It is always so hard to say good-bye when it's time to leave Ngalagne and Baback. The Serer and Wolof people have a phrase that means "until we see each other next" that is so much more appropriate. We concluded our time in Baback yesterday with visits to a few families whose huts needed repair/re-building after last year's rainy season. A family from Calvary helped to fund this work. A total of 20 huts were repaired. The families were so thankful and understand that this help was offered in Jesus' name. We also visited a few families of our namesakes. These are special times to share our love for each other as well as share the love of Jesus. There was also time spent with Pastor Antoine, Michel and Ngagne and their families. We learned of new babies born, babies expected soon, the loss of loved ones in recent months, reconciled relationships, and so much more. God is so faithful to meet us in the highs and lows of life and everything in between. There are follow-up needs for medical care for two sponsored children, a young women with infertility issues, a pastor's wife in need of treatment for her lungs, huts/rooms to be constructed in the village of Ngalagne for a few families in the church, a shelter for the cooking area in Ngalagne, funding for evangelism training and outreach for surrounding villages at the end of December, a millet grinder for the women in Ngalagne to ease the heavy work burden they bear, to name a few. Pray for God to provide discernment on how best to assess and provide for these needs in the coming weeks.

Pastor Mike and Jill meet with the MIS Board this morning (10am Senegal time). Pray that this meeting will help to guide us into the ministry God may have for us in this next season. Travel mercies as well for Mike, Jill and Emily as we begin a long journey home this evening with a flight at 2am (Senegal time) from Dakar to JFK (arriving at 6am on Thursday).