Vaccination Day

Photos from the Talibe Vaccination Day

Talibe street boys

Check-in

Receiving their vaccines

 

The boys showing off their medical cards

Watching the Jesus Film

The Stories of Marie

Today was one of those days where I couldn't stop grinning and thinking to myself, "I love Africa." Nothing radical happened. Nothing too out of the ordinary. It was the simple touches of life here that brought me joy.

I went to work at the talibe clinic like I do every week. The other American I work with was not there because she had traveled out of town, so a Senegalese worker and I were running the center alone (let's call her Marie). I have done this before and everything goes smoothly, but I usually know it will be a quiet day with language confusions here and there. Today, was a miracle! God blessed my ears and I was able to understand more clearly. I had some very rewarding conversations with Marie.

I sat on a bench and listened as she told me stories of her life. She spoke about the days when she lived in a small village hours away and had to work sunrise to sunset. The work was much more challenging and tiring. She had to walk long distances to buy food and water under the heat of the sun. Marie believes this is why she now has horrible knee pains. Marie cares for her 9 children---3 girls and 6 boys. That alone, is enough to keep anyone's hands more than full. Marie smiled at me as she told me about the time her friends gathered around her in the market, eager to see the newborn baby tied on her back. No one asked her the name of the baby, so she kept that information silent and simply nodded while her friends assumed it was a girl. Marie already had many sons and was ashamed for not giving birth to a daughter who could help her with the housework. Marie began giggling as she said, "Of course, months later they came to visit me and when they looked for my daughter, they did not see her. That's when they realized I had lied." She admitted to having fears about her only daughters one day marrying and leaving all the work on her shoulders. Her husband is very sick and she too is an aging woman with failing health. She continued and told me about the time she went with her friend, who was expecting a baby, to the hospital. The medical system here has endless amounts of problems. The doctors shouted at them, saying there were no beds available, and to go somewhere else. In reality, Marie could see empty beds in the back of the hospital, but they were just too busy or didn't care. Can you see a trend? Lying is somewhat acceptable in this culture. Marie and her friend who was in labor were forced onto the streets; she gave birth to her child there on the footsteps of a hospital. I hear about these type of things happening all the time and I know it's true. However, this had a greater impact on me than ever before. Hearing it come from the mouth of a dear friend, and someone who has experienced it, is completely different.

Senegalese culture is very friendly, but only on the surface. It takes a long time to become close friends and move past the formal greetings. For Marie to open up and share not only these stories, but her emotions behind them as well, is a big deal. I'm hoping to hear more! Today, I felt like my friendships were really growing.

Praises & Prayer Requests

• The presidential elections have now ended and proceeded through round two in PEACE
• Shout out to the Sparks AWANA group who raised enough money to go towards giving 172 talibe boys Tetnus and Hep B vaccines. Pictures to come soon 
• An entire household heard the Good News today. Another seed planted.
• God has been giving me direct answers to prayer concerning my future plans
• On April 4th, I will be traveling to Sierra Leone to help with a medical mission team from the States. I will spend 10 days in the country. Please pray for safe travels and health for me and also the team coming from the States. Pray for God's love to be shared at every opportunity.

Friendships and A Place Called Teen Bi

"AMINATA now na.....Aminata now na!!"

The lively chant I heard right before being trampled in the middle of the streets. About 15 children came running full speed towards me, jumping into my arms, and nearly knocking me off balance. They continued to tug on my arms and shout, "Hayden she came.....Hayden she came!!" Seeing their excitement over such a simple thing made me laugh right along with them. Everyone in the neighborhood was watching me. A man walked past me and said, "I see you have lots of friends." I greeted him and said yes, thinking to myself I truly do. 

God has blessed me with so many friendships since arriving here, some people I have known for years and continue to grow closer to, and others who I am meeting for the first time. The importance of friendship. My favorite aspect of this place. I love that I am able to smile and say hello to every person I pass on my walk home. I love that I am able to stop and talk with a woman who sells peanuts every day. I love that I am able to sit in the sand and let a teenage girl I just met yesterday braid my hair. I soak these moments in and I can't get enough! It's hard to be lonely here when you are surrounded by so many people. I am forever thankful to God for blessings like these. 

Here are a few pictures of a place called Teen Bi (meaning The Well, in Wolof). I work here with children Wednesday - Friday. It is a community center where children in the neighborhood can come to learn, have fun playing with friends, and just be in a safe environment where they know they are loved. We give them the attention they are longing for. We won't shoo them away if they want to be held. In their culture, children have little value and that concept is still hard for me to understand. Every day is a new activity from arts and crafts, games, Old Testament Bible stories, learning numbers, colors, English, or French. 

