Welcome to the hub for updates and prayer request from the team in Senegal.
The Senegal Missions Team is now officially on their way! Thank you all for your prayers and support to make this happen. Please pray:
- that their flights and connections all go well.
- that God would give peace to those travelling and to the family members back home.
- that they would be able to sleep on the flights so that they can be rested for the day ahead when they arrive in Dakar.
- for Pastor Cody who is dealing with the stomach flu, and for the rest of the team to stay healthy.
Somebody asked me what my first impression was: different. We arrived in Senegal at about 8:45 this morning and right away, we noticed differences with Canada. Driving down the highway into Dakar to Keith and Melanie’s house, we saw that the structured rules of the road are a little “looser” in Senegal. You certainly need to pay attention when you are driving 110 km/h down the highway.
Something that we have learned already comes from Keith and Melanie themselves. They tell us how much of a blessing it is to them to have us come and visit. Many international workers go four years and never get visitors from back home.
We are praising God because the puking pastor never puked after leaving Saskatoon. Pastor Cody started to feel better as the first day went on and by the time we arrived in Senegal, he was back to his normal self.
We would like you to continue to pray for us as we adjust to the difference between Canada and Senegal. The culture is different; the language is different. Also, the power is unstable. We would ask that you pray that the power fluctuations would not cause us any difficulties.
Sincerely Jim Buss & Team
The team got to try their French speaking and bartering skills today! Since we were by the coast the fish market had many different large fish, crab and even squid for sale. Outside the fish market was other vendor with different wares. Walking through the market, we were struck by how different the shopping experience between Canada and Senegal really is. But the team was successful (with the help of Keith, Melanie and the kids) in purchasing items from vendors despite the language barrier.
We are thankful for God’s protection over us as we travelled as a group to the market. No one was lost or hurt, and we were able to experience the city of Dakar together. Praise that we are all experiencing good health and feel rested from travelling the day before.
Please continue to pray for us as we grow together as a team, learning what it means to support our missionary partners in their field and opening our hearts to know when we hear God speaking and teaching us throughout this trip.
From Mikayla & Team
Today was our Sabbath day, we were thankful to slow down and focus on worship and rest. The Haensel family led us to an international church service that happened on one of the Dakar Academy campuses. It was encouraging to worship with believers from many different countries and to experience unity in faith even with our different backgrounds.
The worship was wonderful and especially meaningful. The worship songs were led by a very talented bass player, creating a powerful atmosphere of praise. We heard a strong message from Pastor Ray. His preaching gave a lot of our team members a detailed description on marriage roles and his fresh perspective of the story of Adam and Eve really stood out to me and challenged us to think more deeply about God’s design and grace.
At the service, we had the opportunity to meet missionaries from different countries. Through the IW’s we were reminded that God is working powerfully in Senegal and that the missionaries here are faithfully and effectively serving Him. At the same time, we recognized that Senegal still needs more people, prayer, and support.
Following the service, we went to a beautiful location overlooking the ocean and shared lunch with Pastor Ray and his wife, Kathy. During this time, we talked about how churches operate in Senegal and the challenges they face. We learned a great deal from these conversations and were reminded of how important prayer and encouragement are for those serving here for a long-term. We are praising God for this Sabbath day of rest, fellowship, spiritual growth. Please pray for safety as we travel outside of Dakar to the land where we will do some work.
From Eddie & Team
Today we worked on a project very close to my heart. We were able to treat crop residues with some alkali compounds to see if they can improve feed quality for cattle. After treatment, they will be sent to a lab for testing to confirm whether the procedure worked. This technique is something I studied during my undergraduate thesis and into my Master’s, and I am well versed in the procedures. To say today was a great day is an understatement. It was amazing to get to apply my degree in a practical sense, especially applying it in a missional sense.
Keith and I have some big dreams for the future phases of this project, and I’m so looking forward to seeing what God does with it. Eventually, we hope to be able to train Fulani cattlemen in these procedures so that they can improve the quality of life of their cattle, and in turn, their own quality of life. But the biggest piece of all this is the desire to use these techniques as a tool for evangelism. We believe this could be the start of something amazing! Throughout the last 3 years, God has been putting the pieces together for this project, and today was a day I have been waiting to experience for many months. I am so grateful that God is a master planner, and that He pulls people together in ways we could never even dream of! Thank you for your prayers and support – we are so excited to share with you when we get back. Please pray that the results of these treatments would be positive and allow us to move forward with our vision!
