Sigh....

Today has been going better. I apologize for worrying you so much yesterday!
I woke up and went to this nice restaurant to meet Lisa and have breakfast with her. Lisa is also a Christian and is encouraging me to keep going. I'm so glad God has put here the same time as me so that I could have some encouragment without having to call home!
Afterwards we went to a church for the service. It was all in french, so I didnt understand anything, but the music was so beautiful! I recorded some of it on my camera so I could bring it home and have you experience what I have. To my surprise there were quite a few people there, and a lot of children. It filled my heart with hope to know that there are people in this city that praise the same God that we do!
I will spending some more time with Lisa today, going to the flamingo to chat and relax some. I think that I've been having a hard time lately because it is the weekend, and there is not a lot to do to keep me busy. But I think next weekend the volunteers might go to Dakar and be 'tourists' there, so we can keep busy with that.

My mom wants me to tell you all about the Talibe' children, so I will.
These children are ones that you see on the street all of the time, begging for money. It's so heartbreaking to see them. They arent homeless though. Their parents cant afford to take care of them on their own and to have them go to school so they send them away to these teachers where they are taught the Koran. Some of these kids are even as young as 4 or 5. They stay in bad conditions and have to beg for money to pay for their schooling (but the money will just end up providing the teacher's family instead).
It's hard for us to know how to take care of them because if you give them food, it will help them not be hungry, but if they dont get enough money for the day they will be beaten by their teacher. But if you do give them money, you are supporting these horrible teachers.
It is such a difficult situation and I just ask for all of you to pray for these children. That God would come into their hearts and that they would remain safe and healthy. And also, that GOd would do something so that the evil would end in all of this.
These kids arent even being taught french or woolif, just how to read the Koran, so its not like they can survive on their own in the world either. : (
Its very heartbreaking.

Please continue to pray for the rest of my trip. That God would use me to make ripples in this country, one way or another. I love you all very much and I miss you all a ton. Thank you so much for the encouragment that you have given me this past week and even beforehand! I appreciate it so much and I cant tell you how much it helps! I hope you have had a good weekend, and that your week is good as well!

With love in Christ,
Lindsey

PS. Thanks for giving me that visual, Mom and Aunt Linda! I will think of it when I miss you all too much! In fact.... when I was on the beach yesterday I tried to look REALLY hard (haha) to see America... it didnt work though.... Anyways thanks! I love you!