It's a Beautiful Life

Well, the team here in Catel had another exciting weekend!

I have to say, baptisms are very beautiful things.  This passed Sunday, nine people publicly declared that they belong to Jesus.

Most times, I prefer just to experience life, and not photograph it, but these are the occasions in which I am very thankful for my teammates that are completely on top of the "taking pictures thing". [in other words... I took absolutely none of these pictures]

"We're marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion!"

just kidding... We're marching to the rice field dike.

Andrew is asking the participants questions as to whether or not each of them was prepared to leave behind their old life and be a light for Jesus.  Each of them responded with a resounding "YES!" (well... "SIN!" is what they actually said, which means "yes" in Kiriol)

The newest members of "Igreja Menonita" here in GB

Meet Neusa - she has been really involved in one of the womens' bible studies we hold here.  She also has a little son and is the wife to Rozalio (see picture 3).

Siaka - he's one of the guys involved in our cashew business here, and has recently been added to the church council.  It is Gibby, by the way, who is helping Andrew baptize new believers (see previous blog posts on the pig project).

Here's Rozalio - husband to Neusa.  He also makes beautiful clothes here in Catel.

Meet Lona!  Lona is a really dynamic personality and has an incredible talent for getting people hyped up.  As well as being involved in the pig project, he is a recent addition to the church council.

Tino - He's been a faithful attender of our church here and happens to be the son of the school director here in Catel.

And....Domingas!  On several occasions, I have been incredibly encouraged by her faith.  She is a light in her house and a leader of the women there.

Braima - The older brother of Augustu, and husband of my best friend Di (see next picture).  He teaches social studies to 4th-6th graders as well. If you look closely, you might notice Braima's younger brother Augustu, also a Christian and avid evangelist to their family, beaming.

Di!  If you every can't find me at the mission house or in my gardens, I'm probably hanging out with Di at her house.  

Here is Salifu, another result of Augustu's evangelism.  I also spend a lot of time with his wife Loti and their eight-month-old daughter Leonara.

So now you are all caught up on what happened recently.  Like I have said before, it's a beautiful and exciting life here in Catel.  God is doing amazing work!  We know for sure, though, that the devil doesn't like it, for he is also at work here in Catel.  Please pray for these new lights in Catel, that they would strengthened and blessed in their walk.

Until next time!

A

All things Ag

Hello!  It's been awhile!

I have to say that last weekend here in Catel was an exciting one!  Men from Catel and some surrounding villages came to a 2 day agricultural seminar that I coordinated.  I know for sure that everyone had a lot of fun (including the teacher), and people left the seminar excited to implement principles in their own fields. And it's not over yet!  People who missed out on the seminar are asking me for the materials.  I am also in the process of translating materials for "farming rice fields God's way". As per my norm, I thought a photo gallery was appropriate to demonstrate to you what went on.  Enjoy!

PREP WORK:

Clearing the area that will become our "well-watered garden".

"Who dug a hole the size of Adrianne?" you ask.  I discovered all I have to do at this mission house is mention that I have work that would be really good exercise, and BAM!  Free labor comes running to help this damsel in distress!

Carrying "God's Blanket" (aka mulch) to cover our garden area.

IN THE CLASSROOM:

Our discussion group was wrestling over some tough questions as to the biblical basis of "Farming God's Way" (the curriculum I used to supplement my teaching).

IN THE FIELD:

This was one of my favorite parts!  I got to explain about soil horizons (my field of study).

Some of my students, extremely interested in what I have to say about "dirt".

Salifu adding to the mulch - Good work, Salifu!

My students explaining to me how we could make our garden square.

Nemias is making zai holes which will become individual fertilization sites.

Sadja dominating the wheelbarrow.

 I was really excited to hear their responses at the end of the seminar - what they were excited to implement in their fields, what they still wanted to learn and what I could do better next time.  Thank you to each of you who were praying!

