Where Has The Time Gone? (by Thom)

In January 2005 we left the US, moving to France to begin 6 months of French language study. After that we moved on to Bamako, Mali where we've lived since. Now, we know we're going to be moving again - this time to Dakar, Senegal - after our furlough next year. Each week goes by and I'm consistently surprised at how fast this year is passing by. We're only 129 days away from 2009! Anyway, noting that 2009 was catching up fast on us I needed to buy our plane tickets home. We're pleased to announce that we have a definite schedule for our return time in the US!
We will be packing up and flying out of Bamako on January 14th, 2009 and arriving in Detroit on the afternoon of the 15th. We spend roughly 3 1/2 months in the US then before returning to Africa, which will be a direct flight back to our new home in Dakar, Senegal on April 28th. During our last furlough we made ourselves available to speak at as many churches and small groups as possible. However, we realized that we weren't able to find time for the rest and recovery we needed and this time we're going to limit ourselves more. If you're interested in having us come and share what the Lord's doing in Mali (or Senegal or even in our lives) please feel free to drop us an email. Our email information can be found on this page on the right-hand side. We're going to accept the requests on a first-come/first-serve basis and limit ourselves to no more than 50% of our weekends home so we apologize in advance if we're not able to fit your request in. Still, don't let this discourage you from asking!

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Final Olympic Update (by Thom)

Now that the Olympics have passed I can take a look back and see how Mali and Senegal did. I mentioned before that the Malian woman's basketball team went winless at the Beijing games, although that wasn't surprising. The swimmers also failed to advance from their opening rounds. Mali also sent one man and one woman to compete in Track and Field (400 meter hurdles and 200 meter race, respectively) but they both failed to advance. Mali's last hope was Daba Modibo Keita in Taekwondo. Keita was the 2007 world champion in his weight class and advanced past his first round opponant in the Olympics but in the quarterfinals to a Nigerian who went on to win the Bronze medal.
Senegal sent 11 different atheletes to compete in 5 different events. However, the only to advance beyond their first match was Mamadou Keita in Fencing. Like the Malian Keita, Mamadou's opponant went on to win a Bronze medal.
Small, less-affluant countries don't have the luxury of lavish training centers and 200-member athlete delegations like many Western countries. To the Malian and Senegalese Olympians - Congratulations, you've given your countries reason to be proud! Best of luck in the 2012 London Olympiad!

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Mali Olympic Update

I promised to post an update on how Mali and Senegal are faring at the 2008 Olympic games. Mali had the privilege of sending the only woman's basketball team from all of Africa. After a close loss in their first game against New Zealand things quickly went downhill. They have since gone 0-4, all being blowout losses, including a 97-41 drubbing by Team USA. This really is, however, one of those cases where a team should feel happy just to be there. The team even advancing past the African tournement was a surpise and hopefully they are laying the foundations for more interest in women's athletics in Mali.
Mali also sent a pair of swimmers, Mohamed Coulibaly and Mariam Pauline Keita, who didn't advance past their first matches. Mali's last chance for their first ever Olympic medal now rests with Daba Modibo Keita who competes in Taekwondo. His competitions start on Saturday the 23rd.
I'll try to post an update on Senegal soon.

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Our Adoptive Homes at the Games (by Thom)

Ni Hao Ma! ("Hello" in Chinese) You might of heard but there's some sort of gathering of athletes going on in the Far East right now. We're not bombarded with the media storm here regarding the Olympics but we do hear about them. In fact, one thing we've heard a lot about lately is the success of the woman's basketball team from Mali.
Last year the Malian woman's team beat (in a major upset) Senegal to be the only team from Africa to head to the Beijing games. So far they haven't won a game (losing to New Zealand and the Czech Republic) but their participation at the Olympics is a victory in and of itself. Mali only has one basketball gym in the whole country and woman's athletics isn't a high priority here. Mali is also represented at the Games by Daba Keita, a Taekwondo competitor. This will be Mali's 11th time to sent athletes to the Olympics but they've yet to win a medal.
On the other hand, the country where we're moving next year (Senegal) has had some success at the Games. In 1988, at the Seoul Games Amadou Dia Ba took home the Silver for his performance in the 400 meter hurdles. This year Senegal has sent athletes to compete in Canoeing, Fencing, Judo, Taekwondo, and Wrestling.
One thing I've noticed between here and the US is that the African countries don't send athletes in every category like the major players (the US, Russia, China, etc) do. By sending only a handful of athletes it may be harder to win the events but it does become easier to cheer on your fellow countrymen. We'll try and keep you posted on how Mali and Senegal fair in these 2008 Olympic Games.

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