Womans retreat

I (Candace) went on a Women's Retreat last weekend to Saly, Senegal.  First time I had ever been away from both Mike and the kids, and it was so hard!  For almost 14 years I have only been away from my kids twice, once to go to Vienna for Mike's work and the second time to fly to Omaha and drive the U-haul back to California with Mike.  The retreat was only 1 1/2 hours away from DA.  The hotel was gorgeous and is where the Europeans come and vacation when they come to Senegal.  The contrast from the extreme poverty of the vast majority of Senegal to the jet set life style that was there at the hotel made me so uncomfortable.  How can you sit by the pool and sip a nice cool drink when just outside the wall are homeless children?
Not to be a Debbie Downer but I had a hard time fully appreciating the beauty and the calmness at the resort.
On the flip side the Worship team that flew in from Texas was incredible and our guest speaker was so inspirational as well as all the amazing women I met and all the different journeys that God is sending us on.  Just truly amazing what God is doing in these women's lives, I feel so blessed to be included!  Thank you to all that helped send me to not only this women's retreat but to Africa!!!

Senegalese Awareness Week

All week we have been learning about Senegal.  Each day kids wore either a Senegal t-shirt, hat or informal and formal clothing.  Each day a portion of Senegal and that language was highlighted and any national workers from that area would come forward and recognized and prayed for.
Mike spoke the language Jolla which is spoken in the casamanse, south of Senegal.

 They taught a sand art class for Elementary students.

Wearing Senegalese clothing

Even Carter got into it!

They showed us how they make their drums

                                                  
                                                  Some of the house help preparing Ceebu ganaar (Rice and Chicken)

                                      

 Every group sat with a national worker that works at DA.  This man with Regan's group is Landing.  He works closely with Mike and has become a good friend to the family.

                                                They put on a Senegalese wrestling match

                                               Carter's 'best bud' Excel (a mentoring program)

                                                  Then they got the students involved!

                                             This guy even beat the wrestler!!!

Safari time

I must admit when we had made the decision to come to Africa I thought living in Africa was going to be a permanent safari, with monkey and lions around every turn.  I  now know how large Dakar is and like other countries the animals stay away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.  Although the monkeys were seen just as we got out of the city there are no lions anywhere close to here in West Africa.  The Bandia Nature Reserve is only 1 hour away from Dakar. We were on the road at 6:15 this morning stopping along the way to get breakfast sandwiches (French bread, potatoes, onions, egg and maggi (their beef bullion cubes).  They were actually very good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A tour guide goes with the cost of entry.  It takes about 4 hours to get through the reserve.  I can't wait to go back, we had so much fun!!

 

 

 This is the famous Baobab tree, or Tree of life.  The used to not bury their dead in the ground they used to throw them into the middle of the tree and then it grows shut.

 

The Restaurant (we did not eat there)   They say they have to give you a squirt bottle to keep the monkeys away.

We had so much fun!  I can't wait to go back, Mike says once we have someone visit us we'll take them there.......anyone? anyone???