Love and Laughter in the Family of Faith

Well friends, we encountered our first significant issue last night.  Tim and Seville were minding their own business in their hotel room when a lizard scurried across the floor.  Evidently this sent both of them into a tizzy and they ran out of the room screaming like girls, begging T.O. to let them sleep in his room where they would be safe from the lizard.  Obviously their fright wasn’t received too well by the rest of the guys, but it certainly didn’t help their case when it was reported this morning that I (Julie) saw a colossal lizard running across my wall….and simply rolled over and went back to sleep.  Needless to say, Tim and Seville could use your prayers!  In their defense, the lizards here are at least three times larger than any lizards we see in America; and some have neon yellow heads attached to blue bodies. 

Back: Mamadou, Carlton, T.O
Front: Seville, Songo, Dethie

We’re exactly halfway through our trip now and we truly feel we’re among family here.  Mamadou asked two men he disciples to join us for the week, Songo and Dethie (Detch-ee), and the three of them have been with us for every meal, bus ride, work day and excursion.  Songo and Dethie both speak phenomenal English so they translate for Mamadou whenever he’s struggling to effectively communicate.  It’s been fun to watch our students bring the men right into the family.  It feels like we’re connecting with older brothers who have a wealth of wisdom to share.  The students are constantly asking questions about Senegal, about their testimonies, about Muslims, mango trees, the government, the school system, the soccer fields and everything in between.  We can’t get enough of our Senegalese brothers!  Lights are coming on in the minds of our students as their conception of the world is rapidly expanding and their notion of the Body of Christ is taking a new shape.  Christianity is exploding from something they heard about in Dallas to a dynamic, worldwide movement involving risk and opposition and persecution and redemption.  The kinship among the entire team is absolutely beautiful. 

Ms. Jacque's not kidding around with that mask!

We’re continuing to find joy through working with our hands at the West Africa Theological Institute.  We’ve painted several buildings, and Ms. Annie actually painted Carmen’s blue hat when she dropped the roller on top of her head!  We’ve been working on a new building which involves mixing concrete, moving massive amounts of dirt with wheel barrels, transporting bricks and many hours with the local masons.  Sometimes they make us feel like we’re in their way, but they told Mamadou that our team was a huge help today and they were thankful we were there.  We celebrated the victory with the juiciest mangoes our lips have ever tasted!

I don’t want to say that every moment has been easy breezy because it hasn’t.  Our team is working hard and we’re together every moment of every day.  I know sometimes people are tired, muscles are hurting, buttons are pushed and we’re all stretched.  But I’ve been blown away with each person’s ability to extend grace.  The Apostle Paul wasn’t lying when he said, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.”  Love has trumped everything on this trip at every turn.  When Mamadou shared a word with our team last night, he said, “Love is expensive.”  He said it costs a lot when we love someone – our money, our time, our devotion, and often our lives.  But he said we Christians choose to spend our entire selves to love others because Jesus paid the highest price ever paid when He sacrificed everything for us.  He said when we give up our comfort and immediate desires in order to sacrificially love others, we’re following in the most beautiful footsteps that have ever walked the earth.  That’s sinking in with our team.  We’re hearing testimony after testimony of incredible men who converted from the Muslim faith to Christianity, and the reason is because they found love in Jesus like none they’d ever known before.

And did I mention how much fun we’re having together?!  We laughed so much at dinner tonight that people were springing up from the table to run to the restroom.  Like, we’re talking stomach hurting, cramp causing, uproars of laughter!  This week will be forever treasured in the minds and hearts of our entire team.