Casey & Team
Today we went to visit the Dakar Academy South and received a tour of the school. It was a beautiful campus and we got to listen to the principal (Nathan) share some of his views and experiences. Some conversations that particularly stood out to me were his experiences with missionary families and teaching philosophy’s between believers and nonbelievers in the school setting.
We then went to visit the Howell family (missionary family) for lunch in Thies. We got to chat with Gary and Sharon, and briefly their son Mike, who is also a missionary.
They shared many stories and background information about the Fulani people, the muslims, occult practices, and results from spiritual practices.
Although many of us started our day feeling more sluggish and tired, God has been faithful in giving us the energy we need. Something I have particularly enjoyed is our debrief’s as a team at the end of the day with Keith and Melanie (and sometimes the kids join as well). In this time we often get to hear more about Keith and Mel’s experiences, while also growing closer as a team through more personal sharing’s. We are able to share our thoughts and insights, and most importantly pray together. I find that this is where the growth truly happens while we unpack experiences and have time set aside to learn more.
Please continue to be praying for health and energy for our team, as well as our growth together as a team. Your prayers have been immense support and comfort for us, as we can see God protecting us and opening our eyes to the many things we hear and see. God is good!
Esther & team
Hello Church Family!
We would love to thank you all so much for your continued support of us through prayer as we continue our trip. We feel your prayers and greatly appreciate it!
Today we had the privilege of visiting the outreach center for the Talibe and street boys. This is a ministry to the boys in the city who are mostly orphans and do not have a place to live. The program runs from 10am to 2pm Tuesday through Saturday. There is a time of worship songs, free time for basketball and soccer, literacy and language classes then a shared lunch. Most of all it is a place where the children who have never experienced care and love to come and know they are always welcome and safe. It was a great time, hanging out with the kids speaking the universal language of sports, doing projects that the full time workers there needed help with and experiencing life with the kids. The coolest experience for me was sitting around a communal bowl and sharing a meal together. Today was very emotional, seeing the enormous need but also how God has been working brought a lot of mixed emotions. Today there was around 30-40 kids there and in Dakar there is an estimated 100,000 boys in the same position. This sort of ministry is so important and so impactful on the kids.
We also got to see the central campus for Dakar Academy and meet some teachers and see the campus culture and ministry opportunities that the school itself presents. After that we went to Keith and Melanie’s for supper, games and debrief and prayer time.
Ramadan started today and this is a time where there is a lot of spiritual warfare. It was also the day that a few team members had really bad nights and a few people started to feel sick. We as a team would greatly appreciate prayers of protection and healing.
Praise that the team has bonded really well and is a united group and prayer for that to continue would be a huge blessing for us as well.
Ryan & team
Today we drove to the Beer Sheba Agroecological Center, a Christian ministry centre that trains Africans from multiple countries in sustainable agricultural practices.
One of the workers told us the story of the land and it was clear to see how God blessed the patient efforts to transform the land and reach the neighbouring villages. The 100 hectares of terrain were modified to retain rainfall and new growth was trimmed and managed to create the green diverse space we see now, 20 years since the land was purchased. We got to look out from the top of the water tower, seeing the sharp contrast of green inside and brown outside.
Before the Beer Sheba project started, this land was avoided by local villages for being cursed and was particularly dry and desolate among the similarly dry sub-Saharan land. The founding missionary convinced the villages to sell him the land after he received a vision of a lush vibrant ecosystem to shine forth the news of living water.
We met some of the 100+ workers, most of whom are from the surrounding villages. It is an amazing project that has contributed so much economically to the area. They also raise cows, pigs, chickens, and goats and sell their products locally. We also toured the school they’ve set up on the grounds which now goes up to grade 5, with another classroom being added each year. Students learn oral French and written Serer, their local language.
We are thankful to God for the work being done at Beer Sheba and the encouraging opportunity to see it for ourselves. The amount of local people working in this Christian environment is amazing. Please pray that God would continue to reach local hearts through this organization.
Thank you for your prayers for healing! Some of our team members who weren’t feeling well yesterday are recovering. Also pray for our team to continue learning and continue pushing through the mid-day heat.
Sara & team.
