Mangiy Dem

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to plant and a time to uproot...~Solomon

Four months ago, I dare say that I had no clue what was about to happen. I only knew that the Lord was taking the most unqualified servant, and by grace, sending her to Dakar, Senegal to live out what it means to be a follower of the Way.Now, four months later, I dare say that I still have no clue what is about to happen. I only know that I am not leaving this place the same person I was when I arrived. I know, without a doubt, that the Lord is a Holy God, perfect and sovereign. I know that He is greater than Islam, and yet His heart breaks over the deception that takes place on a daily basis. I know that He is enough. I know that, by grace, I was born into a family that taught me salvation comes from Jesus alone. And, I know that it is by grace that He allowed me to be here to share that same message.

I know that the Lord has told me to GO. And now that time has come, again. I must leave this place that has left an indelible mark on my life. For now, I must say goodbye to friends, new family members, fellow believers, and food that I will forever try to recreate. (Family, prepare your heart for some amazing Christmas dishes...)

I can tell you this:It will be impossible to remove from my memory the beautiful faces of the Senegalese. It will be impossible to erase the need and the opportunity to work with the Talibe. It will be impossible to take away the permanent blessing that Abdulay's family has been, with their patience and willingness to listen. It will be impossible to forget the kids at the basketball courts, even in spite of a language barrier. It will be impossible for anyone to steal the joy of trying to teach English to several treasured women. It will be impossible for anything to take away the beauty of the little children's voices singing at kids camp. It will be impossible for anyone to replace the precious place my new missionary families now have in my heart. And, with that in mind, I pray that it is impossible for me to return home as the same person I was when I left, August 6th.

I pray that testimony of the Lord's sovereignty will flow from not only my words and stories but also my actions!! Dakar will forever be in my heart and my prayers, and I pray that even as my time here comes to a close (for now) that your prayers for these people would not stop! I ask that you would please continue to pray for doors to continue to open in this city. Pray that people would have questions, as well as a desire for a genuine thirst for the Word. Please pray for the Wolof Team as they continue to daily work hard to make Truth known among these people.

I can't begin to put into words how grateful I am for these past four months. Honestly, it gets me excited about what the future holds. The Lord has opened my eyes and grown my heart in ways that I never imagined. Even just today, Meredith and I were dreaming up and praying through ways that we can continue to serve the people of Dakar in the states. Praise the Lord that He is so much bigger than miles and continents.

I'm so excited to see you face to face and share stories of His faithfulness!! Prepare yourself for some big hugs and crazy videos! I love you all so much, and am so blessed to have friends and family that have lifted up this beautiful journey to the Lord, in prayer!

Oh! Mere and I were able to make a video about the Talibe Boys! Hopefully it will show you a little of what these precious boys experience on a daily basis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZdm_SZFLrM

Grace and Peace,

Tiff

A Great Game- November 10, 2008

Last Wednesday, I was blessed to attend one of the greatest games I believe to have ever been played in all of Dakar, Senegal. Four of us were able to go to a football (American soccer) game that seemed to stop time. The two teams were Italy and Senegal, and the competitors were phenomenal. Big and small men alike showed up to play in the heat of the day. I watched carefully as Italy huddled together preparing their attack against the newly put together Senegal. Just the same, Senegal got warmed up and ready to go full force! The teams were in line, the whistle blown, and the great game began.
These two teams, small in stature yet mighty in strength, consisted of about twenty young Talibe boys. Ages ranging from approximately seven to fourteen years, the boys teamed together to play for one short hour during their busy day. The smiles were big and the competition gentle, even in the midst of a tied game.

I loved each and every minute watching these fella's play. The decision was made and Meredith and I were allowed to be their goalies (Meredith for team Senegal and myself for Italy), and I could not have been more honored. Before the game began, I took my place at the goal and was advised with a smile, by my friend Usman, to take off my flip-flops so that I could move better. It was true. I moved much more hurriedly with my shoes off, but not because of better mobility. It was more the heat of the desert sand than anything. I am still amazed at how these little boys can play so freely and run so quickly without protection on their precious, little feet.

