aaahhhhhhh

Towards the end of July, we packed up and headed to Senegal for our annual regional meeting. It was a great time of fellowship with the other 250 missionaries serving in West Africa and also a great time of worship (in English!). Since we were already in Senegal and had a beautiful view of the Atlantic, we decided to stay an extra week for a little time of relaxation and vacation.

This was the first time we've been able to "get away" since being on the field. They say that sometimes you don't realize how tired you actually are until you get away. And that was ever true for us! We spent the week resting, eating & being closer to home than in the last 9 months (aka - laying by the Atlantic Ocean on the beach). We are now back, rested, energized and ready to finish our last 3 months of language!

a classic picture by the ocean during sunset!

the entrance to the beach from our resort. The resort was absolutely beautiful and we had no idea that such places existed in West Africa!

boating on the Atlantic! Grrrrrr!

our "bungalow" for the week. it is actually divided into 4 hotel rooms. but no complaints because we had 24 hours of A/C!!

hugging a palm tree. don't ask ... it's just a tradition!

another beautiful sunset on the beach

we're ready for our daily activities ... lay by the beach, eat, nap, lay out some more, take a shower, eat some more, play a game of cards, sleep some more!

being able to lay by the beach with no agenda or no one in your face begging for money or no kids peeking under your gate yelling your name was so wonderful! nothing vying for your attention other than the sound of waves crashing ... ahhhhhhh!

this and the ocean in front of us was all that our eyes had to take in for a week. I guess you don't realize how overloading polluted roads, overcrowded streets (including people & animals), & crazy traffic is to your senses until you only have this to stare at! who knew someone would need a vacation for their senses?

the happy couple ... don't we look so rested & tanned?!!! 9 months living in Africa and we finally have tans!

one of the lovely pools that assisted our stress relieving week and our physical activity (aka ... swim races!)