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group of African farmers have fun in the fields, they have hoes in their hands and are ready to plow the field, child with the basket of crops on his head

Light in the Bamboo BeltJo’s Song for the Wamei People of Senegal “I realize now why God sent you here from America to live in Senegal with me: so that you would tell me about Jesus—because I need Jesus right now.”&nbsp; — Jo<figure id="figure-4x5jkpgaupmb10isle"><img id="4x5jkpgaupmb10isle" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2AM47YrQWgiUZUcDiqMm9DsixE2sTXvZJWT46hOrALXbD6cqdTyyKxRorjaTlRXt.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2AM47YrQWgiUZUcDiqMm9DsixE2sTXvZJWT46hOrALXbD6cqdTyyKxRorjaTlRXt.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>photo credit: Edward Mendell A People Hidden in the Bamboo BeltDeep in the lush, southeastern corner of Senegal—near the border with Guinea—live the Wamei people, also known as the Konyagi. With a population of over 30,000, the Wamei are a vibrant, culturally rich ethnic group who still hold tightly to their ancestral ways. From palm-leaf thatched roofs to bamboo-crafted architecture, they are known for their distinctive dress, musical heritage, and tight-knit social systems.But beneath the beauty of their traditions lies a spiritual reality that few in the West can comprehend. The Wamei world is filled with spiritual protections, ancestral charms, and rituals rooted in fear. Most have never heard the gospel clearly—and fewer than 2% identify as evangelical believers.<figure id="figure-91mi1rtanamb10bmhq"><img id="91mi1rtanamb10bmhq" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/24NhnQUQs11V0J16S3kM1KveRnnlO5dDpaJ4Xzeq18FQ7TYut5Gq7qIwuFowFPGn.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/24NhnQUQs11V0J16S3kM1KveRnnlO5dDpaJ4Xzeq18FQ7TYut5Gq7qIwuFowFPGn.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>&nbsp; Breaking the CurseJo grew up in the heart of Wamei culture. Since childhood, he had worn four witchcraft belts—spiritual amulets given to him by his mother to protect him from curses, spirits, and harm. Like so many around him, Jo trusted these objects with his life.But God was writing a different story. Jo began coming to our Christian Coffee Shop &amp; Library—a ministry outpost in our town—where he asked questions about Jesus, listened to open-air gospel conversations, and wrestled with truth for months. He wanted to believe, but he knew the cost.In Senegal, becoming a Christian is no light decision. You risk losing your family, your job, and even your place in the village. Jo understood this all too well. But one day, tears in his eyes, he said, “I’m ready. I want to follow Jesus. I want to be baptized.”<figure id="figure-ukhuizlhiemb0zs933" class=""><img id="ukhuizlhiemb0zs933" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/8HNsWY6Vu3a2HaMl9TF8xTjA26QKxl0VKHoTRL5D18wFfAqGJBRneWKdlTICoYpu.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/8HNsWY6Vu3a2HaMl9TF8xTjA26QKxl0VKHoTRL5D18wFfAqGJBRneWKdlTICoYpu.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>That same day, Jo burned his belts in our backyard—breaking with his past. Then we baptized him, declaring his new life in Christ.<figure id="figure-lrykaxpvnnmb0ztoze" class=""><img id="lrykaxpvnnmb0ztoze" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/b96qNvGrqEXaUf4NkXQCnKTRSapgjbGXfZchhDpIRLrwogt73000q9aBUboaD3eL.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/b96qNvGrqEXaUf4NkXQCnKTRSapgjbGXfZchhDpIRLrwogt73000q9aBUboaD3eL.