Kay's final reflections

The day began as so many others - digging at 7:00 a.m. It's hard to believe that it's the last day. The flight out is scheduled to leave Niamey at 2:00 a.m., arriving into Paris at 7:20 a.m. With the Paris airports having been closed due to high winds and with only a few flights a week out of Niamey -- well... keep us in your prayers!

Once again each day brings a new experience. Some have been challenging, some entertaining and all interesting. Today was no exception as we were guests of the United States Ambassador to Niger. We spent time sharing the role of the Reformed Church's partnership with the EERN and hoping that the US government might be able to help support some of the outreach programs that EERN wishes to establish. As we all know its a small world; the Ambassador is a 1978 graduate of the Reformed Church's Central College in Pella, Iowa. She has a unique understanding of who we are so hopefully it will help. She also graciously provided us with a photo op.

We ended the week as it began with digging and wheelbarrowing. We do believe that the foundation digging will be completed tomorrow. To answer Ed's question about the need for 5 foot deep trenches -- It is because of a soil study and most of the soil is sand. Timing is everything. We leave tonight and they begin hand mixing and pouring concrete on Thursday. We thought our work was tough.

Highlights:

The bathroom on the giraffe trip.

The public restrooms (unisex - no public toilet paper, need to carry own)

The private bathroom (Didn't know that a 2 cup measuring cup poured over your head qualifies as a shower and doubles as a toilet flusher.)

Sauce over starch every day for lunch and then served as leftovers for dinner. Always with bread.

A 6 am wake up call can be the sound of pounding millet.

Learning that geckos are not afraid to come inside.

Living in community can be fun.

Swimming in the suez canal. Also known as ditch diving.

Learning to speak Hausa.

Remembering, knowing and experiencing that people are people, despite culture, language or opportunity.

Spending time with Sue - a dear friend, wonderful traveling companion, mission motivator, spiritual example, one though whom the light of Jesus shines so readily.

You really can see the JOY OF THE LORD in so many ways, we can't wait to share more.


Thank you for following our excellent adventure.

Sue's Final Thoughts

It is 5:30 a.m. in Niamey and I am the only one awake.  My current company is the morning call to prayer.  This has been an amazing trip.  I have experienced things that I never thought I would and have been challenged by some of the most basic things in life: taking a bath without running water, eating the same thing every meal (although it is called something different it is still sauce over rice or pasta or mashed yams)  and I began to understand why Abraham rested during the heat of the day.  Not understanding the language, the smells, noise, and digging have all challenged me.  I would not call this a vacation, but the experience has changed me.

All this being said, I still have a full day of activities ahead of me- more digging and a visit to the Ambassador.  Each day has brought a new adventure, but none of it would have been as great if I was not sharing with Kay.  Traveling to a developing country and living with others that one does not know can be lonely at times, and having Kay share this with me has been a very special gift.  We have laughed so many times with each other, at each other, and about each other and is has been so joyful.  I want to thank Kay's family for all the support that you have given her and me was we travel.  Your e-mails, prayers, and thoughts have encouraged us along the way.  Thank you to the Colts Neck Church for supporting her on this trip and making it possible for us to share this experience together.  I thank God everyday for her.  She is a very special person in my life and she is a rare person who shares her love of Christ in so many wonderful ways.  It is my privilege to know her.

I also want to thank each of you for sharing in the blog.  It has been so much fun for Kay and I to check it each day and hear reactions about our experiences.  We have no idea how many people have shared in this trip for all the support that they have shared with me.  The prayers, help, emotional support, and financial support for the project have all been wonderful.

Trying to sum up my experience here and bring meaning is difficult.  I have learned so many life lessons that it would be hard to put them into words, but I feel called to share the love of Christ that I have felt here.  I have felt encouraged to speak about my faith, to share the joy that it brings and also the challenges that it represents.  This time ahead of us in America and the world will be challenging, but it is a time for us to be bold, to trust that God has a plan for each of us and for the redemption of his world.

