May 28th & 29th, 2011
The past three days have been very good. On Friday, I got to work at the Talibe ministry during the early afternoon. It was such a blessing, just sitting and playing with Tija, Samba, and Ibrahim. Little boys are little boys no matter where you go; you just have to give them the opportunity to show it. I'm so thankful that God let me have a part in giving them that opportunity.
Friday night, Kevin and I went to Paba's house and met his family. we ate lunch in his room and then had tea . Senegalese tea is a beautiful thing. Picture a shot glass of piping hot sweet tea with so much sugar that it is literally almost a syrup. Not to mention, it is about a two or three hour endeavor, so it allows for very good conversation. we were able to talk about the Gospel with Paba once again, and he is always very excited to talk about it. we just told him about the peace, joy, and comfort that comes from knowing that Jesus loves us enough to take our sin and give us His righteousness. We told him that the reason we do good things is that God has shown us so much love, we have no choice but to try and show some of this love to others. We've shared the Gospel many times with Paba, and I pray for more opportunities like the ones we've had. I pray more, though, that God would move deeply in his heart.
Saturday was so refreshing. I literally spent the entire day up until six thirty just reading and spending time with the Lord. "The Pleasures of God" by John Piper is such a great reminder of how amazing and truly happy our great God is. "Walking His Trail" by Steve Saint is a beautiful portrait of landmark's throughout life of God's constant love and provision. But it was not until I read over the letters that my friends sent with me to read on the place that I experienced a revelation of comfort. My friend wrote, "Keep in mind all things are possible with Christ, but only He can change hearts." All I can do is to keep sharing and living the Gospel. If God brings people I speak with to Him, I will rejoice in His sovereignty. If he does not, I will still rejoice in His sovereignty.
Saturday night, I discovered that the only magic in Dakar, Senegal's premier theme park, Magic Land, is found within the people who go there. The combination of dancing, janky rides, and pizza (I use this term very liberally, meaning crust with cheese and shredded chicken with a cup of ketchup for dipping) made for a very fun night of fellowship with brothers and sisters.
Today, worship, a good message from a brother, more reading, and time talking and laughing with family 6,000 miles away made for a great day. God keeps on surpring me. Just when I begin to feel worn out and drained, He picks me up and refuels me with the Gospel and a desire to share it at just the right moment. He is still good, and things here in Senegal are still getting better. "To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." -Ephesians 3:21
June 3rd, 4th, & 5th, 2011
Well, in two days we will have arrived at the halfway point of our journey in Senegal. They told us during our briefing weekend in March that the "honeymoon" period of our trip would be done with by the time our third week in Senegal rolled around, and let me tell you something--they weren't kidding.
This week has been a constant series of ups and downs. Do not not get me wrong. Telling people about Christ and His Gospel is my greatest love, and I hope that God allows me to do it until the day that I die. However, my love for telling does not make it any less taxing. Senegal and its people never cease to surprise me. The culture of the mind is totally different here thatn it is at home. Logic and reason, while they are not the most essential aspects of western religion, are somewhat important. In Senegal, religion--Islam--is life. You were born into it and have grown up practicing it; therefore, you never--never--question it.
I have found through speaking with my Muslim friends that when trying to share Christ with Muslims, one should not talk about Islam. It is foolish to talk about any of its logical or historical flaws because they do not matter to Muslims. The Qur'ran is still Allah's holy, infallible Word, and Muhammad is still the only medium of absolute truth. So, I have resolved, in the words of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, "to preach to the Gentiles (specifically in my case, Muslims) the unsearchable riches of Christ." It is all that I can do, and it is all that I will do. If there is a place to debate the validity of Islam in order to share the Gospel, it is not here in Senegal. I now wholeheartedly believe that the best way to present the Gospel to Muslims is one that is totally removed from debate and argument and totally filled with prayer and love.
Once again, this weekend has been a breath of fresh air. Friday night, we built a bonfire on the beach and made smore (yes, they do have marshmallows in Senegal) for Ted's birthday. I had a very interesting experience with a couple of Rastafars, which was not so much a breath of fresh air (you can figure that one out on your own). Yesterday, I spend the morning reading, and then went to the big downtown market in the afternoon and evening. It was a great experience that involved fake passports and being threatened to be cursed by a man's marabout. Despite the most interesting parts of the trip, I bought almost all of my gifts to bring back to friends and family, and let me tell you--Mr. Adam Watkins lucked out because he will be the proud recipient of something that I bought that ended up being a bit to small (if he doesn't read this, feel free to tell him yourself). I don't know why, maybe its because most prices are set in the US, but I love the craziness of bartering in African markets.
Today was also a great day. We had church in the morning and then went to the beach and read for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Now, I'm doing as I do every Sunday eveing--sitting on a picnic table right down the hill from a lighthouse, watching the tide some in as the sun slowly gets lower and lower in the sky. It's hard to believe, but somewhere to the west in the direction I'm staring, you are sitting. There is really not much of a difference between us right now. You are breathing American air, and I'm breathing African. The hearts of the lost are just as hard in America as they are in Senegal. Whether their guide is Muhammad or science, whether their idol is Allah or money, they still need the same Savior. Let's join Paul and preach this unbelievable truth to the people in Senegal, America, and to the ends of the earth.
P.S. I apologize for any grammar or typing errors. Limited internet time means limited editing and revising time.
