40 Days until we leave!!

WOW, 40 Days until we leave!! Sometimes I think it is not coming soon enough, like when I am driving, but most of the time I feel overwhelmed with how much there is do to prepare and yet I don't want to be so consumed by the packing and stuff that I miss the whole reason we are here. I am behind on so much that I intended on doing this covenant term that I need to do but short termers syndrome is also hitting hard too.

The next few weeks will be busy with women's retreat and meetings and holidays in addition to our regular schedule and trying to get into the schools even a little. There is SUCH a wide range of emotions-

• Have I shared all I can about Jesus?
• Will these people even miss me when when I am gone?
• Do they care that I've been here?
• Have I made any difference, eternal or otherwise?
• How will things be with family and friends in the states?!?!
• How will I adjust?
• How will the children adjust to leaving?
• Am I doing enough to prepare them to leave here and to enter the States?

So many questions with no real answers, at least no comforting ones.

Help me Lord to look to you for the answers, not my emotions nor the father of lies. Let me see You at work and give me wisdom in how to join you.

Be ready with an answer in season and out of season!

Ok, we are in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa, right? We go to get a vaccine for Mariama downtown, at the only place you can get this vaccine. Anyway, while waiting to tell the man at the entrance what we need, this American woman in front of me turns around and asks if we are American. She asks where we are from, and I answer Texas. So she asks if I like Bush, which I answer affirmatively. She then asks how long we have been here and what we do. She then asks, "And you like Bush?" She asks what we think about the war, and the lives lost. I was so taken aback by this questioning in this particular setting. What could I have said? "Well, God tells us to pray for our leaders whether we like them or not, whether we agree with them or not." Did I say that? No! Did I say, "I have confidence in our troops and their training, particularly since my brother is one of our finest and they can use our prayers as well"? No! I said something like, "War is the way of the world," though I did not get my thought finished about it being due to man's sinfulness. I really hate feeling stupid! I also hate missing an opportunity to witness to anyone! I do not know what this woman is doing here in Senegal. But I lost a chance to share truth with her, because I was so caught off guard by the situation. Rich said he wanted to chime in that I am smart, really I am, but I was not coming across very smart nor very Christ-like. Colossians 4:6 instructs, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." I pray that my encounters like this will cease to exist as I wait for God's answer to others, rather than my own pitiful excuse for a reply.

Happy Birthday, Rich!!!!

Happy birthday, honey! You are turning 38, almost 10 of which we have been married. You may not be perfect, I know I am not, but you are the perfect husband for me. You balance me so well. Where I am weak, you are strong. Where I am strong, you encourage me to be stronger. It is such a blessing to have you in my life. You are such an example of generosity and giving. What a joy it is to know we are headed in the same direction, which is to follow God's will. I look forward to sharing many more of your birthdays together, in Africa of wherever God has us! I am so proud of you. The kids love their daddy, and it is not hard to see why. Have a super day!

Why do you do what you do? Why do I do what I do?

In the last few days, I have encountered a few situations that have made me inspect my motives for things I do, particularly that I do for God. As a disclaimer, remember I am only seeing these things from outside of the situation and do not know all the details, thus I tell it the way I see it.

First, it is Ramadan. The Koran instructs that young children, elderly in ill health, and pregnant women are exempt from fasting. However, a neighbor who is pregnant is fasting. Another coworker has said that they often will because others who are fasting will shame them for not fasting, because they are jealous of not being able to eat/ drink themselves. I have not heard anything of this sort said to them, but I do not know all that has occurred. I have however heard them during the day tell a child about William’s age in their home not to drink water and poured his cup out. Why?

Second, a coworker in another country has been very ill for the last eleven months, since she went to the village. Much of her illness could be contributed to things she has eaten that are not wise to injest. Others have done so and not gotten sick, thus she has continued to do as they do. Does she think she is not roughing it enough if she does not? Is that just her lot in life? Why?