Political Unrest

Today is the day Senegal has been waiting for. Elections. It has been the cause of unrest in this country for the past 2 months. Many of you have contacted me, checking to make sure I am safe. Thank you so much for your prayers and concerns. The word on the street is that Senegal made its first big hit on CNN. I have not wanted to scare anyone while it is unnecessary, so I have kept these recent events on the down-low. Although, the international news must not have read my memo. Oops! My apologies. Here is my update and the facts from my point of view:

- Senegal is a democratic country and they are voting today for their next president. The people are angry and frustrated because their current president, Abdoulaye Wade, was approved to run for a third term on a technicality. The law states a president is only allowed 2 terms. Each term is for 7 years and Wade is already an aging man in his mid 80's. 

- Riots? Yes, I will confirm that this situation has resulted in violent riots, but I feel the media has exaggerated things. The number of peaceful protests have outnumbered the ones that made the news. Is this a big deal? For Senegal, yes. This country has been known as one of the most stable and peaceful African countries, so this is a new shock to many. However, in comparison to the rest of the world, no, I do not believe so. A very small handful of people have been injured or lost their lives in the riots. The loss of any life, even one, is a big deal. Keep in mind though, I could name hundreds of other countries where the circumstances are less fortunate and the results far more tragic. 

- Am I safe? Not once have I felt at risk. I have never even witnessed a riot. And when I say "riot", I do not want anyone to picture a war breaking out. I am in no means or manner running around dodging bullets. The "violent" riots have consisted of people throwing rocks and tear gas to disperse crowds, burning tires, and destroying cars. Everything seems surreal from my quiet little neighborhood. To put things into perspective, picture all this going on in downtown Dallas while you live in a suburb. That is about the equivalent. We know which areas of town to stay away from at certain times of the day. 

- The days following the elections will be the most interesting and unpredictable. Will Wade be re-elected is the big mystery and question. We are not entirely sure what to expect, but here are some things we are prepared for: long power cuts, temporary shut-down of the internet and/or communication devices, and staying in the house for a few days if necessary.    

I promise I will keep you all updated as best I can. I honestly feel there is no real reason to worry and that the elections will come and go like normal. I work with the Senegalese people every day; I know these people. They are kind hearted and hate violence, avoiding it all costs. I am leaving everything in God's hands and praying for continued peace over this country.  

Sneak Peek of Outreach Weekend

Here is a quick video showing the events of Outreach Weekend in the most remote villages. We had over a 100 people on our team from a high school in Colorado, Dakar Academy students, and local missionaries.  

Warning: Do Not Share Your Peanuts

"What is your biggest struggle?"

I've often been asked that question. The cultural differences? No. The heat or dirty surroundings? No. The language? No. The MEN.

Situation #1

Lesson of the day: do not share your peanuts. You will be destined to marriage. I had just finished work at the talibe center and was walking down the streets looking for a taxi. I flagged one down, gave him the directions, and we agreed on a price. I climbed into the backseat and slammed the door shut a couple times because it never stays closed, and settled myself in, ready for the 20 minute drive. I had not had time to eat breakfast or lunch yet so I was really excited when I remembered the snack in my purse. The ride back home began in silence and I could have simply sat back, staring out the window at the moving traffic, munching on my peanuts and relaxing after my long day. But no, I chose to share my peanuts and talk. I don't know why. I'm sure God had His reasons, but at this moment I don't know why! I leaned forward and asked my taxi driver if he would like some. He responded saying thank you and I poured a few peanuts into his open hand. Only seconds later, he was adjusting his rear view mirror so he could see me and kept turning around to look at me and smile. Then the conversation started, "You understand Wolof?" I nodded and said, "Yes, only a little." The questions continued....

Taxi-man: Who taught you Wolof?
Me: My Senegalese friends
Taxi-man: Was it a girl or a boy?
Me: A girl
Taxi-man: Do you have any friends that are men?
(I tried to ignore this question, already seeing where this was leading. That didn't work and he pestered me further)
Taxi-man: Do you have a husband?
Me: No, I do not
Taxi-man: You don't have husband?! Do you want a Senegalese husband?
(Thinking: You're going to ask me to be your wife when you have not even asked my name?)
Me: I am waiting because my Father has chosen one for me

That last reply is my golden ticket out of every "Do you have a husband?" situation. They are able to understand it, and tend to respect it, relating it to an arranged marriage. For my new friend, this was not enough to back down from his pursued goal. He spent the rest of the ride repeatedly asking if I had a fiance, with me repeatedly explaining. He asked for my phone number. Then asked when I was planning to invite him to my home and cook for him. Maybe he would understand silence, I thought. Wrong. He just kept talking. When we finally pulled up to my apartment, I had never been so happy to get out of a car.

Situation #2

In the same week, I was walking home and passed by several fruit, vegetable, and meat stands. These are typically run by the same people every day, and each time I pass they shout out a greeting to the white girl. I quickly reply and keep walking since it is not custom for a single woman to stop and chat with a man. A few months back, I learned that people speaking English, since it is extremely rare here, usually want something. I walked past the men, ready to give my normal reply and continue on my way. Until my ears perked up when I heard someone say, "How are you?" in English. I did not reply and kept walking. Apparently, this guy knew the answer for me because the next words out of his mouth were, "Fine huh. I love you." I desperately wanted to turn around and yell that he did not love me and to leave me alone. Instead, I took a deep breath, found the patience, and kept walking.

