The Gambia Mission - Team Member Reports
"This is to report that the NOBS mission to The Gambia was blessed with great success. What a joy it was to see that everyone had made it. There were drummers beating sounds of welcome for them at the airport. It was fun and exciting! Tom (Boomershine, Founder of NOBS) had a go at beating the drum before we went to a welcome dinner given by the Gambia Christian Council.
"Already, some young people who were trained in the Festival Gathering workshops and the Training Institute told their stories from the Epic Telling in their churches. The seed has been planted and the torches passed and some of the Gambians are running with their torches to keep the flame burning. The Gambian hospitality was beyond expectation.
"The feedback (in The Gambia) has been nothing but positive. Everywhere I go people are talking about NOBS."
"I am extending my sincere gratitude to you...for the wonderful insight you brought into my life. I have been longing to hear the word of God in this special way.
"I am really interested in the course (NOBS Academy of Biblical Storytelling) and I want to start as soon as possible.
"You have injected a new life in me. If you could make it possible for me to start (the course) I will be very grateful. I promise you will see God's wonders."
"The whole program - the workshops, the Epic Telling, and the visits to the churches - was successful beyond any expectations. Again, thank you for allowing me to go as your representative (from the Atlanta Guild of NOBS) and experience this beside the sea gathering with such beautiful people.
"This is to let all of you know how wonderful the trip to the Gambia was, as well as peaceful. I would like to suggest that those of us in Atlanta get together and figure out if our churches would sponsor tellings by those (Gambians) who could come in August (for NOBS Annual Festival Gathering) and receive love offerings to help overcome the expense."
"Arrived home safe and sound. I thank you all for the blessing of being a part of "The Twelve" (12 team members in The Gambia). It was the experience of a lifetime and affirms my commitment as well as challenges my call. I look forward to Atlanta and sharing with the Gathering (NOBS annual Festival Gathering Aug. 6-9)." Carolyn Halpert Gambian Team Member New York City
"While in Paris and on the way home I learned the story of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37) for an Easter vigil. I let the images of the Gambian storytellers inspire my learning and my telling...The memory of their stature, style, kindness and energy "breathed" into me and my storytelling truly LIVED!
"By the way, Tom (Boomershine, founder of NOBS) and I both wore our Gambian garments as our Easter liturgical attire."
"I'd like each of us who participated in this trip to seriously consider donating something to a scholarship fund for these and other interested Gambians to get to our Festival Gathering here in the U.S. It would be one small way for us to repay some of the incredible hospitality we experienced.
Donald said "I promise you will see God's wonders." Isn't that a beautiful phrase? I feel like that's EXACTLY what we saw during our time together (in The Gambia). Let's do all we can to keep the flame lit!"
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"Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. First of all I must confess tht you moved me so much in your storytelling.
"Just being with this team of stellar storytellers was an experience in itself. But the experience goes far beyond the team. Gambia is nicknamed the "Smiling Coast" and without a doubt everyone we met had a smile on his or her face with a hand held out to greet you. On the last day of the Training Institute one lady whispered to me to be sure I shook hands with the left hand as I said good-bye. In Gambia this means I will be back!
"We had quite a lively...train trip from Brussels to Paris with all our clothes and Gambian treasures in tow, drum included. We had lost track of time with the transcendent experience of The Gambia and so when we joined the crowd outside Notre Dame for Sunday morning worship and suddenly saw a palm branch waving above the heads on its way to the huge doors we caught our breahs remembering THIS IS PALM SUNDAY AND WE ARE WORSHIPPING IN NOTRE DAME!
"I've already heard from two Gambians interested in pursuing further education (with NOBS Academy of Biblical Storytelling). One was Francis Gbeinda...the other is Donald Davies.
"It (the Gambia trip) was such an extraordinary experience that thanks poured from my heart before my lips could speak it. And even now, I'm still not sure if I can grasp it all ... the events ... the people ... my own gratitude."