Why would someone disobey their holy book in preference for others? Are they fasting for God or for man? Why would someone not take better care of themselves, doing reckless things? For God’s attention or that of man? Oh, but Lisa wait, do not get too ahead of yourself! Why am I in Africa? Why do I do the things I do everyday? Am I looking for God’s approval or man’s? Am I wanting a pat on the back from man or am I looking toward God to say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” I realize this question never gets answered completely, but rather is a day to day question, particularly with so many things to bombard and demand my time. It is a daily choice and requires constant discernment in everything I do. I cannot make choices for others, but I am responsible for my decisions. I choose to make God smile today, tomorrow, the day after, the day after that, etc.

VBS in Dakar with Gordon College volunteers

The pastor welcoming the families to the closing ceremonies.













Some of the families watching the children's presentation.












The cheif de cartier's wife attended our ceremony!












Some of the children singing praises!

Making tortillas with Mommy!

Being silly around the house, even Odette!

Mariama's baby dedication in Togo

William's VBS journal

Monday 7/24/06

We had a rainy day in Echo Bay. We made a rain stick and a snow globe. In music we listened to rain sounds, played the rain game, and heard the Bible story of Elijah who asked God to send rain. We have the courage to know God sends the rain.
Today Pop learned to play our musical instruments. He was a good listener and answered Bible questions. He loves balloons.

Tuesday 7/25/06

Echo Bay had snow today so we made soapy snowballs to use in our bath. In the story we learned how Joshua listened to God in Joshua 3:1-3 so we tried very hard to listen and follow our teachers. In Kayak Cove we made a paddle for our canoe and in music we had water sticks that we move to music.

Today Pop liked to use his imagination in a world all his own. He joined our group activities but was eager to “be on his way”. Outside he loved the bubbles and discovered how to word the auto bubble machine.

Wednesday 7/26/06

It snowed again in Echo Bay so we took out our ice skates and went skating. In our story Jesus told the fishermen where to put their nets. We made a Jesus necklace. Pop loved that project.

Thursday 7/27/06

It snowed heavily in Echo Bay. We made our snowflakes fall gently from the sky, then we went ice skating again. We have learned our songs for family night and practiced on the stage.

It has been our privilege to care and teach Pop this week. Our prayers are with you.

Lunch at the beach

Our family went to a restaurant to wait on our volunteers and other team members. Mariama could not wait for everyone else, so she had a snack while we waited. William and I played along the beach a little. Then we were joined by William's good friend Chase.

My Little Man

Our Easter package finally arrived from Grandma, only two months late. Hooray for the postal system! Thanks Grandma! Anyway, William still looks handsome in his outfit. What a cutie!

Me with my little Blessings on the swing in the little playground at the resturant. 

Aclose up of us.. he put the hat on himself that way! 

Playing on the swing  

Getting ready to go get Ice cream and play 

Missed opportunities

At this very moment I am reminded how truly inadequate I am. Praise the Lord for the reminder ahead of time of where my adequacy is to come from, because I am truly not!

I have, had, a friend who lived across the street. Her husband was living in France and she was living here with her inlaws. Unfortunately the past few months have been so busy with school and the children, that I have not had much chance to visit her. When I did try to visit, she was never there. She had asked me in the past to pray for her to be able to join her husband. Despite not seeing her for a while, I had not forgotten her nor stopped praying for her. I found out this weekend though that she has gone to live with him in France. I praise the Lord for her being able to be there, but I mourn that my chance to share with her anymore is gone. I weep for missed opportunities, but I trust that she will come across someone that will share the Truth with her.

More overwhelming is the news I received this morning. In a neighboring household, a young man, maybe Rich's age with a wife an children, passed away yesterday morning. During their month of fasting last year, we had been over at their house one evening. We did not stay overly long because it was getting late for the children, but still an opportunity passed by. We know this man's younger brother better and I sort of know this man's wife. Had we shared more with one of them, maybe they would have come to faith and shared with him. Now it is too late for him, but there is still time for the rest of the family. Where do I start? It would be so easy to cast blame to someone else, like Adam and Eve tried to do, but I still bear the guilt for this man's blood.

