I am here! In the city of Saint Louis, on the coast and in the northern most corner of Senegal. I almost feel like I know this country a little bit, due to having so many friends who have been here. However, most of the day has been an overload of first impressions.
Our flights were uneventful and passed almost quickly. We arrived in Dakar, the capital city about 8am, after intermittent sleep. And I only watched one okay movie!

As I said yesterday, it’s been four years since I’ve been in Africa which means I’m four years older. When I was younger, a few more years didn’t matter but they are starting to now. I wanted to come,3 but was I up to it. And would Africa still have its same pull which made me love it? As we were landing, I looked outside at the rusty dry landscape and my heart responded. I was home again. It is such a delight to have more than one home – a great gift after losses of both home and Paul. God is good. And as this is Africa, I have to add – All the time.
Getting through customs didn’t take long and I finally got a stamp in my new passport! Things like that matter to me! Bags were loaded into a van and we soon headed north – about a three hour drive.
I don’t think that I’ve mentioned that I traveled over with a very nice group from Columbia Pres in Vancouver. It made pickup easier. Our paths will part tomorrow.
We were happily met by Feluine, who, along with her husband run a many pronged ministry. She got us settled. The group stayed in the main building, but I have a not so little house all to myself! I go in through the red door, between the red wrought iron shutters. It’s a simple place but with all I need, including hot water!! Which I had been told was problematic so I am hughly grateful. For me, on a trip, cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness.

On our drive up here, we passed fields with the ever present baobob trees, old friends, and acacia. Senegal seems further along in its development than other places I’ve been. The road we drove on was nice smooth tarmac, with the occasional speed bump to keep it interesting. Small groups of women, selling fruit and bread, settled at these bumps as traffic came almost to a halt to pass.
The landscape is fairly flat and brown, with few outstanding features. But there is a good bit of constructed block buildings. Many have yet to be completed but we were told much of the building here is pay as you go. Build a little, save money, build a little more. There were just a handful of thatched huts.

We passed the dirt field soccer pitches, with boys running up and down with great enthusiasm. Along the road there were the little shops selling all manner of things. My favorite is probably the elaborately carved headboards, seen every place I’ve been in Africa.
Traffic in the city is the usual muddle of cars, cycles, people, and even the occasional horse drawn cart. There are no traffic lights so whoever puts himself our there first, just goes and everyone adapts. Today, I was sure we were going to get clobbered as we turned in front of an oncoming car, but no crunch! And here, I got some of the bumps and potholes I’m so used to.
I am going to bring this to an end, as I’m very tired.
Thanks for coming with me.