Meet Joseph

In our Niger world,  one of the big celebrations is the birth of a baby.  Our Muslim neighbors have had multiple "naming ceremonies" which always happen one week exactly after the birth, in their homes.  For the Christians, the timing isn't as important.  Just that it happens.

One of the students that has been involved in our ministry since our second year here and who has been in my discipleship group for several years got married last December and had her first baby a week or so after we arrived back in Niamey.  We visited the mom and baby a couple of times but the name was not announced until 2 weeks later when he was presented at church.  

After the morning church service was over, we all stayed in our places waiting for the ceremony to begin.
 

 The couple was ushered in with a friend carrying the baby.

 The pastor announced the name of the baby..."JOSEPH"!

 Other churches in town were invited for the celebration so the next hours were filled with people coming to congratulate the couple.  Our little church was too small for the crowds even with a large tent added on.  A joyous occasion.

Some of you may remember that the students and our church folk have called us GP and GM (Grandma and Grandpa) for years.  Voila, my first grand baby!  

A Stroll down the Street

It's been a bit more than three weeks now that we traded our Kansas car for taxis and walking and our country roads for busy streets filled with interesting things to see.  Within days of arriving I took my first walk down our street to see what was new on what we affectionately call "Mulberry Street".

First, just a word about the weather.  We also traded in winter for summer  but for our friends here, it is indeed winter and jackets and hats and even parkas are worn during this season where the early morning hours bring the temperatures down to the 60's and then it warms up to the 90's.  Moussa, our favorite taxi man, was feeling the cold the other morning and had on his nice warm coat with fur-lined hood.
The opening question in most conversations is  "and the cold weather?"  We haven't been felt cold yet.  Still waiting...

The ugly reality of the beautiful new boulevard that runs in front of our house is the drainage trenches that line the sidewalks on both sides of the road.  They are 3-4 feet deep and a couple of feet across. They were originally created for rain water drainage but they quickly became the sewage drain and trash collector for all and everyone.  ( the smells don't communicate over the blog) 

Across from our house is/was an open sand field and before our stateside time, it was a great soccer field.  Now it has turned into the neighborhood dump.  Most days, mid-afternoon, a fire is started to burn the plastic bags and whatever else is burnable or 'smoke-able'.  Our house is in direct line of the smoke.

The smoke or heat didn't seem to bother the garbage grazing cows in the least.

There are some young men that push carts around to collect garbage from homes to take to the dump.

Garbage is a huge problem here as in any large city.  Just yesterday, trucks and bulldozers were working to clean up this pile.

And now, on a more pleasant note, a couple of random photos that bring a smile while I walk.

Fresh carrots!  I buy several bunches every couple of days.  I think the vibrant orange and green colors are worth the price and more.  They are so sweet and tasty too.  This young man parks his wheelbarrow with his perfectly arranged carrots on the side of the road to sell to passersby.

And the many, many kiddos.  

 And "Grandma" was outside to greet me as I arrived home.

How Different Can it Be?

We are back!  It was one week ago today that we left Kansas.  24 hours later we landed in a world so different from the one we'd been enjoying for the past 10 months.  Not better or worse, just different.
As we walked down the steps of the plane onto the runway and then loaded a bus to drive the 50 yards to the terminal, my sleep-deprived mind was forced to begin the transition from one world to the next.

When we made it through the health card check and passport control, we were greeted by our baggage guy, #16,  who already had one of our suitcases loaded on his trolley.  We waited in vain for our fourth suitcase which never came (it just came on tonight's flight, a week late!  Yeah!)

Friends, colleagues and students were standing outside the terminal waiting for us and it was a joyous reunion. Moussa, our dear, faithful taxi man, had already loaded our bags and he chauffeured us the 15-minute drive to our house.  As we drove home, I looked out the window of the taxi; there was nothing that looked like Kansas.

But our neighbors were waiting for us!  How good it was to see "Grandma".  She gives the best hugs!   Our African colleagues had brought over chicken and french fries which we enjoyed together.  

One of the most overwhelming aspects of coming back to our house here is the dirt and grunge that accumulates daily.  Our dear Kirk and Becca had washed all the floors, cleaned the house and made up our bed so it was all ready to move back into.  What a gift!  Of course, these 2 K-State grads left their opinions well-stated!  