Today we had coffee with an Alliance IW named Charles who lives in Dakar with his wife and kids. Charles and his wife have extensive missions experience, most recently at Dakar Academy. Currently, Charles is running a coffee shop in their yard and roasting coffee beans. This cafe is full of shade and plants, providing an oasis for IWs to use for a rest or for meetings besides being open to the general public. Employment and discipleship is provided to local Senegalese, with Bible studies a part of morning huddles. Charles has ideas for starting up Arabia coffee bean farming in the mountains of Guinea. His plans for economic relief and church expansion were exciting to hear.
Yesterday when the team visited Beer Sheba I was able to stay at the hospital to meet the local and visiting teams. I visited slowly through Google Translate with one of the Beer Sheba nurses named Paul, who just finished his nursing education in the nearby city of Mbour in December (as did I in Saskatoon this winter). He really enjoys working at the clinic especially with all the Christian coworkers. The clinic serves the neighbouring villages and Beer Sheba’s 100+ employees.
Then a visiting team of American physiotherapists arrived to see some local villagers at the clinic. I sat in on a 1-hour appointment with a child as the team translated from English to French to local Serer to assess and make a plan for the family.
I enjoyed seeing a bit of what healthcare can look like in West Africa, far removed from the resources and structures here in Canada. I also saw how one missionary’s intermediate French was enough to contribute greatly to the work at the clinic. Conversations about healthcare with people on this trip have helped me see a few brushstrokes of the big picture of short-to-long-term medical missions opportunities.
I am better understanding and appreciating the different roles of IWs. There are the long-term relationship builders that start, lead, and nurture a project. Then there are the short or long term workers that help enhance and sustain missions. Both are needed for continuity and vibrancy in the mission field.
We’re thankful for many great conversation with each other and our new acquaintances. We’re thankful for the Haensels hosting us and leading valuable discussions every day. Please pray for this learning to continue as we enjoy a fun day tomorrow at the Bandia Reserve, church on Sunday, and everything else in the mix before we come home next week.
Shawn & team
We have spent the last 8 days on the ground in Senegal. We have spent time with many International Workers and visited their various ministries, learning how God has called them here at this time and how God is using them. If you’ve been following along, you will have read about these ministries. We will come back and tell you all about what we have seen and heard and learned, but nothing can compare to being here and seeing and hearing and learning first-hand.
Being our second to last day here, we took the day to explore God’s African creation. We went on a safari to the Reserve de Bandia, a wildlife reserve in Senegal, where animals roam freely while you drive through the reserve in open air vehicles. We were able to observe native plants and trees and some of Africa’s best loved animals: African buffalo, antelope, giraffes, rhinoceros, ostriches, vultures, egrets, crocodiles, tortoises, zebras, warthogs, and monkeys! Ever seen The Lion King? We saw Pumba and Zazu.
For lunch, we ate at the reserve’s restaurant where the monkeys roam freely. You better not close your eyes when you pray for your food, or you might find yourself missing some fries or your antelope burger!
We’ve enjoyed our time in Senegal and thank all of you for making this happen. We thank God that there has been no serious illness. And we thank God for safety in our travels, especially those outside of Dakar. Thank you for praying for us. We ask that you continue to pray for good health for the team and safe travels as we finish our last day on the ground tomorrow and then begin the long trek back to Canada.
Jim and team
We have made it to the airport, and as I write this we await to board the plane to Paris. Thank you church family for all the support and prayers over the last few months and these 12 days. This will be our last update as the trip concludes and we travel home.
Today we were able to go to the other international church which is located at Dakar Central. The service was great; we heard from a retired pastor from the states and Keith was playing on the worship team! In our last moments with the Haensels we as a team prayed for the family and blessed them.
Overall it has been amazing to see the team grow, connect with Keith, Mel, and family, while doing ministry with them. It was great to see the team in action -- how they all did so well on days when it would be 38 degrees and we were tired. I have personally loved getting to know each and every member and my highlight simply has been seeing them grow relationally with each other, working together through the heat, watching them interact with the Talibe boys by playing sports, teaching, and more. I saw God working through them and the Haensels.
I could say more, but I will conclude as internet is bad, and will be boarding soon. Please pray for
- Our first flight, we leave Dakar at 11:15pm, and arrive in Paris roughly at 5:50am. Please pray we can sleep on this flight
- Pray that we make all connecting flights. We arrive home Tuesday at 12:45am.
Thank you so much for your finacial support & prayers. We look forward to sharing with the church on March 22!
Pastor Cody & team