Do you know what Europeans do?

I’ve had some perty crazy days over the past 2 weeks but I have loved every minute of it. Over the past two weeks we have had a volunteer team of 4 people. And one of the four happened to be my father!!! It’s been a blast letting him see some of those many things that I have never been able to describe with words or even with help of pictures. He got to experience real African hospitality, and now he understands when I say that I have tons of free time but I’m always busy. Also this past week I was able to do one of the most exciting things that I’ve probably done since I’ve came here to Africa, I was able to go on a research trip with my father. We went to a town about 150 or some kilometers to the northeast to do some basic research so that we can share that information with people like you interested in coming over to help and work alongside the Fulakunda. I went in to one of the hotels in the area and I saw some Europeans sitting down doing what Europeans do and I realized something. There tons of people that pay good money to come over here just to see some of the sights of West Africa…and it’s my job!!!!

I’ve always been a little bit hesitant about my work coming up, because of the massive job that’s before me. By going on this first trip and also being able to see things through my fathers’ eyes. I realized that probably have one of the coolest jobs in the world. I still got tons of work, and I know it’s going to be tuff. But now I look at this “work” a little differently. It’s still going to be hard for me to not be overwhelmed by the gynormus area of land in which I will do my research. But now, I am excited to and able to think about not just the research that needs to be done but to be able to focus more on the “real work.” Please pray that I continue to remember these things. That when I’m on my research trips, that I keep in mind the job of the demographic and geography of the Fulakunda and the 5 countries in which they located in but that I’m focused more on the hearts of the Fulakunda and the “real job” getting the Gospel to them.

I will soon tell more about the adventures that I had with my father and many of the other exciting things that he got to see.

and a Happy New Year!!!!

2008 has come and gone. I remember it was this day last year that I got on the plane to go to Senegal. I remember switching planes in Chicago and totally getting lost in the airport and being amazed because there was so much snow outside (and the last time I want to see snow for a long while). I arrived in Senegal on the 2nd and I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. For this blog I just wanted to share some of major events or lessons that I have learned over the past year.

I can communicate in another language and also know how to communicate when there is no language in common.

I have learned how to play soccer in the sand.

I have spent time making something that I would like to have and found much joy in making it myself or with the help of my African friends.

I have 6 hours towards a Masters Degree.

I have seen the Lord open the heart and welcome new believers.

I have seen the Lord close the heart of an unbeliever and had to move on to share with someone else.

I have been encouraged by the many people who have come from America for a short time but yet have the same if not yet an even stronger passion to reach out to the lost people in the world.

I have made many new friends, some who were believers before I came, some who have become a believer in the time that I have been here, and some in which I am still praying that their hearts will open up to the truth.

2009 is here. It’s going to be a big change, and I’m ready. In a few days my father will come and I will spend about 2 weeks with him. After that I will take my test for Pulaar and in February I should be able to start my research, meaning I will be spending my nights away from Kolda and meeting many new people and hoping to plant many seeds.




Here’s the picture of that Santa I promised. It's in front of the Christmas tree at the Bradford’s home, where I celebrated Christmas and New Years.

It's Christmas Time

Living here in West Africa you don’t experience the Christmas Season the same way you would in America; in fact it's a lot different. There is a small population of Catholics here in Kolda and also in Senegal, and you could also say there is an even smaller population of “Westerners” so Christmas is something they are aware of. Actually from what I hear most about the Muslim people here, they have a celebration as well. They have it one the 24th and from what I’ve found out from the few people that I’ve asked they just use it as an excuse to party and have no idea that it’s a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

I wanted to share one of my favorite Africa nChristmas stories so far. It was Saturday morning and I was doing probably what a lot of Americans were doing at that time - I was Christmas shopping!!! If you haven’t seen an African market, it’s just filled with people, and many people walk around just selling the things that they have in their hand, kinda like the vendors when you go to a football game. Anyways, I was talking to someone in the market and I look over my shoulder and I see a dude walking with two inflatable Santa Clause. It just seemed so out of place, it was the first Christmas thing that I saw since I’ve come to Senegal. I take a second look at the Santa and then I laugh to myself, but then it hits me….I WANT ONE OF THOSE!!!! So I start walking in his direction trying to catch up with the dude. So after about a block and a half I got his attention and bought one. He even gave me one that wasn’t blown up so I could stick it in my bag and wait till I got home.

I paid a little more than 2 dollars for it and I wouldn’t even see myself wanting to have one if I was in America, but here in Africa it gave me a great smile and gave me a little Christmas sprit.

