Now i find it!!!!

So yesterday I was hangout by my house talking to my friends, my broken Pulaar is coming along very nice, I think so at least. I was hangin out with the sheriff, that same guy that welded my lamp, as you can see in the blog below. We were talking about boats or something, I don’t know, I look up and I see a man walking around with a bunch of lamps! In Africa there are a lot of people who just walk around the city with a bunch of stuff just trying to make a living, some people like to call it walk-mart. Anyways, I call him over and look at them. No it didn’t have a stand with it but had the switch and socket, and the plug already assembled and with this fancy stretchy wire, (like on a telephone). I still would have needed the sheriff to make me that stand, but I could have saved the hassle of making the switch and all that stuff.

But missing out in all that fun of making it, and electrocuting myself twice. Nahhhh it was worth!!!!

I'M WAY TOO PROUD OF THIS!!!

So I’m here in Africa and as you know there are a lot of things that you don’t find here that are easy to find in America...like a lamp! I really wanted a lamp. My room had only one big light and it was on the other side of the room so it was kind of a hassle when I would be reading and then the sleepy bug would hit but I didn’t want to fall asleep with the light on and I didn’t want to get out of bed to turn it off. I know the problems of a missionary are sooooo hard!!! Anyways, I looked all over the city and I couldn’t find one anywhere. Most of the people had no idea what I was even asking for. I was really losing hope on trying to find a lamp. Then one day I was at a hardware store and I was getting nails so I could…nail something. I got the brightest idea in the world… “I can just make one!!!” It took another 30 minutes trying to ask the dude behind the counter if he had everything that I needed, and yes he did. I went and drew up my lamp. I took the drawing over to my good friend, the sheriff, and within 30 minutes he welded together a stand for the light with some re-bar. I went home, put it together and now I have a lamp!!!! I know I could have done more stuff to it real easily to make it look better (like put a sheet over it!!!) but when you look at this lamp, remember that it’s coming from Africa, and that the only tool that I had was a leatherman, a hammer and a welder. When you first look at it, it looks really ugly, but after that second look it looks like something a fancy designer would use. I'm sure you understand...one of those things that is so ugly it’s cool. Remember this is coming from someone who has over 2 years experience in interior design. I know what I’m talking about!!! (Thanks Ben and Todd)

As you can see, I got a haircut. I was starting to get a lot of people talking about my long hair, and I was even getting a lot of people asking me if they could braid my hair or add links to it. I knew that would get pretty close to a cultural line that I didn’t want to get near, yet. It was quite fun and a very different experience. And as most of ya’ll also know my hair during my college career got long; it was different and fun. Since I graduated high school I believe I’ve cut my hair 4 times. But before that, like the normal American I have had my hair cut by the same person almost my whole life. So when trying to figure out where I should get my hair cut I had to make a very difficult decision…I went to the place closest to my house. It was a fun time. I had about 4 people in the room watching me and I had to give the dude cutting my hair a couple of pointers. When cutting hair for guys he only knew one hair cut - shave it. And then I had to try to explain to everyone that if I shaved my head that it would burn. They just don’t understand about sunburns, they think it’s really funny. I didn’t ask him, but I’m pretty sure I was his first white guy. Another thing that I know ya’ll would like to hear, is how much I paid for this wonderful trim. I paid the guy one thousand Fcfa. And I knew I was giving the dude way too much, almost twice as much as what all my friends said they pay. But a thousand Fcfa is equal two about 2 and a half bucks and I just couldn’t bring myself to ask for change after I handed him a 1000.
Things are going great; it’s starting to get really hot and I got about 3 more months until rainy season starts. I don’t know if it gets even hotter. I might even try the shaven head if it does. I thought I was using a lot of sunscreen so I can’t image how much I would use on my head if there was no hair.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SENEGAL!

April 4th, 1960 in Senegal is the equivalent of the USA’s July 4th, 1776. I thought this would be a great time to tell you all a little about Senegal.
Senegal is a country filled with many different people groups, all of which have their own language, culture, tradition, animistic beliefs, and way life. I can think of eight right off the top of my head and there’s many more than that. Of the many different languages in Senegal, French is the official language, and Wolof is the national language. Pulaar is probably the third most spoken language in Senegal, but I haven’t done any research or anything on that.
The people on Senegal rely heavily on the land on which they live in with peanuts as one of their major exports. Senegal’s economy is greatly influenced by agriculture.
Senegal is a country of almost 20 million people. I’ve heard anywhere from 92% - 97% are Muslim - I guess it matters who’s doing the research. Actually last month they had a huge Islam convention in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. I really didn’t know what to think when I looked at the TV and I saw the president of Senegal talking to the person who claims to speak for every Muslim country. Senegal is just like many of the countries around the world that are filled with lost people who have little to no chance of having the gospel presented to them. April 4th will be a day filled with Senegalese people celebrating their country. Please join me on this day and pray for the people of Senegal. Pray for the missionaries in Senegal, the government, the schools, the people and their fields. Pray that April 4th is also a day for the Kingdom of God.