Rabi's girls with crocheted blankes made by mom.

Rabi & I making New Year's Cookies!!!

Friends enjoying New Year's Cookies

Dinner with Dave & Lois

The Weekend Plus

Linda, Jean, & I departed early (well, 7:20) for Maradi, a 3 hour trip east, over a pot-holed road for a good portion of the way and then a nice ‘n wide road the last third of the way. On the bush trips around Galmi we unsurprisingly had two flat tires. It was good to have the guys around to change them (although I could do it if I absolutely had to, as it’s happened before). After arriving at the Haaga’s and unloading we’re told that the front tire is completely flat!!! So that was the third flat. The fourth happened while at the church on Sunday in Tumba. The kids informed us the tire was low (not completely flat).

In visiting the churches they always give me an opportunity to share. I have been impressed with Daniel 3: 17 where the three men say to the king they really don’t need to think about whether they should bow down to his gigantic golden idol or not. They already knew the true God of gods and His mighty power. They would, as they always have, continue to trust in Him to provide. “Our God is able!” So I share with them to know God so when tough times come they already know how they’re going to respond. Last Wednesday, Linda & I went to Magaria to meet with the women’s fellowship, where I shared these thoughts again. Then we had a fun time of singing some of our favorite songs & choruses along with dancing. Dancing means kicking up the dust while marching in a circle. Good fun we had together.

So what happened in Maradi? Lots of visiting with expat friends, a visit to a building site, the pool, the market to buy material, . . . doesn’t sound too exciting but it was fun doing these things & being with friends.

The saga of the lost suitcase. When I arrived in Niamey only one piece of luggage accompanied me. The other, they told me, was still in Paris and would arrive on Thursday. But when the airport was closed because of an event it didn’t arrive. And it didn’t arrive. And it didn’t’ arrive. They then told me it was lost and to make a list with the cost of each item. So over several days I kept recalling all that was in that suitcase and had the list complete ready to send. Wouldn’t you know it, news came that it was at the airport!!! So now I’ll be getting my suitcase on Thursday and then I depart for Niamey on Friday. It’s amazing the way I packed this time that I had what I really needed in my carry-on and was able to borrow the rest from others. This was the first time in all my travels to and from Niger that a piece of luggage was delayed or missing. Why now???

God's Details

Today we will be visiting in the last two village. From home I made a general plan to visit in the villages we worked in, where we trained community health workers and birthing attendants. From here God developed the details for us. It’s been super to do these visits with former team members as people have been so delighted to see them again. It has helped me tremendously as I don’t remember all their names and even some faces. A very special detail that God orchestrated was passing through Salamou’s village. Normally we’d take the road north out of Magaria to Jinkai, but there’s a new road east of Magaria that works better! And this road passes through Salamou’s villages. Salamou is a dear believer who lived in Magaria but moved back to her home village to live with her son & his family. When I went to church at Magaria on Sunday I realized I wouldn’t be seeing her. But not so. We stopped outside the village, inquired at the well if the women knew her, which of course they did. We left a message to meet us at a certain point at 5. Sure enough there she was. This lady is so diligent in everything she does. She learned to read and continues to read. She walks 6-8 km to church each week in Jinkai. I hadn’t anticipated seeing her but was blessed with this unexpected detail that again God worked!!!

I’ve tried to upload pictures here but it’s just not working. Just glad to have internet connection.