Decker Update February 12

Dear friends,

Greetings from the long-lost Deckers in Dakar! We are very thankful for you who pray for us and for our ministries in West Africa-- and I hope to do a much better job of keeping you updated in the days ahead!

Here's a quick look at some of the highlights (mixed with an occasional lowlight!) from the past months... (and for each month there's a link to photos and more notes from our blog!)

October:

* Joey flew to Minnesota for surgery on his broken collar-bone! We are thankful for a wonderful surgeon(and his wonderful wife) from our home church, Bethlehem Baptist, who helped us get this organized from across the ocean. We are thankful for insurance that has covered 80% of the costs. We are thankful that Joey is now (as of February) medically "cleared" and back to normal activities!
* Mary participated in a Member Care Provider's Consultation and Retreat, sponsored by the Mobile Member Care Team, in Ghana. It was a time of learning, and refreshment. I'm so thankful for the ministry of the MMCT, and for the privilege of being associated with them as a Peer Responder!!
* Dave spend several days in Accra, Ghana participating in the MMCT board meetings.

November

* WAFA council meetings. SIM leaders from Liberia, Senegal, Guinea, and Cote d'Ivoire gathered to pray and work through many business and strategy needs. Dennis and Meg from Boston came to facilitate leadership development with our leaders these four WAFA countries. Meg also led a session at the annual Senegal Women's Retreat, "Help, I'm Married to a Travelling Man!" Dennis and Meg stayed with us, and we enjoyed hosting them!
* A two-day visit from Pastor Dan and Liz, and Pastor Erik from our home church. They had been in Guinea leading a Spiritual Life Conference with our SIM team there, and spent two days visiting with our church missionaries here. We loved having Dan and Liz stay in our Africa home once again!
* Turkey Bowl at Dakar Academy! It's a half-day of American football (flag.) As junior class sponsors, we were involved in preparing and serving food, and Dave enjoyed playing on the staff team against the all-star guys!
* Thanksgiving-- celebration with our SIM team. Jacob on outreach trip with Dakar Academy Friday-Sunday.

December

* Joey arrived December 19 and was able to stay for almost three weeks. It was wonderful to be together with him again. We missed Danny, though!
* We enjoyed time with friends, and several days at the beach!
* Took lots of pictures, please enjoy viewing them on the blog!

January

* We received the exciting news of Danny and Leah's engagement!
* A few more vacation days before school starts again for Joey and Jacob.
* Back to the routines of school and office... spending time with students who need encouragement, working to encourage missionaries through excellent administration and leadership.
* Scott Hicks (the school counselor I've been filling in for at D.A.) returns, my role shifts to support and encouragement on a volunteer basis, and as a help to him and the school as needed.
* Jacob participates in another outreach weekend with Dakar Academy
* Softball games on Saturdays, Jacob playing, Dave coaching and playing! (Mary watching, cheering, taking pictures...)
* Spiritual Emphasis Week at Dakar Academy


February has begun well, and looks like another busy month. DA has been blessed by a visit from Beth Murray and her husband Glen. Beth is a psychologist from Canada, who specializes in eating disorders. She's spent time with individuals and families here, and has had teaching times with groups of high school girls, middle school girls, and school staff. I've been privileged to be her "facilitator" here. I've learned a lot and have really enjoyed helping both of them with logistics and connections. They leave tomorrow night. Please pray for our girls out here in West Africa. We are seeing more eating disorders, and there are no resources here for treatment, other than the DA school counselor.

Next week, Dave will travel (along with Mark Tanquist and Burt Koppendrayer) to Cote d'Ivoire, and Liberia to do financial audits and training. Please pray for this trip, that they would be effective and encouraging to all those they spend time with. Pray for me and Jacob "home alone." (As well as the other two families who will be without their husband/dad during that time!)

We are thankful for God's provision for our financial needs. We have learned of several supporters who have had to stop their support in recent months. It's easy to be anxious, but we continue to look to HIM for all that we need. We have some current needs in our ministry account, $2000 for Joey's surgery co-payment costs, and another $1000 for his wisdom teeth which had to come out this month. Please pray with us for those needs to be met, and if you are interested in being part of meeting those needs, here's a link to "giving online."

We are so thankful for your prayers, and for your encouragement to us. We know that God has given us faithful partners to enable His work to be done in us and through us in West Africa.

Blessings and love,
Mary
for the Dakar Deckers