Animals
Ben noticed a cat in our Mango tree. We have a very high wall with broken glass all along the top and two dogs in the garden so we're not sure how the cat actually got there. The following day he was still there so there was obviously a problem. We called our vet brother who came and brought him down. As he got near the bottom the cat somehow wriggled out of his arms and fast as lightning dragged himself to the corner of the garden. We realized that his back half was paralyzed yet the speed he was moving was as fast as any cat we'd seen! We thought we had him trapped in the corner but he managed to get past three of us and sped to the other corner (at least 40 feet away). We stumbled after him (it was dark by now) and he took off down the other wall. This took him onto the driveway so there were no plants to hide behind and we managed to catch him. He was given antibiotics and a daily injection to stimulate his nerves. I massaged his legs every day and gradually they started moving slightly. At first he would only let me touch the part of his body with no feeling but gradually he let me touch him all over and after about a week he started purring during his massages. During these massages I discovered a lump on his spine (presumably where he had been hit) and he also had a lump on his side which the vet said was a hernia. He needed to do an x-ray but how? At the moment there is only ONE functioning x-ray machine in the whole COUNTRY and that is in a hospital for humans. There are no x-ray facilities for animals at all. The vet had nothing to lose by asking if they would mind him using it and they agreed to it!! The x-ray showed I had been right about the damage to his spine. The vet thought he could still have some quality of life and was prepared to continue treatment (at his expense, I was just nursing). The operation for the hernia had to be done on my dining table (sorry in advance to any visitors we may get in future) which was an incredible experience for me. Terry and Ben kept out of the way but I was there all gloved up with my mask and passing scissors and things. Sadly after the operation the cat stopped eating and had to be put down. We did our very best for him but the damage done was just too great.
Our other medical animal event happened after our dogs got into a fight and Bobo took a chunk out of Somba's leg. The vet tried to stitch it but it was on a joint and the stitches didn't last. Fortunately the leg is healing very well. We think there was a dominance problem between them so I upped their training so that they understand that I'm the one in charge of them so they don't need to fight to the top. It's not a natural position for me but it has to be done and they are getting along a lot better now. It can't be easy for poor Bobo living with such a crazy annoying dog as Somba.
Calypso getting comfy on my toes.
One of the four species of Glossy Starlings found in the Gambia. We see a lot of these in our garden as well as the long tailed version. The mangoes are getting ripe so they come in flocks at the moment.
Weaver bird nests.
Mantis that found its way into our living room. It's body was over three inches long.
Crimson speckled footman
Weddings
The weddings were great. Africans love to party and are even noisier than the Spanish. The reception for the second one was held outside. It's so nice to have the weather to be able to do that. We sat and watched the bats flying over while we ate.
Iasiah from Benin/Nigeria and Pua from Finland
Ben with Freedom and Ben (both from Nigeria)
Places
Terry with my bush babies
As always I love to go out to my study in the bush. One evening we left it a bit late. A gele gele came but it was full so we waited for the next. That was also full. The next one was empty but the driver said he was going home and offered to take us to the nearest town but for an extortionate fee. By now we had been waiting for one and a half hours but I wouldn't have missed this bush sunset for anything. I was excited about seeing just how dark it would be when the sun went down but there was a bright moon so it wasn't dark at all. We got home eventually of course. One of the neighbours took pity on us and took us to the nearest town and we were able to catch two gele gele's from there.
When the gele-gele's stop people approach carrying trays on their heads selling water, toothbrushes and these little bags of frozen fruit juice. It's the African version of Slush Puppie!!
We walk through Serrekunda market to get to the Kingdom Hall which is in the middle of all the chaos. It's always very busy with stalls everywhere but roads going through the middle and people all over the road nearly getting hit by taxis.
Some of the stalls are very nice.
They also sell food which is cooked on the side of the road. We never eat from those places but one evening we had been ill all week and had run out of dog food. One the way home from the Hall we decided to buy them some chicken. There were some partly cooked chicken legs so I asked for four. He chopped thm up then started to barbeque them. We were in danger of missing the last gele gele home so after a while I told him they were cooked enough, we would take them now. He wanted me to taste it first to make sure it was ok for me. Yeah, right!! Half cooked chicken that's been cooked on the side of the road!! I couldn't tell him they were for dogs, that concept just doesn't enter the Gambian mentality, this food is for people, not dogs. He must have thought we were strange asking for half cooked chicken but then I had to persuade him we didn't want any mayonnaise. While we were arguing about that he dumped a load of onion on it. I believe onion is poisonous for dogs so I had to ask him to help me pick it off. I told him the food wasn't for me it was for a friend and my friend HATES mayonnaise and onion. Terry was behind me in fits of laughter being no help whatsoever.
