Ummm… What did you say?!?!?

Well, pray-ers, we want to thank you for responding to our request in trying to discover how many of you are out there. We were overwhelmed to calculate that we have at least 650 people praying for our family, our work, and the lost people around us!! We are expecting God to do great things as He hears our prayers.

As most of you know, Chad and Crystal are mainly studying language right now. The language spoken in Dakar from their colonization period is French, and the dominant local language is Wolof. Chad is studying French, and Crystal is studying Wolof. We want desperately to be able to communicate the Gospel in these other languages. Our studies have been going very well. However, learning new languages is not always easy. Even when you know the right words, people still might not understand you.

Like today, Crystal went to answer a knock at our gate. It was one of the children asking to use the swing for the park (that’s right THE swing – and we had brought it with us!). Crystal was trying to tell him in Wolof that everyone was resting, so he needed to come back later. He got this confused look on his face and said, “The swing is sleeping?!?” Crystal tried again to explain, but he just shook his head and said he would come back tomorrow.

Seriously though, this is a big request that we have. Pray that we will be able to speak and understand French and Wolof.

Next, we are excited that our first volunteer team comes in TOMORROW! They are college students from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas. We have several requests related to their visit. First, pray for all of the travel involved and everyone’s health.

They will be helping to distribute a book in the some of the schools in Dakar and some other towns. The book is to help Muslims understand who Jesus is. Please pray that many will accept and read and understand this book. Pray that they will want to know more about Jesus and that they will follow Him!!

Also, the group will be going to a village to do a medical/dental clinic. Pray that people will listen to the Bible stories that can heal their hearts while their bodies and teeth are being cared for.

Their final ministry will be with talibe boys in Dakar. These are the boys who have been given to religious leaders to learn the Koran. However, they end up being malnourished, often ill, dirty, and begging in the streets. Pray that they will see and understand God’s love. Pray that they will decide to follow Jesus rather than their religious leader.

One of the great things for us is that our family gets to be involved! All of us will go out for four days of travel and ministry, and Chad will continue on with the group for an additional week. We are thrilled!

Well, this has been an extra long newsletter, but we wanted to let you know how to be praying.