The Sheep Says, “Baaaaaa!!”

We are saying this to Caleb quite often because it is noisier than usual at our house. Our neighbor, Abi – and all our other neighbors, have bought their sheep for Tabaski, the Muslim holiday when every family sacrifices at least one sheep in remembrance of the ram sacrificed by Abraham in place of his son. It is a very festive day here as everyone dresses up, eats a huge meal, and visits their friends and family. However, it is sad for us because we know that this sacrifice does not bring them one bit closer to God. We are trying to share with them that Jesus was the final sacrifice who has paid for our sins. Please pray along with us that we will have many opportunities to share this truth with our friends and neighbors.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We thank you for praying for us during this season. Many people here think that Christmas is some wild partying holiday with lots of food and drinking and that Santa Claus is the main character. We have been telling everyone we can about the true meaning of Christmas. We have given out quite a few New Testaments in Wolof along with our gifts of little cakes and bags of rice. We tell each person to whom we give a gift that we give because God has given us the greatest gift ever given. Please pray that their hearts will be touched and their spirits will be open to reading and hearing God’s truth.

Also, you have been praying for our storying groups with middle-schoolers. Thank you!! We have had over 60 students sit in for at least one story. In addition, we have quite a few faithful ones who are here every time and can repeat every story. We have lots of fun! Please continue praying that the Word will penetrate their hearts and change their lives.

Finally, many of you have given to your churches’ mission funding, the Cooperative Program, and to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. We want to say a huge THANK YOU to you. You are playing a vital role in keeping us and 5000 other missionaries in our fields of service. You have put a nice roof over our heads, provided us a vehicle to drive, put food on our table, and put God’s Word in the hands of many. We appreciate each one of you.

May you and your family be blessed throughout the New Year!