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 Continue reading Happy New Year! 2012!!
All posts by Janie
Christmas Greetings!
Can you believe it is Christmas again already? We spend so long thinking and wishing, and then when it is upon us wonder how it came so fast! So now, before all the rush of activity sweeps me away, I wanted to pause and send YOU my personal greetings for this festive season of the year! Our Kaffrine Bible Kids have been looking at Christmas from a different perspective – that of God’s eternal plan that purposefully included the manger and the cross. We are overcome with wonder and awe at the depth and height of love that would go to such lengths for us. I pray that same wonder will engulf you this Christmas season.
Our Kaffrine Team had our Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 20, and the Kaffrine Bible Kids presented their Christmas play.
Our team gathered in our living room for Carols, prayer and fellowship 
- Emma was Mary, Wheaton was our Shepherd AND Wise Person
We are excited to have this opportunity to share in a fun way what we have learned about Christmas. Our family will traveled from Kaffrine to Kébémer on December 21 to celebrate Corey’s and Emma’s birthdays and to have Christmas with good friends there. We should return to Kaffrine in about a week.
After so many years of relative political tranquility several things of note are possible in the near future and I wanted to have your especial prayer support for us and Senegal during this time. First, it is strongly rumored that the currency here will be devalued to about half its present worth at the beginning of January. More significantly, while I very imperfectly comprehend the situation, what I do understand is that 12 years ago, Abdoulaye Wade was elected President of Senegal. He is currently 85 years old and completing his second term of office with elections scheduled for February 2012. In 2001 a new constitution was adopted and amended in 2008 creating questions as to whether President Wade could or could not run for President a third time. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on this question late in January. Wade’s popularity is not universal and there is significant opposition to his running for a third term. Because of this, there is the potential for significant unrest, including demonstrations and the possibility of some outbreak of violence over this court ruling and election. Please pray for peace and political stability throughout this upcoming period.
There is a SIM meeting in Dakar scheduled for the middle of January which Corey and Katie need to attend. Since Emma is turning TEN in December, her passport will expire! She will go with Corey and Katie on this trip to renew her passport. Molly, Wheaton and I will remain in Kaffrine.
As if all this were not enough, my residence permit will expire the end of December. We now have an office in Kaffrine to handle this paperwork and do not anticipate any problems, but the busy-ness of the season could make the timing of obtaining it tricky, especially since we are traveling.
While we do not expect any difficulty during this time, everything is uncertain. We are aware of the potentialities and are taking prudent steps to prepare ourselves for any difficulties, but also covet your prayers for peaceful politics particularly over the next several months. How thankful we are that we are reminded at this Christmas season that our God is in control and we do not need to worry.
Resting in His Peace and Joy
Janie
Prayer Concerns:
- All our plans for Christmas program and travel would go well, safe travel to and from Kébémer.
- Smooth processing of my Residence Permit
- Stability in the currency and finances for the Senegalese people
- Peaceful reception of the Court ruling in 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
October to November 2011
Ngente
We had some excitement here the middle of September. One of the ladies in Katie and Corey’s village household had a baby. Katie helped her get to the hospital and wade through some of the procedural requirements. When it came time for them to name the baby girl, they named her after Katie! This is a big honor, and we were all touched by this evidence of affection. Pictures of the day are in the current slide show here.
Wolof Camp
Wolof Camp was a great success! Thanks for all the prayers. Leadership from the youth in Kaffrine was excellent. Speakers from within the Wolof church gave tremendous presentations. Facilities were in good repair and there were no accidents and no break-ins. 25% more kids attended this year than last! Please see the September 24 posting on http://garrett.with.sim.org/prayer for a detailed report of all that was accomplished at this camp.
Pastor’s Book Sets
Three hundred pastors and church leaders from all over Senegal received two cartons of study aids at a conference in Dakar the 25th to the 28th of October. A report and video about this special event can be seen on the November 4 posting on http://garrett.with.sim.org/prayer .
