Godel Follow Up
December 6, 2006
It was a cool and cloudy day as we traveled into the village of Godel. We left Thies at about 9 am in the morning. Along were a represenative from the communication department, two Barthimee clinic workers, our driver, and myself.
As we traveled off the paved road, I noticed many different things about the countryside. It looked much different this time of the year. There was still some standing sorghum that towered over twelve feet tall. There were also many grasses that are unfamiliar to me when I have traveled to Senegal in the usual time of January thru March. It must be beautiful in the rainy season to see this. It must be so green. The animals look a little healthier as well. It’s amazing, I even saw a small marshy area with beautiful lily pads. My translator told me there are ‘little fishes’ in there.
On our arriving in the village, about a one and half hour ride from Thies, I anticipated the greetings you have when you arrive in the village.
When I arrived, the lay leader of the church in Godel greeted me. They were happy to see me. After a long Senegalese greeting with many people, we were able to get an update on life in the village.
The system of the medical clinic is well rehearsed. Many people were already waiting for consultation. The customers were women who wore very colorful clothing and a handful of young children with each mother. Many of those that are given consultation are children under five and women. However, I did witness men as well getting medical treatment. They had a small area where the RN gives consultation and then they moved to an area that has been created for a pharmacy. They had a ‘tiki’ type roof with a slab of cement for the pharmacy. The cost was one thousand five hundred CFA(local currency). This is three dollars. This included a doctors visit and as much medicine as they needed! The medical team trips has been subsidized by Community Church, and a few members of Community Church that have been burdened with rural health care in the villages.
Barthimee Medical Clinic sends a ‘mobile’ medical team to Godel at least one time a week. Honestly, I saw improvement in health in the village from our last visit in January. Praise God. The total number of patients seen today was 48. Otherwise, these 48 people would have limited or no access to health care.
The good news I can share with you also is that the health hut is under construction! The bricks are made and they are drying in the warm Senegal sun. The goal is to have a trained medical agent right in the village. There has been someone identified and now it’s a matter of training and resources to help cover the costs of this person.
Women’s ministry is quite established in the village.
The women are taught about chronological bible stories, nutrition, and the importance of clean water. In all there are about up to 50 women who participate in the weekly meetings.
When asked about the crops, they replied that it was a good season for crops in this area. However, there were no peanuts this year because there was a lack of seeds in the country. The five cereal banks that have been established in the village are all empty, except one. This was beneficial because harvest time was only one month ago. Now, they will fill the banks up again and then distribute this to families that are in need before the next harvest. The cereal banks are to be refilled by people who borrowed from last year. It’s a micro project to ensure people do not go hungry till the next season.
December 6, 2006
It was a cool and cloudy day as we traveled into the village of Godel. We left Thies at about 9 am in the morning. Along were a represenative from the communication department, two Barthimee clinic workers, our driver, and myself.
As we traveled off the paved road, I noticed many different things about the countryside. It looked much different this time of the year. There was still some standing sorghum that towered over twelve feet tall. There were also many grasses that are unfamiliar to me when I have traveled to Senegal in the usual time of January thru March. It must be beautiful in the rainy season to see this. It must be so green. The animals look a little healthier as well. It’s amazing, I even saw a small marshy area with beautiful lily pads. My translator told me there are ‘little fishes’ in there.
On our arriving in the village, about a one and half hour ride from Thies, I anticipated the greetings you have when you arrive in the village.
When I arrived, the lay leader of the church in Godel greeted me. They were happy to see me. After a long Senegalese greeting with many people, we were able to get an update on life in the village.
The system of the medical clinic is well rehearsed. Many people were already waiting for consultation. The customers were women who wore very colorful clothing and a handful of young children with each mother. Many of those that are given consultation are children under five and women. However, I did witness men as well getting medical treatment. They had a small area where the RN gives consultation and then they moved to an area that has been created for a pharmacy. They had a ‘tiki’ type roof with a slab of cement for the pharmacy. The cost was one thousand five hundred CFA(local currency). This is three dollars. This included a doctors visit and as much medicine as they needed! The medical team trips has been subsidized by Community Church, and a few members of Community Church that have been burdened with rural health care in the villages.
Barthimee Medical Clinic sends a ‘mobile’ medical team to Godel at least one time a week. Honestly, I saw improvement in health in the village from our last visit in January. Praise God. The total number of patients seen today was 48. Otherwise, these 48 people would have limited or no access to health care.
The good news I can share with you also is that the health hut is under construction! The bricks are made and they are drying in the warm Senegal sun. The goal is to have a trained medical agent right in the village. There has been someone identified and now it’s a matter of training and resources to help cover the costs of this person.
Women’s ministry is quite established in the village.
The women are taught about chronological bible stories, nutrition, and the importance of clean water. In all there are about up to 50 women who participate in the weekly meetings.
When asked about the crops, they replied that it was a good season for crops in this area. However, there were no peanuts this year because there was a lack of seeds in the country. The five cereal banks that have been established in the village are all empty, except one. This was beneficial because harvest time was only one month ago. Now, they will fill the banks up again and then distribute this to families that are in need before the next harvest. The cereal banks are to be refilled by people who borrowed from last year. It’s a micro project to ensure people do not go hungry till the next season.