Cases like these happen all the time. Partially because they see me and think being white = money and trip to America. In general, there is little value on women. I don't know how Senegalese women here endure it. In the eyes of men, they are good for cooking, cleaning, and raising children. Nothing else. And they work dawn to dusk doing those very things. It's a tough life and it makes me pray all the more for them.    

A new normal

When you live in Africa, there are certain things that become a part of your everyday life or your "new normal". I forget the strangeness of the things I do or see until I am talking with a friend back in the States. I can be in the middle of telling a story when they bust out laughing and I don't understand why. A typical phone conversation is spent with these thoughts running through my head, "Why are you laughing at the sound of a goat outside my window? Of course there are days of the week and months in Africa! Did you really just ask me if the dirt here is sparklier?" Then I am reminded of the fact that I live in a foreign country. This place, along with its customs and culture, have been adopted as my own. But it is still foreign to everyone else.

Here's a look into my life. You know you live in Africa when....

• You check your glass and pull out any unwanted bugs before taking a drink
• You and your roommate have a time of singing and dancing when the power comes back on
• A car speeds an inch past you and you don't even blink
• A day is not complete without at least one marriage proposal
• You drive beside the road, instead of on it, to avoid the potholes
• You frown when you see a skirt tied the wrong way and wonder what village they came from
• You acquire a selective hearing and learn to ignore the sounds of men and vendors hissing at you as you walk by
• You see another toubaab (white person) and automatically stare at them like an animal in a zoo wondering where they came from and what their purpose is here
• You set the milk on top of the fridge instead of in it. And no, it will not spoil
• You are surprised when lunch is served at 2:00. It's early today! 
• You answer yes or no by clicking with your tongue once or twice 
• Laundry is an all day event. Washing, hanging to dry, then ironing every piece to kill potential mango worms (had that experience and it's not fun)
• The best place to sleep at night is on a foam mat on the rooftop beneath the stars
• Never eat with your left hand
• Never ask a newborn baby's name, until the naming ceremony has been completed a week later
• Food is the usual topic of conversation. When Americans gather together you can ooo and ahh in amazement for hours over something other than the usual rice and fish. We've been told by visitors that we're boring....
• Get ready to bust out dancing in church!
• You begin to lose your sense of time and have trouble keeping track of the days of the week
• If at first someone does not understand, go through a list of about 5 other languages to see which one they speak
• While riding in a taxi, you pray that you will make it to your next destination. The duck tape on the windows, the door flying open, and the broken gas gauge are questionable. 
• You've got the bargaining skills down!
• You must accept the fact that you will be late every where you go because of traffic or some kind of cattle blocking the road
• You must always be prepared for a transportation strike or food shortage of some kind
• Food always taste better when you've walked a long distance to buy it 
• Sermons always sound better when sitting on a wooden bench squished next to others

I Spent Christmas Down in Africa

 Joyeux Noel! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year! This was my first year being away from home during the holidays, so it was different in every way. I missed my family, but I was reminded of this verse:

"I the LORD do not change." -Malachi 3:6

No matter how many things around me had changed.....God did not. He remained the same. The true reason for celebrating will exist no matter where you are. The gift of His son is for each of us, black or white, rich or poor, man or woman, and there's no right or wrong way to celebrate that. Sadly, very few here even know what the meaning of Christmas is. Senegalese like to take every holiday known to man....no joke. You get used to stores and businesses being closed often. So did they pass up this Christian holiday? No way! It was another reason to take off work. I found it interesting to walk out of a store with my groceries and someone tell me, "Am bon fet" (have a good celebration). Occasionally, someone knew it was called Noel while others called it the party of the 25th. This opened up many opportunities to share the story.

Here's how my Christmas day went: I woke up early that morning and made pancakes while listening to Christmas music. I was very thankful for a family whom I have known for several years that adopted me for the day. After church, I returned to their house where I was given a tasty home cooked meal, a movie night, and lots of laughs. It was lovely! An added highlight to the day was getting to skype with my family and do a video call. It was the first time I had seen my mom's face since I've moved here. Gotta love technology.
This Christmas may not have been filled with brightly lit streets, decorations, ice skating, Christmas trees, and bustling malls (some of which I missed, but some of which was nice to not be consumed by the busyness). But here is a glimpse of a few ways that we got into the Christmas spirit.

Christmas caroling through the villages. It's just like a sleigh ride right? Minus the snow

  

Lights in downtown Dakar. Very impressive!!

Gifts sent from my family

Who wouldn't love going to the beach on Christmas day? Don't even have to take a jacket!

New year's eve. Yes, it was freezinggg!! Okay, maybe it was only in the 70's, but our African blood isn't used to that