Clearly the inexperienced one on team Italy, I began to make friends with a small boy that stayed by my side during the majority of the game. He saved the day a few times, and no goal had been made after what seemed to be 15 minutes. But before I knew it, team Italy was steadily rushing toward the opponent's goal. Two seconds later, I heard boyish cheering. We scored the first goal!! Time to celebrate! We ran around with our hands raised, high-fiving each other, smiling as if there were no other care in the world. Before long, I was quickly escorted back to my position by one of the older team members. Time for business again…

At the end of the hour, the two teams had equally scored three goals each. The game had ended, but only for this week. Another match is yet to come this Wednesday. I'm positive team Italy will be pumped and ready to take on their fierce competitor.

Although the game was a memory that I shall never forget, it wasn't even the greatest part of our time with these beautiful, young boys. After the game, David (a Senegalese believer) sat with them and shared the story of creation. When he finished, questions were asked, and the boys began to answer. Initially the answers came hesitantly, but by the end, the football stars were shouting out various things that our God had created, and announcing facts about Adam and Eve.

This is one of many stories that the Lord is allowing me to be a part of. I cannot tell you how blessed I am to be here working amongst these people. It seems with each day, the Lord is revealing Himself in a different way.

Mondays and Thursdays: working with the young basketball teams is amazing! Please be praying for these young girls. Meredith and I have invited them over to our apt in the next week so that we can chat and share truth with them in a different setting.
Tuesdays: I love, love, love this family that we are storying with! English class is always fun, and we have been asked to begin reading the story in Wolof each week. Please pray that our words would be spoken clearly and they wouldn't hear us but rather Christ in us.
Wednesdays: Work with the Talibe boys is wonderful. Please continue to pray for the Maribu. The church that introduced us to him (IBC) had their 25th anniversary on Sunday, and the Maribu attended the service. Pray that the relationship between IBC and the Maribu would continue to grow strong in Christ. Also, English class is continuing to be a great blessing! The stories are being shared and by the grace of the Father, English is actually being learned.
Fridays: Kids Club is so much fun! The past two weeks have been music weeks. We have been dancing and singing around the park without reservation (which I'm sure is quite entertaining). Not only is David reading the story to them, but they are beginning to ask more and more questions.

Please know that I am so grateful for your prayers. I believe I realize more and more each day how much Dakar has infiltrated my life. I do ask for your continued prayers as our time here has dwindled to about one month, but praise the Father even after my time concludes here, He remains.
Thank you for your encouragement and support! I miss you all, and don't worry.
I will keep you posted on this week's big game!
Grace and peace,
Tiffany

To Sing- October 27, 2008

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.Psalm 63:4-5

To sing…
If there's one thing my mother has drilled into my life, it's the importance of singing. Thinking back, during happy times and sad times, goofy times and really serious times, we would sing. Sometimes the songs led to dancing, and other times the songs have led to tears, but one thing is for sure, each time I sing out to the Lord, His presence is so very clear. It's as if He's wired my crazy brain to not only enjoy music but to see it in order that I might better understand Him…

In the next few paragraphs, I pray that you get caught up, not in my words, but in the song the Lord has been writing on my heart.

Tonight, I put on my crazy African britches and headed for the roof. I love the top of this building. There's so much to see and hear. Honestly, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Tonight was one of those nights. I headed up the stairs with the ol' ipod, and as soon as I hit the top, the open, African sky was right there to greet me. I looked around and honestly, got really overwhelmed with the question "why"? I hear the horns blowing, I see the woman next door saying prayers to a lie, I'm watching men and women walk around greeting one another, all the while being reminded that 95% of these beautiful people are Muslim, 3% Catholic, and 2% animist.

