One Bread, One Body, One Lord of all

I wish I could remember the words to this communion hymn that we sing (If someone knows it could you post it for me?)  I believe that it ends with "In this one world".  That song speaks to the experience we had yesterday.  We attended the EERN's church yesterday.  The opening hymn was Holy, Holy, Holy sung in Hausa, it gave me goosebumps.  The service was wonderful and I just can't put into detail the whole thing (it lasted 3 hours) but joy was evident.  The sermon was preached in Hausa, translated to French and then each of us were given an English translator.  But the highlight for me were two things- the children's choir sang a song that was very much like the Hokie Pokie (who knew there were Virginia Tech fans in Niger).  Joy and laughter are international languages.  Then we shared communion.  Through we could not understand the words, we knew them and understood the meaning.  It was extra special because I knew that halfway around the world my family and friends would be sharing communion as well, thus the title.  It struck me that we are one body, though we all look different, dress different, and speak different, we are all one family in this one world.  When we talk about our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are talking about the people of Niger and of many other nations.  It is amazing to me how the love of Jesus does not know color or creed or nationality, he just knows us because we belong to him and those he loves welcomes us as family.  It is truly amazing.  

We then went out for Chinese Food- go figure! 

Monday afternoon

It is another hot day, but there is a nice breeze. I spent a portion of the morning grocery shopping with Susan. What an experience...2 different white man grocery stores and then to the Petite Marche. All through the stalls with a young boy as our porter, bargaining for apples , bananas, peppers, onions, tomatoes, oranges, eggs, garlic... We walked through the meat market, I can't even begin to describe the sights and smells. Men pounding , slicing, butchering meat parts everywhere.... some still with tongues others still with tails...and flies, flies, flies!!! Then we went to a fabric stall where I did buy a native dress. Susan said it is a blessing because it provides income for them.

We have now met Chako, he is the project supervisor. His sister, Hazara is our cook. They have returned from their father's funeral and life around here is resuming as normal. (She sweeps the entire house floor with a handmade whisk broom and her baby Rahal on her back). It looks like the water filtration system will be up a running soon, yeah!

I hope all is well with everyone.

Kay

Sunday joy

Dear friends and family --

Things are going well! I'm writing on Sunday -- so first an update on church here: I got a little teary during "Holy, Holy, Holy" today and when we took communion. Cool service (actually quite hot!). They make all of the announcements regarding attendance and finances during worship because there is no bulletin or e-mail way of communicating. It was 2 3/4 hours long but it really did not seem so long. The youth sing, the children sing, the women sing, the men sing, the choir sings and then the sermon was preached in Hausa and then translated into French. Susan (permanent missionary) sat next to me and translated into English. The people were lovely, so welcoming and friendly. Lots of good African drumming and also electric keyboard! After church we went to a Chinese restaurant with a young woman who is a Calvin College grad working here for the Christian Reformed Church. No electricity on the bathroom meant they had to light a candle so we could see. Eating out here is sure not like home!

We had the afternoon off, so I crashed and slept hard. Sue went to the airport to pick up a new member of our team and one is leaving tonight so we are still at 10. I went with Susan and Jeremy and 2 others to the Missionary school for an English service this evening.

Tomorrow we dig again... As the days typically go we lost power while we were doing dinner dishes so I washed dishes with a headlight flashlight!!!!

Sue continues to be such a good friend and inspiration, her devotions are wonderful. We had a good laugh riding as 11 people squished in the car today....

Thanks for your love, prayers and support.

Kay

Sights and Sounds of Africa

We wake each morning to the call to prayer for the Muslims. It happens 5

times a day, but begins at dawn. This morning it was about 4:30 am. It is

a chant (recorded) that is played over a loud speaker. Each Mosque has

their own call to prayer and there might be at least 6 within our listening

area. Then all the other sounds begin as this world begins to awake. I

hear the constant pounding sound of the woman who lives on the compound as

she grinds her meal (millet) into flour for their breakfast. I hear the

sound of the many many children starting their day of just hanging out (most

do not attend school). The goats begin their calls as well as the chickens

that share the street with us just outside our compound. And the smell of

the cooking fires that appear outside of most every home on the street and

of the family that lives on the compound (our guard's family). It is a

world that is so unfamiliar to us. This morning we again began the day with

no water. It just it part of the life here, so we use the jars of water

that are saved to wash. We are the lucky ones who don't have to walk to the

well to get what we need.

