I have arrived!!!
God is so good! I have arrived here in Senegal and I am staying with my Senegalese family. This is a picture of my host parents. They are taking great care of me. They have even given me a name as their daughter (Atom Diatta) and taken me in as one of their own. They are teaching me Senegalese culture and helping me to improve my French as well. I hear at least three languages each day and none of them are English. I speak French with my family and everyone I meet. They speak Jola with one another at times because my family and the members of my small church here in Dakar are Jola. (it would be interesting to look up this people group on Google). I also hear Wolof which is a major language here in Senegal and is used for shopping.
The church here is excited to partner with missionaries to reach the unreached people who live in the villages. They are so generous to take me in as one of their own. I feel loved and protected every day and find comfort in being able to follow their examples and ask them questions about life here.
There are so many needs here. In my family, for example, we have no refrigerator and my “parents” use luggage to store their clothes. They hope to buy a chest of drawers soon. We cook with one small gas stove and a small charcoal grill and buy food each day. Right now, gas is not even available here. Wow, the food is good!!! We eat very well! I have to learn to cook well if I am to be respected as a woman here. Oh, there is so much I could tell you but I don’t have the time right now. I will say as well that the sounds are new and strange to me. I hear loud prayers each day and in the middle of the night from loud speakers at mosques near our apartment. It reminds me to pray for the people here. Music and joyful greetings are something I hear a lot of as well.
Pray that God would use us here for His glory among our neighbors and through the work at the church as well. I have already begun to work with a group of children that meet each week. There are many people around me who do not know the great salvation of our Lord and savoir Jesus Christ. Pray that we are salt and light every day. I love you all! Check out my new photos. I’ll add them when I can. I do not have internet at home right now.
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