I also took a tour of the church. It is aging with the Senegal sun. The sixteen benches are now in the church. The drums should be arriving soon. There were some bargaining issues on price with the drum maker that has slowed this down. The lay leader shared with me the people who are registered with the church. There are now 114 people who are part of the church! That’s up from 30 people since Community Church and Mission Inter Senegal formed our partnership. There are 28 adults, 30 young adults, and 56 children. God is good.
Now for the water project, here is where I have good news and bad news. The one well that had the pump, which is the main well, still has the pump and is working great! Well number two still does not have the pump installed. The hope is that this will be installed soon. The technician who installed first pump had promised to go out to village and never fulfilled his commitment. I think we have wheel in motion for someone else to do it now. The feeling I got from the village is that this was not a problem, but accepted because of the Senegal time factor. Things do not happen over
night here. The other well still needs to be deepened and because the person who built the other ‘ring’ didn’t use the proper methods of lifting it into the well, it broke. The process will be attempted again now that the rainy season is over by another contractor. Such is the life in Senegal. But, I can tell you this. The one pump has made a huge difference in the lives of the village. In time, with the all the wells functioning, it will be only better. The wells all have covers. However the paint they used is already worn off. Maybe the next team can take some good rustoleum paint and paint these :)
Other good news in the village is that the grain mill is in full operation. They have built a small building around it. This has been extremely helpful to the woman of the village. This has been set up as a micro business with a part of the proceeds going to the church.
I also toured the school. Here there has been change as well since January. There has been construction of one new ‘grass’ schoolhouse. The government is also now supplying the children with a meal. Because so many kids come from a distance, they now will have a meal at the school. The village needs to build a two-room house for the teachers and a storage hut for the food in return. The school was packed. The schoolteacher I talked to say there are not enough benches for all the kids at times.
We had lunch in a thatch hut. A bowl of rice with one small bony fish in the middle was received well.
Now for the water project, here is where I have good news and bad news. The one well that had the pump, which is the main well, still has the pump and is working great! Well number two still does not have the pump installed. The hope is that this will be installed soon. The technician who installed first pump had promised to go out to village and never fulfilled his commitment. I think we have wheel in motion for someone else to do it now. The feeling I got from the village is that this was not a problem, but accepted because of the Senegal time factor. Things do not happen over
night here. The other well still needs to be deepened and because the person who built the other ‘ring’ didn’t use the proper methods of lifting it into the well, it broke. The process will be attempted again now that the rainy season is over by another contractor. Such is the life in Senegal. But, I can tell you this. The one pump has made a huge difference in the lives of the village. In time, with the all the wells functioning, it will be only better. The wells all have covers. However the paint they used is already worn off. Maybe the next team can take some good rustoleum paint and paint these :)Other good news in the village is that the grain mill is in full operation. They have built a small building around it. This has been extremely helpful to the woman of the village. This has been set up as a micro business with a part of the proceeds going to the church.
I also toured the school. Here there has been change as well since January. There has been construction of one new ‘grass’ schoolhouse. The government is also now supplying the children with a meal. Because so many kids come from a distance, they now will have a meal at the school. The village needs to build a two-room house for the teachers and a storage hut for the food in return. The school was packed. The schoolteacher I talked to say there are not enough benches for all the kids at times.
We had lunch in a thatch hut. A bowl of rice with one small bony fish in the middle was received well.
It is simply amazing the simplicity of village life. What are more amazing are the smiles on people’s faces. Here we have so much, but the smiles are lacking.
People welcome you into their village and are thankful for the small things in life. Every time I walk out of a village I thank God for the lessons a day in the village teaches me.
We arrived back in Thies at about 5:30 pm. We had to stop along the way for a 'somewhat cold' Coca Cola to wash down the day’s dust.
The fruit of Mission Inter Senegal and Community Church are a reality in a village that desperately needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ in a relevant way.
God is good.
The entire trip was a great one. It was good to see friends and to see God’s hand on the village.
They truly anticipate our next visit.
Serving Christ and Christ alone,
Rick Slager
Regional Developer West Africa
United World Mission
People welcome you into their village and are thankful for the small things in life. Every time I walk out of a village I thank God for the lessons a day in the village teaches me.
We arrived back in Thies at about 5:30 pm. We had to stop along the way for a 'somewhat cold' Coca Cola to wash down the day’s dust.
The fruit of Mission Inter Senegal and Community Church are a reality in a village that desperately needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ in a relevant way.
God is good.
The entire trip was a great one. It was good to see friends and to see God’s hand on the village.
They truly anticipate our next visit.
Serving Christ and Christ alone,
Rick Slager
Regional Developer West Africa
United World Mission
Thanks for your posting Rick! I treasure your heart and what Jesus is depositing there. Can't wait to talk water with you when you get back. Babacar Dione (aka Pape John 649-63-86) built the first pump. Did we give him the pump parts from the second well? We should really try to get him and the well fixers (Jiga Gom and Samba Senn) back to Godel to finish up. Hm?
ReplyDeleteLoveya