Food, Fun, Fellowship at CURE Niger

 Love must be sincere. 
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 
Honor one another above yourselves. 
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone....
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-18, 21 NIV

Issafou and Omar...they take such good care of us at CURE Niger!

Sweet chefs!

Patiently waiting for the lunch to be served!

Male nurses from the Pavillon (Ward)

Beautiful CURE staff

 

The guys' table....

Our gracious host Issafou...always smiling!

We celebrated together on the day before I left with a special lunch of pentades (type of chicken...more meaty than the usual local chickens), rice, french bread (baguette), veggies and for a special treat....sodas!! 

What can I say, but I love these dear ones?! It is such a joy for Paul and I to show a little love to the staff. May the light of the Lord Jesus Christ shine....shine....shine!!

Special Patients and Friends

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:35-39

Coming to CURE for healing of burn contractures and receiving God's love and care

So many weeks and months of treatments...slow but sure....healing is taking place on my friend G's body and his little heart too.....taught him Deep and Wide with actions....which are good physical therapy and theology.....God's love is deep and wide!

This dear fellow was so brave with his extensive surgery.....an abscessed tooth made a fistula into nose and palate....it was a very long operation to try and close the fistula and reconstruct his nasal passage and palate!  (note to self....BRUSH YOUR TEETH!)

This little girl was returning for daily wound care post operatively for her cleft lip and palate. What rich opportunities we have at CURE to show the love of God in all that we do for our patients!

 It is always amazing how three weeks at CURE Niger flies by....yet, what wonderful relationships we make with the children and caregivers. It is what Africa is all about, relationships....encountering people, sharing resources, showing the love of Jesus and being generous with smiles, hugs and songs! We can see how little by little God is supplying the workers for the harvest in Niger. He is faithful...just as he promised!  More pictures to come in the days ahead. Please pray that the children would come to know the One who made them. The harvest is plentiful...!

Healing faces and more...

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

At CURE Niger, we know that the surgery and physical care that the children receive is only a part of the healing.  Sometimes treatments are prolonged and several surgeries are necessary to bring complete wholeness to a child.  Every encounter with our patients and their caregivers offers other aspect of healing.  The families who come from remote villages often have erroneous ideas about their child's disability. For example,  the parents may think that a cleft lip means their child is mentally incapacitated and cannot learn at school...thereby denying a child of an education.  We can educate and help families understand that their child is precious. We can assure families of the potential of their child.  It is a wonderful opportunity to help families consider each child as a gift from God....made in God's image. Each family member and child has the capacity to think, respond, interact with their people and community. Each child, each person who comes to CURE Niger has the opportunity to see in action the love of God and the power of prayer to our living God of the Bible. We have seen transformations on the faces of the children during this surgical camp. We have planted seeds of the Good News through loving attention, daily prayer, stories and DVDs, acts of kindness and generosity and excellent medical/surgical/nursing care.  As our 30 patients from Sentinelle leave this Friday, we will send many home healed of their cleft.....some completely and some partially. Each one know that they are loved by God and CURE!! Some we will have the joy of receiving here again...what a privilege!

Enjoy these pictures of new faces!! To God be the glory!!

Although still a little swollen, Rhamatou will have a good result from her cleft repair.

This darling had a huge cleft that was exaggerated by a tooth sticking way out...now look at her precious face...it will smooth out as the scar heals.....she is such sweetheart and so polite!

Sweet smiles with our social worker :)

A gaggle of giggles, all wanting to see their new faces...they can hardly believe the transformations!

 

Tea Time Nigerien Style

This is not Annie's tea! This is the chai that the men staying at the hostel make every morning. Although some of the men do not want to join the Pastoral visits....they are always glad of a visit and to share tea....a sign of hospitality and acceptance. I was very honored to be given this precious cup of tea!

It is the 'second' cup or pouring over the tea leaves....not as bitter as the first cup....there is some symbolic meaning to the second cup......I think it is something like joy or friendship?

I can't believe I am drinking this tea made with who knows what? It actually tastes quite nice and sweet....apparently each successive pouring is sweeter.

