Anniversary

Yes, it's true, we have been married for 32 wonderful years and this year we celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary in Niger.

Niamey is approximately 500 kms from Galmi. It's not a terribly long drive and usually takes about 6 hours to complete. One of the biggest factors that slows traffic is the use of incredibly large speed bumps in the villages along the way. Most of the time there are multiple speed bumps to deal with. This generally means coming to a stop and slowly crawling over the bump. In a lot of villages the beggars have strategically positioned themselves next to the speed bumps because they know that people have to come to a stop and look at them. Quite a sad sight.

So overall the drive is not that difficult unless you are us, in which case the drive will take approximately 14 hours. It is also important to note that the temperature was very high, probably around 120 degrees.

After the first blow out on our right, rear tire we were told by the kind gentlemen who stopped to replace the tire that we need to drive slower in the heat. Hot pavement, along with hot rubber apparently causes the tires to - explode. We were very grateful to the two men who stopped and did all of the work. It would seem to be a respect for your elders thing. Anytime Orest wanted to do something they would step in and take over.

Did we slow down - well we averaged around 35.5 km per hour on our journey. We did slow down its just that another 3 blow outs tend to spoil your progress somewhat. Especially when you've already used up your lone spare tire.

Close to a town called Dogondoutchi a SIM missionaey was able to help us with the second incident. He managed to buy two used tires. He picked Orest up, along with the the blown tire and blown spare and they went off to town for repairs. Grace stayed behind on a barren, hot piece of land and entertained the kids that came to visit her. She managed to teach them some english and learned some Hausa from them. We sat under a very large tree for shade for about 2 hours before help came.

We got the new, used tire in place and now had a spare. All would be good - right. They lasted until we were 60 kms outside of Niamey. Fortunately, we were close enough to enlist the late night help of C and D to come to our rescue. They showed up with a new tire and got to work making the switch. As they were about to put the new tire on they realized the new tire rim had holes for six studs, not the required five. So quickly, they grabbed the tire, and a blown tire and went off to the nearest town to switch rims. This meant they would have to find, and wake up, the local tire repair guy. So glad for their experience.

Gladly, all was fixed and we managed to reach our destination at midnight.

Life is a blast in Niger. We are so grateful to all the people who graciously assisted us in our time of need. We are grateful that SIM is truley like family and that we have people we can call on anywhere, at anytime, for assistance. Being people that have been largely independent this was a great lesson in the need to rely on our fellow SIMers.

Viper Attack

Yesterday, it seems, was our first official snake encounter. Actually, the encounter was with Grace and a viper. Grace was leaving the house in the morning and as she stepped out she noticed a snake actually trying to enter the house. Fortunately, Grace was carrying a broom and she was able to thwart the progress of the reptile.
She had the snake pinned down and she said it was hissing at her. Every morning one of the ladies goes walking about the compound, with weights, for exercise. She happened to come by at the time of the snake encounter, and in good African style was able to beat the living daylights out of the snake with her weights. Missionary women know how to handle themselves.
It would appear that this particular snake was quite poisonous. So glad Grace had the broom to deal with it and that it did not sneak into the house.

Good Friday

Nothing’s sacred, the days are cheap
Truth is thin on the ground
Still our prophets are crucified
Nobody believes we’re stumbling
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming

Someone’s saying a prayer tonight
For hungry mouths to be filled
Someone kneels in the dark somewhere
And darkness is already crumbling
It’s Friday, but Sunday comes

Sunday – Hallelujah – it’s not so far, it’s not so far away
Sunday – Hallelujah – it’s not so far, it’s not so far away

Broken promises, weary hearts
But one promise remains:
Crucified, he will come again
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming

Sunday…


"This song was originally titled “Friday (But Sunday Is Coming),” from the title of the well-known sermon and book by Tony Campolo. Its verses deal with the dark realities of our world, where the Friday of Jesus’ crucifixion acts as a metaphor for our experiences of those realities. As the Gospel stories clearly show, Friday happens,but Sunday is inevitable. Sunday is the resurrection, the day when all our meager hopes and wildest dreams come true,the day we as believers look forward to despite our present condition. This is a “hang in there” song; Sunday is not so far away!" - John Ellis (Tree 63)

The Scorpion

I will bet that most of you do not have this happen to you in your office.

We have a guy who regularily cleans our office first thing in the morning.  This morning he was there as usual except that he had a scorpion in his pocket.  Actually, he kept the scorpion inside a match box.  He apparently found it somewhere near the hospital.  So he pulled the thing out and started playing with it.  That's right, he played with it.  He turned it over, jiggled it around and rubbed it's tummy, with never a worry about being stung.  He said that when he was a child his father gave him some medicine and he has never been stung by a scorpion since then.  He said he could also eat razor blades??????????

He then casually put the scorpion back in his little box, without looking at what he was doing, and put the box back in his pocket.  Everyone else would have been very mindful of what they were doing.  Later that day I was wondering why anyone would willingly carry a scorpion in their pocket, or eat razor blades. 

I know that I wanted to borrow that little match box and present it to a certain "Galmien", D, and see what her reaction would have been.

When I went home at lunch it was 45 degrees in the shade.

Galmi is such an interesting place.

Blessings to all

Our Home

We have now adapted our home to try to reduce the impact of 50 degree celcius temperatures.  We purchased 4 rather large rolls of grass mats and had them laid on top of our tin roof.  We have noticed a marked difference in the interior temperature of our home.  Definitely much more comfortable whem we arrive home.

Here is the before picture

 Here is a shot of the grass mats we purchased.

 

Here is the after shot.

Here is a shot of our friends George and Lousie.  Actually there are typically lots of them on the walls. Just hard to get a photo because they scatter if you get to close.

Weather

Our friends from Canada have been complaining about the weather, in particular, the endless winter.  Don't know why, it's the same every year.  Mind you, I used to complain as well.  When we were leaving for Africa people said we would miss the snow.  Well it hasn't happened yet, not by a long shot.

Today the temperature is 122 degrees, same as yesterday, and pretty much the day before.  Do I miss the snow - no.  Will I miss the smell of fresh spring air - you bet I will.  Will this make me want to come back to Canada?  As long as God has called me to this land, and continues to call me here, this is where I will stay.  That calling more than makes up for the discomfort of a little heat.

Blessings from Galmi, Niger

April 7

It's official - April 7, 2011 is a National Holiday in Niger.  It is also my birthday.  Is it a coincidence?  I don't know but we just found out last night that it is a holiday.  Maybe the powers that be found out about my birthday.  I wonder if I will get gifts.

On the other hand, there is a slight possibility that the holiday is for the inauguration of the new president in Niger.  I am not quite sure which one it is.

Despite the holiday the compound staff are gathered together and are having a morning devotion.  I can hear them singing a Christian hymn in Hausa.  So uplifting.

Blessings to all