Day 9 (Tuesday March 31)...

The following are my morning thoughts...

I am sooo tired of "Top Ramen" (2 minute Noodles for the South Africans)... With the challenges to our trip, our finances did not work out the way I had budgeted. We greased some palms to take care of Nathan's Visa and travel from Dakar was at a premium because of the Senegal National Elections... so we are living on a shoestring. The YFC office was out of gas for the stove and I am not a good cook over the fire! Therefore, Nathan and I have been eating Tapala (local fresh baked bread) with peanut butter for breakfast & lunch, and Top Ramen for dinner. I have only had an electric kettle (for boiling water) to use for cooking food. Tomorrow is payday (Nathan and I are referring to it as 'Christmas') and we really can't wait to go out for dinner and eat real food! But for today the menu says "Top Ramen" again... Lord, I am tired of Top Ramen... wow... I sound like the Israelites complaining about God's provision of manna in the desert!!! FORGIVE ME!! Thank you for your provision!!

As the day progressed...

The Lord had mercy on my complaining heart, and because He is a good God, and gives good gifts! At morning devotions, Sylvester announced that we would be having American Missionaries visiting in the evening, and Tema was cooking Chicken Benecin for dinner for our guests!!!! YAHOO!! MY FAVORITE!! I couldn't wait for dinner, but God still wanted to provide more... At about 10am we visited my friend Donald Greywood at YWAM DTS (Discipleship Training School). It was here we met the American missionaries that were coming over later. Since we were asked to stay and listen to their teaching, we stayed at YWAM until lunch time... and were then invited to stay for lunch... guess what was for lunch? YEP!! BENECIN!!! While eating lunch, Nathan received a phone call from one of the NAPSA (National Patriotic Students Assoc) leaders inviting us to a free lunch on Wednesday at The Gambia Hotel School (where he is in training)!!!

Fish Benecin for lunch, Chicken Benecin for Dinner... and a fancy meal for lunch tomorrow!! God provided quail for the complaining Israelites and Benecin for the complaining American!