Learning about Jesus in Senegal (Click the question boxes for more information) Little Mayram was excited. She had heard that her Uncle Hamidou was bringing a Missionary to her village to teach people about Jesus. His name is Cheerno Mark. "Cheerno" means teacher in Mayram’s language, Pulaar.

Mayram lives in northern Senegal. Her dad herds cattle, sheep and goats. They live in a hay-thatched house that shelters them from the blistering sun in the dry season and the downpours of the rainy season. Mayram helps by taking care of dad’s sheep and goats, pounding millet for dinner and going in the donkey cart with her mom to get water from the well.

It was evening when the pickup truck came up the prairie trail toward Mayram’s village. All of her friends gathered around to welcome Uncle Hamidou and Cheerno Mark. Mats were spread out under the thorn tree. Her aunt made tea on their little charcoal stove. As the stars came out, neighbors arrived for the class.

Mayram saw Cheerno Mark light the kerosene lantern and prop his big blackboard up against the donkey cart. He invited them to join him in prayer, lifting his hands to heaven like they always did. But she noticed he finished his prayer in Jesus’ name. That was different.

Then he opened a holy book and read them the story of the birth of Jesus in her own language. Finally, he unrolled a picture of the baby Jesus in a feeding trough, surrounding by herdsmen like her dad. Cheerno Mark said that Jesus was sent by God from heaven to help all the people of the world. Her Uncle Hamidou said that Jesus loved us, each one.

Mayram fell asleep on the mat, her head against her mom’s knee, before the class ended. When she awoke, Uncle Hamidou and Cheerno Mark had already left and she was sad. "Don’t worry," her mom said. "Uncle Hamidou and the Cheerno are coming back again next week. We can hear more about Jesus then."

Illustrations by Fred Willingham