Greetings from a very hot and humid Gambia!

Despite having our moments of struggling with this transition phase, and frustration at the quality and pace of work at the huts, our overall feeling as we look back is that there is SO much to give thanks for from these last few months (get ready for excessive exclamation marks!!):

• We now have eight students at SOW, including our first female student, Mary. Two of the new students, Joshua and Mary, are Gambians which excites us greatly! 
• The students have moved from sleeping on the classroom floor into the dormitory block. They are delighted with their bunk beds, fans and a bit more personal space!
• We are really seeing the benefit of residential learning - the students are learning so much from each other (see ‘on our minds this month’ overleaf). 
• The students are really engaging with their studies - Nick received a call from one of them on a Sunday afternoon wanting to chat through the sermon in light of all he’s been learning at SOW. It’s so encouraging to see them already growing in discernment and a passion to see Christ proclaimed. 
• We also heard an encouraging testimony from someone who listened to one of our alumni preach at his church the other week - the comment was that the sermon was faithfully taught and applied in a culturally relevant way… just the kind of feedback we long to hear! 
• Help from Basil, one of the SOW students. The students have been serving us big time in helping get the huts ready, giving up their free time to come and do some hard labour! Their willingness to serve is incredibly humbling.
• The borehole and water tower are completed at the huts which means water is flowing through the taps! 
• There is electricity at the campus and the huts. Remember that time when we thought we were going to have to learn to do life without electricity? As we walked into our hut last week and turned on the lights and fans, we were blown away reflecting on everything that had led up to that point and God’s extraordinary provision through the incredible generosity of many. 
• Phoebe and Arthur have celebrated their second and fourth birthdays and they’re happy and healthy - which we do not take for granted! We’re thanking the Lord for their little lives that bring so much joy. 

Looking forward

Though there is still a bit to do on the huts, the plan is for us to move in on Wednesday 6th. Phoebe has been counting down as if for Christmas (this morning she declared ‘Two more sleeps until Tubakuta! Yay!’) and we all feel very excited that the end of suitcase living is in sight!