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>&nbsp; A Test of FaithJo’s newfound joy didn’t last long—at least not in the way we expected. The very next day, Jo’s 24-year-old wife suddenly died.We sat with him, cried with him, and helped provide a casket. And yet, in the midst of his grief, Jo said something we will never forget:“I realize now why God sent you here all the way from America to live in Senegal with me: so that you would tell me about Jesus. Because I need Jesus right now. And He will get me through this.”Despite devastating loss, Jo continued showing up—week after week—for Bible study, prayer, and discipleship. His faith only grew deeper.&nbsp; A Song in the DarknessJo’s trials weren’t over. Months later, he was falsely accused of stealing a solar panel and quickly arrested and set to a prison in a different city. We asked the local police for information, but they refused to tell us where they had sent Jo. Without a lawyer and with no information about his location, we had no way of reaching him. Would we ever see Jo again? All we could do was pray.Two weeks later, we received a call—from inside a prison. Another one of our discipleship students, also falsely imprisoned, had been placed in the same facility. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he told us. “But I got arrested anyway. &nbsp;But, guess what? I found Jo! He’s in the cell next to me.”Jo couldn’t read or write well, so Charles would read the Bible aloud so that Jo could hear it—the other prisoners got to hear the Bible this way as well. But Jo is talented in another way: he is a singer. With the help of his cellmate Charles, Jo began composing a worship song in his own language. Jo sang; Charles wrote. Together, they created what may be the first Christian worship song ever written in the Wamei language.The lyrics rose from a heart shaped by grief, redemption, and unshakable hope in Christ.<figure id="figure-bsrr83sbzhmb0zuywx" class=""><img id="bsrr83sbzhmb0zuywx" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/12KCvBbNuXaPBQxLrQWFFcqaqP43RWeT0IVXnYV9vYQZDbFCcrbDXKWJVpg9NEdi.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/12KCvBbNuXaPBQxLrQWFFcqaqP43RWeT0IVXnYV9vYQZDbFCcrbDXKWJVpg9NEdi.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>A Voice for the WameiWe’ve now recorded Jo’s song in audio format. But there’s more to be done.We are working to produce a music video—one that will bring this worship song to life and share the gospel across Senegal and Guinea in a way the Wamei people have never heard before: in their own voice, in their own language, through one of their own.For a people group that has been largely unreached for generations, this video could open doors, spark questions, and ignite a gospel movement.&nbsp;HOW CAN YOU HELP?Since his release from prison, Jo has struggled to find steady work—just like many young men in Senegal, where the national unemployment rate hovers around 20% and youth unemployment is even higher.But we believe Jo’s best ministry is still ahead of him.We are currently raising $16,500 to fund a bold, redemptive opportunity:It will allow us to hire Jo full-time at our Christian Coffee Shop &amp; Library—the only one of its kind in Senegal. It will also provide one year of salary for three other Senegalese team members. Together, they will help lead Bible studies, host Christian film nights, disciple new believers, and carry the love of Jesus deeper into unreached communities. This isn’t just job creation—it’s church planting. It’s discipleship. It’s mission.🙏 Will you partner with us in prayer and provision? 💼 Will you help us give Jo and this team the chance to lead boldly for Christ? &gt;<a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=TGYBJY3KF56Y8" data-mce-href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=TGYBJY3KF56Y8" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Click to Help Now</a>&lt;&nbsp; Jo's song may be the first Wamei-language Christian music video ever produced. With your help, it won’t be the last.

