Sunday in Niamey

Sunday in Niamey, Niger is different and similar to Sundays in Lexington, Kentucky.
I did not feel that taking pictures was appropriate today so you will have to use your imagination from my descriptions.....

Differences

• starting time is 'flexible' depending on the camel & donkey traffic on the bridge
• women and men sit on opposite sides of the church
• kittens, chickens, lizards skitter about under our feet
• sang praise songs in French and Djarma led by my nurse manager friend from France
• no robes :) ( You all know how I feel about that...haha!)
• choir wore pretty matching purple shirts and black skirts
• visitors have to stand up and they are each prayed for as part of the welcome...I like that as I need all the prayers I can get!
• sermon was in French with a woman translating into Djarma....an elderly man in the congregation would help her out occasionally
• it was close to 50C plus......120F 
• no AC (we were spoiled as this church had ceiling fans!)
• no walls
• no decoration....only a lace cloth over the pulpit 
• no organ or piano....only a simple drum
• people were dressed simply and sat on white plastic deck chairs
• my pale face stood out but it was a fairly integrated congregation with local and expats
• people walked in the heat to worship
• after the service, we drank frozen beasap (hybiscus juice) from little plastic bags that we bought from one of the women in the church
• no liturgy but I would day the congregation worked hard to participate in worship
• there was an open time for people to share prayer requests and share what the Lord had taught them during the week or share a scripture that touched their hearts
• less than 100 people but great for a country that is 98% Moslem
• (after church we were asked to visit newborn twins...one born with severe  malformations of the arms and legs....praying that CURE can be of some help)

Similarities

•  Not a perfect church...blessed with joys and sorrows within the congregation and leadership
• the leadership has a vision for growth and development of the congregation
• God's Word was taught
• Pastor used sports illustrations (it's everywhere!)
• reverence for God
• joyful singing
• congregation gave their gifts to the Lord during the service as a bag (silver fabric) was passed
• passion to live the Christian life in the week to come
• God was worshiped and Jesus Christ was acknowledged as the only Savior 
• people love fellowship after the service, chatting for a long time and greeting one another warmly

Praise the LORD, all nations! Praise Him, all peoples! His love for us is strong and His faithfulness is eternal. Praise the LORD! Psalm 117

Wherever I am I love to worship the Lord who is the only true God and Savior! Jesus is LORD!

A Few First Pictures....

 CURE International---it's all about healing kids like this adorable little fellow with a cleft. He will be gorgeous before you know it!

NO TRUCK---NO PROBLEM!!

You think selling used cars is difficult? Dinner anyone?

When can I go home? This little one was very anxious to get out of the hospital and back to play time!

Mothers, Aunts and Grandmothers pray faithfully for quick healing!

The women's hostel on CURE property, where the women stay caring for their little ones pre and post operatively. Many stay for extended periods of time for complicated burns and cast/dressing  changes.

Ganu is  my new office buddy...he peeped in the window, came in and started doing paperwork, very diligently. He looks like he knows what he is doing more than me LOL!!! I have taken care of this little guy on several visits to Niger. (Complicated burns)

'Mamman Maureen' and the group of caregivers and their charges at the hostel. I had the privilege of praying over them all on Friday! These women are PRECIOUS!!!!

A very warm welcome to Niger!!

It is a great joy to be writing this blog from Angele's apartment in Niamey, Niger. The journey started with a little excitement but the remainder was very calm and pleasant.

When I arrived at LEX our regional airport, I was told that my 5 bags could not go on the smaller commuter jet to Atlanta. Previously, I have not had any problems...but then I guess I was flying larger jets.  After a lot of arrow prayers and Patty Pennington's texted prayer, I felt calm enough to handle the situation. My choices were: 

