I am sitting here with my glasses on, counting the minutes till I go to have cataract surgery on my left eye – the worst one, and looking forward to getting rid of these broken glasses I have wired together with jewelry wire!

While I am waiting, I thought it would help distract me to update you on what is happening here.  First of all, HERE is West Simsbury, a small suburb west of Hartford, Connecticut.  We are living in the home of a long time family friend of Katie’s.  It is a snug mountain cabin nestled in the hilly woods 4 miles from stores and town.  I hear the acorns falling on the roof and rolling off, hear the stream at the bottom of the hill as a constant tune and see trees out every window.  Our closest neighbor is down the hill and across the stream through the trees.  It is such a steep hill we have to go down the road and up their drive to get to them.  We haven’t done that yet, but I hope to soon.

The girls are happily registered at school and love their teachers and classmates.  No, I am not jealous; they know this is for one year and look forward to being back in school with me in Senegal.  They are enjoying this year with friends and extra activities.  Emma has joined the middle school soccer team and is the starting goalie!  Molly and Wheaton are waiting for AWANA to start in October.  Corey is driving the morning school bus (there is no afternoon route) and Katie is in charge of the After School program every day.  We are in the first weeks of school and I can see a schedule developing for school days.

Just because I am not teaching this year doesn’t mean I’m not busy!  My JOB in Senegal is to teach the girls.  My JOB in the USA is to work with SIM USA under the direction of the SIM Northeast Regional Director, Stephen Vannah.

There are two big projects I am working on.  The first one is to follow up with folks in the USA who have started the application process with SIM USA for possible service but have been lost track of for a variety of reasons.  I am finding these people in the database, locating current contact info and calling and/or emailing them to discover where they are now and how SIM can be of further service to them.  I have already made some interesting contacts and been able to rejoice with folks over how God has led them in their lives.

The second project is to update SIM’s database of church information across the country.  I am updating or adding information including addresses, phone numbers, web sites, names of current pastors and missions directors, phone numbers and email addresses.  This updated information will help to improve connections between SIM and their supporting churches.  It is fun to learn about so many lively and active churches all over the country!  I am excited to be part of this valuable project helping those in the SIM USA office work more efficiently.

As you know, when in Senegal, I need financial support to pay my bills.  What you might not know is that for my work in the USA, I still need the same financial support to pay my bills!  In BOTH places, I am actively serving in missions!

When I was in Abu Dhabi in April, many people presented me with one-time financial gifts.  I am blessed and thank you all for your support.  I am still praying for the remaining funds I will need to continue serving in missions for these next three years!  Right now, I have 35% of my needed monthly income promised or in hand.  I still need 65% or $1,695 (6200Dh) per month for the next three years.  Please prayerfully join me in presenting this need to God.

 

Prayer Points

• Praise God for successful surgery on my left eye, pray for the surgery for my right eye on Wednesday.  On the right you can see me with one glass on my “old” right eye and no glass on my “new” left eye>>>>>
• Praise Him for the interesting and useful work I am doing with SIM USA that I enjoy.
• Praise the Lord for a lovely church community; pray that I will find a place of service that will benefit the church and use my particular gifts.
• Pray for a road trip to the Midwest that Corey, Katie and the girls will take from 28 September to 15 October.  They will be meeting with a number of friends and supporters in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Iowa.
• Praise God for good friends who will come and visit me while the family is gone on their trip.
• There is a new couple strongly considering joining our Kaffrine team long-term. The husband will be visiting Kaffrine this week; please pray for a great visit and for the Lord to guide and provide for this family. We are continually praying for more workers among the unreached but wide open Wolof people!