We had a lovely time celebrating Corey’s and Emma’s birthdays and Christmas in Kébémer from December 21 to 27 with three other families and another home school teacher.  It was so good to be with likeminded souls and to combine all our Christmas traditions!  We returned filled with the contentment of good fellowship and companionship.

We are slowly readjusting ourselves back to the ‘regular’ routine.  Each day continues to be full and unpredictable, so things are never truly regular!  Jaël, a short-term Swiss volunteer from a few years back has come for a vacation visit.  It is fun getting to know her since the girls always speak so lovingly of her and the time she was here.

Wheaton has been quite ill, but thankfully is recovered and just finishing up those important antibiotics.  Apparently she was worn down by a long lasting bronchial infection when she must have been exposed to some allergen that sparked an asthma-type attack.  An emergency 45-minute trip to Kaolack, the closest town with a pediatrician, got the relief of 4 or 5 different medications and she has slowly but surely recovered to her bubbly energetic self.  We are now back to telling her to calm down, but are inwardly still celebrating her exuberance in the light of her recent illness.  Thanks so much for the prayers many of you lifted to the Father on her behalf.

We have just heard of a fire that has destroyed part of one of the villages Corey and Katie worked in for about five years.  They are going out to see what they can do in the way of disaster relief this morning.  Please pray that through this help, the gospel will break through to these dear people.

So far, the rumored currency devaluation has not materialized.  Hopefully it will remain stable throughout the election and establishment of the new administration.

Please pray for the upcoming Presidential elections in Senegal. The following are dates for which you can be praying specifically:

January 27: The Constitutional Council will rule on whether President Wade can run for office again.

February 6: Campaigning officially begins

February 26: First round of voting

Pray for wisdom as our SIM team takes necessary steps to prepare for possible unrest in these days.

Corey, Katie and Emma went to Dakar January 15-19, leaving Molly and Wheaton with me in Kaffrine.  Corey and Katie attended an SIM meeting and Emma got her passport renewed.

Thankfully my residence permit has been renewed until June.  There is a new office here in Kaffrine and the process was quite pleasant.

As amazing as it seems, my two years is almost complete.  Because of this, I am excited to be planning to see you all in April.  I look forward to seeing good friends, and to meeting some new ones!  I want to see as many of you as possible, so please get in touch with me to make some plans for getting together!

So what comes next?  Corey and Katie have graciously invited me to come with them to the United States for this year of Home Assignment to continue to be a supportive presence in their home.  They have invited me to return to Senegal with them for a second two-year term from 2013 to 2015.  This is a highly unusual situation with SIM USA since Short Term Associates do not usually spend so long a time on Home Assignment and then return to the field in this way.  The SIM USA office is carefully and prayerfully working on possibilities that would allow me to remain on Active status so I can retain my medical insurance and possibly receive support donations during this stay in the United States.  During this time I will be looking to raise support for my next term.  We will be based in Connecticut where Corey and Katie’s home church is but we will need to find a place to live there, etc.  Please pray with us for these arrangements to work out.

As always, pictures on the home page of our preChristmas and Christmas activities!

Pilgriming ,

Janie

Items for Prayer:

• Praise for the smooth processing of my Residence Permit
• Gospel opportunities for relief activities in the village with the recent fire
• Continued stability in the currency for the Senegalese people
• Peaceful reception of the Court ruling in late January
• Orderly elections in February and smooth transition of government to the new administration
• Safe, uneventful January trip to Dakar for Corey, Katie and Emma, and the swift processing of Emma’s new passport
• Plans for my trip to Abu Dhabi
• Plans for travel to the United States
• Plans with SIMUSA for our Home Assignment time
• Support Team for the next three years