Being the night owl that I am, it is forever a challenge for me to get up for work in the morning. Not because I don't want to go to work, but because I can't make myself go to bed at a decent time and I'm tired. This morning was no exception...I was running rather behind. I have made a habit of checking my email before walking out the door. Today, I had one from a dear friend of mine in Senegal who works at Dakar Academy (the school I taught at for two years). However, I did not have time to do anything but skim it. My friend mentioned reading his blog for a spiritual boost...and I didn't have time before I left for work.

The beauty of having a temporary mind-numbing job like mine is that it gives one much time during the day to ponder on a variety of issues. Today I kept thinking about how badly I wanted to get home and read his blog...because I knew it was something about my dear Senegal.

A few minutes ago, I got the chance to read it...and I was humbled and proud at the same time. Proud because DA kids are constantly amazing me and humble because they are amazing.

Before I post a letter written by the assistant-director (who steps in as a relief dorm-parent one night a week with a boys dorm)...I have to ask you to keep Senegal in your prayers. Last week, my best friend, Cori, wrote me and told me that she feels God is really stirring things up in Senegal and is about to do something big.

For those of you who don't know...this is the season of Ramadan for our Muslim cousins. It is a particularly strategic time to pray for Senegal and other Muslim countries. If you are not sure how...read THIS. (A basic guide of how to pray during this month.)

But now for what blew me away...here is the letter written by Dan, the assistant-director of the school...

On a normal Monday evening, I take the boys on the roof for attayah and a devotion. Last night was no different, except that one of the boys asked if we could have an extended prayer time on the roof after the devotion. . . . As we ended our time on the roof, the rains began to come down, and WOW, did it pour, and then the power went out.

Shortly thereafter, the boys came to me and asked permission to all sleep in the living room. They cited two reasons. (1) With the power being out, it was cooler and (2) they wanted to continue their time in prayer.

By 9:00 P.M., every boy was in the living room and it was pitch black. They began to pray. They prayed for each other, for DA, for their parents, for their parents’ ministries, for the administration, for their dorm parents, for the Senegalese people, for God to crush Satan’s power in Senegal. They prayed and prayed and prayed.

Then they began to pray one-on-one with each other; each boy going to all of his dorm mates. Several of them even prayed with and for me. I was absolutely blown away. At around 10:00 P.M., the power suddenly came back on. Several of the boys got up and turned off all the lights while the others continued to pray. . . .

They prayed for the Holy Spirit to empower them to share the Gospel and to give them the courage to love each other and everyone they came in contact with. They prayed for strength, they prayed for God’s armor, they prayed for the Holy Spirit to take control of their lives. . . . They prayed for over two hours!

. . . Your children are . . . a bright light in our lives. . . . They are a testament to your loving affection and guidance. They are a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit. . . . They are a testament to what young boys can do for a world in need of God’s love. . . .

May God bless your day as your boys have blessed my night!

In His Service,

Dan