Eid / Tabaski
Tabaski was a pleasant time of relaxing and visiting with friends and neighbors. Corey and Katie each had an opportunity to share the Gospel message. All in our Kaffrine team were blessed by loving interactions with villagers. We continue to pray for additional opportunities to spread the life-giving message.
Farm Crop
Corey reports the results with his zai-holes with red peppers had a significant difference in the yield and size of the peppers he grew in comparison with his host’s plants right next to Corey’s in their joint, fenced house garden. The final result for his corn field is still uncertain until the crops are weighed, but it appears that the kernels are larger and fuller.
Our School Day
We are one third of the way through this school year! We are figuring out how to do school with three levels and have discovered the world does NOT end if everything on the list doesn’t get done every day! Currently we are a few weeks behind on science and trying to catch up. At the same time, we are getting excited about Christmas coming.
Ladies’ Retreat
Last weekend, Katie and I went with a carload of other missionary women to the annual Women’s Retreat near the coast. Corey stayed with the girls, and another husband brought his boys to spend the weekend with Corey in Kaffrine. They all went out to the village while we were being refreshed at the retreat. It was a real blessing to be among almost 200 English-speaking missionary women serving in a wide variety of organizations with the many people groups around Senegal and other nearby countries. We were encouraged by an able speaker whose message revolved around different aspects of God’s Promises.
Christmas
We have exciting plans for Christmas already! Our family will be spending the holiday with not one but possibly two other missionary families with children. We also have Christmas secrets in the works . . . ssshhhhh!
Girl Talk
When asked if they had anything to say in this newsletter, they responded with the following.
Emma: ‘Grandma Janie makes things that otherwise would be boring very fun.’
Molly: ‘You are supporting the right person!’
Kaffrine FAQs
What do they grow in Senegal? The main crops people grow are peanuts, millet, corn, and sorghum. There is also some attempt being made to cultivate rice and cotton. Many also grow some tomatoes, okra, beans, watermelon, mangoes and pumpkin. But we have a short rainy season – for most of the year growing anything is extremely difficult. On the coast there is a great fishing industry which supplies the whole country with their daily fish for lunch.
What the heck is millet used for? We eat it! It takes a lot of work to get it edible (pounding, grinding, steaming, etc.), but in the end, it is kind of like a dry couscous and is the staple grain of Senegal traditionally.
What does a typical villager make a year when there is a decent crop? This is almost impossible to estimate because it depends on the family size and how much land they have and what they grow each year, etc. But 77% of the population are farmers and the GDP per capita is $1,900 U.S. 54% of the population are below the poverty line which places Senegal 192nd out of 228 countries in the world according to the CIA World FactBook website.
Do you wonder about Senegal or Kaffrine or what we are doing here? Send your questions and I’ll do my best to find an answer for you!
Prayer Points
v Please continue to pray for our school-day schedule, that all the educational concerns can be attended to for all three girls.
v Please keep praying for continued health for us all.
v Pray for continuing increase in my grasp of Wolof, I’m still struggling with this.
v Pray for many opportunities for Corey and Katie to speak the Gospel in the village and for people to be receptive to the freeing truth.
v Pray for us all as Corey and Katie travel to Dakar this weekend leaving the girls and me at home in Kaffrine. Pray safe travel going and coming, and a good and enjoyable time for us here at home.
v Pray for our Christmas preparations, that we would not lose sight of Jesus’ Birth in the excitement of gifts and visiting with friends.
Pictures of our activities in October are here.
Thanks so much for your continued support and prayers!
Blessings,
Janie
August to September 2011
Summer
Summer is over! Corey and Katie and the girls had a great time in the Casamance with their friends. My anticipated quiet week at home was transformed by a couple who had planned to stay in a village near Kaffrine and practice their Wolof. Thankfully I was here to host them when living in the village didn’t work with an 8 month old! I DIDN’T get some of the things done that I had hoped, but I DID get to know this lovely family better! And I DID get the bulk of my school year planning done. The girls have had endless projects for us to do, and I find my room is frequently crowded with all the girls sewing, reading and playing games all at the same time. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!