This wadi shows the difference between the dry and rainy seasons. I'll take another picture in the rains. I have to cross this to get to one of my Bible students but I'm not sure how as I understand the water will cover the roots of this tree.
Every time the gele-gele's stop people approach to sell fruit, water, toothpaste and brushes and these little bags of frozen crushed fruit. It's the African version of Slush Puppie!!
We spent a day in the capital, Banjul. I haven't got anything to say about it really. It's about the most nothing place I've ever visited. Terry and Ben went to shop for clothes so we didn't have time to visit the tiny museums. If I can ever be bothered I'll go and check them out and let you know. The most interesting thing I saw was this tree. The Africans call it Sychamore.
Ben in Banjul
It's a scary thought but the bus and taxi rides are becoming normal. There was one incident that made me turn my head this week though. The gele-gele's are usually full. They don't leave the stopping places (I can't call them bus stations because that sounds like organization and order) until the bus is full. They don't run to a timetable, they leave when the bus is full, whatever time that may be. The guy who takes the money (apprente) doesn't allow himself a seat, he just stands, bent double while he takes the money (we pay along the way, not when we board). Sometimes if the bus is full he will open the back door and stand on a little step or ladder on the back of the bus. I don't think this is legal as I've never seen them do it on the main highways, only on the sandy slower roads. We have a police checkpoint near our house and just after we boarded to go to a meeting one evening the apprente went to stand outside. As he drove past the checkpoint a policeman ran after the bus, caught hold of the apprente and dragged him off. THE BUS DIDN'T STOP OR EVEN SLOW DOWN. I couldn't imagine what would happen to him, would they arrest him for something like that? The policeman let go of him straight away and he ran after the bus and jumped back on the ladder - I told you they can only drive slowly in the sand. Behind him I could see the three policeman and one policewoman literally falling about laughing at what had just happened. It's a crazy country.
Another thing they do is anyone who has an open back vehicle (there are lots here) are targeted by kids who jump in for a free ride home. That's ok if a parked jeep drives away with kids in the back but they're not buses, they don't stop and start for passengers to get on and off. Kids will literally run along a dual carriageway waiting for a build up of traffic which slows it all down then they jump in while the vehicle is still moving. Sometimes they don't all get in in time and the jeep speeds up along with the rest of the traffic and the kids who are in the back will cling on to the ones still running behind and try to drag them in. Sometimes it speeds up too quickly and the kid gets dropped into the traffic behind. They have to land on their feet and get out of the way as fast as they can. I've seen this happen many many times but so far I've never seen anyone get injured. They're a bit safer if they can get to the central reservation or the pavement but sometimes they end up on the line between the two lanes so they either have to try for another vehicle or get to safety. I hope THAT never starts to feel normal!!
Another thing that's becoming normal is shopping in the market. Before we came a brother from Zimbabwe told me I would be buying my meat from a bucket. I couldn't imagine myself EVER doing that but now I do! I forget if I said this last month but there are women on the market who sell frozen chicken legs from freezer boxes. By the time I get there they aren't very frozen any more but they're kept covered and they're still cold so it's not so very bad. I knew that I would have to take the plunge and buy other meat as shopping at the supermarkets is too expensive (twice the price in the case of meat). I was introduced to a nice man who sells beef - sorry, cow meat. He has a stall on the market but his stall is away from the other fish and meat stalls so although his meat is covered with flies, at least the air around me is generally fly free. There is no concept of 'butchery' at all. He just has a huge lump of meat on a stall, a knife and scales. I ask for "steak", hahaha, which means I get a little less gristle and no bones but the meat itself comes from whichever part of the body he happens to hack it off of. It seems to come in two colours, dark and light, presumably they are different muscles. I'd love to ask which colour is better for frying and which is better for stewing but I doubt he knows. I get both colours in the same cut/hack. Are there any butchers out there who might be able to identify which is frying and which is stewing from this description? Terry would like me to buy more fish but all the fish sellers are together in the same place and I can hardly see the fish, or the sellers for that matter, for the flies. Ugh, it's disgusting!! If i"m to buy fish I have to go first thing in the morning before the flies get up and start hunting for breakfast. Since I'm on the ministry every morning that's not an option. I've changed my schedule again so I have one morning at home but the thought of using that time to hang around in the stinky fly infested part of the market doesn't really appeal. I don't miss Europe at all but occasionally I'd love to be able to nip into Asda or Mercadona for their lovely fish counters.
