Gifts

One of the nurses made a delicious soup for me from a cows tail like this. It was a labor of love. It took hours and hours of cooking!  The nurses are so kind to Paul and me! They do not like it when we are not feeling well. I was getting over my second round of malaria and they thought I needed something for my health!

There was a designated gift for toys for the children so the Executive Director's wife Georgiana and I went to a large store to buy toys for the children in the hospital and in the long stay hostel called Case de Passage.

What a pile of toys for boys and girls of all ages! These will be precious gifts for the patients.

Fatchima is my beautiful nurse manager of the ward (Pavilion) She is my sister in the LORD and a gift to me working here.

Fatchima had this dress made for me. She has a matching one which is a tradition when people are working, worshiping or celebrating together. Men and women wear outfits made from the same material. What a gift!

Gift giving a part of many cultures. Here in Niger, the giving and receiving of a gift is a huge thing. So often it is a huge sacrifice as most people have so little compared to the USA or Canada. We try to be as generous as possible but do not want people to feel that they need to reciprocate. These sweet gifts of food and the dress touched my heart so much. The gifts we purchased for the children with the donated money will bring such joy to the children. The children here get excited about playing with an empty water bottle! Many have nothing!
I get a little distress some days with all the poverty.  There are so many children and adults begging on the road as we go to the hospital in the mornings. We could never give enough to supply what it needed for these dear ones. We know that God has called us to help the poor. When it is not appropriate to give money, one can offer a piece of fruit or bread....and if that is not on hand, one can offer a smile, a listening ear and acknowledge the person's presence. Everyone likes to be noticed. Even small gestures of kindness are important. We have a call to serve at CURE Hôpital des Enfants au Niger. The Lord called us to invest our time, talents and treasures in these children and their caregivers. We hope that there will be a ripple effect of love, generosity and kindness as the children return to their villages and homes. We are so grateful to be here to share the best gift of all in the person of the LORD Jesus Christ. Thank you for praying for us!

Psalm 9:18 

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Proverbs 14:31

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!