Last night we got to see the sun set over the Niger River - The second longest

river in Africa. It was beautiful as we sat on the porch of the best hotel

in town, who would vacation here - I don't know. We had sodas and a type of

kabob to eat. Then we went to a restaurant for dinner and I had a

cheeseburger and fries (only ok), but nice to eat something I knew.

Sharon asked me where I am going to get my hot wings for the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately the only way I am going to have wings is if I catch one of the

chickens on the street and prepare it myself. Besides it will be midnight

before the game even begins. So as you eat and enjoy something so

American as the Super Bowl, Say a prayer of thanksgiving that you live in

the US because we are blessed beyond measure. Also as you shower for church

be thankful for hot water - I really miss it.

Kay and I are having a wonderful experience and look forward to sharing

parts of it with you. Joy was our devotional theme (we are one day off

because of the sunset) and you, our family and friends are one of our

greatest joys. We are trying to be joyful in all circumstances

Fruit of the Spirit Devotion- Day 5

Day Five- Patience: Training toward perseverance.
- Patience is what enabled the snail to reach the ark.
- Read Psalm 40:1-3. What four benefits did David receive from waiting?
- What makes us so impatient? What is the most difficult part of being patient, and when is it the hardest?
- It is estimated that there were 45,000 animals on the ark and Noah and his family lived on the ark 1 year, 1 month, and 27 days.
- Why did God make Joshua walk around Jericho three times before he brought the walls down?
- Why did the disciples have to wait three days for the resurrection?
- Why does God make us wait? Read Peter 3:4-9. God is using his time to cultivate trust. Being patient is trusting that God has a plan and will work it out for our benefit. When you become impatient, remember God might be using you to help grow his kingdom. Read Second Peter 3:15.
- So what does patience in God’s eyes look like? Read Romans 5:3-5, 8:22-25 and First Thessalonians 1:3. Where in your life is God making you wait? What are you waiting for? Or who is God calling you to have loving patience with? Are you willing to trust God to work all things together for good in your life?
- Are you ready to hope?

Fruit of the Spirit- Devotion Day 4

Day Four- Peace: Beyond Understanding.
- We’ve been talking about the Fruit of the Spirit, now lets talk about the Holy Spirit. Why do we need or why should we want the Holy Spirit in our lives?
- In the passage John 14:25-27, Jesus promises two gifts to his disciples. The first is the Holy Spirit and the second is peace.
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit and what comfort does he offer?
- Share with someone an experience of the Holy Spirit in your life. (Post about it on Kay and Sue’s blog if you choose).
- Where does true peace come from? Peace is connected with our sense of dependence on God, our faith that God controls everything, and trusting in his wisdom and kindness.
- World peace? What do you think is the world’s idea of peace? If you watch commercials, many products offer peace- deodorant, investments, insurance. Jesus says, “I don’t give to you as the world gives”. What does he mean? Is it possible to have true and lasting peace on the world’s terms?
- Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. Why is this so hard for us? Read Philippians 4:6-7. Does God ask the impossible?
- Remember, just like joy, peace is not dependent on circumstance. When God is at the center of your life, you worship. When he is not, you worry. Read Matthew 6:25-34. How do we make God the center of our life? If you want to worry less, pray more.

Saturday night

There is so much to say I don't even know where to start. I am so glad to have Sue here. We are, indeed, having fun! The restaurant was an experience, food not great but so much more than most people here have.

Today we spent the morning at at Jeremy and Susan's making and frosting cookies from scratch for the school carnival this afternoon, where i did facepainting. What a blast. The best was painting a heart on the face of a baby sleeping in his mothers wrap while she knelt down and held her on my lap. Sue made balloon animals!! We made homemade pizza (the crust and the sauce) and homemade ice cream and caramel topping for dessert for lunch. who would've thought in Africa? The carnival lasted until 6:30, now we are "home" eating pancakes for supper. (I do not think I will be losing any weight after all!) Driving home we passed many small mosques where all of the men were outside kneeling in prayer, what a sight.

Tomorrow we will worship at the church Jeremy and Susan attend. It will be at least 3 hours we have been told, because there will be communion. Men will sit on one side, women on the other.

OK -- the weirdest food so far is the mutton stew, and we have had masa and fati masa (fried cakes and fried dough) off the "street" (dirt road really.) They, of course, were very good. We are in the city 700,000 people so there are no wild animals, however, we have driven behind herds of cattle, seen camels, donkeys, goats,chickens (alive and dead!) everywhere!!! The hottest temp: 113 in the afternoon. I keep saying it but it is true, the sights, sounds and smells are AMAZING.

I am really doing great. Thanks for your support and prayers. Kay