questions & answers

finals ended yesterday (with somewhat of a bang. no explanation.) tomorrow after work and dinner i head to dadeville for a few days with mom and dad. gotta do some more shopping for Christmas and the trip.

about the trip. mom and i fly out monday afternoon from atlanta and arrive in dakar around 10pm on tuesday night. yes, a long journey. layover in madrid. glad to have a partner make this long journey with me this time!

YES, we will actually be in senegal on Christmas day. many of you have been appalled by this fact. (how can you leave your family at this time of year? what sense is there in even going at Christmas? why why why? does your family not celebrate Christmas? etc...) WELL!

of course my family celebrates Christmas. who says it has to be on the 25th though. also, i ask what is celebrating Christmas? opening presents, eating, watching football and movies? isn't Christmas about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ? yes, i do believe that giftgiving and familytime are great parts of the holiday season, but lets not forget that its really all about our Savior. my family has Christ. we can celebrate His birth anywhere, in any way. this year my mom and i will be celebrating Christ's birth among the Lebou in Yoff. but they're not Christians, they don't celebrate Christmas you say. EXACTLY my point. no better reason to go to senegal at Christmastime. they don't have Christ. i want them to know Him. my mom wants them to know Him. (my dad does to, but he can't go) and most of all, God definitely wants these wonderful people to know His saving grace.

and no, they do not celebrate Christmas. as Muslims, they do believe in Jesus, but only as a prophet of Muhammed, not the Savior as we know Him. i have invested two summers with the folks of Yoff (the sandbar region!), along with endless prayers. i have discussed Christmas with various individuals. my faith revolves around Jesus Christ being my Savior. therefore, His birth is obviously important to me. i want to explain to my friends in Yoff in greater detail just how important Christ is to me. i want to do this at Christmastime.

plans in senegal are almost nonexistent. for many reasons (read thru summer updates and you'll see!) so as of now, we will be sharing with all my friends and families in yoff. Christmas caroling in yoff as well one night (that will be interesting.) and then the main event: a Christmas Day Celebration! we will be hosting a party on the roof for the people of yoff. there will be lots of fish and rice (Senegalese), cookies (American-thanks FBC Dadeville), the Jesus film in wolof, testimony from Senegalese believers. and all sorts of fun! parties in senegal are a hoot. lots of music, definitely dancing. etc. fun fun. not your typical Christmas party, huh? sorry you're missing out, you should have planned to come along. mom and i will actually have an American style Christmas gathering on Christmas night with about six other missionary folks.

am i excited? oh you have no idea! senegal has a huge spot in my heart. i look foward to greeting my friends of yoff, introducing my mother to my Senegalese mother, and letting my mom see all that i have done over the last two summers - and continuing to tell them about my Jesus!

i *intend* to do a few posts while in senegal, so check back for updated prayer requests and praises. thanks to all who have been praying and will continue to do so.

bo beneen yon.