Thank you for your prayers. The team arrived safely yesterday morning and was back home by 10am. So many wonderful things took place during this trip and we give all glory to God for the following. We hope you are blessed knowing that we share in all of these accomplishments. Pray for the planning of the March 2021 trip that is only 4 months away. Village of Ngalagne
Dedication of the church in Ngalagne and commissioning of Pastor Francois Sene. We were introduced to no less than 35 believers in the church with a growing number of adults and children who are seeking the Lord. People from at least three nearby villages have connected with the church.
The child sponsorship program is well-led by Isaak Diouf and 54 children are sponsored. All of them heard the gospel numerous times during the trip using the Wordless Book.
The adult and teenage women were blessed to receive the Days for Girls hygiene kits and learn more about how God has created them in His image.
Tremendous openness and engagement with the Chief and elders of the village.
The men in the church are very teachable and have a hunger for the Word of God.
Prayer Needs
Young mother, Sokhna, needs a consultation at the hospital for infertility issues.
Sponsored child, Cheikh, needs a consultation at the hospital to examine his eyes.
Two families in the church need additional huts/rooms constructed to allow spouses and children to have their own sleeping quarters (Mamadou Ngom and Antoine Faye)
Construction of an outdoor cooking shelter adjacent to the Literacy classroom.
Re-launch of the Literacy training in January once the harvest is cleaned from the fields.
Re-launch of Kids Clubs in December.
Chief Ousmane needs a new motorbike - this could be a strategic gift for additional outreach to the village.
The 2nd distribution emergency rice/oil for the families of sponsored kids should take place before the end of December.
Village of Baback
The Christian School is operational for Preschool through 2nd grade with 125 kids enrolled. We observed the two new classrooms constructed this summer and the 4 new toilettes should be completed in the next 2 weeks. In addition to providing a higher-level of education than the public school, the church states that the primary objective is for the teachers to share the gospel with every student and family who attends the school.
The child sponsorship program continues to be well-led by a team of young adults and 81 children (many of which are Muslim) are sponsored.
The teenage and young adult women were thankful for the Days for Girls hygiene kits and would like more for the village.
The men in the church valued the teaching we provided and are interested in participating in monthly sessions if possible online.
We met with a few families who huts were rebuilt with funds provided through our church. They thank the Lord for the love of Jesus extended to their families.
We met with the new chief of the village (son of the prior chief who passed away last May). He seems very supportive of the church and volunteered to serve as the president of the Parent Association for the Christian School in the village.
Prayer Needs
The pastor's wife, Marie, needs a consultation with a pulmonologist.
Sponsored child, Moussa, needs to return to the hospital for further treatment on his arm and wrist.
Alphonse Diouf's wife, Khady, gave birth to their second child (a son) just as we were departing.
Melody Powell's namesake, Diouma, testified that her vision has been healed. She thanks Melody for the funds to enable the eye surgery.
Continued improvement of the church garden to engage the young adults and bless the entire church.
Future expansion of the Christian School next year with the construction of two more classrooms for 3rd and 4th grade. Their prayer is to provide K-12 education in the coming years.
The 2nd distribution emergency rice/oil for the families of sponsored kids should take place before the end of December.
Provision of funds to help a church leader (Ngagne) to purchase a field for farming to further provide for his family.
Provision of funds to help Pastor Antoine have a funeral for his mother who died this summer and his father who died in 1999. These had been postponed due to lack of funds. He would like to purchase a bull to feed the community who will attend.
Thanks, Mike for this update. I am so glad that you and Jill were able to make this trip. Welcome home!
Thanks Patsy. It was a wonderful trip. Thanks for all the prayers!
Hi, Mike, I sent an earlier comment, guess it didn't send. Welcome back to you and Jill, from Debbie and I, so thankful to see the many accomplishments that the Lord made way for the 3 of you. Hygiene kits, healing, school rooms, kids sponsorship/family relationships, spread of the gospel, garden work, among more mentioned above. I'm sure this trip, as well as the ongoing needs mentioned above for future, makes Senegal a focus on your new ministry non-profit. Keep us posted! Especially great to see the men in both villages responding (from their children being sponsored?) to wanting to know more about Jesus! Blessings, Tim (and Debbie)
Thanks Tim and Debbie. We look forward to sharing more about the trip with you and the church family in the coming weeks. We just need to identify a date.
So good to see you and to pray together with Sandy this morning, Mike. God has surely blessed you, Jill, and all the Senegalese connections during this trip. May He continue to grant you and Jill wisdom, discernment and clarity as you serve and honor Him for His Kingdom’s sake.