The Visitor!

A few days ago I was sitting in bed reading on the computer when I saw something out of the corner of my eye scoot into my room under my armoir.  I thought it was my friendly little gecko (who is as afraid of me as I am of him).  In a few moments my "friend" decided to leave my room.  That's when I discovered it was not a gecko but a rat (not a very large rat but a rat none the less).  I quickly jumped up and closed my bedroom door.  There is no space between the door and the floor so I figured the little guy wouldn't be able to get back in my room and become my bedfellow.  I had no idea where he went but at least he was not in my room.  The next night, as I was sitting in my chair in the living room, my "friend" came scooting around the corner, ran under my couch, headed to the piles of boxes stored under my steps.  Needless to say, I slept with my door closed again that night.  I didn't have a rat trap in my house but I did have some rat glue.  My housekeeper helped me spread the glue on a piece of cardboard.  I added some peanut butter and flakes of oatmeal in the center.  We had already moved most of the boxes from under the stairwell and put them in the garage.  So now I had a nice open space to place my cardboard to see if I would catch the rat.  I checked periodically all day long but there was nothing.  I didn't even see him run around the room before I went to bed.  Since I felt pretty comfortable about the rat glue, I decided not to close my bedroom door last night (it's too hot with the door closed).  This morning I got up, dressed for my morning walk, and sat down in my chair to check emails.  I heard a squeaking sound so I grabbed the flashlight and headed to my cardboard "trap."  Sure enough, there he was, stuck to the glue on the cardboard!  My plan was to leave him there until the kids got to school so N could dispose of it for me (the rat was still alive).  However, I wasn't sure that the glue would hold him that long.  So, I got a broom handle and started scooting the cardboard (and rat) out the door.  Unfortunately, his tail was stuck to my floor.  I managed to unstick the tail and push the cardboard out my front door into the courtyard.  When my housekeeper arrived I showed her the rat and we both did a lot of cheering.  We left it there so N could dispose of it when he arrived for school.  At least I now know the rat glue works.  If I have another "visitor" I will be prepared.

More Faces/Bodies

Since I was in a reflective mood on Sunday I wrote and posted pictures of the beautiful people that I have encountered here in Senegal.  On a lighter note, I thought I'd post a few more pictures of faces.  This time they aren't people, though.  There are animals everywhere you go, even in the big city of Dakar.

Senegal's version of Texas Longhorns

Buck-toothed fish

Smiling sheep

Sheep (ears are hanging down)

Goats (ears stand up)

Horse eating a snack while he waits

Faces

     Last Thursday as I sat on the bench in Tening's booth I could not help feeling the tears well up in my eyes as I watched the ladies shopping for items to be used to prepare their meal. They are such beautiful people living a life that is more difficult than the life that most people in America experience.  

     All of these people were created by God yet most do not have a relationship with their Creator.   What can I do?  I can barely speak the language.  The only thing that I can do is smile and shake the hands of the children when they greet me, smile and greet the ladies in the market, and continue to study the language so that one day I may be able to share stories about the One who loves them and died for them.

Babies

Children

Ladies

Men

     What about where you live?  Do you see the beautiful faces of those around you?  They were also created by God and need a personal relationship with their Creator.  You don't have to move across the ocean and live in a different country to share God's love with those around you.  Give a smile and greeting to those you pass in the office, store, school hallway, and restaurant.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  1 Corinthians 10:31

Fish Market

   Every few weeks T makes a trip to Mbour to buy fish at the fish market.  If I need to go to the bank or do any grocery shopping, I get the "privilege" of going along.  I don't mind eating fish in a restaurant, I just don't like the idea of cleaning them and cooking them myself.  So I spend my time at the fish market telling people that I don't like fish when they try to sell me their fish.  It is usually bustling with activity:  unloading the fish, people trying to sell their fish, those offering their services to clean the fish, plus all the people who are there to buy the fish.   There are many varieties of fish from which to choose.

   
     Seeing all the fish and people, you can just imagine what it smells like as you walk around.  Unfortunately, I can't capture that in a blog post.  You will just have to use your imagination.  This is just one of the interesting things about living in Senegal.

Campaigning Days

     This week has been the last week of campaigning before election day today.  The current president made a visit to our town on Tuesday.  He's not very popular with the people so it didn't create too big of a stir.  However, Wednesday was a different story altogether.  The wife of one candidate, who is from this town, came to visit and speak on Wednesday.  Tents were set up on the street outside my house with chairs and a sound system.  Ladies came dressed in their finest outfits to see and hear the wife.  I stayed inside my house but I would sneak peaks at the crowd off and on.  You could hear the chatter of women's conversations as they sat and visited waiting for the arrival of the candidate's wife.  Of course, there was some singing and drum playing off and on throughout the afternoon.
     The candidate himself came to visit on Thursday.  There was a parade and large gathering in the center of town to hear him speak.  This was the most excitement our town has had since I arrived in October.
     Today has been pretty quiet since it is election day.  It has almost seemed a little too quiet.  We are all anxiously waiting to see what the results of the election will be.  Senegal has been a peaceful, stable country throughout the years.  I'm praying that it will remain that way in the days ahead.

