“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.”
Isaiah 45:5-6
It is the season of Ramadan.The beaches are desolate; the public pool is empty; and, hours of offices are shortened. From sunrise to sunset the majority of the population in the city abstain from food and drink. At dusk the bakery lines extend out the door as people buy bread to break their fast.
I’ve been in West Africa for almost 15 months, and while I feel at home here, I have many areas I need to continue to grow in - language acquisition, culture sensitivity, ministry responsibilities, limits in generosity, etc.
I thought I would be spending a couple of months in a town closer to the villages, but Ndeye who I was going to stay with has been sick for the last month. She continues to struggle with her health. Please lift her up in your prayers.
In the month of August two training events occurred related to economic development. The first was a roof top garden training for twenty-one women in the local community of one of the Presbyterian churches. So far it has been a success! The women trained have done a wonderful job taking care of their garden and have already started to sell their produce. The desire for the project is to provide an on-going opportunity for the church to engage in their community. Please pray for the Gospel to go forth through this project.
The second event, towards the end of August, was a training of 16 church leaders in project management. Daniel who attended the Chalmers Institute in Ghana and works with World Vision graciously offered to teach this seminar. Management is an important aspect of the practicality of the church that is not always addressed - especially in this culture. Pray for the development and fruitfulness of the church leader's management skills and their project ideas. In the coming months I will be following up on the participants to help them carry out some of their projects.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership with me in West Africa.
Photo taken by Sarah E. at Virage Beach
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