A Classic Hymn

If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee

If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in Him thro’ all thy ways,
He’ll give the strength, whate’er betide thee,
And bear thee thro the evil days;
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.

Obey, thou restless heart, be still
And wait in cheerful hope, content
To take whate’er His gracious will,
His all discerning love hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.

Sing, pray, and swerve not from His ways;
But do thine own part faithfully.
Trust His rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in thee.
God never yet forsook in need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.

Georg Neumark
(written at age 20, based on Psalm 55:22)

"Uniforms"

One thing that women really enjoy doing in Niger is having a "uniform", that is, matching outfits. This usually happens on special occasions like weddings, naming ceremonies for a newborn, Christmas, Women's Fellowship conferences, and just because. Before I returned to Niger in February I asked Linda to have two outfits made for me. She decided one of those would be a "uniform" in celebration of my visit. So when we visited the churches and villages together we wore our "uniform". The women thought this was pretty special.

This is another occasion in 2004 when SIM Niger celebrated its 80th anniversary in Niger. Seen here is the PDI team (Integrated Development Program) enjoying the "uniform" for the celebration.

Galmi Day School students in "uniform" gave a musical and oral recital in March. They are amazing performers with incredible talents and expression. They really poured their hearts into singing songs of God's greatness.

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.

Daily Living At Galmi

Life takes a bit more time around here than other places. Take for example cooking and baking, especially when it’s not your kitchen and when you’re using 2 kitchens at that. As there are friends coming by to greet and visit it’s the hospitable thing to serve a drink (water, coke, lemonade, etc) and even a bit of food. The banana bread Linda made for me has been eaten up so I made a loaf not knowing how the oven would work. There’s no temperature markings on it, nor did I initially have a thermometer. Well, the oven was quite hot and the bread was getting quite brown, even black on top & bottom. After maybe turning it down it still was hot. I later came to find out it has one temperature –hot, like 550*. Okay, so we’ll use Linda’s oven from now on.

I’ve always enjoyed the style of shopping here –the vendors come to your door. One comes with mangoes, another tomatoes & cabbage, another meat, another with eggs. It’s very helpful. Another thing I’ve enjoyed here is having househelp, someone to come in and clean up my mess in the kitchen. Rabi comes nearly everyday to see what she can do for me. Today she cut up the meat so we could grind it and sliced the onion (as they’re very hot and cause tears to flow. I told her it’s her turn to cry). She’ll come tomorrow and help Linda & I as we make New Year cookies for the compound. It’s been my tradition to do this at New Year’s and tomorrow happens to be a holiday here. A friend makes & sells peanut oil and brought me some today for the cookies. A friend of Linda’s who is farming onions (the local cash crop), carrots, lettuce, etc brought her a 10lb (or more) bag of carrots which were quite small. That evening we prepared half of them for making carrot cake for more visitors. This morning I made yogurt. With the heat one doesn’t need a yogurt maker and it takes about 3-4 hours.

So that’s a bit of daily living here.

Day 1

Monday, February 22. S, M, & I found ourselves in the PDI Toyota landcruiser heading out to LGG & Ang. for our first visit. We had a plan of how we were going to do this. The health workers had a plan too. Theirs was different. But were we surprised? Nope, especially in this village. We followed their plan which of course which meant going to various homes to visit. We’d talked about how things were with them and basically encouraged them to keep looking after the women and children and using what they had been taught. Then I showed them the calendar I had made with pictures of home which has the verse from Psalm 25:4-5. I shared with them about seeking God’s truth and knowing His way. Then S. shared with them too about following God’s way. It was delightful to see so many people and see them in good health too. In Ang they are known for making dried beef on Monday to take to the market on Tuesday. This was a strategic plan for me as I really like the beef as it’s dipped in peanut sauce with spices. I did buy some and then was given even more. On the way home I shared it with S & M, but resisted eating any till I can reheat it and be sure it’s safe to eat. Normally I would just eat it on the way home, too.
So not too far from Galmi, as can often happen, we got a flat tire, (only 10 minutes away). Since it was already late and dark and nobody had a flash light we were having a hard time to get the spare tire down from under the vehicle. Then one of the tools to get it down got stuck inside the hole and then we were stuck. Thanks to cell phones we were able to call to Galmi and have a friend, Dave, come rescue us, actually using the spare off his vehicle. We arrived back home at 9 p.m. pretty exhausted but pleased to have had the opportunity to meet up with friends.

At Galmi

Here I am back at Galmi. And how is it being back? What does it feel like? How have things changed? How am I coping with it all? Well, so far so good. From the beginning –my flights were pretty uneventful. Once in Paris I had to dust off my French and found myself being misunderstood. Fortunately not in a bad way, just when I ordered du thé (some tea) I got deux thé (two cups of tea). Well, they were small so I thought I still have plenty of time before my flight to Niger, there’s time to sip ‘em both. And I did.
I got in a conversation with a lady traveling to Niger who asked me in the course of our talk how I practice my faith. So (since we had plenty of time in a coffee shop, before the 2 cups of tea) I actually showed her what I do for my devotions. As I pulled out my Bible and started sharing some verses with her, I wondered in my tired jet lagging state what in the world I was doing. But she was sincerely interested with good questions.
In all my coming to Niger with excess bags and boxes I never missed a piece, until now. One suitcase decided to stay behind in Paris, the other arrived with me. It was to be no problem as it was to come on the flight Thursday and then sent on to Galmi on Friday. Maybe next Tuesday & Wednesday???
It really feels very familiar being back –the sounds, the smells, the sights. Hausa comes out quite naturally. I took the bus from Niamey to Galmi on Thursday, not knowing what was to happen in Niamey later. Thursday & Friday there was a stream of people coming to greet and welcome me back. It’s so special for me to be able to see these dear friends again. It really seems like yesterday that I left. Salifou and I have planned out our trips to the villages which we’ll start doing this Monday through Friday in the afternoons. Marie & Maimouna have permission from the hospital to come on some of the trips.
I’m living in a duplex next door to my dear friend Linda. (Understand that we were in SIM orientation together back in 1983 and she’s the one who introduced me to Galmi!!!) The duplex has a common entry to the hall that separates the two apts making it really easy to be in & out of each other’s place. It’s great to be next door, to share meals together, to have lots of time to catch up with each, to plan activities together.

To Galmi

Galmi is a special place as I spent 24 years there working in the hospital and in the villages. It's been nearly 2 years since I packed up my home and said my good-byes to dear friends. Many many expats have come and gone through the years. As one year there were over 100 (mostly short termers and a few long termers including children). At present there are around 10 families/couples and a handful of singles. Most of them I have known and are dear friends. Many of the hospital employees I know, too. Of course, in the villages I'm anticipating meeting the health workers and the trained birthing attendants. Pictured below are S and his family, my househelp with her husband, and Yoko with friends.