Feb 24, 2020 - Northern Senegal

With a porous border probably over 500 miles long separating the Gambia and Senegal, getting from one side to the other unofficially must be pretty easy, especially as both sides share ethnicity, but we thought we should take the official route, just in case. From the resort area, this involves taking a local ferry across the mouth of the Gambia river for 30 or 45 minutes depending whether you get the slow one of the fast one. Now a bit like smart motorways, this has not been thought through. We missed the first slow one by minutes but...

Jan 20, 2020 - Our first look at Dakar!

Hi everyone! Hard to believe that this is my first full day waking up in Senegal, Africa. After a long journey and a restless day in the hotel yesterday I was so excited to begin to explore my new home for the next four months. Although I already miss my family and friends (yes- I know it's only day two), today has really affirmed that this experience is the type that I have been yearning for since beginning my college career. Most of our day consisted of a guided tour of the city. We started off only about 2 minutes from our hotel at a...

Jun 7, 2017 - Wrapping Up Class

The hardest part of teaching an intensive class like the one I have been doing here in Africa is getting started. Well, that and getting finished. It takes me a little time--maybe the first day--to feel like I am "with" the students. And, there is always so much more I want to teach that it is hard to know where to end. One of the paradigm-shifting concepts I try to leave students with--wherever I am teaching--is that teaching is not simply telling. That teaching is a much richer discipline than merely passing along information. Teaching...

Jun 6, 2017 - Rose Lake

So, Monday was Pentecost Day--a day off work. The students asked to renegotiate our time for the day. We ended up meeting from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Got our five hours in. They were able to head to the special services their churches had scheduled. Pastor Lee, Fear Love, Joon, and I headed for Rose Lake. I had this rather romantic picture in my head of what Rose Lake would be like. A picturesque place with African bao bao trees, maybe zebras wandering around its edges, and bright pink water. The actual picture is a bit more like a dessert oasis...

Jun 4, 2017 - Pentecost Sunday

OK, let me just throw it out there. I am a Baptist. We like the Holy Spirit, but we are not so big on the Pentecostal doctrines related to the Holy Spirit. So, how did a Baptist youth minister-turned-professor end up preaching on the Holy Spirit in an Assembly of God Church on Pentecost Sunday? If you are not familiar with the story, Pentecost was a Jewish holiday and also just happened to be the day that God chose to send His Holy Spirit to dwell in believers and empower them for ministry. Christians believe that the presence of God, in...

Jun 3, 2017 - Class and the Slave Island

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a few days. At midnight on Friday, all my grades for the Spring Semester were due. I had a bunch of Public Speaking students that had prepared sermons for me to evaluate and, well, no time to do any journaling. I leave for church in 25 minutes or so, so I doubt I will have time to complete this entry, but thought I would get started. The missionary here who is hosting me is also from Korea. I guess the fact that I am part of an American consortium of mostly Korean pastors on this trip sort of makes this make...

May 30, 2017 - Changing Places

Tired, but decided to post a quick update. Internet was spotty the last couple of nights. Monday--Finished up class, gave the final, lots of hugs and handshakes. I am going to miss these wonderful people. Went out to dinner with a van load of Koreans. Praise God for my friend Michael Ahn. He actually spoke to me in English. OK, a few of the others did as well. It was actually a nice evening. Tuesday--Got up and packed. Michael told me that breakfast was at 7 a.m. He told me at 7 a.m. So, I went in my gym shorts, T-shirt, and sandals. I...

Apr 23, 2013 - Dakar, Senegal

Today we had our final breakfast & left the ship. So sad! I wasn’t really ready to go home yet & could happily stay on another week or two. We said our goodbyes to other passengers & the outstanding staff. Mo, Eric, Rastko, Monica, Sean & I have all booked a day tour with Senegal Style to see Bandia nature preserve rather than doing the more standard Dakar city and Goree Island tour. A wildlife safari sounded like a great departure after 2 weeks of city tours. It also sounded right up Sean’s alley. Our tour guide has turned out to be a bit...

Apr 5, 2013 - L'Afrique.....la vraie

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