another Saturday in Dakar

• We've had many rainy days recently. Dave took these pictures from his office windows during one of them. Dakar is dry most of the year, so the streets are not really constructed with drainage in mind-- which causes significant problems during heavy downpours.
• The school year at Dakar Academy has started well, and it's been an honor to spend time with several students who are seeking encouragement, support or problem-solving-help over the past days.
• Our electricity has continued to be off about eight hours each day, and my computer is not yet working reliably... yikes! Praying that we will allow the Lord to be light in our lives even in the darkness... that His light will shine in us and through us to those to whom He has brought us!
  

Saturday

I returned home from Liberia late Monday night after a long trip, having been re-routed via Casablanca. I'm very tired, very thankful for the airline taking good care of me, thankful to be home!

Wednesday was the first day of school at Dakar Academy, and for this semester I'm resuming my role as part-time counselor. It was great to see kids and staff returning, great to meet new students and staff as well. Wednesday evening was the Open House time, and as Jacob's parents we got to meet his teachers and follow his daily schedule (in 10 minute increments.)

My laptop is not yet working, but we're hoping that it will be able to be repaired this weekend, please pray for that!

This weekend we are spending time with friends, watching a bit of the Olympics, hoping to get to the beach, hoping to get more photos from Liberia up!

casablanca

this is just a quick hello... my computer stopped working last thursday so i have not been able to blog. i am in an airport cyber cafe in casablanca at the moment, and will write more about the trip when i get home to a working computer with an english keyboard! travel in west africa... not always what you would expect!

Liberia: my friend Mary

Mary, an elementary school teacher, has been one of my best friends since 1995. She was married to one of our Liberian "sons" in 1999, and was widowed when he was struck by a car in 2004. She has been a testimony of God's faithfulness as she raises her children on her own, and looks to the Lord for provision of her needs. It was a great joy for me to spend a bit of time with her, and bittersweet to be able to visit TC's grave along with two more of our Liberian sons, Reuben and Doco.

Liberia: new growth, new beauty

My trip was short but each day I marveled at the beauty of the ocean near the ELWA beach.

During the war in 1990, all the coconut trees had been cut down... but many have been replanted and are now growing up into beauty.

May God continue to do His pruning, re-planting, and growing work in Liberia, and in all of our lives!

Liberia: Ma Kortee's girls

Ma Kortee invited me and a few friends to her house for lunch! She treated us royally with check rice, boiled plantain and gravy. We enjoyed her company and enjoyed being pampered by her too!

It was so special for me to see Elizabeth, Sis Pate, and Linda after many years-- all daughters and nieces of the Ol'Ma who has been special in all of our lives!



(I'm having trouble formatting this post with captions. )

(photo 1-- Christina, Naomi, Sheila)

(photo 2 Elizabeth, Mary, Ma Kortee)

(photo 3 Sis Pate and Linda)

liberia day 2

Ma Kortee, my Liberian "Ol'Ma"






















Valarie and Blessing






(too tired at the end of this day to write anything but will continue to try post pics-- hopefully will add text, as well as higher resolution pictures when I'm back to "normal" life.

liberia day 1: airport fun

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These sweet girls, Alison and Kiara, were going out on the flight I came in on... but Doco worked out a way for us to see one another. What a fun moment!! I'm going to sleep.. for the first time in 4 1/2 years... in Liberia! More tomorrow if all goes well! (im going to try to upload the pics in low quality from here and will replace them when i get back to a faster connection.)

August 4: Abidjan

August 2

This week has been a bit too busy. I wanted to post pictures and a few notes from our conference. I'm still hoping to do that but meanwhile I've been finishing work for a class and preparing for a visit to our colleagues in Liberia! I'm scheduled to travel tomorrow to Cote d'Ivoire and then on Monday will fly to Liberia for the first time since February 2004! Please pray for me as I go, and Dave and Jacob as they bach-it in Dakar for 8 days!