Then the doubt begins to sneak in.
"Who am I? I'm not fit for this job. There are so many, and I am so weak. I don't even speak their language. How can you use this life of mine? Lord, I am so sinful…"
The music begins…

"What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.Come to [me], Lord. You reward those who earnestly, diligently seek you.I wanna see your face.I wanna know Your ways.Come to [me], Lord.[I] want you more than this world, more than [my] way.Your way is higher.Your thoughts are higher.[I] surrender here, tonight…What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow.No other fount I know.Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

Okay, so the Lord was pretty clear. His way is higher. He is the only reason, the only motivation, the only basis for my being here. He makes me whole. Hosanna!
At this point, my heart is smiling. With each beat, a different face comes to mind…
Hosanna! The Talibe boys…
Hosanna! The women in our ESL class…
Hosanna in the highest!
The beautiful family that we story with…
Hosanna! The precious children at kids camp in Sacre Coeur III…
Hosanna! The Diarra family that lives below us…
Hosanna in the highest! The basketball players at the community center in Derkle…

I wish I could go through and explain each and every person that the Lord has allowed me to meet. I wish that you could have been up on that roof with me as the music played and I looked around no longer seeing a defeated people, but a victorious Savior. I also wish that you could have seen the way the guys on the roof next to me were staring as I danced around and sang like a crazy person.
Heal my heart and make it clean.Open up my eyes to the things unseen.Show me how to love like You have loved me.Break my heart for what breaks yours!Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause,As I walk from earth into eternity.

I pray that the song never grows quiet in my heart or yours. I pray that with each step your feet take, it is to the rhythm of the Mighty, Beloved Conqueror. I pray that during happy times and sad times, goofy times and really serious times, you would sing. May the songs lead to dancing, rejoicing and tears, but one thing for certain, each time you sing out, I pray His presence is so very clear.
Dakar is a beautiful place, full of hospitality and smiling faces. But my heart does break for the deception that continues to control the people. I ask that you please continue to pray for the Wolof team here in the city. They are awesome, and I couldn't be more blessed to be under their leadership. Mere and I love them as if they were family!! Please pray for us as we begin new ministries and continue to work in some previously started.
Monday & Thursdays: We are working on some basketball skills with some awesome teenagers. It's a great opportunity to get some exercise, laugh a little, and most importantly, build relationships in order that the truth might be shared in their lives and in their homes.
Tuesdays: We story with an AMAZING family! Well, there are about eight related families living in this one compound. Each Tuesday, we go and teach some English, followed by a story of truth about our God and Savior. Their smiles and the sound of their laughter is priceless, but please pray that they would experience true joy and freedom in Christ.
Wednesdays: We just began working with the Talibe Boys on Wednesday. Please, please pray for these boys (I encourage you to google 'talibe boys in Dakar/Senegal). Basically, we are working with about 30 young, orphan boys (ages 2 and up) that live in a small home, with walls of straw and a roof made out of cardboard. Each day they travel around the city and beg for money so that they can give it to their "keeper." The parents of these children have given them over to a Maribu, who then becomes their guardian, and in most cases the boys are beaten and abused as an incentive to bring home the money. They are malnourished and often very sick. We have been blessed with the opportunity to get to play with them for an hour each Wednesday and then story! Also, Please continue to pray for our ESL class! It's so much fun, and awesome to watch Jami and Helen read the story to their Muslim peers each week.
Fridays: We get to do another kids camp!! These kids are great, and so much fun! There are several girls that show up, which is wonderful!! (Yes, we did nails the other day. The Lord is stretching me.) Please pray for David. He is a believer from Senegal who is helping us and reading the story to the children (and starting next week, he will also help us w/ the Talibe boys).
Even as I type, the Lord is reminding me of what a blessing and privilege it is to be here, in spite of myself and my failures. All things are made perfect in Him, and I am so grateful to have two more months in this city. There is truly no other place that I would rather be right now than on my face in this city, before the Victorious Father and Healer.
The Stand
What could I say, What could I do,But offer this heart, O God, completely to You.So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, In awe of the One who gave it all.I'll stand, my soul, Lord, to You surrender.All I am is yours.
Grace and Peace,
Tiff

