Purpose

As I've begun talking with other organizations here in Dakar, I've realized that at least the concept behind my work is really important. No one's really doing it.

What is it?

Listening.

And what is my work mostly about?

Questioning.
And listening . . .

And oh I'm so very good at that, in English, back home, let alone in French and in another context. Ha ha ha ha.

How ironic.

But really, at the end of the day, at the end of my work, evaluating my time here will have a lot to do with how well I listened to God, to myself, and to others.

The major question that remains is how deep I can go in listening. How much will people be willing to tell me.

How do I get them to?
And that's still the hard part for me. How to facilitate it so we get beyond the surface.

Honestly, I'm all ears. Just tell me.
(I wish it were that easy)

Do you want to know where your donor money goes?
Investing in people like me who are learning how to listen. So that through that process, I (we) might help organizations like WV do more effective work.

More importantly, by listening to people, we might come along side them, care for them, and most importantly, empower them to help themselves.
. . .

I went to a meeting today with the Centre de Suivi Ecologique. They implemented a project on natural resource management and governance (at the heart of governance is empowerment). In my opinion, although designed superbly, it also still missed the boat.

Two major weaknesses:
1 Implementing a project that requires inputs people don't have. (so how will it be continued after they're gone? And, how will it be replicated?)
2 They didn't really listen to the people.
They did, very well, even.
But yet, they didn't.
Because I don't think they ever got to the point of asking, 'Once we leave, once nothing is left to support you, do you care about what we've done, what you've done?'
And if not, why not?

. . .
So we return to my work: exploring people's perceptions, behaviours, and attitudes towards the environment.

What are yours?
And how do we expect the poor to think more highly of the environment than we do back home.
Yet again, they should more so than us because they depend more immediately on it.
Hmmm.

Such an interestingly difficult issue to explore for me.
. . .
So, it's clear, but it's not.
It's a work in progress.
It's a becoming.
. . .
I'm going to spend all tomorrow trying to think about how I can engage people in constructive conversation.

And then I'm off to the beach for the weekend with some of the youth from the Roman Catholic church in Fatick. It should be an interesting weekend.
. . .
And then vacation!!!
I'm going to Saint Louis, right at the Mauritanian border. I'm gonna look into crossing into Mauritania. Maybe do a touristy desert trek . . .

. . .

NEwho, it's 8 pm, and I have a dinner meeting at 8:30. So, I gotta jet.

Hope you're all well back home.

Pray for inspiration to lead innovative discussions.
Pray for the well-being of the villagers.
Pray that God would raise up people to listen to them.
(me? I'm still trying to figure that out . . .!)