A Day in the Life of Moi

Here’s a glimpse into the life of Elisabeth. Why? …just because somebody asked me what my days usually look like, so I thought I’d share with everybody…

5:00 or 5:30 – Wake up. Read my Bible. Do my devotion. Get ready. Make my lunch.

6:30ish – Leave for work. I walk approximately 3 blocks to work.

Once I get to work – I put my lunch (usually leftovers from the day before or a sandwich) in the fridge, check my mailbox, and go to my classroom where I get everything ready for the day.

7:20 – On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we have Staff Devotions. I’m responsible for doing 1 devotion each semester. Devotions usually last 10 or so minutes, followed by prayer request/praise reports, prayer, and announcements.

7:55 – The bell rings and kids come inside from playing on the playground. I usually am standing outside close to my door waiting on all my kids to arrive. Between teaching, recess, lunch, etc., I’m at school until…

3:10 – School dismisses. I have to wait until 3:30 when all my kids are either gone for the day or are in the office waiting on their parents/drivers to get there. I could leave at this time if I wanted, but I typically stay after each day to work and plan for the next day/week/etc. When I leave each day, I usually end up going out the same gate, and getting “taught” Wolof by one of the guards. This man is very patient and makes me repeat the words or phrases over and over until I get them right. I still have an incredibly long way to go, but I’ve gotten a lot better than I was when I first arrived. That’s for sure.

On Mondays, I have French class at 5:00.

On Tuesdays, I usually eat dinner with a group of girls (teachers) in my apartment building.

On Thursdays, I sometimes go to Teen Bi (community center in the area) and help in 1 of 2 classes. The first is a group of older girls learning English and crafts. The second is a group of young children learning English/playing/crafts/etc. The kids are so much fun to be around…all of them! I love going here and also getting to practice the few Wolof phrases I know.

On Fridays, I have after school library duty from 3:30 to 5:00. During this time I check in/out books, help students/teachers search for books, monitor students working/studying, etc. Then, each Friday at 5:30, I eat dinner with the other new teachers at another teacher’s apartment.

On Saturdays, I usually sleep in (7:30 is late for me), eat breakfast, and then do my devotions/Bible reading. When I’m done with that, I’ll pack a lunch and go to the school and work in my classroom (starting Jan. 11th, I’ll be working on my own personal classes – Berean and Univ. of South Alabama graduate classes too). I’ll work at the school for a few hours and then play around on Facebook, check e-mails, etc. Usually this is when I’ll skype or call my parents. Afterwards, I’ll either go back to my apartment and or go to a friend’s place and hang out/watch a movie/make dinner, etc.

On Sunday mornings, I’ll go to church at 1 of 2 places.

The first is the church service at Dakar Academy. Worship is led by a group comprised of local missionaries, teachers, students, dorm parents, etc. There is a different speaker each week. I love going to the D.A. church and getting to see/be a part of a service comprised of people from so many different denominations/missions organizations and nationalities. It’s a diverse group of believers. However we’re all they’re with a common purpose, worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The second is one of the local African Assemblies of God churches. I typically go to these with either with A/G missionaries, Tom and Marla McLane or A/G missionary, Amy Farley. The majority of these churches are in Wolof or French, with only a few having English translations. My French is getting better day by day, though, so I’m able to understand a lot more during these services. It’s amazing, though, to be in these churches, often around others worshipping in native languages other than my own and feeling the Holy Spirit move in such mighty ways.

The rest of my Sunday usually includes eating lunch, taking a nap (love those) when able, and spending time with friends or just hanging around my apartment enjoying a little peace and quiet (minus the dogs barking outside).

Of course I also do other things during the week sometimes, such as…

• I walk to one of the grocery stores near my apartment.
• I walk to the local boutique (hard to explain accurately – picture a small little enclosed structure, big enough for lots of shelves on all the walls, and room enough for 2 or 3 people tops). The boutiques usually carry fresh bread, bottles of water and coke products, and lots of other “grocery” items.
• I ride with others to Casino – a larger grocery store that has a LOT more. (Imagine going from the regular Wal-Mart grocery section to a Supercenter Wal-Mart. That’s basically the difference in grocery selections of this store and the local grocery stores that I usually just walk to.)
• I go to various sports events either at D.A. or other locations.
• I go out to eat with friends/co-workers. There are a few little places within walking distance of my apartment and the school. Then there are a few we’ll ride to downtown. There’s also an awesome ice cream place that we all like called N’ice Cream that we go to every now and then.
• I go to HLM. This is a GIGANTIC market, where vendors sale primarily fabric, but also pre-made clothing, shoes, and various other items. It’s a bit intense at first, getting used to being surrounded by all the people and bargaining for prices, etc., but I absolutely LOVE going here, just soaking it all in.  Plus I’ve found some beautiful fabric there, which I’ve then taken to a local tailor who has made me some beautiful African outfits.
• I’ve gone once shopping downtown at a couple stores there. I’ve also gone once shopping at the Artisan’s Market (African products – clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, statues, purses & bags, etc.).