1. Taking 4 instead of 5 bags (too late...everything packed was needed)

2. Leaving the following day on an early morning flight (would mean arriving a day later)

3. Driving to Cincinnati for a 5:40 pm flight (I would have to get there on my own expense)

Thankfully my brother Keith was available to drive me. What a blessing that was as Paul was stuck in meetings!
Keith and I had a great drive up chatting and sipping Starbucks!
I can honestly say that I was very calm about the whole thing....I knew the Lord would take care of the situations one way or another.
I had two delightful conversations...one with a Holocaust survivor and another with a gentleman working in the oil business in Africa. The first gentleman I was able to share my love of the Lord with him and pray for him. The second gentleman was a believer and prayed over me!! By the time I got to Niger, there was and is no doubt in my mind that this trip will be an extra special, Divinely appointed and orchestrated one. Perhaps when we look for God's Presence and touch more diligently, it is more recognizable. Those of you who know me, know that my life is exciting enough and I don't need any more!
As I unpacked I had a sinking feeling that I was missing something....the training DVD in French for the Basic Life Support classes I am teaching. Oh, oh....I laid in bed wondering if I forgot it, failed to pack it, left it behind, was robbed of it in transit.....? What happened to it?
Friday staff devotions gave me an opportunity to ask for prayer regarding this matter. To make a long story short, right after prayer time, the missing DVD was presented to me! Praise the LORD!!!
Yes, it was a warm 40 Celsius something welcome. We have some AC at the hospital but do not use it for sleeping....yes, it is hot...I really don't mind it that much...must keep hydrated though. Wow! What a great start! Divine encounters, disappearing DVD's and Dear Friends at CURE! I am blessed!!

Easter Traditions and 'Tabaski'

It seems that I am not a very good blogger! Try as I might, my intentions and neatly composed items stay in my head and not in my blog spot.  It is nearly spring here in Kentucky. I say 'nearly' as we have been teased with sun, snow, cold and cloud.....spring blossoms are yet to fully bloom. Easter is around the corner and with it the hopes of renewed nature and more importantly the joy of celebrating our living Savior.
As a child, Easter Sunday was a special time, with special clothes...new or new to me! We enjoyed a family meal often together with other guests. Family traditions have not changed too much. How do you celebrate Easter? Do you have traditions?
As I travel to Niger a few times a year, I get to observe celebrations and local customs. 

My last trip was in October, 2012. I experienced a time of family and community celebration called TABASKI.  There are a few parallels to our Easter. See what you think....?

New Clothes for Tabaski is similar to our buying Easter outfits

Finding the right sheep for the festivities-like our planning Easter Sunday lunch!

Bringing home the sheep for the Tabaski meal-shopping for groceries!

Sheep are slaughtered and prepared for cooking (note the similarity to the cross0

Sheep are cooked and meat shared with family, neighbors and the poor

Food is shared with all the family and neighbors

Family and friends gather-Hospitality is shown to all!

As you can see from these few pictures, Tabaski is a very special time of celebration in Niger. Sadly it has become commercialized like our Easter. It has become more about buying the most and best sheep than about the meaning of Tabaski, according to my friends in Niamey. Likewise, Easter has become commercialized with Easter baskets, gifts and Sunday brunches here in the USA.  The key elements of Tabaski, according to my Nigerien friends include; 

• slaughtering of the sheep in hopes of forgiveness of sins committed in the past year, 
• reconciliation with family members/neighbors for any offenses
• the sharing of meat to loved ones and the needy.

WOW! This explanation blew me away!
One does not need to be a scholarly theologian to see the beautiful lessons and paralells with our Christian celebration of Easter.

• Jesus Christ is our Lamb of sacrifice-once for all!
• Sins are forgiven on the basis of Jesus Christ's perfect substitutionary death. His goodness has been given to those who repent and believe
• The new clothes we love to buy at Easter are a picture of the designer robes of righteousness that all believers receive by God's grace
• Sharing the 'Lamb' with friends, family and needy represents to me the need of our sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ's love in dying to pay for our sins. 
• Visiting and showing hospitality to all and letting by-gones be by-gones seems a healthy and helpful practice to live in fellowship and community!

Looking at another culture and their traditions is very meaningful and deeply moving for me. As I have been meditating upon these  Tabaski celebrations, I am appreciating Easter in a deeper and richer way. My heart longs to share the truth about Jesus Christ and His love for the nations. 
I thank my Nigerien friends for being tranparent and sharing their beliefs and traditions with me....and more than that, they have shared their homes, hospitality and friendship. Can you wonder why I long to return to Niger, over and over again? 
Ok, so I am not a very faithful blogger but perhaps there was a reason to save this post for this time of year.
Two weeks from today, at this time, I will be on duty in Niger. It will be a time of learning, working, serving, and loving a people who are longing to know genuine forgiveness,peace and love that can only be found in our great living Savior.
 

A Detour from My Plans!

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Well so much for my promise to blog more happenings from my last mission trip! The very night of my last blog, I was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. If you must know, I am perfectly fine sans gallbladder. The Lord took care of me very well, through my dear family and the University of Kentucky staff!!

Embarrassing, I know, but you can see Paul and Anne at my side preoperatively.

