Today is the Spanish team's third day of working with a ministry called Teen-Bi (a Wolof word which means "The Well.") It's a place where local children, who would otherwise simply be hanging around in the streets, can come to receive attention and affection, perhaps get some medical care, and where they can also have fun and learn skills (reading and writing, hygiene, etc) that will serve them for life.
"The Well" is an attractive name when you're living in conditions where there may be no running water for most of the day (I'm getting used to having my cold shower either very early in the morning or very late at night) but what we're really hoping and praying for is that these children will be refreshed by being in an environment where they are accepted and cared for.
After presenting a boisterous programme of songs and games on our first day, yesterday we had a quieter, more orderly programme where the children could try out skills such as painting, sewing or making bracelets from beads. This morning, some of our team members tried out their own artistic skills by spray painting the outer wall of the Teen-Bi property - with a picture of a well and a baobab tree to represent the involvement of a "Planting Together" team. Although Teen-Bi isn't normally open to the children on Saturdays, we nonetheless offered another programme this afternoon and we'll have a special party tomorrow, so that we can maximise our investment in these children's lives before we move on to work briefly with another ministry for our last couple of days.
Thanks for your continued prayers that our work with these kids, even despite the language barrier at times (some only speak Wolof and no French) would lay a foundation for many of them to come to know God personally in the future.
