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.