Missionaries to Africa

 It's interesting that a recent trip Micah and Roman took to Senegal, Africa, happened to coincide with a history reading on missionaries to Africa that Elsa and I enjoyed back at home.

We learned that prior to the 1800s, only courageous Europeans, led by skillful African trailblazers, explored the interior of the continent. The task was so difficult and dangerous, it became known as the "White Man's Grave."

Reading the line, "None but the very brave were suited for the exploration of this great land," while our two guys were there, made Elsa and I grateful for the thousands of missionaries over the last two hundred years that have helped contribute to what has made traveling to Africa much safer today.

These missionaries started almost all of Africa's schools and hospitals, taught new ways of farming and preventing disease, and led many to Christ.

We also read a short biography on David Livingstone, whose goal was to "explore the land while he preached the gospel in order to open up the interior of Africa for other missionaries." He certainly paved the way, winning the respect and admiration of people back in England, Scotland, and eventually America as he pushed deeper into this "Dark Continent." 

Not everyone gets their name mentioned in a history book. Yet thousands played a necessary role in this large operation. All were cogs in the wheel, so to speak.

 I can envision flipping through multiple pages of missionary names, enough to fill several volumes, I'm sure. Imagining, as we flip, two centuries worth of progress recorded within those volumes, and finding that we are now in the year 2025- where the entries end and blank pages begin.

So here is where we enter a father/son duo, from a speck on the map, spending a week on Niomoune island, a speck on the other side of the map. Seems like a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things, and probably more impactful for Micah and Roman than for the natives there. But, a new entry on the blank pages has been made.

With their permission, I am sharing a few photos...

(Micah brought a bag of candy to share...)

They returned healthy, although a touch disoriented from travel, and both said it was a great experience they'd love to do again.

Thank you to those who prayed for them on their adventure.

"Jesus said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.' "

Mark 16:15

~ Courtney