awaited my return andContinue reading “Helpers”

I’m Back

July is a month where much of our ministry work pauses. It is the beginning of the rains and the Gambians are busy planting and working their farms. This is a season that allows us to take a little break and some much needed vacation. After some time away from my blog and from ministryContinue reading “I’m Back”

God’s Intelligent Design

The first big rain has come and everything is already “greening up”. The dry, sandy, dirty soil is damp and all the plants are popping up. The farmers have been busy tilling and planting the peanut seeds. The morning after the first rain as I sat outside to pray and looked around me I wasContinue reading “God’s Intelligent Design”

Circuits

A circuit is defined as “the path which is always required to get electricity to flow and do something useful.”  Over the last few weeks, many things have broken on our property and there has been a lot of attention paid to circuits.  Praise God, we have a short-term visitor who is an Engineering studentContinue reading “Circuits”

Heating up

No one told me that the weather would be pleasant living in rural West Africa, but most of the time you can do things to help alleviate the uncomfortableness. This time of year tends to be the hottest temperatures with winds from the Sahara Desert and temperatures as high as 110’s or even up toContinue reading “Heating up”