September!
September is here, and school is in full swing! We started school August 16 in order to get done before we leave for the United States next June. We are in Week 4 and still figuring out how to get the work for all three grades done in a day! Corey does our Bible and devotional reading right after breakfast, and Katie does our ‘Read Alouds’ and listens as Molly and Wheaton read their readers. Read Alouds are quality Children’s Literature that relate to the girl’s history topics most of the time. It is nice to have Wheaton with us all day since she is no longer going to French School.
Wolof Youth Camp
We had Pre-Camp Day in Kaffrine this week. All prospective campers and their parents are invited to this event to experience a sampling of what to expect, provide an opportunity for parents to sign permission slips and pay the minimal camp fees, and ask questions. Camp is in less than two weeks! Art and craft supplies were sent by a supporting church in Connecticut, USA and Senegalese youth who have attended camp previously have stepped up to take leadership this year and worked together as a team to bring the event to a successful conclusion. There is still a need for confirmed speakers for the teaching sessions.
More information about the youth camp and the meeting this week is online here
My Car
At present, I have loaned my car to a missionary family that needs a car and doesn’t have one. The heat here is not good for a car to sit in, and without a driving license, I can’t drive it. So, they are driving it in Dakar and I am now the proud rider of a moped the mission keeps for interns. If and when I need my car, I will have to go to the USA to get a new license.
Bible Study
We have become acquainted with two young men from Korea who are in Kaffrine as volunteers (similar to American Peace Corps). Sun Yung is a new Christian, and NJ grew up in a Christian home. Both are interested in learning more about the Bible so I am meeting with them on Fridays and Mondays to learn more about God’s Word together. They also join us on Tuesdays for our team prayer meeting.
The SIM team in Kaffrine meets on Thursday afternoons for business. I have started a Bible Club for the 7 kids (aged 6 to 10) whose parents are in the meeting. We have an hour of Bible, snack time, do a craft of some sort, and then they play till the parents are done. We learn about the books of the Bible, race against one another with Bible Drills, and giggle a lot.
Some Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Senegal
Do they slaughter animals in the marketplace? Every family kills chickens, ducks, sheep or goats at home on special occasions. Sometimes a cow will be shared by several families. Meat can also be purchased in the market by the kilo (there is no refrigeration though!)
Are they vegetarian at all? Most families can’t afford to eat meat except on special occasions (Muslim holidays, weddings, births, special guests). The standard lunch is rice with a couple of fish and whatever vegetables are available eaten out of one big bowl shared by 5 to 10 people. In the village, dinner and breakfast are millet/sorghum/corn with peanut sauce with leaves or pumpkin or beans. In towns and cities people have bread for breakfast and more variety in their diet.
How do people eat if the harvest is weak or decimated by locusts or weather? It is not uncommon for a family to get down to eating one meal a day during lean times. This might be just plain rice if times are hard. They are also vulnerable during bad farming years to lenders who charge 100% interest on loans; many get themselves deeply in debt.
What else besides insects endanger the crops there? The rains are decreasing annually and the Sahara desert is encroaching further south each year. The people use wood for cooking so the land has been sadly deforested which is damaging the environment. There is also a fungus which grows on all peanuts and which has been linked with liver cancer (and which more developed countries eliminate through a regulated process) and which Senegal is not in a position to deal with, making all our peanuts ineligible for export. The government used to have export contracts which enabled them to buy peanuts from the small farmers for export; without this they are no longer able to pay farmers a decent price for their crops.
Prayer Points
* Please pray that we would find our schedule stride so I can attend to everything that the girls need to learn well
* Corey has a field in the village where he is trying a new farming method. Please pray that the rains would be just right for a bountiful harvest, and the villagers would see and benefit from this experiment.
* Pray for a successful Wolof Youth Camp September 19-23.
* Pray for my time at home when the others are at camp that I would have good renewal time and be refreshed.
Pictures of our activities in August and September are here.