Posts from days with no internet connection

Hello Readers,
Please read our posts below from the days we had no internet connection.  Also, you'll be happy to know that we're all back to the States safe and sound.  Thank you again for your prayers and support!

Saturday, October 16^th

The trip to the Oukafounou village! 

The adventure began first thing in the morning with a 2 ½ hour drive out to the village. 

We arrived at the village, after a 20 minute off-road experience through the millet and maize fields, to a lively worship service of dancing and singing – the music of Africa worshipers is truly amazing – all acapella.  The service was so much fun – great to see them worshiping the same God in a completely different language that none of us could understand (the native village language).  Brian had the honor of sharing the message during the service.  With two people translating the message (one from English to French, the next from French to the village language), he was able to share the story of the prodigal son about our loving God who longs for his lost children.  At one point, the French translator got so excited, it was clear he added some to Brian’s story and we all basked in the joy that he exuded.  Clearly this Christian community is full of life.  As Brian shared, this is a taste of heaven.

After the service, we began the clinic.  The village chief had given out tickets in advance for those individuals who were sick so that we weren’t inundated with mild cases and were able to address the more severe maladies.  With Dr. Mark, Ashley, Lisa, Cheryl, and Maureen (a nurse from the Cure hospital), we were able to see and treat all those with tickets.  There was everything from Malaria to an open wound, a woman with a tumor in her stomach to potential TB, quite a variety and the medical professionals handled it all really well (in the midst of organized chaos). 

I had the opportunity to work in the pharmacy – filling the prescriptions that the doctor gave and making sure – again through two interpreters that they understood how they were to take the medicine.  We pray that our God who heals will continue the healing that was started yesterday.

We left the village about 5:30 and drove back, ultimately in the dark, to Niamey.  The drive back was uneventful, other than dodging the donkey carts in the dark, until one of the cars broke down.  Our caravan stopped and the men all gathered and fiddled with the engine and eventually were able to get it started again!  Arriving back at the Seminary about 9:00, we had a lovely dinner (I must say, every meal is truly a treat – I’m never sure when it comes out what it will taste like, but when I take the first bite, it is always a delightful surprise of flavors).  We even had a chocolate cake with whipping cream and chocolate shavings for dessert – quite a treat.

Although it was a very full day, the joy of being able to help some of these families at the village and to see God’s delightful work in many lives made up for the heat and challenge of doing the clinic in the bush.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to experience this adventure and to see what God is doing here. 

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement – it is felt and our team has blended so well – an answer to prayer.

-Leigh 

Thursday, October 20th

Dear Family and Friends:

With only one day remaining until we depart Niamey, our hearts are filled with the images and sounds of children, pastors, teammates and the bustle of this city imprinted forever. We are thankful for our days here and look forward to tomorrow and the opportunity to bring our medical team to a community site.

Today we did finish with medical exams at Peniel School as well as the sponsor cards for each student.  Games continued on the grounds and tooth-brushing lessons were energetically presented, too. The staff at Peniel bid us farewell and we shook hands, and thanked each other before driving out of the gate one last time for this trip.

Thank you for praying for us, especially as we worked together as a new team. Truly we feel the blessing and delight of the Lord as we prepare to leave tomorrow night. Please do continue to pray for those on the team who will continue on to another city in West Africa on Saturday morning.

-Maureen

 

Hello Faithful Readers,
We realize that we hadn't been so faithful in our updates the past few days.  Sorry!

Our final day in Niger (Friday) was terrific!  We left the Bible School and headed to KAMNA's facility.  (KAMNA is the social outreach arm of the Niger Assemblies of God Church).  There, we quickly set up a clinic and began seeing patients.  Earlier in the week, the pastors had announced that we would be seeing the sick and many showed up to be seen.  It was a very busy day and God used us to bring hope and healing to many.  In between patients, we had a delicious lunch prepared for us by the staff of KAMNA. 

At the end of the day, we sadly had to turn some away and that was saddening.  But, we take comfort in the fact that Jesus did the same and He did not heal everyone.  Thankfully God is in control and we are not.  He knows what each person is facing and He can provide for those who were turned away.

Then, we were whisked off to get back to our rooms to pack and shower before a dinner with the Pastors of the national board of the Assemblies of God.  They showered us with thanks and gifts in appreciation of what we had done this week.

At the airport, we said our "goodbye's" and soon found ourselves in our seats on the plane headed to Paris.

Yesterday, we tried to take in all of the sights of Paris and avoid the whiplash of transferring from Niger to a HUGE, developed, 1st world country. 

We're heading back to the USA tomorrow morning.  Thank you for your prayers and traveling "with" us!

-Brian
PS: Please keep Marcia, Megan, Leigh and Brett in your prayers as they are in Burkina Faso for a few extra days.

