Daily Archives: 06/13/2012

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My camera is still out-of-order {sad!}, but thankfully, my phone takes pictures, so here are some snapshots from this week, followed by a comment, or two, or three…

There are many things we love about living here. Like the people.

Hélène {summer missions intern from QC} has already been a BIG blessing to us and to the field of Senegal by translating some Bible lessons and helping out where needed. She’s living with us here in our “townhouse”, and we’ve been having a lot of fun talking at meal times, and getting to know each other better.


On Monday we spent some time with a lady from our church, visiting a women’s center here in Dakar, where she works to teach women a trade and share her love for Jesus! The women can choose between taking a sewing course, a language course or a cooking course. Hélène and I had the privilege of meeting many of the women, hearing some of their stories, and we also taught an afternoon English class.

One of the views from the women’s center.

*Not pictured: Jenn welcoming a team, some from Colorado! At times it’s SUCH a big world, and at times it’s SUCH a small world.

*Not pictured: Harry and Reidun, the former guesthouse hosts for 7 years, left for Norway last night - a bittersweet time! Yes, that means we’re officially FLYING SOLO in our new job/ministry.

I was SO surprised and honored when a bag of mangos showed up here on Monday, all the way from Cap Skirring! Yassine {Remember her? My neighbor/African Mom} had her niece deliver them to me, since she visiting Dakar. What a SWEET and THOUGHTFUL gesture, huh???

*Not pictured: Shawn taking people to the airport.

*Not pictured: Jenn making choco/peanut butter chip cookies. Want one?? 

Hot season is coming! We can feel it. Cold water with lemon is so very refreshing. Especially when it’s served in my 500cfa {about $1} pitcher. 

*Not pictured: enjoying ice cream with friends! This week someone surprised us with “thanks for hosting us” cakes! How kind and deeeeeelicious.

*Not pictured: Shawn highlighting Jenn’s hair {because that’s just all kinds of scary}.

Getting around town is always an adventure!

*Not pictured: Shawn standing ankle-deep in water, squeegeeing it off the roof, after Sunday morning’s “water crisis”. It’s a “learn as you go” kind of job! [No worries, the water is working now! Yea, Shawn!]

Never a dull moment.

s&j

 

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Does that machine really make THAT sandwich???

Sandwich machine that we saw downtown… can you really make big mac’s? If so, that’s pretty impressive. So, you simply close the lid and *wham!* when you open it there are ”two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun”?  

Olive oil and lime hand soap… your name may be bizarre, but you smell SO, so, SO good. Dakar friends: go directly to Citydia and buy some. Everyone who washes their hands at your house will love you forever! The results may be something similar to what Axe bodywash advertises.

Guy wearing a Denver Broncos t-shirt… even though to you “football” is probably kicking around a round (not egg-shaped) black and white ball, passing to and from your teammates, trying to kick said ball into the appropriate goal, I just want you to know that you’re wearing the right shirt! My Colorado friends would be so proud.

5 women sitting in a row, selling the same selection of tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers and onions… shouldn’t you mix up the selection just a bit? You know, one of you sells fruit, the other sells potatoes and onions, the other sells lettuce and cucumbers? It’s all about marketing at the market, ladies!

Girl getting her hair braided… based on those facial expressions, it must really hurt!

Guy wearing headphones, listening to music, dancing around, in his own little world, in the middle of the street… while you are quite entertaining and comical to watch (if there wasn’t a long line of cars behind us, we’d probably park and watch), you should probably choose a better “stage” before you end up being roadkill!

Friend [you know who you are]… you made me laugh when, knowing what life can be like here, you gave me permission to send you the “uncut” version of Dear ___ . I just might take you up on it! *Laughs/blushes at the time the doors fell off of the “outdoor bathroom hut”…while it was being used!*

Senegalese women driving in Senegal… of course I want to defend women everywhere, saying that we’re excellent drivers, and that men are being too sexist when they say women can’t drive. However, I must be honest with myself and everyone out there: Senegalese women are scary drivers! Look out! *Car crashes into wooden table selling mangos…oh look, it was a woman driver.*

 Happy day. Happy week. From us to you,

s&j