I have been in Kaffrine for three weeks!  Much has happened.

I have a car, and have been able to navigate to our teammates’ homes and back again without getting lost.  When we drove the car to Kaffrine from Dakar, the “check engine” light came on and so Corey spent a good bit of time finding out what was wrong and having the engine rebuilt.  It runs quite nicely now, but the light is still on.  The mechanic said the engine just needs to be “broken in” and the light will go off.

I have started Wolof class!  Since virtually no one outside the missionary team speaks English, Wolof is necessary to be able to shop in town, and even to have a conversation with any of the neighbors.  I have a tutor that comes to me for 2 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks.  That doesn’t sound too terrible, but it is draining to concentrate so hard on learning a new language with lots of unfamiliar sounds.  I have worked to make flashcards to use with the girls so they can drill me in the words and phrases.  We are also playing Go Fish in Wolof with cards with colors and numbers.  It is humbling to be the least informed when trying to play this game with little girls!

Corey and Katie and the girls go out to the village for the weekend – Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon – leaving me alone in the house.  That means that I need to learn to cook in an unfamiliar kitchen (not too hard) and also do all the house management to keep the house cool during the day.  Windows are open for the night so the cooler air (mid 70’s to mid 80’s) can blow through the house.  Then in the morning, watch the thermometer for the outside and inside temperature to reach the same point and close all the windows for the day.  This traps the cooler air in the house, making it as much as 10 degrees cooler inside than outside.  Yesterday it was 97F(36C) outside and 85F(29C) inside.

Another thing I am learning is how to turn on the generator when the electricity goes out.  Many times it is out for hours.  If it is out for 6 to 7 hours, the food in the refrigerator and freezer can go bad.  So I am learning the process of turning things off and on and starting up and turning off the generator when the power goes off and comes back on again.

I am also going through a program of SIM orientation with reading and homework assignments!  This is a six-week process.  It is very helpful, but takes time to do my assignments.

I am adjusting to the heat and learning to sweat gracefully. I am also learning that the afternoon rest is not only acceptable, but a requirement!  Fortunately, the whole family takes a rest break.  I am really enjoying being with the family and having a good time with each of the girls.  I have not started the first thing for the school year, and have been encouraged not to, yet!  It is a real relief to me to be able to concentrate on the Wolof and orientation and adjustment without having to add school to the list.

We have tried to plan a weekend with the two older girls (12 years old) from the missionary families but have had to cancel twice due to sicknesses.  Instead, one weekend 7-year old Molly was able to spend one night with me while the rest of the Garretts were in the village and we did some fun things!  I am looking forward to individual weekend time with the other missionary kids as well as each of my own three girls.

I shipped items from my Far East trip that still have not arrived.  Also, the shipment of my goods from Abu Dhabi now is scheduled to arrive only at the end of August.

Prayers and Praises

I have made it through so far and am persevering!   Please continue to pray for my adjustment.

Praise for my cute little car!  Pray that the engine problems will be solved and that the light will go out without any more expense.

Praise for a good Wolof tutor and good progress so far.  Please pray for continued learning over the next weeks.

Praise for the many days electricity has been in operation.  Praise for the generator starting when I have needed to start it.  Please pray for continued steady electric power.

Please pray for the packages and shipment that still have not arrived, that they will all arrive intact.

It is finally happening!  I am on my way to Senegal!  Packed and at the airport with one flight completed and three more to go before I get there!  Please pray that all my luggage makes it through these flights and everything makes it intact!  Also pray for the arrival and settling in process over the next weeks.

Please pray for the details for a car for me to drive.  Corey has found a 2000 Toyota he thinks is a good buy.  I have the money to pay for it.  The owner is ready to sell it.  The problem is the logistics of getting the funds from Abu Dhabi to the USA SIM office.  Please pray that the personnel in Abu Dhabi will be able to wire the money successfully to the right place.  This is the first time money is being transferred.  Please pray that the personnel in the SIM USA office will be looking in the right place for the money to be deposited.  And please pray that it will be in a timely manner that the sale will go through and the owner will wait till these details are handled.

Abu Dhabi is behind and the Pacific is ahead!  Literally!  I have been granted the amazing privilege to travel to China to visit the Chinese brothers and sisters who used to come and study the Word with me in Abu Dhabi.  Two weeks to visit all!  I have been to Shenzhen, Weifang, Xu Zhou, Beijing and back to Shenzhen, and off to the countryside for another visit this afternoon.  Praise for good meetings and fellowship that was encouraging to all.  I travel on Monday to good friends from Abu Dhabi in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Please pray for a good visit with these people also.