Everyday life-It's cheaper in Africa, right?

We have enjoyed the many firsts this past week.
First grocery shopping trips
First driving to work and for errands
First complete work week
First African church service etc.....
But one of the most often questions asked of us is....Isn't everything cheaper in Africa?

The answer to that question is complicated.

A baguette is 200 CFAs which is about 30 cents...that's cheap!
A local mobile phone was 10,000 CFAs including a few CFAs to charge it up as it has no contract. That is about $17.40 US.
Somethings seem cheaper.
Some things look or seem the same but are often different in flavor, quality and durability.

If one is trying to cook and eat 'just like back home', it will be fairly expensive.
We are having some friends over for dinner Tuesday night so I thought I would make my standby chicken dish. Onions were cheap but I could not find any decent carrots in the market so I bought them in the grocery store and did not pay attention to the price. When I got home I realized that I payed $12.80 for about 8 good sized carrots---yikes!
Paul tries to eat an apple a day to keep to the doctor away so he picked 6 apples at the International grocery store called Hadad's or Scores. The man asked me twice if we wanted them.  Paul and I said yes! They were 12580 CFA $20 US. They are like gold! Haha. We had bought apples at a street market last week at a reasonable price of 1500 CFA $2.60/Kg
Good meat is 4500 CFA per Kg $7.78/ Kg
Crackers are 2170 CFA per box $3.75
Christmas garlands were a bargain at 500 CFA each which makes them $0.86  We bought 4 as Paul loves Christmas so much!! No tree this year but we will have 4 festive garlands!

All this is to say that we cannot afford to shop all the time in the international grocery stores. We will need to get more market smart. Sadly with our foreign faces, the prices leap up unless we have a Nigerien with us. We are learning.

We are living in a one bedroom apartment with very good security. It is about $600/month plus electricity, plus a little extra to have our laundry and floors done. Honestly, we are so happy to pay for these services because the heat and work have exhausted us at the end of the day.

Our car is not particularly gas efficient as we have used at least half a tank to go to and from work, church twice,  out to dinner once and run simple errands. Gas is $4.00 a gallon approximately.
Are we complaining?
No! We are beyond blessed to be here!
We are learning to adjust and appreciate the many blessings that we have enjoyed over the years. This is a season of really learning how to live more simply.  It has been such a blessing to be here. We are feeling such peace in our little home. We are enjoying the challenges and joys of the hospital work.
As we look around our neighborhood we see stark contrasts of abundance and poverty. It truly has caused us to think and rethink about our lives and attitudes towards the poverty and God's kingdom solutions. It is challenging for sure. We have much to learn and so grateful that we have such kind teachers (our brothers and sisters in Niger!). We are studying God's word daily to listen to His leading of us in all these new things.

Paul shared in French his joy in being invited to this church where many of the employees of CURE attend. He was truly touched by the warmth of the fellowship and simplicity in worship.

It was a great privilege to share for about 15 minutes in French my testimony. Three point message was God's Call, God's Preparation and God's Mission of work for Paul and me. This service was part of a weekend conference on the subject of career preparation for the Christian Youth of Niger.

Douda is talking to me after the service regarding the need of education and preparation for the serving within the church for the young people. He is such a passionate young man for the LORD! Note the stark simplicity of the church property.

The contrast was our lunch in a pleasant garden restaurant. It was very modest by US standards but certainly a luxury for most people here. 

 

 

"O teach me what it meaneth Thy love beyond compare,

The love that reacheth deeper than depths of self despair.

Yes, teach me, till there gloweth in this cold heart of mine,

Some feeble, pale reflection of that pure love of Thine. "

Lucy Ann Bennett (1850-1927)-public domain