We had no set up ministry in Senegal. So nobody was waiting for us anywhere (Our next place of ministry was only 3 countries later in Zinder, Niger). This is quite a daunting feeling since you then have to find all the transport and accommodation on your own.
My plan was to travel to Dakar, the capital, and from there send the team out on their own following only the principles found in Luke chapter 10 in the Bible. Usually quite an adventure.
But now we were still on the border and the day was growing late. We had to find a place to sleep somewhere. After long negotiations with a taxi driver we finally decided to push on to St. Louis, another 120 km's south of there.
We soon found out that travelling in Senegal takes much longer than we were used to and by the time we landed in St. Louis it was already dark. Of course the taxi driver wanted to know where to drop us and we didn't know. So we just chose a random spot and climbed off.
The previous night in Nouakchott felt like it happened weeks ago but once again it was dark, the city wasn't much, and we were standing on a dusty curb with no idea where to find accommodation. At least we felt safer.
I should have trusted the Lord and just ask the first place right next to us, which was a Catholic Church. But I decided to take HP with me and walk to the more “touristy” area in search for something like a backpackers or camp site. In the end we probably walked 3km's before we found a place but it was still too expensive. Discouraged we walked the 3km's back to team not knowing what to tell them and praying that they somehow found a place.
When we arrived they did find a place! At the Catholic Church. And it was free! With her broken French Madeleen explained to them our situation and they agreed to give us the hall to sleep in. I was incredibly relieved. Without realising it our Luke 10 had already begun!
We spent the next day exploring St. Louis and ended up sleeping another night before leaving to Dakar.
Below: children playing in the fishing nets in St. Louis. In photo: Detlef.
(photo by me)
Below: waiting for a taxi on the Senegal side of the border. From left: Madeleen, Tinet and HP.
(photo by Wayne)
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