I’m enjoying these earlier cool morning walks over to the Girls’ Center. It’s a bit quieter and the sun isn’t very high in the sky. It’s a muted beige and tan landscape with the color coming from the women’s brightly colored clothes. Still so pleased to see those.
Did the devotion on Rahab this time and got to “fit the battle of Jericho” too! Back to my area for Talibe day. This is the longer day with the boys with them starting to arrive about 11. On my walk back this morning, I was approached, at different times, by two little Talibe boys. Neither of them could have been more than five. I have nothing to say –
When the boys first arrive, they take showers before they start playing. Feluine isn’t with us every time but today she was. One of the young American missionary men is in charge overall. Now, if Feluine lived in the US and ran this kind of organization, she would be like a CEO. But today she got on her work clothes and jumped in to help younger boys with their showers, giving them a good scrubbing. Then she played games with them, laughing and entering right in. And then she donned her speaker hat and shared the Bible story of the day with them. Amazing! What a gift for me to get to be around one of God’s real saints. I am very humbled but also inspired and encouraged to see God use her so. And I finally got to do the hokey-pokey with some of the boys!
After the boys left, Feluine, another teacher from the school, and myself drove over to the prison. This work is an outreach of the church and they have been going once a week for many many years. We were met at the big metal door by uniformed guards who were really very nice. Our phones were taken and we were given a visitor pass to wear around our necks. We walked into a long hall, lit by skylights above. It was bright and on both sides were long planters filled with healthy looking green plants, a few with flowers! The next hall was just like it. It was the nicest place I had seen in Saint Louis and it was the prison!
We met with the women prisoners – not a very large group, ranging in age from late teens/early twenties to a couple of quite elderly ladies. They are here awaiting trial for such things as drugs, prostitution, having an abortion, or petty crimes. However, Feluine told me later that the two elderly women were sisters and were there as accomplices in a murder! Go figure. They wait a very long time for trial – it may be a year or two, so often, when they come to trial, even if they are convicted, the sentence is often time served. Longer convictions send them to Dakar, to the large women’s prison there.

The other teacher with us always teaches them a craft and today they were continuing from last week with a pulled thread project. They have been taught to crochet early and the sweetest young girl brought out her work. She has been busy – hats, purses, head bands. The women all wear their normal clothes. That was nice to see. And little ones stay with their mothers.
After I did another devotion (this has been devotion week!), it was time to leave. We turned in our tags, retrieved our phones, and headed out. What a privilege to visit and share with them!
Friday was a “normal” day. Walk over early, grab a baguette for lunch, deliver the devotion (Deborah) and immediately head back to help with the Talibe breakfast. This group of boys had just started to come right before I got here. It’s been fun to see them relax more and even smile more. I sure wish I could bring some home. This is another one of those questions – when God was handing out lives, why did I get such a good one?
After some hang out time at my place, I walked back to the school for English class with my four women. I really enjoy these young women. Today we talked about clothes and jewelry – always good subjects with women!
On my walk over, the muezzins were chanting loudly and I saw men and boys lined up on one side of the street, with their prayer rugs, having prayers. First time I’ve seen this. I asked Feluine later about the women. They are not allowed in the mosque unless they are post menopausal. And even then, only at the very back. It’s tough being a woman here. I’d become a Christian just for the improved status! Not really. It is very hard for people to become Christians if they come from a Muslim family. Usually their families shut them out and shun them. In some cases, after some years the relationship may be restored but it isn’t certain. As I’ve said before, it costs to be a Christian here. But oh the ones that are remind me of what I’ve read about the early church. They are all brothers and sisters and would do just about anything for each other. It is a large family. Another gift in this time.
Well, I’m headed into my last weekend in Saint Louis. Next Saturday, Feluine and I will drive down to Dakar for the weekend and then I will catch my flight to Morocco Monday afternoon.
Enjoy your weekends!