I've been home for almost two weeks and every time I think about sitting down to write my last blog about Senegal I haven't been able to. I think for me saying that I'm back in the states puts a bit of finality on everything. I can't believe this thing I've been praying and preparing for over a year and a half has already come and gone. It's an amazing feeling to see something so divinely appointed by God end. It's a very rewarding.
Being back in America has been a challenge. The first week, I hid out in my parents house just trying to catch my breath. The culture is something so completely different I was really struggling to get my barrings. I've heard my whole life that America is just as much a mission field as anywhere else but I never fully understood what that meant until now. I'm having the same sense of overwhelming emotions I had when I first arrived at Senegal. I just look around and once again I see so much need. The prayer is now that God would direct me to see where I fit in His plan to meet the need.
I've had lots of folks ask me if I'm planning on going back or if I want to continue with missions. I love missions. It really is a life changing experience and I wouldn't trade my summer (good and bad) for anything in the world. God spoke so much to me and I feel like I grew in ways I never expected. I feel like the Lord said something very clear to me as I was trying to figure out how I could finish school quickly, raise more money, and get back to Senegal before some of my friends I made go on furlough. I saw the picture when Jesus told the those criticizing the woman for breaking the bottle of perfume and washing His feet instead of selling it and giving the money to the poor. Just like the poor will always be there so will missions. I can always go back. The need will never go away but, there are somethings that are here that will not always be here and I want to glean from what I have and be filled with the gifts the Lord has laid before me now. Then. . . who knows? =)
I just want to thank you all so much for your prayers and support this summer. It made such a world of difference knowing I had so many behind me. Blessings to you all!
Au Revoir!
Jeanetta
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Bourifaye
I just spent ten days at my new favorite place in Senegal, Bourifaye Christian School. I left on the 29th and was very anxious about going at all. It was definitely a place that I would either love or hate and I was stuck there for 10 days regardless. The Lord, like he always is, was faithful. You'd think I'd stop getting surprised at this point.
A bit of a background on BCS, they have been in the location they are now for about 6 years (which is about 1 hour north of Dakar depending on traffic). They used to be in Southern Senegal but, when there was problems with the rebels and such they had to move. The school is filled with kids and staff from all over the world it's incredible. The school itself sits out in the middle of . . . mango fields and nothing else. There are a few villages near by.
I was so "fortunate" enough to get to BCS the night of the World Cup, Germany verses Spain. There were several Germans that are on staff and go to school at BCS and it was quiet an experience to watch this game with them.... actually it was kind of scary. Later, I found out that the Germans are very nice, even the ones that were screaming behind me.
I'm so glad that I got to go to BCS right at the end of term instead of the middle of the year. This way I got to see and help with the end of term production, and there was PLENTY to be done. I did everything from babysitting, paint sets, sew costumes, cook lunch for 65, proof read, and even managed to get a village visit in. It was great to get to know the kids throughout the week and then see them on stage and know better about who they are. They performed "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." For being such a small school it was fantastic!
I did get picked on relentlessly for they way I said water and cafeteria. I had dinner of at a couple's house who the father is Scottish and the mother is German, their daughter just stared at me all dinner and I thought she was going to start laughing. I finally asked her what was wrong and she said "you just say words so funny." By the end of the week I managed to say trousers instead of pants and football pitch instead of soccer field, that one was the hardest.
One of my favorite things about BCS is how diverse it is. I was sitting in a group of 7 people and there were 5 different countries represented. It was great during prayer time to have everyone pray in their own language. There were Germans, Scots, Brits, Brazilians, Portuguese, Koreans, Dutch, and even a few Americans. We were by far out numbered and it was GREAT! It really gave me a wider few of the body. God is moving an HUGE ways in all over the world. I sometimes forget how big God is. There are starting to be more missionaries sent out from Asia and Europe then England and America now. It was such a blessing to hear others stories about what God is doing in Portugal!
Some of the fun things I did while at BCS:
I fortunately managed to get out of refereeing a "football" game. I told Hieko that maybe it's not such a good idea to have an American woman who's only played about 6 games of soccer in her life referee.
Shopping in the vegetable market in Thies after it had just rained and praying that you didn't put your foot in the wrong place and go down in the mudslide.
Trying to explain to anyone who's not American what a pound cake is and then proceeding to make it 4x the recipe.
Lot's of new card games.
Getting over feeling old when called Auntie Jeanetta or Auntie J and suddenly sitting at a table full of woman and when we heard Auntie we all turn.
End of term pool party!
Falling in love with MK ministry.
