Which way do you go?

A couple of weeks ago my family and I had the great opportunity to backpack in the Chequamegon National Forest in northern Wisconsin. Here we spent five days in the wilderness. We saw more bears than hikers. In fact we saw no hikers on this 62 mile quest. We saw four bears.

I had some time to just enjoy the quietness and beauty of God's creation. It gave me time to reflect on what God is doing in my life and in the lives of Africans.
I can honestly say that the last two years have been some of the most rewarding times and the most challenging. Our appointee status with United World Mission is coming up on its two year anniversary in October.
Almost two years ago my wife and I decided that we were going to get out of the boat and follow God's call to make a difference in Africa.
What about you? Are you making a difference? This life is too short. And before you know it, it will be over and you will stand before your creator. I don't know about you, but that very thought is exciting and frighting.
I long to hear the words "Good job my faithful servant.Good job."
There are so many ways you can make a difference on your street, in your city, your state, your country and even in remote places around the globe.
Get out of the boat. You can do it....

What's Cooking?

I can't tell you how much I enjoy Senegalese food. It is so good! I just haven't ate with my hands yet. (I am always teased about this as I travel with teams...I just haven't got that far yet :)
Here's a design in the video that I find very intriguing and will be investigating it in my future trips to Senegal. Looks very sustainable and low cost.

Medicine in Port

This March as I traveled to Senegal, I had the great pleasure to travel with Dr. Bruenning ,the founder of International Children's Fund. Dr. Bruenning was investigating the country and looking if they could get involved in Senegal.
We traveled together for two days. I had the opportunity to expose him to the Barthimee Hospital in Theis. Here this former medical clinic turned hospital operates. We also had the pleasure to travel with Dr. Bruenning in the bush. Dr. Bruenning had the opportunity to speak at a rural village church.
After returning home, Dr. Bruenning had agreed to send a container of medicine to Barthimee Hospital. A container worth five million dollars!
I want to thank International Children's Fund and Dr. Bruenning for this commitment to seeing that everyone in Senegal has the right to affordable medicines and treatment.
We received word this week that the medicine is in port and on it's way to Barthimee. Just in time for the malaria season.

What a blessing.

Senegal: Finding Opportunities Through Cheap Chinese Goods

Inter Press Service (Johannesburg)

27 August 2007
Posted to the web 27 August 2007

Hamadou Tidiane Sy
Dakar

Allées du Centenaire, a neighbourhood in the heart of Senegal's capital Dakar, may be lacking the trademark red lanterns but in the eyes of locals it is fast becoming the city's unofficial Chinatown.

The area consists of a double row of houses of which the front sides have been transformed into shops. Chinese traders live in these homes-cum-shops, selling cheap goods imported from their home country to local petty traders.

Most of these small informal retailers are young Senegalese, usually with very little capital. Their numbers are growing due to the lack of jobs in the country's formal sector. "I started the business very recently, only two months ago," Mame Sane, a young woman in her mid-twenties, told IPS.

IPS spotted her in one of the Chinese shops in Allées du Centenaire, bargaining over the price of a pair of shoes which she was holding in her one hand. In her other hand was an enormous blue plastic bag stuffed with items she had purchased in similar shops.

She started her business with the measly amount of 50,000 CFA (about 100 dollars). "It is much better than sitting idle at home," said Mame, who re-sells her products to "friends and acquaintances" in her neighbourhood of Parcelles Assainies on the outskirts of Dakar.

She adds 500 CFA (1 dollar) to her retail price for each 1,000 CFA (two dollars) that she spends, she explained.

Mame is one of an unknown number of young people who, on the back of cheap China-made goods, have found opportunities to start their own small businesses.

One sees them going from door to door, offering anything from shoes to electric lamps and notebooks to watches at "unbeatable prices". Others face the scorching heat to run between cars in the busy streets of the capital city, showing their merchandise to motorists. The luckiest ones exhibit their goods in tiny stalls, set up wherever they find space. Trade has been facilitated by the resumption of diplomatic relations between Senegal and China in October 2005, making it easier for Senegalese importers to bring in Chinese products. However, some Senegalese importers allege that their Chinese counterparts are nothing but ruthless profit makers.

According to Senegal's ministry of commerce, Chinese imports represented 94 percent of the total value of goods traded between the two countries in 2006. At a meeting between Chinese and Senegalese business people in Dakar in July this year, Senegal's minister of foreign affairs Cheikh Tidiane Gadio urged an improvement in the balance of trade between the two countries.

Trade relations are "largely in favour of China", the official news agency Xhinua reported on July 13, 2007, indicating that China is the fourth largest supplier of goods to Senegal.

Soumboul Sylla believes that the activities of Chinese traders in Senegal should be better regulated as these activities "represent a threat" to the national economy and to those local large firms which rely on imports.