Update 1- August 18, 2008

What's up!!!This is going to be a super short email, but I just wanted everyone to know that Meredith and I are safe in Dakar. And man, was it an interesting trip! Orientation was AMAZING, but it's so good to be here. When we got off the plane the urban city life truly hit! It's a different world than Niamey, Niger. I'm pretty sure about 10 men surrounded all of us crazy American girls and we possibly got proposed to a few times. I LOVED every minute of it!! We are safe and sound (at 2am) at the Baptist Center here in Dakar and leave tomorrow morning at 11am to move into our apt! I'm not sure what the internet situation is like, but be ready for some video updates and some more detailed info about what the Lord did in Niamey, Niger over the past ten days and what He's doing here in Dakar! This place is dark, friends. Please be in prayer about the opportunities that the Lord has for us here. I do know that we are NOT doing a hair ministry (Praise Him), nor are we doing mechanics but there is in fact a Gold's Gym on the beach. Yes, that's right. Fitness is a big deal here in Dakar. I'm so excited! Now I'm rambling, partially b/c I'm tired, but mostly because I want you to know how grateful I am to be here and to share His grace, love and truth with this people! 95% of the people here are Muslim. The other 5% is made up of tribal religions and Roman Catholicism.Thank you so much for your prayers and support! I can't wait to share more in a much more organized fashion. Haha.Oh, and I don't have everyone on the email list just yet. If you know of anyone that isn't on here and should be, if you don't mind fwding it on, that would be great! Thanks, guys, and I love you all!!Grace and Peace,-- Tiffany

A Good Sheep Cleanin'

Often I approach these things with so many words that my fingers have difficulty keeping up with my brain. Today is one of those days. My mind is full of images and thoughts and questions that I ache to share with you. I have absolutely no way of doing so except to crank the ipod and take it one thought at a time. If your curiousity allows you to read further, I pray that you would leave with a deeper understanding of what the Father is doing in my heart and mind.

Every so often, I am blessed to get to head to the beach here in Dakar. Saturday is the day of choice. The sun is always shining these days, and the temperature has begun to cool a little from the desert winds coming in. I'm not sure if it could be more perfect weather for laying under a colorful hut, watching the waves come in.
This past Saturday, Meredith, Gay, Molly and I headed for Yoff beach. It's a quiet area. The only people that tend to be there are guys working out on the beach and a few sheep keepers. This particular day seemed to be close to perfect. I had my music, journal, a good book and the sun. As we got settled in our newly found 'beach area' we couldn't help but notice the sheep to our left. There were about 10-15 sheep just hangin' out in their own world. Not a care in the world except to baa in as many octaves as could be imagined.
I finally got comfortable. But before I knew it, I heard, what sounded like, a dying sheep. Jolted a bit, I took my headphones off and looked around for where the strange noise was coming from. Sure enough, the sheep keeper next door had a sheep by his two front legs and was leading him to the ocean. This could only mean one thing...it was time for a bath. Now, this might be one of the funniest things I have ever watched in my life. The sheep looks to his right and to his left, baa'ing as if to scream out for help against the ocean current and cleanliness. The sheep keeper patiently guides him on two feet straight for the waters, and once in the water, the sheep is splashed and scrubbed, all the while still cring out for help. The sheep keeper carefully guards the victims head while turning him over and over in the ocean to make sure that he's completely cleaned. When clean, the sheep is released, and he goes happily running right back to his other dirty companions, and the process begins again with a new sheep.
In the midst of my laughter, it seemed the Lord quietly reminded me of my sheeplike behavior.
So often it seems I ache to be clean, but the process of getting the dirt off isn't always the easiest or the most pleasant. Too often I pitch a fit, kicking and screaming, yet He is faithful and patient. He carefully guides me to the ocean of redemption, turning me over and over until all of the filth is wiped away. There is no power like the power of Jesus. There is nothing that can wash away my filth than that of the blood of the Savior. Even in the midst of my stubborn flesh, He has been gentle. Praise the Lord that He knows all things and is without fault.
"What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

Well...Here's a little video from the past two days....what a journey pre-Africa...haha

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

My sweet family cookout!! So I had some fun playin' around with the flip. This is the first of many video blogs to come. Sorry this one is slightly cheesy with the music, but the footage is so much fun!!!

I love you guys!!