Each time I think I can condense a day, things happen that are worth note. So before I start with Sunday, a couple more notes on the wedding time. While at the conversation/lunch time, I met a lovely Nigerian woman who is here as a missionary. She spoke English so I could hear her story. (My lack of language skills are a continual source of shame!). I love hearing people’s stories. She spoke of receiving a clear call to come to Senegal and then, while here, she met her husband, Matthew (good name!) who is also Nigerian! Together they serve here as church planters and in discipleship. It is so hard for me to tell the age of people here. I assumed she was still quite young but then found out that they have two teenage daughters. I swear, women here do not wrinkle like I do! There is a real opening for some research here! We had a great conversation and then met her husband at the wedding itself.
Still at the lunch, I had noticed Talibe boys sitting on a low concrete wall. They were waiting for the remains of our lunch. When I realized that, I couldn’t eat anymore. When the large bowls were finished, they were put on the ground and the boys came swooping in – every boy for himself. Why do these boys have to live like this? I am struggling with that question as I see these children out on the streets everyday and at the center three times a week. It is hard to just write it off as another of life’s injustices. All my grandsons are of their ages. I am so grateful there is this ministry for them – a little light.

I love how folks just roll with the circumstances. Church was delayed by one hour today, because of the wedding the day before! Otherwise, it went along as before. Singing and praise and scripture and a message. The newly married couple were there and shared a sing and thanks to all who had helped, which was pretty much everyone! After church, I headed back to my place and spent time getting ready for Monday.
First thing, Monday I had my sewing class of first year girls. They are lively and fun to be with, but I find the teaching part frustrating. I can’t explain except by motions and demonstration, which has mixed results. I even looked up Wolof sewing words but my delivery must be off as they still didn’t understand. Also, these girls just work on hand sewing so what they can do is limited by my lack of imagination. I talked with Feluine about it and l’ll see if an older class which works with machines might be a place where I could be of more use.
After a break, I returned to meet with my four young women for English. This is fun. We worked on basic communication dialogues and reviewed last session’s material. As soon as we finished, I hopped into a taxi with Feluine and headed out of town to a village for a women’s group meeting. These women meet once a month for fellowship, sharing, and a Bible story. It was a very windy day and sheets of sand sweep across the road as we drove. Now this is not a village like I think of in Zambia – thatched huts gathered together with nothing much else around. These are block houses with metal gated walls and doors, which I see everywhere. It is just off the highway to Dakar so not isolated.
We met in the home of one of Feluine’s friends, who I have met several times. She is a force of nature with her confident ways and beautifully painted nails. I really enjoy her although we only communicate with the few phrases we know of each other’s language. The meeting was at 4. Gradually, three other women arrived and we started at 5:20. Feluine had asked me to share a devotion so I talked a little about my story and the goodness and love of God through it all. One of the women was also widowed. Her husband had been a teacher and coach and he died of cancer! Unlike me, however, he died the day after she gave birth to twins! A much harder road. However, here, extended families live together and so there are many hands to help. Everyone seems to take some responsibility for all the children. And sometimes a child might go and live with another person for a period of time – just because! It is a very communal culture and one that I have seen throughout Africa. We, in the West, could learn much.
When our time was finished, we, along with our hostess, walked out to the highway to find a taxi to take us back to Saint Louis. The wind was still blowing rather wildly. Feluine loaned me one of her scarves to wrap my head but I got a good sand scrub along the way. Probably would have to pay a lot for that back home! Mine was free!
We got a taxi quickly and I dropped into the seat, wiping my eyes, blowing my nose, and drinking some water to wash the sand out of my teeth. Another unexpected day but part of the whole adventure of travel. Back at my place, a shower quickly remedied my grittiness and I made myself a late supper. God is good – all the time.
That brings us to today, Tuesday. Starting this week, I am telling a Bible story each morning to the school girls. This actually did start at 8 so got up a little earlier to head over. The streets were quieter and I enjoyed the cool of my morning walk. I chose to tell the story of Esther – one of my favorites. I think it went pretty well. Then trot back to help get breakfast ready and serve it to the Talibe boys. As it was Valentine’s Day, I also had Valentine Hershey kisses to hand out. But adding to my list of the many things I wish I’d brought are valentines – just simple ones to give to a few people, including my English girls. Oh well. At least they got candy!
In the afternoon, I headed back over to the girls’ center to teach my English class. I am teaching four of the teachers here at the school, except for Daba who is Feluine’s assistant and a wonderful young woman. It’s fun to have her in class as well. We are just doing some basic conversation, naming of things etc. They are very responsive and really fun to work with. Then walk back and have a quiet evening. One of these times, I will do an entry just on my walk. Always an experience!

Well, now it’s Wednesday evening so I might as well do today. Back early for devotions – this time Ruth. But first a teacher quizzed them on the Esther story and they did so well! Very gratifying. We’ll see what tomorrow brings. Then I hung out for a bit and then checked in with the sewing teacher to learn about the machines. The teacher is one of my English students, Helen, and she struggles some so I was so glad she could teach me something and be much better at it! Treadle machines are a whole new adventure! If one pauses while sewing a seam, it starts to go backward. One must maintain a steady pace – easier said than done. Here I’m thinking I’m this very experienced seamstress but boy – not in this environment. I had no idea how to thread these machines and filling the bobbin is exciting. I think the sewing classes are designed to make me humble. If so, it’s successful! Today, I tried the girls on the machines. First they practiced with lines and curves drawn on paper. They used no thread, just the hole punches. One girl absolutely nailed right out of the gate! And one couldn’t get the machine to move smoothly, more like me. The others were in between. After practicing that, Helen came back in to show them how to thread the machine and fill the bobbin. Made it look easy! Well, again, the one girl just whipped it out and sewed a lovely straight seam first thing. However, finding machines that work with thread and all was a whole other issue. I had thought today might be easier but big wrong!
While I was eating humble pie in sewing, the cooking class was putting together a whole meal for staff. They set up decorated serving tables and all. It was so nice and I’d been invited. I chose my dishes carefully, avoiding those that had peppers floating on the top, but the ones I had were very good and not too spicy. Yay! I wanted to do their meal justice. Then, they had each made a fancy decorated cake so I had a piece of one for dessert and could pass out kudos.
Trotted back to my place on the now familiar way. Thank goodness!
At 3:30, Feluine picked me up and we went out to a nearby village for their church Bible study. It was held at one of the couple’s place from the church. They are the only Christians in this village and not 12 feet from their front door, a Muslim mosque is being built. It again makes me realize how easy it is for me to be a Christian. What costs do I bear?
The group is going through the Bible and are in Deuteronomy. It was a small group and I could follow the scripture in my English Bible and Feluine helped me stay with the discussion. What a blessing to study and worship as part of the body of Christ globally. Rich time.
Ok – I’m finally drawing this to a close. Congrats, if you made it this far!