Sylla, who was involved in textile imports from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates before turning to Chinese products, is a member of the very influential Senegalese Union of Traders and Industrialists (known by its French acronym UNACOIS).

UNACOIS planned a protest march in 2004 against the Chinese presence in the capital. Sylla believes local business should get preference because "while the Chinese traders bring in petty, valueless items and accessories, the Senegalese importers bring in the more important goods, such as furniture and bedroom suites".

In the name of the "free market", the union's proposal was strongly opposed by poor consumers and petty traders who make their living from selling Chinese goods. UNACOIS has since changed its strategy but not its position. The organization is lobbying the Senegalese government to urge its new Beijing friends to obtain "reciprocity" from China. In short, Sylla explained, they want Senegalese traders to be able to open shops, settle and do business in China as easily as their Chinese counterparts do in Senegal.

But the Chinese community who are settled in Dakar also have complaints. "I used to pay customs fees of 800,000 CFA (1,660 dollars) for a container of goods. Now I pay CFA 12 or 13 million (24,000 to 27,000 dollars)," claimed Zhen Yan-Ling in broken French.

Yan-Ling was the only Chinese shop-owner who was willing to speak to IPS, seemingly confirming a perception believed to be true by many Senegalese: that the Chinese community is secretive.

The interview was interrupted by a young man in his early twenties who pointed at a shirt that he wanted to buy. Another bargaining session started. Yan-Ling proposed a price of CFA 700 per piece (1.4 dollars). The young man offered CFA 400 (0.80 dollar), promptly adding: "I will buy 500 items!" And so the two continued bargaining.

Fast Food Senegal

The first time I saw a 'fast food' sign in Senegal, I thought to myself that western values have crept in here too.
But, after eating in a few restaurants in Senegal, there is nothing fast about service here. And after a few years, i have realized that the word fast has a whole new meaning in Senegal.

This video is kinda cool music video...enjoy.

Senegal Video #1

Jamm Rekk

Peace is everything in Senegal.
Jamm Rekk is the wolof word for peace. As you can see in this video, that the smiles of Senegalese are priceless. But, you can also see the 'no hope' look as well. My involvement in Senegal, we pray , will bring not only the hope of Jesus Christ, but to also meet the physical needs needs of the people.
Jamm Rekk

Senegal - Country Profile

BBC NEWS
Country profile: Senegal
Senegal has been held up as one of Africa's model democracies. It has an established multi-party system and a tradition of civilian rule.

Although poverty is widespread and unemployment is high, the country has one of the region's more stable economies.

For the Senegalese, political participation and peaceful leadership changes are not new. Even as a colony Senegal had representatives in the French parliament. And the promoter of African culture, Leopold Senghor, who became president at independence in 1960, voluntarily handed over power to Abdou Diouf in 1980.


AT-A-GLANCE
Politics: Abdoulaye Wade came to power in 2000, ending four decades of Socialist Party rule; he won a second term in February 2007
Economy: Agriculture drives the economy; tourism is a source of foreign exchange
International: Senegal has mediated between Sudan and Chad over Darfur tensions; many African illegal migrants use Senegal as a departure point for Europe
Security: Despite a peace deal, a low-level separatist rebellion simmers in Casamance, in the south

The 40-year rule of Senegal's Socialist Party came to a peaceful end in elections in 2000, which were hailed as a rare democratic power transfer on a continent plagued by coups, conflict and election fraud.

Senegal is on the western-most part of the bulge of Africa and includes desert in the north and a moist, tropical south. Slaves, ivory and gold were exported from the coast during the 17th and 18th centuries and now the economy is based mainly on agriculture. The money sent home by Senegalese living abroad is a key source of revenue.

A long-running, low-level separatist war in the southern Casamance region has claimed hundreds of lives. The conflict broke out over claims by the region's people that they were being marginalised by the Wolof, Senegal's main ethnic group.

The government and rebels signed a peace pact at the end of 2004, raising hopes for reconciliation.

On the world stage, Senegal has sent peacekeeping troops to DR Congo, Liberia and Kosovo.

* Full name: Republic of Senegal
* Population: 10.6 million (UN, 2005)
* Capital: Dakar
* Area: 196,722 sq km (75,955 sq miles)
* Major language: French (official), Wolof
* Major religion: Islam
* Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
* Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
* Main exports: Fish, peanuts, petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
* GNI per capita: US $710 (World Bank, 2006)
* Internet domain: .sn
* International dialling code: +221

President: Abdoulaye Wade
BBC NEWS

Abdoulaye Wade, the founder of the Senegalese Democratic Party, won re-election in February 2007, gaining nearly 56% of the votes cast - enough to avoid a second-round ballot.

After election officials confirmed his win, Mr Wade warned that corruption cases involving his opponents would be re-opened. The opposition Socialist Party said it would challenge the result.

Mr Wade came to power in March 2000, winning presidential elections at the fifth attempt and defeating Abdou Diouf's Socialist Party. He was 73 at the time.

