Second Term Updates – Niger

Updates from our Second Term June 2006-June 2009

Summer Stuff

We’re enjoying weekly rains, the students are gone, we’ve moved into our ‘new’ house, and the work continues; that about sums up our situation now. After nine very dry and hot months, we now have the periodic relief of literal showers of blessings.  The students are on their summer vacations along with many of the staff.  Many things are being done here on campus to prepare for the new school year which will start in less than a month. Lois, along with the help of many willing hands, moved the computer lab to the new Media Center this past weekend. She has lots of work ahead to put it all together, but she’s very relieved to have it ‘in place’. This week’s plan includes moving the library to the Media Center. It’s exciting to be here and to see how God is blessing as we prepare for the year ahead.

This area of West Africa and particularly Niger does not seem to be a magnet attracting people to come and work along with those who are here. The work is slow, the culture is difficult, and the weather seems to aggravate any other situation. Therefore, it is not easy to attract people to come to Sahel Academy and teach MKs. This year we have some challenges ahead as some key teaching positions have not been filled – yet. Last night as some of us met to pray, we were reminded of how God has supplied in the past; we are earnestly asking God to show His mighty hand once again. We’re praying for the students God will send our way this year, that they will “take it personally”, and see how God has provided for them again. We pray that they will learn to know in their hearts that God will continue to provide for them every day of their lives.

Sahel Academy is a strategic part of the missions work here in Niger as we continue to educate missionary kids. Even though the work in Niger is difficult and slow here, in the past 20 years the number of churches in the capital city of Niamey has grown exponentially. Niger seems to be in competition for last place as the poorest nation in the world.  The world says that the nation needs more money given to it.  We say that Niger needs Christ. This country seems to be as hard as the ground we walk on, yet the gospel of Christ and Biblical thinking are beginning to make a dent.  This is not the time to back off on missionary activity, but to continue our efforts.   We realize that things in the states are tight, so we greatly appreciate the sacrifices that are being made for the cause of Christ both at home and abroad.  If it were not for your continued prayers and support the work here in Niger would cease.  We thank you, and the people of Niger thank you even though most of them do not know it yet.

The Sahel Academy Class of 2008 – Truly Unique!

For the first time, Sahel’s graduation ceremony was held on the “green”, a beautiful patch of grass in the center of the campus which stands out from all the sand around it as a cool green oasis.  Especially unique this year: instead of ceremoniously marching down the aisle, the graduates arrived from across the campus on camels. This year’s graduating class consisted of three boys, all of whom have grown up in Africa since they were infants. Each one in some way commented that he was not at all saddened at what he had missed by not growing up in North America, but felt that he has been blessed by all that he has gained by growing up in Africa. Pray for these three graduates who are now saying good-bye to their home of the last 18 years.

Most missionaries have a certain people group to whom they minister here in Africa.  For Lois and I, the missionary kids are our people group. This is what we do. It is our great joy to see these boys graduate and go out to impact their world for Christ. They may someday return; MKs often return as missionaries themselves.

Although this school year has ended for us, the busyness will continue throughout the break time. We are moving on campus this week, a move that we trust will greatly simplify our lives. Also, the new media center is almost completed, and Lois hopes to be moving the computer lab to the new location during this break. This involves overseeing the building and fabricating of new computer workstations and a server and network rack. Please pray that all goes smoothly so that we can be in the new facilities for the beginning of the school year.

The electricity supplied to our campus is undependable. This week alone we have been without power for as much as 5 hours at a time; sometimes the return of power causes damaging spikes to electronics even though they are protected. A transformer which should help this situation has been sitting in customs for several months. Sahel has been unable to obtain the signatures for its release. There are also several vehicles belonging to co-workers sitting in customs waiting for the proper signatures of customs agents. Please pray for these matters to be settled soon.

Sahel is once again praying for a high school math teacher, as well as a lower elementary teacher and a high school science teacher. Pray that God will direct these people our way. Lois and I know of so many or our friends who are qualified; if you are one of them, we’d be thrilled for God to direct you to join us in this MK ministry. For more information, please visit www.sahelacademy.com/staff.

Boubacar is still up north in Timbuktu. We haven’t heard when he is returning. Supposedly he has family up there who are Christians. Please continue to pray that this visit will result in his salvation. As we move to campus, we will lose regular contact with Boubacar, even if he does return to Niamey. Please pray for the seed that has been planted, and for those who will continue to minister in his life.

Spring: At Last!

Spring is here, and while you’re thinking of flowers and green grass, for us it’s the hottest part of the year in what is called the hottest capital city in the world.  Thursday night, when I was once again showing a video out my front gate at the request of our neighbors, I could not keep the projector running because of the heat. With the use of 3 ice packs, one on bottom and 1 on each side, I was finally able to keep the projector cool enough to show the video. When our rains finally come, we will see some relief from the heat.

The heat is not the only thing that makes it difficult to live in a third world country.  For Lois and I, it has been another long year at school and we’re now approaching the end when perseverance is needed to help us all finish well. Perhaps like lots of you, we wonder if what we’re doing is really that important.  We would love to be with family and live where it is easier. It  is during these times that we often examine why we are here.

As I was teaching WWII history, this analogy came to mind: During WWII, a small town wanted their tax money to really count for something in the war, so they requested that their taxes go specifically to frontline soldiers.  The answer to their request stated that it takes 9 support personnel to keep one man on the frontline, and that everyone is just as important to the cause as the frontline soldier. 

Here on the field, it may not be a 9 to 1 ratio, but the support team is just as important to the mission as the frontline missionary.  Someone has to be an administrator; pilots and mechanics are needed,  Bible translators must carry on.  Most of those serving on the field have children that need education.  If it were not for the teachers, the entire infrastructure would collapse and the mission would fail. This week, AFN (Armed Forces television Network which we occasionally watch at the American club), talked about the love and support that military children provide to their parents. It was a reminder to us that as we minister to MK’s, we are ministering to their parents. With all the love they have to give, missionary children are part of “the frontline support” for your missionaries. So when we are hot, tired, lonely, or discouraged, we try to remember once again the vital importance of the role God has called us to fill here in Niamey. 

Thank you for your many e-mails and requests for how you can pray for us.   Probably our requests are not much different from yours:

  • · daily physical strength
  • · patience
  • · perseverance
  • · encouragement
  • · spiritual power and strength
  • · wisdom
  • · a servant’s heart

Also, continue to pray for Boubacar. He has headed north to Timbuktu to visit family and look for a job since we’re moving to Sahel Academy campus and won’t need him anymore. He says that some of his family in Timbuktu are Christians and that he is going to make the decision to follow Jesus while he is there. Please pray that this will be so, and that Satan will once again be defeated as Boubacar proclaims that Christ is Lord