Wednesday

Hello friends!  Today was awesome.  It was fun.  We did the clinic, and sports, and crafts. We also finished taking pictures of students.  I did lots of running and jumping, and leaping.  The kids were hyper.  The kids really enjoyed the sports. It was crazy.   – dictated by Brett (age 7)

As Brett said we had a very full day at Peniel.  We started the day with a tour of the classes so everyone on our team could get the full picture of the wonderful things happening at the school.  Then it was time for work.  This morning the “college” (middle school) students came over to the Peniel campus and we took their pictures and treated them in the medical clinic.  They stayed and played sports, and helped us with the crafts and clinic.   Praise God for making time stand still this morning.  We were able to treat a record number of students.  So much that tomorrow will be a light day of callbacks and absentee students.  After which, the medical team will be able to get outside and play with the kids.

Our craft team introduced the kids to glitter.  It was a huge hit.  The kids decorated sponsor cards, and then themselves, with the glitter.  It was precious to see even the older students enjoying this simple project.  Many of us came home decorated with the glitter as well.  We are off for an evening of rest before our last day with the students.  Thank you all for your prayers!

Dear Family and Friends:

As we write tonight, it's nearly 9 pm in Niamey and we have had a full day of "once in a lifetime" ministry experiences. We began this morning visiting the new upper grades of Peniel Middle School, in awe of God's grace as 30 students were studying in a school building that has just been completed. The campus was busy with with other construction and the fingerprints of our Lord and His provision touched our hearts. Please join us in prayer as these teens emerge from lower grades into a true awareness of who Jesus is and who He so desires to be in their lives.

After the Middle School excursion, we spent the rest of the day at Peniel with the students in the lower grades. Our team was busily occupied with student medical exams, photos and record updates, games outside and crafts inside the classrooms. The school is a patch of heaven right in the middle of Niamey!

This evening we celebrated at the CURE Hospital - the first anniversary of its dedication - with the amazing staff and several of the patients. The sense of community, the delight of our Savior, was evident in every laugh, every trumpet sound, each skit performed. The privilege of participating in this event will fill our hearts over and over. God truly resides here!

Au revoir!
Niger STMT 2011

Sunday

Dear family and Friends,

We had a wonderful day today. We started the day by splitting up the team and attending two of the local churches here in Niger. One of the churches began with a bible study. This was followed by an amazing time of worship. No one hesitated to dance and march around the isle to praise the Lord.  The pastor of the church led a short message, followed by Brian. We learned about how we tend to run from God at times, yet He loves us so much and waits for our return. Isn’t it beautiful? Next, we ate at a Chinese restaurant. Yes, a Chinese restaurant in Niger. It was so good. After that we headed to a village to ride camels. Most everyone took a turn and it was an experience of a lifetime. Next, we loaded up on canoes and floated down the Niger River. It was so peaceful. There were kids bathing and washing their clothes on the side. They were laughing and seemed so happy. We ended the day looking over a plateau of the Niger River and neighboring villages. This was a day to remember thanks to the Lord.

-Ashley Brien

Dear Family and Friends:

Hello from Niamey! Everyone is healthy and headed to bed after a productive and blessed day at Peniel School. As always, we were treated like royalty and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon meal that even included exquisite, fresh seafood.

The medical team quickly unpacked and set up the pharmacy and exam stations while the students were photographed and then equipped with a record for the doc and nurses to begin their evaluations of each student. The students are happy and energetic, yet very respectful all at the same time. Each of the students also participated in games outside with another part of the team. We are ready for a good night's sleep!

Update on the missing bags...good news, they are found. Not as good news - the bags are delayed until Sunday to be re-united here in Niamey. Oh well, perhaps clean clothes are over-rated. We'll let you know on Monday!

Dear Friends and Family:

We are delighted and thankful to let you all know our team is safely together in Niamey. Although several of our bags stayed back in Paris without us, we hope to be re-united via Air France tomorrow. Perhaps they are needing a French expresso...


As is the warm tradition here in Niamey, we were greeted by school children and teachers from Peniel School, many pastors and others who prepared a welcome banner for us and clapped and cheered. We can sense the Lord's purpose unfolding as He goes before us.

Tomorrow will be a full day as we travel to Peniel School, set up the medical clinic and pharmacy and begin working with each student. Photos will be snapped, records of students updated and crafts, games and sports enjoyed. The school is truly filled with bright-eyed children who are eager to learn, play and be friends. They do realize the privilege they are steeped in every day as they are taught by teachers who care for them and pray over their hearts and souls. Thank you to each one of their sponsors - what an honor we have ahead of us to be walking among them.

We look forward to updating you with our activities as often as possible. Thank you for praying that we will be a refreshing help to each one we interact with during this mission trip. You are essential to the eternal differences in lives as you have sent us and are praying.

Au revoir for now--