He found himself in a political impasse: The presidential poll did not coincide with parliamentary elections and he was left heading a minority coalition.

But elections in April 2001 consolidated his power base. His supporters gained control of the national assembly, with his party winning 89 of the 120 seats.

An advocate of democratisation, Mr Wade helped to launch the New Partnership for Africa's Development, or Nepad. The plan aims to foster economic recovery through African-led reforms and good governance. He has sought to strengthen ties with the US.

His critics say he has failed to deliver on promises to boost living standards.

Abdoulaye Wade was born in northern Senegal in 1927. He studied in France and has a French wife.

Senegal has a lively political scene, with parties competing across ethnic, religious and ideological lines.

# Prime minister: Cherif Macky Sall
# Foreign minister: Cheikh Tidiane Gadio
# Finance minister: Abdoulaye Diop

Senegal has traditionally enjoyed one of the most unrestricted media climates in the region. However the Paris-based media rights body Reporters Without Borders noted in 2004 that developments in Senegal had taken a "disturbing turn".

It cited the expulsion from the country of a Radio France Internationale correspondent over her coverage of the Casamance issue. Several other journalists had been physically attacked or threatened, it added.

In 2005 a leading private radio station, Sud FM, was taken off the air temporarily after it aired an interview with a Casamance separatist leader.

The constitution guarantees media freedom. The government does not practise censorship, but self-censorship arises from laws which prohibit reports that discredit the state, incite disorder or disseminate "false news". Nevertheless, the private media frequently criticise the government.

Radio is an influential medium. Commercial and community stations have mushroomed since the 1990s.

There are nearly 20 daily newspapers. Foreign publications circulate freely and multichannel pay-TV is readily available. BBC World Service and Radio France Internationale are available on FM in Dakar.

Iran pledges Senegal investment

BBC News

Iran has agreed to build an oil refinery and petrochemicals plant in Senegal, according to a government statement issued in Dakar.

The deal follows a meeting with Iranian officials hosted by Senegal's President, Abdoulaye Wade, last week.

Iran also promised to speed up the development of a car assembly plant for state-owned carmaker Iran Khodro in the west African nation.

Foreign investors have been attracted to Senegal because of its stability.

It is the only country in west Africa not to have experienced a coup since independence. In March, President Abdoulaye Wade was elected for a second term.

His time in office since 2000, when he defeated the previous incumbent at the ballot box, has been marked by an investment in large-scale infrastructure projects.

Middle Eastern and Islamic countries are natural sponsors for the development of predominantly-Muslim Senegal, analysts say.

Last November, Iran pledged to invest $80m in a car plant in Senegal to be 60% owned by Iran Khodro, 20% by the Senegalese government and 20% by Senegalese private investors.

Senegal; Pounding Millet

Example of women pounding millet

Senegal Agriculture

Most of Senegal lies within the drought-prone Sahel region, with irregular rainfall and generally poor soils. With only about 5% of the land irrigated, the heavy reliance on rainfed cultivation results in large fluctuations in production. About 70% of the working population is involved in farming. Agriculture (including forestry, livestock, and fisheries) accounts for 18% of GDP. Most Senegalese farms are small (1.5–2.4 hectares/3.7–5.9 acres), and about 60% are in the so-called Peanut Basin, east of Dakar. Much of the agricultural land is still tribally owned. Only about 11% of Senegal's total land area is cultivated; millet took up 40% of the cultivated land in 1999; peanuts, 36%.

Since independence, the Senegalese government has developed a system of generally small cooperatives to rationalize agricultural production and marketing and to free the farmers from chronic indebtedness to private traders; these were replaced in 1984 by a network of "village sections" with financial autonomy. Parastatal agencies guarantee minimum prices of major agricultural crops, including peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, and cotton.

In theory all peanuts are processed locally, and prices of processed peanut oil and other peanut products are set by parastatal agencies. Production of unshelled peanuts varies widely because of periodic drought, and production is frequently underreported because of unauthorized sales to processors in neighboring countries. In 1999, the reported production was 828,000 tons (95% for oil). Cotton, Senegal's other major export crop, is produced and marketed under the direction of the Society for the Development of Textile Fibers (Société de Développement des Fibres Textiles—SODEFITEX). Seed cotton production was 21,000 tons in 1999.

Production of food crops, some of which are grown in rotation with peanuts, does not meet Senegal's needs. Only in years of favorable rainfall does the country approach self-sufficiency in millet and sorghum, the basic staples. Production amounts in 1999 included (in thousands of tons): millet, 506; sorghum, 147; rice, 240; corn, 66; and cassava, 42. Market gardening takes place largely in the Dakar region and to a lesser extent around Thiès. Sugarcane, grown on about 8,000 hectares (19,700 acres), yielded 887,000 tons of sugarcane in 1999.