When we met the other night with Dr. K, someone asked him how can you tell who a Christian is here when everyone dresses the same.  His answer was immediate and firm.  He said, "all you have to do is look in one's eyes, the Christians are the ones who's eyes shine.  they are filled with joy."

Do you shine?  If not, do you want to?  If life is empty, Jesus can fill it and all you have to do is ask him to.  I want to encourage and invite anyone who doesn't know Jesus as their Lord to seek him and get to know him.  It will change your life and you will become like the stars in the universe shining because joy is overflowing in you and your life will be empty no more!

Thanks be to God!

Sue

Fruit of the Spirit Devotion- Day 8

Day Eight-Goodness and Self-control

-What is self-control?  Read Romans 8:1-17.  What really has control over our lives?

-Read Romans 7:14-25.  How often do you feel like Paul, not doing the things that you want to do, but doing those things you don't want?  How can we gain control of our lives?

-Self-control is not about you at all, but about giving control of ones heart and thoughts to the Holy Spirit.  The more we yield control of our lives to God, the more self-control will grow in us; helping us to live by the Spirit producing good fruit.  What do we get when we give control to God?  We become co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17a).  Can you think of someone who is truly good?  What makes them that way?

-The Bible talks a lot about goodness and evil, light vs. darkness, good fruit vs. bad fruit, the right path vs. the wrong.  Read Luke 6:43-45, Matthew 7:15-20.  What do these passages say about goodness?  Is it possible for a good tree to occasionally bear bad fruit?  Can we hope to ever be good?  Read Romans 5:5, Psalm 37.

-The Bible links goodness and light, why?  Because light chases away darkness.  Read John 1:1-5.  In Psalm 37, it says that your righteousness will shine like the dawn.  Read Matthew 5:14-16.  You are the light of the world and the more brightly you shine the easier it is for others to find their way.

-Each year as I drive home from our Christmas Eve service, I always search the sky for the Star of Bethlehem.  It is a reminder to me to always be searching just as the wise men did long ago, but this year I realized that until Jesus returns we are to be that Star.  We need to shine more brightly so that others will see.  Light chases away darkness, goodness overcomes evil and love abides forever.  Go and bear fruit- GOOD FRUIT!!

May your life become an abundant harvest.

Sunday's Joy

When we studied the fruit of the spirit joy, it was described as *J*esus *O*verflowing in *Y*ou.  That is what Sunday worship is like in Niamey.  We attended a different EERN congregation.  the music was incredible.  The choir sang as well as the little children, older children, women and men.  By the time the singing was done an hour had passed-it felt like- 10 minutes.  There is a sway that must be genetic for everyone here moves together with the beat.  There was no organ or piano, just percussion instruments.  The harmony was wonderful, but the best part was the joy that filled the entire sanctuary and spilled out onto the streets through the open windows and doors.  Anyone in the surrounding area could not help but hear the music and wonder what makes these people so happy.

The service continued for 2 and 1/2 hours.  We were introduced to the congregation and when we shared our names in their native language (Hausa) they laughed.  More JOY!  Of course, every time we try to speak in Hausa they laugh.  We have certainly inspired entertainment these past two weeks.

Later in the afternoon, we attended a Christian Rock Concert at a downtown outdoor arena.  Admission price $2 (the young men digging with us earn $3 a day).  The headliner was "Big Willy" from Nigeria and the crowd knew every word to every song.  The arena was overflowing with joy.

Monday was another joyful day of digging because the temperature was only 86 degrees.  Jeremey told us it was Indian Winter- haha.

Tomorrow we have been granted an audience with the American Ambassador to Niger.  We are certainly being treated with amazing hospitality.  We will let you know.  Each day brings new and exciting experiences.

My Jesus is From America

Tonight we had the opportunity to meet the President of the local Evangelical Church and his wife.  They came to share their faith story with us.  They were both born and raised Muslim and he was working in Washington D.C. as an ambassador of Niger.  He felt that "inside his life was empty and there was no peace at home".  He began searching to find peace and a co-worker reached out to him.  He said that "one needs to speak life- do not talk about religion".  This is what his co-worker did for him.  His wife shared how she was lead to her faith through the example of her husband and a direct vision from God.

