Author name: Lois Gillespie

Tabaski is over for another year. Even though the celebration officially is for only one day, actual observations started last Wednesday and lasted through the weekend as people returned home to their villages and families outside of Dakar. Amid the fearful feelings that sometimes surround muslim activities, our hearts were touched when our building guardien shared some of his Tabaski ram with us through our director’s wife. Some families save for months to buy their ram, but yet they share the meet willingly and lovingly as part of the celebration.

This next week, mission members will be arriving here in Dakar for a meeting regarding ICA. Decisions will be made for the future, especially this next school year. Please pray for wisdom and for the understanding of those of us who must go along with decisions with which we may not totally agree.

Our West Africa field director will be staying with us. We look forward to this time of being able to talk and pray about our future ministry.

Today is a holiday in the Muslim world of Dakar, Senegal. On this day, celebrants slaughter a sheep to commemorate the biblical story of Abraham, who was on the verge of sacrificing his only son Ishmael (the father of the Islamic people) to obey Allah’s command when Allah interceded by substituting a ram in the child’s place. Sometimes families must save up for months to afford the ram. The sacrificed animal is divided into thirds and given equally to family, friends, and the poor. After several hours at a mosque, the rest of the day is spent in prayer, eating great food, and celebrating with family and friends.  It’s rather festive, and just like Christmas in the states, most people probably don’t think about the meaning behind the holiday or the reason for the sacrifice. Of course, our very typical students enjoy a day off of school for whatever reason.

I’m sitting here in the office working, though.  Our web and mailserver residing in the states has disappeared off the face of the earth – no one even answers the phone when we try to call.  So my co-worker and I are in the process of recreating our website on a different server, along with about 225 e-mailboxes. We’re hoping that most people won’t even know there was a problem when they return tomorrow.

We are enjoying our new apartment, even though the pipes have burst in 3 other apartments within the same building in the last 2 weeks – in the middle of the night! All of us are trying not to think about the possibility that we may be the next ones to get soaked.

Because of the relationships they have built up with some of the Senegalese, some of our DA staff friends will have the opportunity today to share about the once-for-all sacrifice.  They have asked that we pray for their witnessing opportunities, so I share their request with you.

Yes, we arrived back here in Dakar last night.  Thank you for your prayers.  God gave us wisdom as we worked out the best plan to get back here.  We (the group of 10) ended up leaving about half of the ‘stuff’ we brought from ICA in Abidjan so that we could all fit in 1 van and not have to take taxis to the airport; we taped pictures of American flags all over that van, and we left for the airport in the morning in an effort to miss the mobs.  (So far, Americans are still well-thought-of in Abidjan.) We waited around the airport for about 6 hours to get on a flight to Dakar and were fortunate to get seats as the plane was totally full.  No flights were arriving from Europe, so anyone leaving Abidjan has to go through another African country.

We had a wonderful week at ICA. At no time did we feel threatened. We were able to accomplish what we went to do – that is to dismantle and store in 1 ‘safe’ location all the remaining network and computer equipment of value. We were also able to pack up and store our personal belongings in our magazine.  In faith, we left our things there at ICA, anticipating a return in the future.

If you’re following the news about the Ivory Coast, you’ll know that things are not good.  The peace treaty signed in Paris is not being honored by all parties, and the youth are demonstrating their rejections, sometimes rather violently, especially in the capital city of Abidjan.  In particular danger are the French or anyone white.  Please pray for the many missionaries who have returned to minister in Abidjan.

As we listen to the news and continue to receive messages from the American embassy here in Dakar to be ready to leave if necessary in case of war, we are reminded that there are rumors or war all over the world.  As Christians, we are comforted knowing that God is in control and His plan will be accomplished.