Valentine's Day

     Since June of 2006 when my husband was killed, Valentine's Day has not been a holiday that I have wanted to celebrate.  In the USA, the stores begin the Valentine displays right after Christmas.  Then about mid-January you start to see all the commercials on television.  All of that is a painful reminder that I no longer have my "Valentine" with me to celebrate the love that we shared for 27 years.  
     This year is different, though.  Living in Senegal with no television has made it much easier.  I decided to concentrate on sharing love with the family in Senegal with whom I serve.  I began plans for this day before Andrea came to visit.  She brought Valentine decorations, candy, and other special items so I could have a surprise Valentine's Day Party for this family who has shown me so much love since my arrival in October.
     Preparations began last night as I baked and decorated sugar cookies in the shape of hearts.  I had to hide them because N is noted for finding things that I thought were out of sight.  Once the kids left to go home for lunch, I started decorating.  There was a tablecloth for the table, a banner that I hung over the table, some shiny red tinsel that I hung over the window and laid around the bowls on the table, as well as crepe paper that I used to make some streamers to hang on the walls.  I made some red, punch-flavored Kool-Aid, put the Kisses in a red mug that had hearts on it, put the candy hearts in a bowl covered in heart tissue paper, and put all the chocolate candy in a big bowl lined with red tissue paper.  There were even three heart masks for the kids to wear.
     They arrived at my house around 2:30 and presented me with Valentine cards that they had made for me.  I then directed them to the dining room where they were able to see the surprise.  We all got a pretty good "sugar high" from eating all those cookies and candy.

   
     So, for the first time in five years I can say I actually enjoyed Valentine's Day.  I've been blessed with the love of three wonderful children and a special daughter-in-law, a mom, two brothers and their families, and several "adopted" daughters and their families.  Several friends have also sent me special Valentine's Day greetings.  And now I have the love of a wonderful family here in Senegal.  But most of all, I can celebrate because of the love of my Savior who loved me so much that He died for me.

Company!

     February 5 was my daughter's birthday.  It was also the day she and Amy arrived in Senegal to visit me for a few days.  We started the visit off with a visit to Goree Island where they were able learn all about the slaves last place in Africa before being shipped to other countries.  After a quick lunch our driver picked us up to take us to Fatick.  We made it in record time, 2 hours and 20 minutes!  Amy and Andrea slept the whole time since they had been up over 24 hours.
     I let the girls sleep late on Monday morning.  Around 10:00 we got on a horse cart and headed to the market.  I had fun introducing them to all my friends as I made a few purchases for our evening meal.  Monday night was the birthday dinner consisting of stew, green beans, cornbread muffins, and birthday cake.  The Forsythes joined us for the celebration.
     We took a trip out to a village on Tuesday.  They had brought a chain saw with them for T so he got the chance to demonstrate it by cutting up a dead tree.  Many people in the village had to come out and watch the tree being cut into smaller pieces.  We came back and sat around and visited with some of the villagers and Amy and Andrea got to hold two precious babies.  There were two schools in the village that we were able to visit and Andrea gave them each a stapler and staples that she had brought with her.
   

Andrea and Amy holding the babies

Village school

     On Wednesday I drove the three of us to Saly, my first excursion driving the car on a trip.  We were able to do a little shopping before meeting some friends for lunch.  Of course, we had to walk on the beach and let them get their feet wet before we headed back to Fatick.  It was too cold for swimming.
   

On the beach in Saly

The Atlantic Ocean   

     Thursday morning started off with a visit to the hospital in Fatick.  They got to see the labor and delivery room as well as see a newborn baby.  Afterward we drove out to another school where Andrea presented the headmaster with some staplers and staples.  As we visited two of the classrooms, we were amazed at how disciplined the children were.  Every time we entered a room, the children stood up and said, "Bonjour, Madam."  One class even sang us a song for entertainment.

Labor & Delivery, Fatick Hospital

Elementary class

      Unfortunately, Friday arrived.  After our lunch the driver picked us up to take us back to Dakar.  We went to my friends' apartment to leave the luggage before heading out to do a little shopping and then go eat supper at a restaurant by the ocean.  All too quickly it was 10:15 and time to drive them to the airport.  After a tearful good-bye, I went back to the apartment to spend the night.  My driver picked me up at 1:00 and drove me back to Fatick.  I wish Andrea and Amy could have stayed longer but I'm so thankful for the short time we had together.