MemorialThe Memorial was lovely. The Hall was packed with 186 people, not bad from our congregation of 60. There are four congregation in Gambia, three English and one French. The Kingdom Hall is a double one with two congregations meeting in each Hall and can be opened up to make an Assembly Hall. In the photo you can see the section with the higher roof is where we meet, the other Hall is to the left of it and on the right is a pioneer home.
The congregation who met before us for the Memorial ran 15 minutes late so we waited outside quietly. One of Terry's studies was there and was amazed at how patient and orderly we all were. Another of his studies went but couldn't see Terry and went into the other hall who were holding theirs at the same time. One of my studies attended and brought her children and her husband who started a study with Terry after attending the Memorial.
Ministry
I haven't really told you about the studies we have here. We thought that with it being a Muslim country it would be difficult to start studies. Not so!! Just after we arrived I was working with a sister. I had a nice chat with a teenage girl called R. Her English wasn't good but we got along well and she was interested in our message. When we left she asked the sister in their language for us to call again. When I made the return visit I discovered that although she was educated she was severely dyslexic. We've been helping her to read with the Learn to Read and Write brochure and teaching her the truth with the Listen to God brochure. She's making progress with her reading and also shows appreciation for what she is learning from the Bible. Each week I ask what she remembers from the week before and she tells me everything!
One week I went for the study and as I approached the compound a teenage girl passed me in the street and we said hello. I entered the compound but my student's sister told me she was away with her parents as it was school holidays. I left and again met the same girl outside. She asked who I was looking for so I told her. She asked why I wanted to see her so again I told her. This confused her.
"But she's a Muslim!"
"I know, but sometimes Muslims want to learn the Bible too."
"What about me?"
"What about you?"
"What if I want to learn the Bible too?"
"I can teach you too"
"Come on then"
She took me to her compound and we started her study there and then.
The following week R's brother (also in his teens) sat in on the study and asked me to have a separate study with him too. When I went the following week he was ill but tried to start the study anyway. We managed one paragraph in one of the articles in "Learn from God's Word" article in the Watchtower but he could barely sit up so I sent him to bed. I was really touched by the effort he was prepared to put in even though he was ill.
A sister was talking to a girl one day and this girl asked one of the young children to go and bring her brother. This Muslim boy is about 20. He approached me and asked where he could get a Bible. I told him I could bring him one and showed him the Teach book. I showed him the contents and asked which chapter interested him. He ran his finger down the list and said "This one and this one and this one .
. . Seventeen out of nineteen chapters interested him. On the return visit we gave him a book of his own and covered the introduction. Afterwards he asked "Am I a Jehovah's Witness now?" The following week he told us that he had some questions he would like us to answer from the book. Right through to the end of the book he had marked paragraphs that he hadn't understood. He had read it all!! He's such a lovely young man but sadly has a disability brought on by an illness three years ago. Medical care is almost non existent here so there is little hope of him recovering. We can do nothing for him except bring hope and comfort from the Scriptures. This week he was too ill to study but wrote us a lovely letter thanking us for what we have been able to teach him. I get a lump in my throat every time I think of him.
A brother met a young woman and she showed interest. He is leaving the country soon so he asked me to call on her. He told me her name was Janet (easy to remember) and she lived in the compound opposite where he met her which was sitting on some telegraph poles by an open space. We went together to the compound but the poles had gone and when we entered the compound they said that no Janet lived there so we thought that was that. The following week I went to another study in that same area and passed some poles next to an open space and realized we must have gone to the wrong place. I entered the compound opposite and asked for Janet. No Janet lived there! Neither of the two women I met were called Janet and the only other person was called Sally but she wasn't home. I explained that two weeks ago my friend had spoken to Janet as she sat on the poles outside (by now I was beginning to wonder if his whole experience had been a dream). They suggested we go and ask if any of the neighbours had seen this so we went outside and she explained my story to some neighbours who were hanging around. Yes!! They had seen SALLY talking to a white man two weeks ago. Sally wasn't at home but she was nearby visiting her friend in another compound. Her sister took me to her, we confirmed that she was the same person and started the study straight away! Wrong name, wrong address, but Jehovah knew who and where she was.
There is a HUGE need here. I only go out on first call three mornings a week. We work from 9.15am until 11am and I am guaranteed to start a new study every week. The rest of the auxiliary pioneer hours are taken up with the other studies. At the moment I have 12 (we've been here 3 months).