With the New Year's Eve weekend celebrations coming up, we went into town the next morning to get a few things.  Learning to cook again with what is available here is always a challenge for me.  I'm so glad this is the season for vegetables here.

Tom has been busy doing those minor repair jobs...with a little help from the neighbor boys.

I'm so thankful this can didn't explode in the trunk it was stored in.

 We went for a walk yesterday in our neighborhood as we did so often in Kansas.  There is no end to fascinating things to look at.

Then I pulled up a picture from our Kansas walks...

 We are adjusting.  It will take a few more days before we start sleeping normally.   Everything is back in its place and the pictures of family are back on the walls.   It will seem like home again soon.  The lists of "what to bring back next time" have already started.

Thanks for your prayers and love.  What made the ten months stateside so gloriously wonderful weren't the "creature comforts" of air conditioning and green growing things, although those were absolutely rejuvenating, but the time spent with family and friends and the encouragement that gave us.  We are so blessed.  

Christmas 2015 Highlights

I haven't wanted to take down our Christmas decorations this year.  Usually by this time the dust has taken over the tree and the nativity scenes so I'm glad to pack them away.  But I will wait a few more days... the Christmas memories are so sweet.

Lindsay and Sherlynn arrived on the 21st and we had a whirlwind week with them.  They say laughter is the best medicine ...that must be why we never caught the flu bug going around.

Here is a quick run-down of our whirlwind!


The market closest to our home is full of exploration opportunities.  I love to meander around and it's better yet to go with someone else and see what treasures can be found.

 We found yet another Barak Obama item.  Anyone???

Friendly faces and greetings were all around and the potent smells of the spices quickly cleared up clogged sinuses.

Carts full of grasshoppers ready for the sauce.

A stop-over at the best fabric store in town is always a treat.

Erika, we found a pagne for you. Let me know if you want me to go back and buy it for you. 

 We hosted the annual staff Christmas party for our CRU staff family and laughed til we cried as we played games and ate together. (This one is the "Feel what's in the bag with your feet" game)

Lindsay got a photo with her fellow staff children.  They are growing up so quickly. What a great group of kids!

 After student demonstrations closed the road in front of our home as well as the two bridges going into town, our plans for the day were changed and we had a relaxing "snow day".  In the evening we did venture out for "brochettes and frites" overlooking the river.  Gorgeous.  Yummy.

We found one last field of  "being harvested" rice, much to the delight of Tom.

 We buried our feet in the fine sand of the sand dune

and watched the re-enactment of  "I'm dying of thirst in the desert and can't reach my water bottle."
Florene, our drama queens do beat all!

It's always fascinating to watch the pumpkin boats being unloaded at the bridge.

There aren't too many other capital cities where the cars and camels share the same streets through town. 

We meandered through the bright green lettuce gardens as they were watering the plots with water from the river.

We spent one morning with a  family that has three children at the University, all of whom are involved with CRU.

And the trip wouldn't be complete without visiting our local museum with our little known, yet world famous Nigersarus!  Now you've seen him/her.  I just maybe will have to do a blog post just for him...

We celebrated Christmas Eve with our friends from the "European Union".  (I didn't get a picture of  that.)

We got all dolled up for Christmas Day at church and enjoyed the special musical numbers and the big meal of either fish or mutton afterwards.  

We took some Christmas goodies to our neighbors

Christmas Day evening we enjoyed singing most of the carols that we know,  reciting Luke 2 by memory, eating summer sausage, cheese and crackers, and opening gifts.  

                    

We made the fascinating trek to see the giraffes, thankful for the giraffe guide who took us over hill and through many a millet field to find those amazingly graceful creatures.  Did you know that the spots are lighter in color on these giraffes than on other giraffes in the world?  My scientific explanation to the girls was that they were bleached/faded by the intense Niger sun...they believed me so that's all that counts.  

We glided over the high waters of the Niger River in a canoe to see the elusive hippos and they allowed us to see their eyes and ears and an occasional back but that is all.  Then one of them opened his mouth momentarily and we were glad we were as far away as we were!  (Good picture, Lindsay.) 

We celebrated Sherlynn's birthday at an Indian Restaurant.  Sooo good.

Now vacation is over and we are enjoying the memories.  Thanks Sherlynn and Lindsay for making the long trek and making memories with us.  Until next time...