The Pigs Came!

Lona and Beryl traveled to Cap's Skirring, Senegal with Beryl's sports car to go get our pigs on the 15th.  I thought you'd be curious what Beryl's sport's car looks like filled with pigs.  The pigs will be staying a bit in Lona's barn until the others finish their barns.  Everybody is happy (and the pigs seem very happy too!)

Lona standing in the Cap's Skirring barn with the first of the pigs.

Pigs need diapers when they are traveling in a sports car.  Just saying.

There they are!  15 of them.

Aren't they a little bit cute and beautiful at the same time?

Awesome.  Bonding time is already happening!  These are the pigs are hopefully going to help pull families of Catel out of poverty.

Just picturesque.  Lona and one of his pigs.

I think I'll just leave you with that image of Lona and his pig.  We are all thanking God for his faithful provision in pigs, for safe travels of the pigs (and Lona and Beryl) to Catel, and for what He will be doing through this project!

Women's day and other stuff

March 8 is International Women's Day.  Here, some men cook or go to the market for their women.  Our mission guys were awesome.  Not only did they cook for us, but they went and picked us some flowers.  Aren't they great?

Our teammate Briz giving each of us a lovely purple flower on Women's Day.

The Jablonski's (a family on short term medical mission here) went to Spain on vacation... We were very happy to have them back...and not just because they brought us "kusas sabi" (nice things)! 

My friend and teammate Meghan brought our team chocolate from Spain. 

I was pretty excited... So was everyone else, but I don't have pictures of them being all excited.

Learning Things

You know when you just sit down one day and decide "Today is the day I'm going to learn how to ________."  Well... That happened to me the other day.  I just decided the other day that this was the perfect day to start carrying heavy buckets of water on my head.  Here are some pictures:

This basia (tub) is really heavy - thank you Tessa for helping me.

Yeah man!  Look at those smiles!

I also thought that after watching the doctors here stitching dozens of people up (I translate in our clinic here), I would try my hand stitching up Mr. Orange.  Don't worry... I don't intend to try my hand on any people any time soon, but he looks good, doesn't he?

Now... what does Dr. Steve usually do with these tools?  Just kidding.  I know what I'm doing.

The orange, post-surgery.

Retreat

We have visitors from the states (Steve Shank and Darrell Hostetter) who, in coordination with some YES team training, facilitated our mission's retreat this passed week.  This year, we went to Cap's Skirring, Senegal and were taught on "God's Hospitality."  I don't know about many of you, but the beach also sounded really great.

The bungalows that we stayed in.

The view from the eating area.

Headed down to the beach.

Almost there... lots of steep steps.

AHHH!!!

Fun fact... each bungalow was approximately 20USD, and if you look very closely at this picture, you can see cows on the beach.  They apparently like sunbathing too.

The pigs are coming! The pigs are coming!

Pardon me if all you feel like you hear about these days is the pig project, but the pig project is a pretty major part of what I'm doing right now.

Recently, I visited the facility in Senegal where we will be getting our improved pigs from.  I thought you'd like to see some pictures!

Here is the place!  It's called CPUS - it's a locally operated Spanish NGO.  They have a sizable poultry project, a rabbit project, the pig project, and a slaughterhouse.

They even have their own feedmill for the poultry project.  It's said that they supply all of southern Senegal with eggs.

Here's the meat rabbit project I spoke of earlier.  It brought back memories of my own meat and pet rabbit project when I was little.

This is what the inside of CPUS's pig barn looks like.

Peek-a-boo!  They all stood up to greet us.

Classic pig picture, but gives you more of an idea of how big the pigs are compared to the local breed (see previous blog posts).

Here are some of the pigs that will be coming to live with us in Catel on March 15th!  WOOT!

This pellet mixture, along with palm nut cakes is what our pigs will be eating.

Thanks for reading!  We're all excited for their arrival.  Thank you all for your emails and support!

-A