(NOTE: This was written on September 27th, but never posted on my blog. Sorry that it’s so late!)
Thanks so much for your prayers this last week! I have to admit that it was an exhausting week full of long days of meetings and village visits, but it was very good. We learned a lot and were given direction for the next steps. You’re probably wondering if we’ve chosen a village to move into, and the answer is . . . no. Not yet. But it’s much closer.
We were able to visit the 4 villages, even though it took two different days (you can’t really walk in during the middle of the funeral of the village chief’s mom and say you want to talk to the village chief about something else). In the meetings and discussions afterwards, it was narrowed down to two villages: Goofy* and Bridge*! It was neat to see the consensus of the different leaders who had come with us, and Jen and I are also excited about those two options.
So what now? Good question, and since we just asked the same question, I feel like I have a few answers! Jen is finishing up Jula study this week (way to go!), and then next week we’re both planning on taking a much-needed break. After that, Jen and I will continue to visit our people group regularly, especially focusing on Goofy and Bridge, seeing if God makes it clear that we should move to one and not the other. Our leaders will also meet in Dakar and provide insight from there. We’re also planning on starting to learn the language of the People Group, here from the city. You see, we can’t move in until leadership comes back out and officially talks to the village chief about us moving in, and because of their crazy-busy schedules that won’t happen until December or early next year at the earliest. Which gives us time to continue to visit the villages on a more low-key basis, learn the beginnings of the language, etc.
Well, that’s what I know. Thanks so much for your continued prayers and to so many of you who have written encouraging e-mails!
* Not their real names.