Trench Gardening 101

Aaron has been trying new techniques out for gardening in this hostile and dry climate. One of his new found techniques is called trench gardening. Very interesting concept. You dig a big trench (actually the Wheaton Football team did this when they were here), then you fill the first layer with old cans, bones, metal and bottles. Second layer you add organic matter (dried leaves, etc.), third layer more trash, four layer more organic matter, final layer nice, rich top soil. The result? Well, see for your self.
Step 1: The trash layer


Step 2: Paper trash layer


Step 3: Watering the layers


Step Four: Miracle Growth

You understand my anglais?

The Ditch that Blocks our Driveway

I don't think that this needs any more commentary than what I give on the video.

Life and programs continue here at the Phare, in spite of the excitement out front. The Korean Baptist mission was here in force all of last week for a field or regional gathering of families, for instance. And Balla just gave me a quick report on his continuing training with the Serer guys. Besides looking at the Gospel of John, they talked about the preacher and his job today. They apparently had a lively discussion, including sharing some bad examples they've seen already in their few years with the Lord. It's so easy to forget that it's what God says that actually changes people, not what or how I say it from the pulpit. I appreciated the reminder!

This One Missed Us

This is getting to be too interesting. Last night, Aaron and Herve tell me, a truck in trouble got past the circle and somehow tried to take refuge in the alley behind the dorm. That's the next left after our driveway. Foolish move. It's all downhill and no empty fields to ditch in.

Aaron says he thinks our boulders scared the guy off, so that he didn't try our driveway!

A Solution

Everyone seems quite concerned about finding a way to prevent trucks with brake problems (and taxis and motorcycles and car rapides) from entering the Phare. I assure you, Herve and Aaron and I were talking about that almost as soon as our hearts stopped racing and we'd arranged for the legal issues! Here's what we thought of. It's a bit crude but we think it should be effective.

God's Protection

Well, first, a cute picture of Yvette and her little baby Kathy. We've all enjoyed Kathy's presence with us during the days. She is quiet and adorable. You should see Mbaye doting on her.

Now on to more sobering information. Remember those folks from my post yesterday, standing around at a coffee break? God saved their lives today. A truck without brakes was on a runaway course down our driveway today. Mbaye saw it coming and stood his ground and signaled the driver to head to his left. Here is where he ended up, tipping over with one set of wheels in our drainage canal and leaning against our wall.






He ruined the corner of the wall and knocked over a power pole. But if he had entered the property as he hoped, the dozens of folks at the conference would have been right in his path. They were taking a break just then and standing around talking as he came racing down the driveway.

Thank the Lord with us that Mbaye had the presence of mind and the courage to face down a tractor-trailer filled with gravel coming at speed!

Thank the Lord that no one was hurt, including the driver and his assistant.

One of the reasons that Mbaye reacted to strongly was that this was the second time in three days that this has happened. Two days ago was a quiet one with a number of missionary families on site and kids playing together on the basketball court. Late in the day a dump truck came barreling through our gates before anyone even saw him coming. He kept coming, whizzing through our parking area, down along the basketball court and swerving to avoid the dorm. He ended up farther down the drive under the trees by the back gate.




Again, by God's grace, no one was hurt. No one was on the alley, nor by the dorm. But we sure were scared. Poor Yvette was close to collapsing. She lost her brother in a mini-bus (car rapide) accident out in front of the Phare just weeks ago and thought she was witnessing more death. We thought a lot about all this and decided to keep the gate closed to at least slow someone down. Little did we know we'd see another truck today!