***I don’t have one at this time but I will try to get a picture of the Santa up here in the next couple of days.***

MY BEST FRIEND!

Some of you back in South Texas or even one dude in South America might think from this title that I am about to talk about you in this blog. Even though I do think of many of ya'll as my really good friend, this blog is about an African. I call him The Sheriff, and I met him about my second week here. He has helped me greatly in my language and I would call him my closest friend here in Senegal. Yes, my closest friend here in Senegal is a 30 year old, single, metal worker. He is a very heavy smoker and can speak 6 or 7 languages, but he can’t read in any of them. Most importantly, he does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Over time Sheriff and I have gained a huge respect for each other. The friendship is a true friendship. Sheriff has shown an interest in knowing what I believe, and I have presented the Gospel to him. We have had many talks about the differences of what we believe. Through the time that we share, you can tell that he has a curiosity of the things that I have told him but you can also see that as of now he has no intention of changing his beliefs, changing his lifestyle, and proclaiming nothing other than the faith that he was born in to.

Please pray for Sheriff. Sheriff has been given an opportunity to hear and talk about the gospel. He is now in a position that only he can change. Please pray that he will seek the truth and not seek the acceptance of his family members or his neighbors (including his white friends that live around the corner). Pray that he will seek something bigger than what he’s found on this earth. And also pray for me as our relationship continues to grow and we continue to learn, and understand more about each other.

Thanksgiving!!!!

I thought I would share about my Thanksgiving experience. Thanksgiving might just be an American holiday, but I'm sure glad that I got to celebrate it. And my stomach is really happy too!!!!! For Thanksgiving, me and the other two journeymen down in Kolda, Michelle and Kimberly, took a 12 hour drive up to Dakar, the capital city of Senegal and we were able to celebrate with some of the other missionaries here in Senegal. We got there a little early and now we're in a conference for some of us "newbies" on the feild. The first picture is one of me and a couple that has been really good friends of mine. Since they live in Dakar we don't get to hangout too much but as you can see we're happy and our plates are empty!!!!
















Just like Thanksgiving back in America, after we stuff our faces with food we hang out and spend time with the people that we love. Here is a picture of us playing some cards and we even got some football playing in the background .



Although I miss my family and I would have loved to spend Thanksgiving with them, I can still feel your prayers and I know that I'm loved. And to tell you the truth the one thing that I'm most thankful for is my family and friends that pray for me. I may not be in America but I know that I'm still in the hearts and prayers of many of you. Thank You!

A CHANGE IS COMING!

As I look back at the time I’ve spent here in Africa, there are times that I can’t believe how quickly time has passed and there are times that it feels like it’s been way over a year. As you know most of my time so far has been spent learning the language and culture. If you remember, it was back in July when I took my first major test to see how far along I was. I was just a few points off from being right on schedule. I made some changes and got right back to trying to learn this language.
My confidence in the language of Pulaar gets stronger everyday, but sometimes I still find myself messing up on words or hearing a word that I don’t know. As the title explained, my time devoted to learning this language is coming to an end. Towards the end of December or early January I will take the level 2 test to see if I have met the requirement to start my research work among the Fulakunda.
Please pray for me as I continue learning this language. During the next few weeks I will be trying to fill in many of the gaps that I have in preparation for the final test. Pray that the time with both of my language teachers will continue to be fruitful and that I will find many more opportunities to share my faith. I’m ready for the change and ready to use my new language that I have been working on since I arrived in January. Another exciting opportunity is that my dad is coming to Kolda in January. That means that he will possibly be around as I begin my new work. I am definitely looking forward to a change!

THE POWER OF ONE!

Here in Kolda, God has been and is doing a lot of work! It’s a very exciting time and you can really see that God is moving in the hearts of the people. I want to tell you about some specifics but you will have to allow the holy spirit to translate for you. If you read my blogs very often, then you know that I don’t shy away from truth. Out of respect and for safety, there are a few words that I will/can not say.
Over the past two weeks, the first person in Kolda has been dunked. This means that new groups will be formed and more people will hear the news. This new “ONE” totally changes the landscape of Kolda. Change brings opposition, so prayer warriors, start praying!! Pray for physical and mental and spiritual strength for this one. I’ve been thinking a lot about Matthew 13. The seed has been planted among the thorns. Pray that Kolda will be able to rise up over the thorns and produce the crop that it has been designed to make.