This week in Niger-Workers together and a new discovery

I know this doesn't look like work at the CURE Hospital, it isn't! We are having dinner with two dear friends who are very involved with various ministries in Niger, including CURE. After a day of work at the hospital (mostly administrative stuff for me) We had supper by the river. It was a delightful change of pace. There were swarms of bats (I told Paul they were swallows or else he wouldn't have been able to eat there!)

Friday, I worked from home while Paul went to another hospital to help out. At the end of the afternoon I invited two precious sisters in the LORD over for a little tea party. Paul joined in for a little bit then left us women to chat alone!

And we did chat a good long while. Maman Soula on the right lives in Montreal and is very involved with the widows group called Dorcas project. Lucia, Soula's daughter is on the left . She has been in Niger for more than two decades. Lucia and her husband Scott train teachers in how to teach Math. They are wonderful folks! We love being together. It was a great time of sweet fellowship with yummy tea time snacks. We finished our time together praying for one another.

Here is a camel laden with woven mats. Note the contrast of the ancient carrier and the modern containers in the background. Africa is a continent of vast contrasts.

Sharing the road

The Niger River was flowing very fast today!

These same type boats have been used for many centuries!

Cap Banga is a simple and rustic restaurant on the river. We were picked up by motor boat and delivered to the dock of the restaurant. It was very beautiful and tranquil to be by the river. The menu was limited but delicious and inexpensive.

We discovered a terrace up in the trees and enjoyed God's creation together.

The terrace was up in the tree.

The Niger River is not very clear or clean although people bathe, wash clothes and do some boating on it.

There is such contentedness in God's beautiful creation. After hospital work, we were so glad to come here today. It is not very far from our apartment. 

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth

For the beauty of the skies

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies

Refrain:

Lord of all to Thee we raise

This our joyful hymn of praise 

For the beauty of the hour

Of the day and of the night

Hill and vale and tree and flower

Sun and moon and stars of light

For the joy of human love

Brother, sister, parent, child

Friends on earth and friends above

For our gentle thoughts and mild 

For each perfect gift of Thine

To our race so freely given

Graces human and divine

Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n

Some weeks at the hospital I forget to take pictures. The work is sometimes routine or so hectic that picture taking is not on my mind. This week I had a lot of paper work to do which does not make for exciting pictures. Paul was in the operating room at the CURE hospital and another hospital in Niamey.  We were blessed this week with a visit from Marcia Lanoha and Brian Decker from MADALA which is an organization that most generously supports many missions including the CURE hospital. It was great to have time to be together for a couple of the evenings.

We are so aware of God's goodness in allowing us to be in Niger. We do lift our voices in joyful and grateful praise! God alone is worthy of our adoration.

Thank you for your interest in reading these blogs. Thank you to Josh Korn for explaining how to find Cap Banga. It was a little tricky as the road was so bad we had to use the four wheel drive to get there! Fun!