Friends,
Sunday was, of course, worship with our hosts. We joined them at the Grand Yoff church for a 2+ hour service of music, exhortation and witness to the power of our Lord. District Superintendent Joe Bleck delivered a stirring sermon on Christ's baptism and its connection to baptism as a sign of our commitment to God's intention for us. The music and energy was electric in an overflow crowd close to 100.
Thereafter, we had lunch and set off for Goree Island; however, the 3pm ferry was just missed and the group decided to do some shopping instead. Returning around 5, the group napped briefly and then began to organize materials for the next day's initial meeting with the community health workers. After dinner at the church - which gave the team a chance to introduce themselves to the workers - set up for the training began. We walked back to our rooms (six blocks) at 10pm on a cool evening.
Today dawned cloudy, but it never rains outside of September and October. The team gathered and walked back to the church. Breakfast with the CH workers was blessed by DS Joe Bleck. At 9am, the training seminar began with singing of "Amazing Grace".
The training program is being delivered to 13 volunteer members of six villages from the vicinity surrounding the city of Theis (pronounced "chez"). We are assuming no prior health delivery experience. The Wellness Team from the mission is observing the training so that they may continue it over the coming months. The goal is to train a person or persons in the village to monitor the overall health of the community and focus on changing behaviors to contribute to the greatest improvement in health. So, the training starts with basic definitions and germ theory, then moves into specifics about water safety, food safety, sanitation, hand washing, hydration, and eventually prevention of malaria. Just as importantly, the workers are coached in how to present this information to others within the village - each is given a felt board and pictures of foods, animal and insect pests, etc. Each module of the course has a quiz and the workers must make presentations to one another and the entire group. Upon graduation from this week, each worker will receive a certificate.
Of course, follow up with the workers after training is essential - emphasizing periodic reunions of the group to talk about their experiences together. This is a portion of the program we are coaching to the Wellness Team and expect them to fulfill. In another year, the US team may return to carry the training to a new level and perhaps start another group in initial training - but that will be decided after assessment of this year's success.
But class is now in session! Keep us in your prayers. If you wish to support this program, please send a check made out to Trinity United Methodist Church - with "Senegal Wellness" in the memo field. Any amount is helpful, because supplies and transportation are both needed. Please mail the check to:
Trinity UMC
1024 Lake Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
Thank you.
-- Tom
Sunday was, of course, worship with our hosts. We joined them at the Grand Yoff church for a 2+ hour service of music, exhortation and witness to the power of our Lord. District Superintendent Joe Bleck delivered a stirring sermon on Christ's baptism and its connection to baptism as a sign of our commitment to God's intention for us. The music and energy was electric in an overflow crowd close to 100.
Thereafter, we had lunch and set off for Goree Island; however, the 3pm ferry was just missed and the group decided to do some shopping instead. Returning around 5, the group napped briefly and then began to organize materials for the next day's initial meeting with the community health workers. After dinner at the church - which gave the team a chance to introduce themselves to the workers - set up for the training began. We walked back to our rooms (six blocks) at 10pm on a cool evening.
Today dawned cloudy, but it never rains outside of September and October. The team gathered and walked back to the church. Breakfast with the CH workers was blessed by DS Joe Bleck. At 9am, the training seminar began with singing of "Amazing Grace".
The training program is being delivered to 13 volunteer members of six villages from the vicinity surrounding the city of Theis (pronounced "chez"). We are assuming no prior health delivery experience. The Wellness Team from the mission is observing the training so that they may continue it over the coming months. The goal is to train a person or persons in the village to monitor the overall health of the community and focus on changing behaviors to contribute to the greatest improvement in health. So, the training starts with basic definitions and germ theory, then moves into specifics about water safety, food safety, sanitation, hand washing, hydration, and eventually prevention of malaria. Just as importantly, the workers are coached in how to present this information to others within the village - each is given a felt board and pictures of foods, animal and insect pests, etc. Each module of the course has a quiz and the workers must make presentations to one another and the entire group. Upon graduation from this week, each worker will receive a certificate.Of course, follow up with the workers after training is essential - emphasizing periodic reunions of the group to talk about their experiences together. This is a portion of the program we are coaching to the Wellness Team and expect them to fulfill. In another year, the US team may return to carry the training to a new level and perhaps start another group in initial training - but that will be decided after assessment of this year's success.
But class is now in session! Keep us in your prayers. If you wish to support this program, please send a check made out to Trinity United Methodist Church - with "Senegal Wellness" in the memo field. Any amount is helpful, because supplies and transportation are both needed. Please mail the check to:
Trinity UMC
1024 Lake Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
Thank you.
-- Tom
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