Dakar and the Dispensaire

We've spent the past few days here in Dakar with Luc and Anita Sabot and the kids. We arrived last Friday morning on the passenger ferry that travels overnight between Ziguinchor and Dakar twice a week. Since then, we've been doing a bit of shopping for things we can't find in the Casamance, relaxing a bit and Tammy spent a 1/2 day in a clinic here in the city to get some training and ideas for our own Dispensaire. It's nice to spend some time in 'modernity' here, but the bustle of the city is definitely a jarring change from the peace and pace of Niaguis. That said, the exceptional meal at a very nice Indian restaurant in honor of Anita's birthday yesterday almost makes up for the negatives of city life! [Check out the Sabot's blog here] 'Happy Birthday' to my brother Andre today, too!
Our minous are holding down the fort at home, alone except for the daily check-in from our housekeeper : ( I'm sure they're building character...

[The photo is us in Dakar in March, before we went to Niaguis. We look much more haggard and grizzled now ;)]
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I ain't no accountant, but it doesn't take one to figure out that the Dispensaire has been operating at a loss for some time now and in fact has a substantial dept for employees social security payments (over $1000Cdn). We currently don't bring in enough revenue each month to cover our expenses. We don't have all the medications on hand that we would like, especially as we prepare for what will be a busy rainy season, where malaria is apparently as common as the mango trees. The Dispensaire has a fertile, irrigated, walled-in garden space that the village women used to love to come into to garden, but there are some much needed repairs required before we can offer the land for community gardening again (which will cost ~$500 to $1000Cdn).
There are many other great projects that we could be starting right now if the funding was in place. The clinic operational needs may be met by support that ADRA Spain is currently proposing; we hope to hear in the next couple of months. But the garden, a wall around the grounds, improvements to currently abysmal staff salaries, and other projects will depend on whether we can find other donors and sustainable means of support.
One of the items on our shopping list here in Dakar is a vehicle that we can use as a 'taxi' between the villages surrounding Niaguis, and Ziguinchor. There is a shortage of vehicles travelling between the villages and the city, especially when mango season arrives and villagers want to sell fruit in the city. Since there are also not many people who can afford vehicles, let alone the travel to Dakar to find one, we're exploring the possibility of buying a mission vehicle that can be a fund-raiser to support the Dispensaire. A $5000 vehicle, for instance, could bring in as much as $1200 per month, which would be a great help. There are logistical and administrative challenges to work out, but it could be a very positive project, allowing the Dispensaire to operate at a much higher level. As the Dispensaire services improve, we expect the surrounding communities will once again begin using the clinic as their primary care center, which will then help increase the clinic's own operational revenue and lessen our need for the 'exterior' support from a transport vehicle. Then, these funds could be used to develop the other projects that would greatly benefit the villagers and help restore the Adventist reputation in Niaguis. It's tough to consider evangelism in these villages when our highly visible Dispensaire is in such disarray.
From a Canadian perspective, a little money will go a long way here. We made a wish/priority list of projects that would conceivable bring the Dispensaire completely into good repair and the total cost was under $20,000Cdn. If we can raise the funds and Tammy and I can carry out even 1/4 of the projects and repairs on the list, the Dispensaire would be in great shape to serve the villagers for the next several years as other volunteers take over for us. We recognize there are lots of equally worthwhile projects that need financial support in North America, but perhaps some reading this would like to contribute to the work in Niaguis as well. If so, please email us at soosenegal@gmail.com for more specific information about the various projects and the various ways to make a contribution.
But most important to us right now, is your support in prayer and encouragement via emails and comments posted to our blog. We've often been tested and challenged beyond our own limits and each time we know we can rely on the One who brought us here to sustain us. He has. Your agreement with us before God in prayer is priceless and we thank Him for the support we continue to receive!