In the states, with the abundance of churches, it is easy to tell yourself that the person at the grocery store or McDonald's has heard the truth---but it is not a given! Yes, the chances of me talking to a person who does not yet know the Lord here are greater, but it does happen there. The people here live their lives hoping their good outweighs their bad, whereas those in the states often don't see a difference in the lives of Christians around them that makes them want to know the Lord.

Who will you see today that needs desperately to hear the good news? Will each of us seize the moments we are given this very day? We have good news to share. Share it!!

Being Adequate!!

I just wanted to share a word of encouragement with all of you today. Have you ever thought you had said something different or more or seized the moment more or not been sure your language conveyed all you wanted it to? I am doing a Bible study by Kay Arthur on 2 Corinthians called, “Lord, Give me a heart for You.” Last week’s chapter was on being adequate, particularly focusing on 2:15-16 and 3:5-6. Arthur says it this way, “Your adequacy will never come from anything you can ever do or be apart from Christ. Your adequacy will come only from God.” What a blessing and a relief! God is bigger than anything I can do to “’mess” Him up. I will never be adequate enough in myself to do the job He has called me to do, but He is always adequate and makes me so. Another encouragement to me lately has been Beth Moore’s Voices of the Faithful devotional, particularly since this month’s focus is missions, but there is just too much to share right now.
For now lets all pray that we will remember where our adequacy originates.

William still playing on the couch with Mariama. He picked mimself up and kept going (see Rich's blog for first video).

Me and William reading and counting.

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William climed into my lap after lunch yesterday and wanted me to read his book with him. Mariama is playing in her swing you get to see her some too. We may start posting more things this way, so you can see and hear us more. Plus it is faster and more fun then us typing.

A visit

Hi there

I just had to share with you all about my visit at the B. household yesterday. I was doing the story of Adam and Eve sinning. I did it on tape especially after I found out I had a time limit because of Madam B having a previous engagement. It was her with three of her daughters and one son. We listened to the scriptures and the story and then the questions. I jumped ahead a little, please forgive me, but I felt lead to cover why the clothes of leaves were not good enough. So I brought up Tabaski and the shedding of blood for sin. One of the daughters asked if I really believed that God instructed the sacrifice for the sin. I said yes, but I could see confusion in her eyes as she kept asking me over and over again if I really believed it. I wanted so badly to tell the whole story right there but was not sure how and where the others were at in all of this. I said that yes, God’s word says that there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood, but…..I believe that the blood has been spilt to completion. We wrapped up the story session, with even another young man coming in during the story as well as their househelper. She and all her children, except maybe the youngest daughter, answered questions, especially the son and the daughter who pressed me. Because Madam B. had to get ready to go, the daughter who kept asking me and who I have a pretty good relationship walked me out. She was still in awe of what I said because we do not sacrifice. I told her I want to tell her more if she wants to know, but I need to pray and seek out the words to tell her. It was amazing to see the look in her eyes, like she had never heard that from a Christian, but it is crucial to know what is required before we can know it has been paid. Anyway, just wanted to let you know to keep praying.

It looks like Thursday after lunch will be the best time for me to go visit with them so PLEASE be praying for me and for them on that day. Pray that the words will be given to me and for their hearts and minds to be opened.

A video from home

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To Momma (and Mothers everywhere)

I saw this today and though you might enjoy it as well. I dedicate this to all mothers out there, especially mine. I love you Momma!!!

Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby . . .
Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct . . .
Somebody never took a 3-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring . . .
Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said good mothers never raise their voices . . .
Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother . . .
Somebody never helped a 4th grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the 5th child as much as you love the first . . .
Somebody doesn't have 5 children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books . . .
Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery . . .
Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the 1st day of kindergarten. Or on a plane headed for military boot camp. Or get on a plane for West Africa and the Mission field.

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back . . .
Somebody never organized 7 giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married . . .
Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son- or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home . . .
Somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her . . .
Somebody isn't a mother.

