It’s hard to believe it’s been two months already! God has brought us this far! Sometimes we are spinning with the many changes He’s brought our way and He’s brought us through! Yet, He’s also surrounded us with support through prayer and compassionate care.
These few photos should give you a peek into our first 2 months:

Jenny & Eliane Headed out to Market
Meeting and getting to know Eliane has been an important highlight of our start here in Senegal. Eliane comes to our home every weekday helping me keep the house clean (it’s an endless battle against the dust which is reportedly tame this time of year!), keeping our crowd fed, and offering valuable perspective on life in Senegal. Eliane is a dear sister in Christ and fast becoming a dear friend! We are blessed by her!

Roundys with Jerome and Vildene
Our new church family at L’Eglise Presbytérienne de Hann Maristes has also been a blessing to us. Our pastor and his wife, Jerome and Vildene, have taken care to help us get to know our new city and to get to know life in a new way here. We greatly appreciate their friendship, their patience with us, and their care for us!

James and Jada Supervising the Filling of the Waterbed
Getting settled into our new home has been a team effort, and that’s a team that includes more than just our very cute children!
We’re so grateful to our mission team members who worked so hard before and since our arrival to set up our house!

During our first month here we were able to meet many of the NTM missionaries ministering here in Dakar. They welcomed us warmly: after we shared our testimony with the team, the kids enjoyed a sleepover while we got down to business, a game of Settlers!

All Dressed up to Attend the Wedding

The Bride and her Brother Wally
What an honor to attend our neighbor’s wedding! We were invited to celebrate the marriage of our friend Wally’s sister. Our neighbors really know how to have a party–with good food, finely dressed guests and music and dancing long into the night! We really enjoyed being a part of the celebration and getting to meet more of our neighbors!

Emmanuel and Elena Start School at Dakar Academy

James and Jada Start School at L'Ecole ABC
Also in the past 2 months we’ve all started classes. So far Emmanuel and Elena are thriving in their new school! This is an answer to prayer in a huge way! They were very nervous about the new school and it was a bit of an adjustment, but it hasn’t been a rough one. On the contrary, it’s been amazing to hear their accounts of their school day told with such joy! Their school is an American school and all their classes (except for French class) are in English.
James and Jada completed a “vacation course” at their school and the main school year commences this next Monday. They are going to a small school that is held in our church. Their classes are all in French. We have already seen an improvement in their French speaking at home! Thank you for your prayers on behalf of our kiddos!
Jonathan & I have also started classes–French language classes. We meet 2 hours every morning with our French language instructor. Our vocabulary is stretching and expanding daily! We’d appreciate your prayers during this time of intense language and culture acquisition. We will be focusing on this for the next year in order to reach a language level at which we can communicate well with those we minister alongside.
God has brought us many blessings during this difficult time of transition. We are thankful to Him for your prayers and for His presence through the last months and going forward! We look forward to what He will bring us through in the next months!