Light in the Bamboo Belt

Rearview shot of two unrecognizable young women carrying pots on their heads outside

<h2>Seven Years for a Bride?</h2>What One Village Woman Said That Made the Bible Jump Off the Pages!...a special update from the women's ministry in Senegal...<figure id="figure-1k3t1cfpf7amb161dgu"><img id="1k3t1cfpf7amb161dgu" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/43Ih8DK13POa1ySot1Uv3Mio7CxdBZ7fGX7b7FbfhcR3BTp3VIgoqrcQN3b0IAr8.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/43Ih8DK13POa1ySot1Uv3Mio7CxdBZ7fGX7b7FbfhcR3BTp3VIgoqrcQN3b0IAr8.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>This past week, I had a conversation that brought tears, laughter, and a fresh reminder of why we're here. I and two fellow missionary women walked down the dusty path to visit a local woman in our village—someone I have known for years. When we arrived, we found that she wasn’t home yet, but she came shortly after, smiling brightly and wearing her best glasses. She was so happy to see me and the other women.As we sat and caught up, I shared that a church team (all women) is planning to come visit this June. Her face lit up. “Will they bring us rice? That rice means everything to our family,” she said.She went on to explain how things have changed. Years ago, this whole region was farmland. Families grew their own food—rice, millet, and vegetables. It wasn’t easy, but it was sustainable. Back then, they could walk down to the ocean with a bucket, and fishermen would give them fish for free—enough for lunch, enough for dinner, even enough to dry some to save for later.<figure id="figure-af9rd66vwlmb15jgi0"><img id="af9rd66vwlmb15jgi0" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/24UFudb79oog0FhJoHeu5plzwBIq1QpFtXlN6VltHSFh2fNUMD6YvmnxIBUAiNPe.jpeg" alt="Four Fishermen Are Walking On The Beach" title="Four Fishermen Are Walking On The Beach" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/24UFudb79oog0FhJoHeu5plzwBIq1QpFtXlN6VltHSFh2fNUMD6YvmnxIBUAiNPe.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>But today? Now they have to pay for everything. The land is disappearing, the trees are gone, and there are fewer fish to go around. Survival has become expensive.Then the conversation turned to her youngest son. Just a few weeks ago, he got married. Amy learned that his family had to pay one million CFA for her bride price (that’s about $1750 USD, and when the average daily salary is about $5, that’s more than a year’s work). “When I got married,” the woman said, “it was only 20,000—and even that was a lot back then.”Because it’s so expensive, when a young man gets married here, he needs the help of his friends. His older brother, for example, donated 300,000 CFA ($525) to help his brother get married.&nbsp;Since they have now had the ceremony according to Islamic tradition at the mosque, they are half-married. Only half because, in village culture, this isn’t enough. Until they have a second marriage ceremony—recognized by the local community and fully paid for—his wife can’t come live with her husband and the rest of his family (22 people in all living in the family compound together).I then began to share the story of Leah and Rachel—how Jacob worked seven years for Rachel’s bride price. The woman gasped. “Even here in the village,” she explained, “men have had to work for years to pay for the bride price. But I never knew that was in the Bible too!”And there it was—The Old Testament connecting across time and culture, from ancient Israel to a small village in West Africa.<figure id="figure-h3ygf4kf0nmb15i7z9"><img id="h3ygf4kf0nmb15i7z9" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/7fk6D5VNCkvsQ061ZOcjmdL15c8STxtCZuaugQeYCJAv221RkEfqcOfDpXI5sBBe.jpeg" alt="Close up hands of christian group praying for globe and people around the world on wooden table with bible." title="Close up hands of christian group praying for globe and people around the world on wooden table with bible." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/7fk6D5VNCkvsQ061ZOcjmdL15c8STxtCZuaugQeYCJAv221RkEfqcOfDpXI5sBBe.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>As we continued talking, the woman shared one more tradition from the village marriage custom. After all the payments are finally made, she explained, sometimes the groom must sneak over in the middle of the night to the bride’s house and “steal” her away. That’s how she officially comes to live with him and his family as his wife. In American culture, it’s hard to grasp some of the parables in the New Testament—like when Jesus says the Bride must always be ready for the Bridegroom’s unexpected return (Matthew 25). But here? In this culture, it just makes sense. The Bible comes alive in the dust of these village paths.This is what you make possible. Every bag of rice donated to feed the hungry. Every home visit. Every spiritual conversation. Every new believer baptized. Every moment when God's story touches someone’s heart—just like it touched hers—is priceless.If you’re already a monthly partner, we are so deeply grateful! You are a vital part of this ministry.&nbsp; And if you’re not yet partnering with us monthly—would you consider joining us today? Your ongoing support helps us walk these paths, listen to these stories, and open God’s Word in ways that speak directly into people’s lives.Thank you for praying.Thank you for giving.Thank you for believing that the gospel speaks every language—and every culture.

Seven Years for a Bride?

When our American friends recently left the comforts of home to help us here in Africa, last month it gave us new encouragement! After months of red tape and waiting we were getting pretty discouraged. God had given us the vision and provided the resources to expand our ministry in Senegal. The plan was to add the first-of-its-kind English LIbrary and coffee shop. So many people have mentioned to us that they wish they had a place to learn and practice English. We knew the need was real, but it seemed like the process was taking so long (almost a year of paperwork). These past few months we began losing some hope. Then a church in Oklahoma answered the call.First, a church member came and worked alongside us on a two-month internship. Aubrey worked tirelessly with Lyric setting up the coffee shop, decorating, and organizing all the library books. Lyric and Aubrey have really been the workhorses around here the past couple of months, and we are so thankful and proud of them.Then, other church members joined and spent a week with us. During the week we spent time at two local Senegalese elementary schools sharing Bible stories and lots of laughs with around 200 kids. In the evenings, we took to the streets for door-to-door evangelism and delivered 4000 pounds of rice to the village chief to distribute to our neighbors here who have the greatest need. It was during this week that we finally got word that our government documents to open the Coffee shop library had finally been APPROVED!Our church never gave up hope, and they helped us stay encouraged too. Now the community has a safe place to come and learn about Jesus while practicing and learning more English to help them pursue better job opportunities in the future. We are looking forward to an exciting Summer!We have been made aware of another need in our mission field here. Some of the elementary school students we work with have been having difficulty affording their school fees. School here is not considered a right and is only for those who can afford it. Those who can’t afford it drop out of school, usually between the ages of 12-14, to try to take a manual labor job to help their family.With your continued support, the Lord has led us to start sponsoring 15 of these children so that their parents can keep them in school. Thank you for your faithfulness! Please pray with us that these children, and others like them, can pursue their basic education without fear of having to give up on their dreams.

Africa 1040 Global Ministries

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Light in the Bamboo Belt

Seven Years for a Bride?

From Discouragement To Hope