Thank you so  much for the tea! The men thought I was very brave to try it and laughed at me not knowing anything about their tea 'ceremony'.......it's a learning curve visiting many different cultural groups! Pray that these 'baby steps' in developing friendships within the community of caregivers would be strengthened. Our Spiritual Directors Hassane and Josh are doing a tremendous job of keeping the dialogue going and sharing the scriptures on MP3 players for all who are interested.

   

Amazing Children at the Surgical Camp- CURE Niger

 Aren't these the most adorable children? It is amazing how well behaved they are considering many of them have left their villages and families to come to CURE Niger. Sentinelle and Smile Train are the two organizations who help support these surgeries. Many children have been many months without their parents preparing with the Sentinelle workers for their surgeries. Most of the crying we hear postoperatively is for food! These dear little ones can make quite a racket when they are hungry....and they seem so fearful that they will not get their milk, porridge, rice and sauce. Boy, they sure know how to clear their plates.....bless their hearts! I sang Sunday School Songs to them, especially those with actions. Pastor Hassane translated into the various languages for me as best as he could. There are so many language groups represented that often we have to find a housekeeper or guard who might know a specific language.  Thankfully, smiles, cuddles, balloons, bubbles, small toy cars are all translated into CARE and LOVE which transcend spoken words.

A gaggle of giggly children, all clamoring for a photo

This is one of my special darlings...his favorite pastime is playing with blocks and being totally naked.....his little chunky behind says.....pinch me! Isn't he gorgeous?

The social worker and I were surrounded by these darlings...a great photo opportunity but also an opportunity to pray and sing to them. After surgery the children need to have their arms splinted so they will not touch and infect the surgical site. The children are pretty good at adapting to this postoperative limitation for three weeks!

It is always fun to share pictures of time here in Niger. I realize that writing is not my strong point! However, so many of you who follow this blog want to know the daily routines and faces of those I have the joy of serving. So here a few pictures to remind  you that I am away at CURE and occupied with dear little children....this week with children born with cleft lips and pallets. Although the heat is extreme and the days long and hard, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than where the LORD has called me to serve.....when He calls...He equips....so I can say with confidence...Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength!

How hot is it in NIger?

This is the outside temperature in Celsius...this means it is 120 Fahrenheit in the afternoon! This is at our hospital....no wonder I am so hot and thirsty all the time!

 

 

The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel, will not forsake them. Isaiah 41:17

This is a picture from my friend Christine Lehman. I thought it would show the extreme sights and suffocating activities of the  people here in Niger. I don't know how people survive!

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become to them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John  4: 13-14

This is my prayer today that the love of Jesus Christ would be evident here in all our daily care routines for our patients. As we provide for our patients and their caregivers for their physical thirst, may we have the opportunity to share the living water of Jesus Christ!

Friends and festivities

Happy Birthday to Angele! I didn't get to sing to her all the Sloan birthday songs...not sure she would want to hear all 5 or is it 6 of them? Angele is a dear sister in the LORD. I love her sweet servant heart and faithful training of the CURE Nurses. It was so much fun sharing her birthday with the Negrini family.....a real Swiss Fondue!!

Saturday night there was a knock at the door and who was there? Amadou and Rhamahou (Rose) his dear wife of three weeks. Amadou lost his first wife to malaria in the summer of 2010 just as the CURE Hospital was beginning to train nurses. He has a young son of about 3 years old. Amadou now works in the Anesthesia department and is such a hard worker. His sweet new wife is a teacher of young children. She is beautiful and a great comfort and friend to Amadou. She is excited to be a mother too. Please pray for this dear young couple that they know the WAY, TRUTH and LIFE ETERNAL. They are so precious and caring. I'd like to spend eternity with them. It is a great honor for me to have them come to my guest house and visit me on their day off. As I always say......It is about the relationships!!

A day is coming when people will sing,
Give thanks to the LORD! Call for Him to help you! 
Tell all the nations what He has done!
Tell them how great He is!
 Sing to the LORD because of the great things He has done.
Let the whole world hear the news.   (Isaiah 12:4&5)