Gambia Trip November 2016

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Daniel Wells
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Gambia Trip November 2016 Another visit to the smiling coast of Africa has come and gone all too quickly! We were the first of two Gambia Partnership groups to visit the Gambia this November.

1 Gambia Trip November 2016 Another visit to the smiling coast of Africa has come and gone all too quickly! We were the first of two Gambia Partnership groups to visit the Gambia this November. Our group included two who were visiting for the first time, Clare Macleod and Sharon McElhatton, along with eight who had experienced the Gambia last year, Donna Barden, Catherine Macdonald, Laura Anne Macleod, Kathryn Macleod, Ian Gillies, Craig Scott, Ally Macphee & Scott Maciver. We were all excited to step foot on Gambian soil, either for the first time or to return and meet with old friends and make the most of the opportunity to bring the Gospel to the Gambian people. We finally arrived, after the long journey to Banjul, and on the first evening enjoyed a traditional Gambian meal on the beach, arranged by our old friend Bafo, a Muslim in his 30 s who some of us have known for years. Each day began with a morning devotion, before travelling to Kabekel village, where we spent the majority of our time. Transport was provided by Mansour (Mike) & Fax, two close Muslim friends, who have been a great help to us over the years and continue to be so. As always, things didn t go to plan and the tyre of the minibus blew out on the journey to Kabekel. Mike did well to keep the minibus on the road! A warm and colourful Kabekel awaited

School Painting The majority of our time was spent painting the Sgoil Creideamh building.

the Gambian s and Scottish worked hard together in the heat and the school now looks the

education, which will serve them well in the years ahead, and more importantly a Gospel

House Visitation One of the highlights of the week was the visitation of homes in Kabekel

On each occasion we were warmly welcomed by the villagers as they cooked, worked on the

3 School Painting The majority of our time was spent painting the Sgoil Creideamh building. Unfortunately the paint wasn t on site on the first day, but eventually it arrived and both the Gambian s and Scottish worked hard together in the heat and the school now looks the part! It is our hope and prayer that the children attending the school would receive a good education, which will serve them well in the years ahead, and more importantly a Gospel centred education, in order that they would come to know Christ savingly. House Visitation One of the highlights of the week was the visitation of homes in Kabekel in order to get to know some of the villagers we did not yet know. On each occasion we were warmly welcomed by the villagers as they cooked, worked on the peanut crops or just sat and chatted in the sun. They were very open to the Gospel as we distributed Bibles and tracts and they gladly received them.

Church On the Lord s Day, we attended Pastor Konteh s church, which is in a village close to Kabekel called Brikama.

One of the main problems in the Gambia is a lack of Gospel preaching, where most of the churches preach a health and wealth charismatic

Pastor Konteh preached a sound Biblical message from Ephesians and we left encouraged at the work that is going on in the church in

At the end of the service we were asked to introduce ourselves and we were welcomed as we spoke to members of the congregation after

4 Church On the Lord s Day, we attended Pastor Konteh s church, which is in a village close to Kabekel called Brikama. We met under a tree for the service. One of the main problems in the Gambia is a lack of Gospel preaching, where most of the churches preach a health and wealth charismatic message. Pastor Konteh preached a sound Biblical message from Ephesians and we left encouraged at the work that is going on in the church in Brikama. At the end of the service we were asked to introduce ourselves and we were welcomed as we spoke to members of the congregation after the service. In the afternoon there was an evangelistic service held at Kabekel where Craig Scott preached and the alkalo (village chief) translated into Jola, a local dialect. It was very well attended, by both Christian s and Muslim s, including the oldest man in the village. Gambian Cuisine Some of our group came to experience and appreciate the famous Gambian tapalapa, which is a baguette served with potato and egg and various sauces, including hot sauce. A must try for anyone visiting the smiling coast!

Outreach Service We visited Darsilami, another neighbouring village to Kabekel, and held an evangelistic

In typical Gambian style, where nobody is ever in much of a rush and the clock is irrelevant, most appeared

Food and drink were served afterwards, tracts distributed and contacts exchanged.

Gambia. Senegambia Outreach At the end of each day, we would return to our base in Senegambia.

5 Outreach Service We visited Darsilami, another neighbouring village to Kabekel, and held an evangelistic service in the local hall where Craig Scott preached. In typical Gambian style, where nobody is ever in much of a rush and the clock is irrelevant, most appeared half way through the service and eventually there was a good attendance. Food and drink were served afterwards, tracts distributed and contacts exchanged. It was a good opportunity to reach out into another village with the Gospel through the open door in the Gambia. Senegambia Outreach At the end of each day, we would return to our base in Senegambia. This year we made a conscious effort, each evening, to spend time sitting with and sharing the Gospel with the Gambian s working in and amongst the tourist area. They are very willing to engage and debate with you and willingly receive Gospel literature.

Kabekel School & Community Life A lot of valuable time was spent in and around the school and

conducting school assemblies and classes with a Gospel message and a youth programme where youth s

Some of the girls spent time helping the local ladies as they cooked meals, which the village

It is our prayer that the Lord would bless the Word and that the Gambia would be won for Christ.

6 Kabekel School & Community Life A lot of valuable time was spent in and around the school and community in Kabekel, including providing classroom assistance, organising games with the children, conducting school assemblies and classes with a Gospel message and a youth programme where youth s from surrounding villages attended. Some of the girls spent time helping the local ladies as they cooked meals, which the village provided for us each day. This report is just a brief snippet of our visit to this wonderful country. It is our prayer that the Lord would bless the Word and that the Gambia would be won for Christ. God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah. That your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations (Psalm 67:2). Scott Maciver, 1 December 2016

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