Playing backstage runner for the production and getting to tell kids a million and one time "shhhh, be still, don't go on stage yet."
Getting to be a part of the baptisms on the beach.
Even though I was only there 10 days, I really had a hard time saying goodbye. Someone said to me while I was there "It's like you weren't really a visitor but a really short, short-timer." I was great to know that you can fit in to some places so easily. My friend Tracy, every moment she got, snuck in "Ya you like it here, so I'll see you in September." I tried to convince everyone that I had to finish my last year of "university." (My whole vocabulary is getting turned upside down).
I can honestly say that BCS has been one of my most favorite things I've done. I meet so many people that I can call my friends now. One thing a friend said to me was that as a missionary you are constantly saying goodbye to people. You could eventually get hard to that and begin closing off, except you would miss the incredible moments the Lord gives you to share in someone else's life. If I never see them again I'll just look forward to having a party with them in Heaven and am grateful for what they spoke into my life for that short time.
I'm winding down over here and starting to have my first few rounds of goodbyes. It's all been worth it!
A bit of a background on BCS, they have been in the location they are now for about 6 years (which is about 1 hour north of Dakar depending on traffic). They used to be in Southern Senegal but, when there was problems with the rebels and such they had to move. The school is filled with kids and staff from all over the world it's incredible. The school itself sits out in the middle of . . . mango fields and nothing else. There are a few villages near by.
I was so "fortunate" enough to get to BCS the night of the World Cup, Germany verses Spain. There were several Germans that are on staff and go to school at BCS and it was quiet an experience to watch this game with them.... actually it was kind of scary. Later, I found out that the Germans are very nice, even the ones that were screaming behind me.
I'm so glad that I got to go to BCS right at the end of term instead of the middle of the year. This way I got to see and help with the end of term production, and there was PLENTY to be done. I did everything from babysitting, paint sets, sew costumes, cook lunch for 65, proof read, and even managed to get a village visit in. It was great to get to know the kids throughout the week and then see them on stage and know better about who they are. They performed "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." For being such a small school it was fantastic!
I did get picked on relentlessly for they way I said water and cafeteria. I had dinner of at a couple's house who the father is Scottish and the mother is German, their daughter just stared at me all dinner and I thought she was going to start laughing. I finally asked her what was wrong and she said "you just say words so funny." By the end of the week I managed to say trousers instead of pants and football pitch instead of soccer field, that one was the hardest.
One of my favorite things about BCS is how diverse it is. I was sitting in a group of 7 people and there were 5 different countries represented. It was great during prayer time to have everyone pray in their own language. There were Germans, Scots, Brits, Brazilians, Portuguese, Koreans, Dutch, and even a few Americans. We were by far out numbered and it was GREAT! It really gave me a wider few of the body. God is moving an HUGE ways in all over the world. I sometimes forget how big God is. There are starting to be more missionaries sent out from Asia and Europe then England and America now. It was such a blessing to hear others stories about what God is doing in Portugal!
Some of the fun things I did while at BCS:
I fortunately managed to get out of refereeing a "football" game. I told Hieko that maybe it's not such a good idea to have an American woman who's only played about 6 games of soccer in her life referee.
Shopping in the vegetable market in Thies after it had just rained and praying that you didn't put your foot in the wrong place and go down in the mudslide.
Trying to explain to anyone who's not American what a pound cake is and then proceeding to make it 4x the recipe.
Lot's of new card games.
Getting over feeling old when called Auntie Jeanetta or Auntie J and suddenly sitting at a table full of woman and when we heard Auntie we all turn.
End of term pool party!
Falling in love with MK ministry.
Playing backstage runner for the production and getting to tell kids a million and one time "shhhh, be still, don't go on stage yet."
Getting to be a part of the baptisms on the beach.
Even though I was only there 10 days, I really had a hard time saying goodbye. Someone said to me while I was there "It's like you weren't really a visitor but a really short, short-timer." I was great to know that you can fit in to some places so easily. My friend Tracy, every moment she got, snuck in "Ya you like it here, so I'll see you in September." I tried to convince everyone that I had to finish my last year of "university." (My whole vocabulary is getting turned upside down).
I can honestly say that BCS has been one of my most favorite things I've done. I meet so many people that I can call my friends now. One thing a friend said to me was that as a missionary you are constantly saying goodbye to people. You could eventually get hard to that and begin closing off, except you would miss the incredible moments the Lord gives you to share in someone else's life. If I never see them again I'll just look forward to having a party with them in Heaven and am grateful for what they spoke into my life for that short time.
I'm winding down over here and starting to have my first few rounds of goodbyes. It's all been worth it!
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