Oh yes it's Ladies Week...oh what a week!

Despite the lack of updates, which sadly I am responsible for, the Phare has been as busy as ever. Granted this time of year the teams from the States slow down, but nevertheless, this is a hoppin place.
This last week we hosted a group of women from Burkina Faso and Senegal. The ladies from Burkina traveled four days through not so desirable conditions (intense rain, breakdowns, etc) with the fixed goal of getting to Dakar to encourage their sisters in Jesus. Coupled with getting to know Senegalese believers, they also learned about Senegalese culture and visited various cultural hot spots.
These women came prepared. Knowing how expensive it is to live in Dakar, they brought along with them their own food. The parking lot was filled at one point with onions, dried fish (peeuuuww) and other veggies.
Each morning we were awakened to the joyful sound of them singing in the shelter along with gleeful chatter and plenty of cackling. It sounded like they had a good time.
I was particulary touched by this gathering because it was all women. We so often host seminars for pastors or have classes that end up being predominantly men; but this one was just for the ladies. Women are so mistreated in this culture, it was a delight to see them vibrant, laughing, uninhibited. One fun thing was that every night, they would all get dressed up in the same outfit, same hat, nametags, climb into a big blue bus and head off somewhere. Daughters of the King, strutten their stuff. It was precious.


The church is a really amazing organism when it operates how it's supposed to and this was obviously the living body of Christ, doing it’s thing. The sacrifice of the long journey was paled in comparison to the joy they gave and received by coming here.
Once again, without the participation from you all and the monthly donations you make, the Phare would not be up and operating to host something like this. We thank you, and I'm sure the ladies thank you as well.