First Term Updates – Cote d’Ivoire/Senegal

We praise the Lord today that we are not asking your prayers for

• comfort because of death of a dear friend
• safety under gunfire
• safety while evacuating through rebel-held territory
• safety while returning to ICA
• safety while trying to leave Abidjan etc. 

It’s amazing to us to look back and see all the ‘perils’ God has brought us through in the past year. It also encourages us to know that He is in the future, too, already preparing our way. So we ask you to pray that we will know His plan. 

The school board and mission leaders have been meeting this week to lay down guidelines/stepping stones for the restart of ICA when Ivory Coast is safe. Please pray for their wisdom and ability to see clearly the way ahead. 

As our youth groups meet tonight at Dakar Academy, they are continuing their study in the “Why Wait” series – a study in purity. Pray that God will use these sessions to call out teens who will purpose in their hearts not to defile His temple.

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.