Hello again from the girl down the street

Hello again!
This is Jessica, for all who forgot.. I am back in action and wanted to write a little excerpt to fill all ya'll in on what I have been doing for the last couple of weeks. Well I am in good spirits at the moment because my older brother (Chris) and college roomate (Linzi) left Dakar last night after a week of visiting me! It was so amazing. We did so much together. We laughed, sat on the beach, ate a lot, hung out with my family, prayed, and simply talked while enjoying each other's company. It was such an emotional, rejuvination week for me. I begun to process a lot of what I have been learning out here which was nice to do with people who know me and love me. It was good to start processing things so that when I go home it wont hit so hard. That's just it.. I go home in a month! I thought I would be really sad to see Chris and Linzi leave, but realizing my departure date, I have decided that there is no time to be sad. It's time to focus on why God brought me here and what he still has time to do through me. So thank you for all your prayers regarding my heart and struggles here. The Lord is blessing me once again. So Let me fill you all in on what the Lord is doing with my family.
C.S. Lewis wrote a quote about people who see in his book, "The Last Battle". I don't remember the quote exactly word for word, but it says that everyone who truely seeks truely finds. I couldn't agree with Lewis more. I believe that you don't need a check list of what constitutes someone as a "seeker". I believe that people who are searching for truth, asking questions, and trying to make sense of life are seekers. This is my family. I have had wonderful conversations with them about prayer, God, and Jesus. They are listening and watching me and I believe that the Lord has met them in some way so far. I pray that my family will continue to seek because if they do they are going to hit rock bottom and that rock is going to be Jesus. Please continue to pray for the Ba family. Pray that they will see visions and dream dreams of Jesus. Pray also that when they experience God that they come and talk with me and ask me questions. Jesus said that people will know that we are his disciples by the way we love each other. This is all I am doing. I am striving to love God and love my neighbor.. I just happen to be in Senegal doing it! So, be encouraged that what Rich, Lisa, and I are doing is nothing out of the ordinary.
I am going to try and write more about Senegalese family life and some of my own reflections of my life here. Untill then.....
Jamm ak Jamm (peace with peace)
Jessica

Christmas morning collage

A compilation of photos from Christmas morning with my family, including a few after effects photos (the sleeping ones). Click on image for a larger view.

Christmas eve photo blog

Christmas Eve my family came over to my mother's house and we exchanged & opened presents there. We missed you Chrissy!!!

 

How small are you thinking?

How small are you thinking?

I was challenged the other day with this thought by the daily devotional book I am reading. Then by events that occurred, the reading was brought home even more. We have been very close to a particular family, but I have been limiting my perceived influence to the young people of the family. Not that they are the only ones I have been relating to, but they are the only ones I have seen the Spirit moving among. But once again, God surprises me!

The older mother came to visit recently and told how the doctor has said that there is nothing wrong with her body, though she would say differently. By some things she said, the Spirit revealed to me that what is going on within her is more spiritual. A bit intimidated, I went to her and asked if she and I could begin talking about some stories from God’s Word, particularly one’s written by Moses. She said she would like that very much. I am to begin meeting with her this week.

How big are you thinking? How small? Do you say it is because you think small of yourself? Been there, done that! But if you are living in the Spirit, He dwells within you, thus you are thinking small of Him. Think big! But keep your eyes open for the big and small. God is working all around us! But beware; the enemy is working as well. Sometimes it is hard to see God’s hand when the enemy is so prevalent, but He is very much at work if we will simply look for it.

photo collage

Here is a photo collage from our trip at Christmas!! e

 

Count them as rubbish

Philippians 3:8

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his hake I have suffered the loss of things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ…

Indeed anyone who thinks they can do anything, need only parent a child, particularly through the potty training phase. When it comes to parenting issues, my husband generally defers to me as the child expert simply because I have the masters degree in children’s ministry. But in the case of potty training, there is no degree, nay, not even a class on the subject. Yes, we learned about child development, but we did not spend long on this subject. And even if they did, since every child is unique, it would not matter that much anyway. I confess I have no idea what I am doing at this point. I often feel like that as a parent, but even more so at this point.

