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| Raising the Flag at a school project in Keur Soce, Senegal. We built a couple of large classrooms earlier this year, something they've never had before. |
On the road again
It’s been a while since I put up a blog post. Of course that would indicate that we haven’t been traveling quite as much as we did earlier. In fact, this recent stretch is the longest we’ve been “home” all year (not including a couple overnight trips out of town to Newport or Bend or Portland). But generally when I am blogging, it’s coming from a foreign country.
So that brings us to the present moment, where I am sitting at JFK Airport in New York City on the way to Senegal, West Africa. When I arrive there late tomorrow, I will join Fiona, who has been there for eleven days so far. We both return together on Dec 9th.
Interesting to mention that I will join Fiona there, as we recently celebrated our 40th Anniversary - but we were not together! She had already departed for Senegal, and I was home in Oregon. Knowing that the big day would find us apart, we celebrated with a three day trip to Bend before she left.
Another interesting thing to point out: On the way to the airport early this moring in Oregon, it was 19 degrees (-7C). It’s been really cold in Oregon for a week. And now I will soon be in Senegal where it’s currently about 91 degrees (32C). That’s a radical switch from 19 degrees to 91 degrees. Makes it hard to pack when you’re used to wearing layers of warm clothing, and yet in West Africa it’s shorts and t-shirt weather.
On the way home we fly through Paris. In fact, Fiona flew through there on her way over. Right now Europe is in a high alert stage, for obvious reasons. Maybe not the best time to travel, but ... when is the best time? There is always something going on somewhere. If everyone canceled their trips when bad stuff happens, then the enemy wins. You have to press on.
Besides, it's not like we're unfamiliar with travel misadventures: Getting arrested, train wrecks, bombs going off, nearly flying off a cliff in a car, stranded penniless, you know, stuff like that.
Senegal is a peaceful and stable country (unlike some of the neighboring places - just last week there was a vicious attack at a hotel in Mali, which is right next door). But by and large, we are safe there and we have a lot of connections and relationships, and we have friends there and a place of our own in the village.
In fact, that’s a big part of why we go there, we are trying to make a difference in the lives of the people there by providing clean water, gardens with fresh food, health services and medicine - along with micro loans for business and school improvements and training. The list goes on and on with the variety of projects in the area where we work.
In short, we are trying to give them health and hope. We want to help improve their quality of life, give them pride and dignity and opportunity. And make it sustainable, to they can keep improving their lives. We have seen positive results from these activities. Most Americans would be shocked to see how little they have and how hard life can be there.
It takes a fair amount of travel to go over there and oversee the efforts. We have been blessed with the resources and support to enable us to do this. A little bit goes a long way in Senegal, we can make some real impact without a ton of money. But again it takes a lot of time and planning and hard work. We go way out in the boonies, far from the bigger cities. That’s where they need to most help. The word Andando means “walking together” in the local language of Senegal. That’s what we’re trying to do, walk together and offer our help.
I will keep this blog up to date on our whereabouts and activities - although it’s one of those places without good internet service! Updates might be a bit sparse and spotty, but I guess that means we’re busy ...