They both returned to Niger no longer as a diplomat but as a Pastor and Pastor's wife after living 16 years in the U.S.  However, they were returning to family and friends that were still Muslims.  His friend in the U.S. said "only the sand and stones will listen to you".  They have since started 4 churches in two years.  "The Jesus of the Bible is very faithful".  He tells Americans that "my Jesus is from America" and told us that we are miracles for coming here.  He stressed that people want to be able to see Christ in you.  The ministry of presence is what this trip is really all about....both ours and theirs!

GPS -- African Style

As you all slept, we began our adventure looking for the only remaining wild giraffes in West Africa. We traveled with an Nigerian woman, Phoebe (she was our translator and protection as we traveled out of the city for the first time). We traveled to the guide center where we hired a giraffe guide and paid our fee for our car and cameras. Before the adventure continued it was necessary for someone in our group, who should remain nameless, but won't - KAY, had to use the "public restroom" (a unisex hole in the ground surrounded by 3 and 1/2 walls about 4 feet tall - no door). Sue provided privacy and toilet paper - what a great friend. She is so proud of Kay -- she almost hit the hole! Just so you know we have a picture to prove it - though we won't be posting it.

Back to giraffe hunting. Our guide brought with him his giraffe GPS. This consisted of him sitting on the roof of the 4X4 with a long stick that he pointed down on the windshield to go left or go right through the bush. When he wanted us to stop he would tap the windshield. We saw 12 ( 3 babies, one 3 months old) in total. They are the only giraffes in the world that roam entirely in unprotected habitat. They wander among villagers and nomadic herders (not Ed and Gloria). Because Niger is one of the poorest and most desolate places on earth, people and giraffes are both fighting for survival competing for some of the same scare resources in this dry, increasingly deforested land. The herd now numbers at 175 up from 60 in 1996. Sue, Karen and Wanda rode on top with the guide as we searched the bush. We passed many small villages and camels, goats and cattle too. It was so quiet in the bush compared to the noise and chaos of the city. It was a great change. By the way it was 106 degrees.

Soup and Sandwiches

A winter tradition in our homes is to have homemade soup and sandwiches for dinner. The Newborns always on Sunday night. The tradition continued in Niger last night for dinner as we dined on homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches - okay we know it is 104, but remember it's winter here.

After dinner we went to a gathering, the young adults couples club. There were: eight couples, two newlyweds, 5 children, a baby, the pastor and his wife, 7 old Americans and Jeff (he is 31). We gathered in the living room. All the children and African women sat on the floor. The rest of the group sat on lovely couches and Kay and I found the vinyl dining room chairs (a reappearance of swamp butt). The evening began with prayer, African singing and a discussion of the future of this group. There is so much that they are looking to accomplish. They are trying to discover their role in leadership in the church and were looking for ideas from us as to what has worked for us in the US. Basically, we shared that the most important thing was to have fun together. Kay shared about NOAH (No Older Adults Here- this brought much laughter) and the importance of doing activities with children and without children. The father of the new baby thought that sounded like something they should do immediately. Their greatest desire is to share their faith with their spouse first and then with each other and then with their Muslim friends ( because Christians are so much in the minority here).

As with all good gatherings refreshments were served. The drink was Hibiscus Tea (sweet and cold - this is also what was served as the communion wine in church last Sunday). The food was loaves of bread and community bowls of mutton stew served with no utensils or napkins. As Kay and I fussed over our bread crumbs mounting in our laps we realized that everyone else didn't seem to care including the hostess. A bowl was passed for the bones and a separate bowl was passed to wash your hands when finished. They were so gracious to us. They took an offering and used the quilted activities bag that Kay and I brought for Jeremy's children. We don't know what the offering was for, but assume that it was to cover the cost of hosting the party. The meeting was closed with prayer and singing.

It was wonderful to see a different side of life in Niger.