I count all my degrees as loss for the sake of Christ, that I might reflect Him more clearly to my child, because the fleshly part of me certainly would not. God is still working on my patience, as he is working on my husband’s as well. It is only through the mercy and grace which I have received that I am able to be compassionate toward my son repeatedly. When I am at the end of myself, He is there to encourage me. Though I may get tired each day of cleaning up my son’s mess, how much more of a mess do I give God to clean up by the sin I commit. A little pee here and there is nothing compared to that. Praise be to our God, our perfect heavenly Father!!

A new face on the scene....

Hello, Bonjour, Salaamaalekum! (Which ever greeting you prefer)

My name is Jessica Sveen, and I’m a semester volunteer teaching English in a high school here in Dakar and living with a Senegalese, Muslim family next door to Rich and Lisa Finch. I’m a junior at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and hail not only from the North of the Mason-Dixon Line, but my home church Glen Ellyn Covenant Church. I was set up with International Baptist Mission through a friend from Wheaton, and thought that it sounded like a wonderful opportunity for a fidgety junior stuck in cold, snowy Chicago. My major is International Relations and French which has been a wonderful foundation for me in coming to Senegal. I’ve been able to use my French a lot, but finding my Wolof (major language and people group in Senegal) soaring to new heights.
I wanted to start “blogging” certain aspects of my life here because it will help you understand the family structure and practices of the Senegalese people a little better. Also, I’m assisting English teachers at a school in a neighborhood about 10 minutes away from where I live. The school systems are completely different then those in the states, and hopefully, I will also be able to shed some light on them. There is a lot to say, so I’ll start off with some basics.
Someone once told me that, "you never fully wash the dust of Africa off your feet". That phrase is so relevant here because your feet are always dirty because of all the sand. Ha Ha. Seriously though, the African people are unforgettable and the smell and feel are totally impressionable. Okay so let's get to it. I'm not going to put EVERYTHING in this one Blog, so don't worry. I'm simply going to start with some important things to do when interacting with people... especially my family.
1. You always greet everyone in a room. This is done by shaking EVERYONE'S
hand. You also always want to shake the oldest person in the room's hand
first, and do not shake the cute lil’ kids’ hands first. My family has a lot of kids
and they are all really loving so as soon as I walk into the room, people get up and welcome you. Life here is completely relational. People here desire relationship over work. In the states, we often live to work but here people work to live.
2. Eating with my family: everyone eats out of a big plate on the floor at the same
time. It is a big round plate and everyone sits around it. It's actually
very community centered and I have learned to love doing it this way. However, eating isn't a community builder (if that makes sense); it's a time to eat not a time to talk. Very small conversations are had over the food, but mostly you focus on eating and then
when you’re done, you can sit back and talk. You also don't drink during the
meal...only after.
3. Activity: Everything is done together. My family watches A LOT of TV which entails a lot of soccer games and extremely dramatic Spanish soap operas. This is all done at night mostly. No one goes to bed till real late and they get up really early. They have a 2 hour siesta time in the day to make up for lost sleep.
4. My family’s religion: My family is devoted Muslims. They all pray 5 times a day and will often leave the common room to go and pray. They go and visit the Mosque and talk about their faith often. This is sometimes hard for me because, being a Christian; it is hard for me to talk about my faith with my family. I live my life based on my love for Christ. I lean on Christ’s command to love him with my heart, soul, strength, and mind and to love my neighbor as myself. Jesus says that people will know we are his disciples by the way we love one another. My witness is not always vocal, but I pray that my smile and my helping hand will show my love for my family. I have had some spiritual moments of clarity with my family and pray for more moments like those.

I hope this give all ya’ll a basis for where I am writing from.
Until Next Time… Jamm ak Jamm (peace with peace),

Jessica

Blessed beyond measure!!