A Recap of our Time in Senegal

Mercy Street has always dreamed of the day when we would see leaders emerging from within the community of West Dallas to go out and serve the world.  By the grace of God and the help of our partners at PCPC, we watched this beautifully unfold over the past 10 days.  Six of our most solid leaders traveled to Dakar, Senegal to serve alongside Mamadou Diop at the West Africa Theological Institute (WATI).

The students amazed us with their grateful spirits, childlike wonder, incredible work ethics and profound realizations.  As we watched the women at WATI vigorously pounding millet from the fields to convert it into coucous, I heard Sharmonique say, “And we get mad when the microwave takes too long!”  As we drove past the straw huts with dirt floors, they would mention how grateful they were for air conditioning at home and a free education.  The students were keenly aware of the incredible opportunities they’ve been given, and they plotted about ways they could somehow utilize their resources to raise awareness for the needs of WATI and the Senegalese people.   I’m thrilled to see what their brilliant minds come up with as they continue to discuss practical ways they can serve Mamadou and his team from our home base here in West Dallas!

Watching Mamadou in action was one of the highlights of the trip for our team.  He has such a gentle and quiet spirit, yet he’s one of the strongest leaders we’ve ever seen.  He was constantly looking for ways to bless our team; whether that was through fresh mangos, a word of encouragement, a reminder that love is expensive, or a celebratory boat ride.  It was worth it to fly our students over there just to watch the way Mamadou loved those around him and poured himself out for the Gospel. 

                

I think Mamadou’s spirit rubbed off on our students during our time together.  Christoph, a man from the village who was leading our painting project, had been eying Adrienne’s brand new boots from day one.  On our final bus ride home, I noticed Adrienne didn’t have her boots on, and I found out she gave them to Christoph because he needed them more than she did.  She didn’t make a big show or ring bells so all would see; she simply wanted to bless Christoph.  Later in the day I saw Seville give is brand new pair of Jordan’s to our translator, Detchie, and T.O. parted with some dear gifts for our other translator, Songo.  It was those quiet moments that opened my eyes to the deep work of the Spirit in the lives of our students.  I pray we made an impact on the men and women of Senegal during our 10 days together, and I can assure you the Senegalese made a tremendous impact on us.  

A Day of Celebration

Today was our last work day at WATI!  Mamadou informed us when we arrived in Djilas that it would be primarily a day of fellowship and rejoicing.  By “primarily a day of fellowship,” he actually meant ALL celebration.  The day began with our team (including Dethie, Mamadou and Songo) sitting in a circle sharing stories.  We threw the soccer ball to one another and whoever caught it had to share a funny story from the trip or some sort of memorable moment.  We could’ve sat in the circle for the whole day cutting up and sharing with one another because the stories are endless! 

Young men began showing up at WATI to chat with us, however, so the circle expanded and the game changed.  A particularly moving moment took place when Christoph, the painter, began sharing his heart.  He doesn’t speak a lick of English so we haven’t had the opportunity to connect with him relationally, but he’s clearly been observing.  He told us today that he was grateful to know us, at which point he directed his attention to Ms. Jacque.  He said he was deeply touched by her spirit this week, and that if he ever has a daughter he hopes she will grow up to be just like Ms. Jacque.  He told her she’s deep in his heart and that he would like to name his future daughter after her, in hopes that she will flourish into such a warm and loving woman.  Several of us almost broke down in tears as they hugged…and then we all laughed when he started dancing and singing the French song Ms. Jacque had been singing all week.  Christoph has never come around WATI before; he was simply there to teach us how to paint buildings this week.  But it was obvious today that the Lord had a different purpose in bringing Christoph to WATI this week, and we believe God will continue working in his heart long after we return to America.  He had been eying Adrienne’s boots from day one and she gave them to him as a gift today.  On our first day she told me she couldn’t wait to leave her brand new boots for Christoph, and I was thrilled to hear she did so today.  There was no big show and it wasn’t in front of a crowd, she simply wanted to bless Christoph.

Christoph and Ms. Jacque

Later in the day Carlton shared his heart with a group of guys who joined our circle.  They’re students in their twenties who have been coming around each day to speak with us in broken English.  He shared about his own struggles trying to figure out what it means to be a man.  He talked about the insecurities he felt regarding his ability to provide for a woman, to protect his family, and to impart wisdom to those around him.  But he said he ultimately found the strength to be a real man when he began following Christ.  And he said real manhood comes from identifying with Jesus and submitting to the God who is all powerful and abounding in love.  The guys listened intently and I imagine they’ll remember that circle as they continue to wrestle through all the big questions life poses. 

T.O, Sharmonique and Seville enjoying the boat ride

We took a boat ride to a beautiful island at the end of the day and we basked in the vibrant colors blooming on the trees with the neon sun setting slowly in the distance.  This week will be forever buried deep in our hearts.  Mamadou encouraged us over dinner that our students have also had a tremendous impact on the people around our hotel.  He said the concierge was extremely impressed with our students.  They are used to guests complaining when the water or electricity go out, but our students never mentioned it.  He was also shocked that we came to serve others.  The concierge said that every day when we arrived home from work, he thought to himself, “I want to be a part of a group like that.”  Mamadou told him we were Christians and that we were compelled by the love of Jesus.

 

We don’t communicate those stories out of any sense of pride, but just to let you know the Lord’s moving in ways we can hardly believe.  I mean we know ourselves!  We’re sinners who feel ungrateful so much of the time and devote a tremendous amount of our energy to our own well-being.  So we know if those around us are seeing selfless spirits, God must be moving in a powerful way!  We are thrilled to be a part of that and are grateful that He’s chosen to work in our team and through our team during this life changing week in Senegal.  

Adrienne, Tim, Mamadou and Carmen