Happy New Year 2019!

It hardly seems possible that we have been in Niger for more than two months! How time flies! We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was quite different in many ways. Being far away from family and loved ones was hard naturally. We had wonderful memories of our special Thanksmas celebration before we left for Niger.
Christmas is a time of sharing and caring remembering the best gift to the world being our Savior Jesus Christ when He came as a baby. We participated in a couple of parties one for children at the hospital and one for widows and their children in the church community. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. The joy on the children's faces was wonderful. 
I even tried to make a few Christmas cookies in our little apartment. They came out well enough to share as Christmas gifts to a few friends. The butter is imported from Europe and is very lovely for baking!
Our Christmas Eve was spent with the Negrini family who we have known since the hospital opened here. We had a most blessed time of being together and shared in delicious food and exchanged some tokens of our affection for one another. Their children are growing beautifully and we enjoyed our time together very much! It was Christ-centered and such a blessing!
Sadly around midnight on Christmas Eve, I spiked a fever and had all the symptoms of malaria so on top of the antimalarial pills, I had to begin the appropriate treatment right away. The hospital was closed so had to wait for blood tests on the 26th, by then I had almost finished the regiment. Sadly, I was very dehydrated and needed IV fluid re-hydration and more antibiotics for typhoid (which is going around).  These tropical diseases are not fun. Christmas Day I was so sick and poor Paul worked with our guard to fix a leaky tire. He couldn't even go out to get me a ginger-ale (not that I could have drunk it!) To make a long story short, I spent Christmas week recuperating enough to get on a plane to go to London for some good food, exercise and REST! We were both in need of a little break away and had planned a week off in London while the hospital was essentially closed. It was a great plan as we both needed this time to walk, regroup and get a bit healthier.
One of the highlights of our week in London was attending All Souls at Langham Place. We went on the Sunday morning and then again for Monday, December 31, 2018 New Year's Eve Watchnight Service. This is a service that brought back happy memories of our younger years in Montreal at Rosemount Bible Church (formerly Ebenezer Gospel Chapel) and Bethel Chapel in Pointe Claire. What joy to ring in a new year with fellow believers-even if you don't know them!
We were particularly touched by the sermon on Romans 8 reminding us that we are MORE than conquerors through Christ Jesus. No matter our problems, persecutions, sufferings, we can enter into the new year with His strength, presence, love and promises. What an encouragement of the steadfast love of God!
One thing that we did before the clock chimes struck midnight was to sing the following hymn sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. Indeed whatever we say or do may be it to the glory of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. He is the reason we are here in Niger.

Should nothing of our efforts stand not legacy survive

Unless the Lord does raise the house in vain its builders strive,

To you who boast tomorrow's gain tell me, what is your life?

A mist that vanishes at dawn, all glory be to Christ!

Refrain:

All glory be to Christ our King,

All glory be to Christ!

His rule and reign we'll ever sing all glory be to Christ.

His will be done, His kingdom come, on earth as is above,

Who is Himself our daily bread, praise Him the Lord of love.

Let living water satisfy, the thirsty without price.

We'll take a cup of kindness yet, all glory be to Christ!

When on the day the great I Am, the faithful and the true,

The Lamb who was for sinners slain is making all things new.

Behold our god shall live with us and be our steadfast light .

And we shall e're His people be all glory be to Christ!

Dustin Kensrue @2012

Imagine the pipe organ full stops...all glory be to Christ! We couldn't help but think of our friend Ted Gentry of Lexington. Glorious!!

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve with the Negrini family including Anne's sister who is working with MSF (Doctors without Borders) in Sudan

Hajara and Amina took great care of me when I was so sick. God has blessed us with a dear family at CURE.

 

At the suggestion of our friend Gerald Bray we visited the British Library for a special exhibition of Bibles and old manuscripts...WOW!!

Met a couple of special folks along the way as we walked about London!

Paul is standing in front of the Dominion of Canada Gates that are by Buckingham Palace.

Paul is standing on a bridge in St. James Park with the Palace in the background.

 

Happy New Year 2019 from Paul and Maureen! (I had just gotten used to writing 2018!)

Thank you to each one of you who read these blogs and to all of you who pray for us. We are back in Niger after a week away and are refreshed for the next 4 months. God bless you all!