I experienced the love and care of many. My dear son, Mark made the accurate diagnosis via text messaging and managed to meet us at the Emergency Department coming from another hospital in London, KY. My dearest Paul, was as always, the peaceful comforting, prayerful husband. Our daughter Anne, a third year medical student was able to to visit with me throughout the day. My sister Ruth came and stayed with me, too. David Sloan and my nieces visited and checked in on their Aunty Momo. Calls and texts from friends and family from near and far, brought much comfort, too.  Our dear pastor Robert Cunningham came over and prayed with me before my surgery. (This was so sweet as his wife's due date was very soon).

It was delightful to see the love and respect that Paul receives at the hospital too. Several colleagues  from his department came and offered care and prayers...even our Muslim friends prayed for me! How grateful we are for such friends! Paul's boss' wife sent goodies for my recovery. Flowers and food were brought to me when I got home later that day. Everyone was so kind!!

Although there was much physical pain, I was so peaceful and entrusted myself to the Lord's keeping. Everyone kept saying to me, 'Aren't you glad this happened here and not in Niger?' Of course, it is great to be cared for in one's own city with all the modern facilities. Yet, as you know, my trust is in the Lord and not Lexington, KY!  If this had happened in Niger, my friend and surgeon Jean Francois Negrini would have taken excellent care of me. The staff and friends of CURE Niger would have been so kind.  After all, these are 'my nurses' :) No worries!

It was the Holy Spirit who gave me the peace and comfort through this unexpected surgery.  I was so blessed with all the modern conveniences and care.  Thank you, Lord for UK. The modern efficient Emergency Department was excellent. Dr. Brian Adkins was amazing and able to assimilate all the components so that my condition was accurately diagnosed and treated. The dear nurses were very caring! The resident doctors were precious!  My surgeon, Paul Kearney was super and the anesthesia team superb (of course!) Everyone was so kind and compassionate. Everything was so clean, new and functioning!

All this made me realize how terrible it is for so many people around the world who do not have access to ANY medical care.  This reality makes me want to serve faithfully with CURE International for the cause of children born with disabilities. Please pray for me as I regroup and reorganize before my next visit to Niger. I am very eager to go.

It has taken a while to get back to speed so please hang with me while I attempt to get back to blogging more regularly.

" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

He is Lord!

It has been such a long time since I posted a blog that it is embarrassing! Yet life has a way of happening. Seasons come and if your life is anything like mine this season....the Holiday Season  of Thanksgiving and Christmas is HUGE! The expectations that I put upon myself and allow others to put on me can be overwhelming.

What's a woman to do?

Work harder, faster, smarter?
De-compensate...like 'Skipping Christmas'?
Just Do It?
Get mad and sad then glad when it's over?

Or......how about re-framing all the activities of the season within their true context?

Counting my blessings?

• The freedom to celebrate Jesus Christ's birth in a world that is increasingly hostile to Christianity
• The circle of family, church friends and community when so many in this world are friendless
• The abundance of food (and the need to count calories) when so many  are hungry
• The availability of shelter when there are so many homeless even in our own cities
• Clean water, sanitation, access to medical care....
• The beauty and symbolism of the lights, greenery, even candy-canes!
• Christmas music, movies and memories
• The ability to celebrate in some fashion

Such thoughts are a balm to my frazzled attempts to make this 'a perfect Christmas'.  As I travel with Cure International, it is a privilege to learn about different cultures, how and what they celebrate. During my last visit to Niger, there was a very special holiday season called 'Tabaski'  with many festivities that are similar to our own....special meals, special ceremonies, special clothes, symbolism and so on. I will attempt to describe these in future blogs. Hope this whets your appetite!

Today, I would like to share the words to a song we sang at at simple church in Niamey, Niger, no walls,  no decorations, no frills, no distractions (except for a few cats, chickens, children and dogs strolling through)...

Rabbi no; Rabbi no
A tun ka fun buukay ra a zamma!
Kange kulu ga gurfa
Deene kulu ga seeda
Ka re: Yessu wo Rabbi no

Guess you want the translation?

He is Lord,  He is Lord
He is risen from the dead and He is Lord
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord

Grandma Maureen's lap is often full with dear children-smile!

Natalie, a sweet sister I met this visit to Niger-such strong faith and love

No walls, no worries, worship under a tree is fine!

It puts it into perspective does it not? So when the work of the holidays and the expectations get overwhelming try to hum this little chorus. Remember, Christmas is just the prelude. Our expectations and hope is for the Second Coming!  What a celebration that will be!

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus!