Dear friends and partners in ministry,

Our work in Gambia would not be possible without your partnership, support and prayers. Your commitment and trust in this work are changing lives every day.

We continue to be humbled and amazed by how God is continuing to provide for us to minister in Gambia and to enlarge our vision and influence. Even though our circumstances brought us back to the states sooner than anticipated, the ministry continues to flow and grow.

God Continues to Strengthen the Ministry in Our Absence

One of our friends asked us, “Do you feel that God is strengthening the ministry when you are not there?” The answer is a definite YES! The ministry is being strengthened both in Gambia and here. Over the years we’ve had more teams that we can count who came to minister alongside us in Gambia, but this time a team of six men took a trip by themselves. It was beautiful to watch how everyone stepped up to handle each responsibility because we were not there.

Lamin Darboe proved he was a capable manager as he took care of the needs of the team and the project all on his own. Sol was on the phone with him every day, sometimes multiple times a day, guiding him as he made decisions and took care of the responsibilities of seeing to the team’s personal needs, transportation, water supply, daily supermarket supplies, and making sure the team had everything they needed to complete the construction project.

These men have been to Gambia many times and each time they continue to build relationships with the workers they are training and the folks they meet along the way. This trip was a continuation of investing in their lives.

Washington Team Encourages the Christians in Lamin and Outlying Area While They Worked

Lamin Darboe arranged two visits between the team and Pastor Robert’s church giving each team member the opportunity to encourage the believers in God’s Word. Larry and Steve also held staff and leadership training meetings at the school, encouraging the staff and other Christian leaders from the area whom we have been working with. So every area was covered in taking care of the needs on the ground and filling in the gap we left. By the end of their two-week trip, the skill center and Bible School rooms were finished.

Dreams for New Ministry at the School are Within Sight

With God’s help, we will be able to teach computer and sewing classes beginning in September. We are also working on establishing a curriculum for the Bible School where we can offer different programs for different interests. We will begin with three-month classes and work up to twelve months. In the future, we would like to have a three-year Bible School program with a diploma.

God continues to raise up people who are taking ownership of the vision of Shared Blessings; people we can trust because they have the heart of God and demonstrate servant leadership. Lamin Darboe is one of them, our right-hand guy on the ground. Lamin is married now with four children and his wife, Adama.

We have also seen ministry partnerships strengthened as they have come together to pray for the ministry and for Sol’s healing; they have taken the work of the Lord in Gambia to heart and see the challenges we face. We will see His kingdom come and His will done on earth as it is in heaven when we work together in unity, and we believe that is being accomplished.

Ministry Growth

About a month ago, we heard from one of our ministry partners about Sajo, a brother in Christ who has been ministering in the village of Buiam. This is a village we haven’t visited. Sajo started two home churches and preaches on the radio for an hour every week in local languages. The non-believers love him and they are listening eagerly to his messages! He has been struggling to continue the radio program and ministry while he is providing for his family as a hunter. We had a phone interview with him as Sol spoke with him in the local Mandinka language. Sol was really happy to hear his heart for the lost and his desire to share the Gospel! Because of your faithfulness, we are able to start supporting his work this month and we believe this is another great opportunity to impact a village. Pray with us for Sajo and his family, for God’s protection and grace and that He would keep him humble and use him mightily!

We really cannot do what we do without your faithful prayers and support. Thank you so much for partnering with us to see His Kingdom established in this tiny nation. We continue to do our part as He directs us and He can and will do exceedingly and abundantly more then we can ask or imagine, for His glory!

Have a great summer, enjoy your family and your health,

Sol and Manuela