Boots On the Ground – Initial Trip Takeaways
schools
With my background of working with children in clinical and school settings, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my first trip to Senegal included a tour of several schools in the area. I was able to learn about the schools in the villages that were impacted by the frequent government shutdowns, the children who were sent to learn about the Qur’an under the leadership of a Marabout, and the private Christian schools that were either developed or developing. The experiences and outcomes through each path were equally unique. Those in the public schools often had interruptions of learning - when the government shut down, so did the schools - and only about 40% were passing their exams at the end of the year that would allow them to advance to the next grade. Those who were under the leadership of a Marabout were often sent out to beg for money and expected to meet a quota each day, were mistreated and malnourished, and became known as “Talibe boys.” Those in the Christian schools were thriving, learning about God, were not impacted by government shutdowns, and achieved over 90% passing rate of their exams.
The School of Bethesda: Meeting our sponsor child in person for the first time was certainly a highlight. I showed her pictures of my family, told her we think of her and pray for her often, and she smiled from ear to ear while we talked. I sensed hope and God working in this younger generation. While visiting the school, we also had the privilege of meeting with the headmaster and teachers. They expressed their hearts for the students, the challenges of living and working in the area, and the headmaster shared his vision for the future of this developing school. At that time, the school housed 90 students from preschool to fourth grade, and was bursting at the seams. He was delighted that the school was gaining a positive reputation in the community and asked for prayer for God to continue to bless the growth and provide the means for the following projects:
- Add a grade a year. He wanted the school to eventually provide education all the way through the secondary grades, - Acquire the land next door that was owned by a Muslim man,- Improve and expand the preschool wing,- Build a shaded playground area,- Build a library/computer lab,- Build an administration wing,- Build guest/teacher housing,- Purchase a van/school bus to allow more kids in the community to get to school.
The headmaster was so humble and dropped to his knees so we could pray over him and the school. This was one of those moments where you could just feel the Holy Spirit’s presence to your bones. I had goosebumps and was touched.
villages
The village life was beautiful and hard. Entire families lived together in compounds. Babies were taking care of babies while their parents worked in the fields. Some family compounds were wealthier than others. Some could make it into town to run errands, visit the markets and work, while most could not. We played with the children and put on camps to share about God, engaged in prayer walks around the village to pray for many hurting and sick people, met with the chief to learn of the challenges and needs of the people in the village, and helped prepare a delicious, traditional Senegalese meal so we could all eat together. I loved their sense of family and community and their zest for life despite their struggles and sparse resources. I was enlightened to hear their ideas of how to partner to solve some of their problems, as they were different from the typical American way (and needed to be). The problems and priorities they presented were also different than I would have identified. My eyes were more fully opened.
people
We had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of many of our Senegalese team members and I was touched again. Despite active persecution, some hiding from their own family members, they were running their races for the Lord. Many of them still didn’t have a Bible in their native tongue…truly part of an unreached people group. They wanted to see their communities come to know our Lord and Savior and were thankful to have our support and partnership. I was inspired by their faithfulness and love for the Lord.
continued involvement and future trips
It may be cliché to say that a short-term mission trip changed my life, but my first trip to Senegal truly changed some of my priorities and the trajectory of my life. When I returned home, I could not get the school of Bethesda out of my mind and knew there had to be a way to help the school continue to grow. I wanted to be part of seeing the school projects the headmaster visualized, that we prayed over, come to fruition. I met with the executive director of GO on the Mission, the non-profit organization my church partnered with to plan this trip, to brainstorm how we could partner to advocate for these needs. It was a huge goal, to raise the estimated budget of over $100,000 to complete the projects, and we knew it would take time, but we were all ready to trust God and see what He wanted to do with this school. I became a volunteer project manager.
Now a decade later, almost all the projects have been completed! The secondary school was recently completely funded and is under construction. The preschool wing, library/IT wing, and administration building have all been completed. There are now about 300 students in attendance, and once the secondary school is completed, there will be even more. I had the privilege to attend an opening ceremony to cut a ribbon and bless the new wings of the school. I have witnessed the community coming together, including Islamic leaders, to celebrate how well this school is educating the children of their future. It has been powerful and I am continually in awe of the mountains that God moves.
We celebrated the 6th grade graduation of our sponsor child as she moved on to a public secondary school. When she hears word that I am visiting, she comes back to the school to see me. I am hopeful she will be able to come back to attend Bethesda again once the secondary school is completed and we will happily sponsor her again. We also sponsor a younger student now.
The school bus is next on the list so children who can’t walk to school or don’t have another means of transportation can have the opportunity to attend the school as well.
senegal favorites and tourist destinations
Goree Island is a sobering, historical place to visit in Senegal. Off the coast of Dakar, it was once part of the Atlantic slave trade (15th-19th-century). It can be visited in a day trip and you can tour the following highlights:
~House of Slaves~IFAN Historical Museum~IFAN Museum of African Arts~The Museum of Black Civilisations~Memorial Goree-Almadies~Statue of Emancipation
Many artists are also on the island and one of my favorite souvenirs from Goree Island is a beautiful picture made from sand.
Bandia Reserve is a wildlife reserve where you can view African flora and animals. Get ready to adventure in a safari truck and learn about the animals you will undoubtedly encounter. You can also dine in a restaurant and watch crocodiles in a nearby waterhole. However, take caution with the monkeys lurking around the restaurant – they are very sneaky and are known to cause trouble (including stealing a slice of pizza right off my plate!).
Cuisine/DrinkSenegalese food is an experience in and of itself! It is often served in a communal bowl that people gather around and eat with their hands. From the national dish of Thieboudienne/Chebu Jen (fish, rice and vegetables) and the flavorful Chicken Yassa, to raw peanuts, cashews, and mouth-watering mangoes, come to the table with a full appetite.
Ataya tea and bissap juice are special drinks of choice. Ataya tea is often enjoyed while conversing and debating. It takes an elaborate three-round brewing process and is served in tiny cups. It is sweet and bold in flavor. Bissap juice is made from dried flowers of hibiscus. It is the national drink of Senegal. It is not advised to drink the water there or eat raw produce.
Baobab trees are Africa’s “Tree of Life.” They are succulents that store water in the rainy season and produce fruit in the dry season. The fruit of the baobab tree is called “monkey bread,” and it is a staple food in many Central African regions.