Andrew and Eliza Keyser and children are doing well. They feel settled, are healthy and encouraged most of the time.
Of course Andrew, Eliza and children still have their struggles with fitting in to a new culture and context; with the awareness of being the ‘different one’ and the loneliness that accompanies this feeling.
These are the moments when Andrew and Eliza go back to the ‘River’ so that they may be filled with the ‘Living Water’ so their ‘leaves will not wither’. In this way they are not carried away by the wind of their emotions, but rejoice in the Lord, in who He is and what he has done for them. He, who did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Language study still takes up most Andrew and Eliza’s time. They have noticed that they pick up more and more of random conversations around them and so they know that they are progressing. Their first language evaluation, showed that their progression is steady and that they are well on track, even though they still feel babes in the language.
Besides their language study they try to connect with their local church. By trial and error they feel that they have become more and more connected. Andrew goes to the Bible study and prayer evenings and will soon have the opportunity to preach. Eliza is involved with the ladies Bible study group, Sunday school and a kids club that the church started right in front of their door. Being involved gives them a feeling of ‘togetherness.’
Just recently they had a sports event as a church and it was a lovely day. They had a good time playing football, having a picnic and generally having fun outside of the normal church activities. Andrew was able to lead a fun and challenging Bible quiz. Before the sports activities began they distributed Samaritan’s Purse shoe boxes to handicapped children. During this time the Gospel was shared with them and their family members. It was a very impressive moment for Andrew and Eliza and was especially touching for them to see the kids enjoying their boxes.
God is already working among the Saafi. Andrew and Eliza are trying to find out how they can be a part of His plan. During the past few months they discovered that there are some Senegalese men and women with a passion to reach the Saafi. Andrew and Eliza visited a seminar that was organised by some of them and were very encouraged that the Lord is raising up a team of Senegalese brothers and sisters to reach out. One of the key people in the work is a brother from their church. He is a Saafi believer and is very active in sharing the Gospel among his people. Lately Andrew and Eliza have been talking with him a lot about the Saafi in order to grow in their understanding and develop a bigger picture of what is going on. They have invited him to attend the (NTM/Ethnos360) mission conference with them in July and pray that it may be encouraging for them all. Pray that the Lord will clearly guide Andrew and Eliza and show them how to work together in reaching the Saafi.
Please continue to pray for Senegal! Pray that the people will continue to search and find the Way, the Truth and the Life! That Christ will reveal Himself through the work of the Holy Spirit and that their spiritual hunger will be met by the true God who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all.