Second Term Updates – Niger

Updates from our Second Term June 2006-June 2009

Math Teacher Needed

Faithful Prayer Supporters, I?m sending you this special update which includes a letter from a missionary family here in Niger. It mentions a major concern of ours that we ask you to pray about tonight as you meet together and then this week as you think about us. Thank you.

“Whenever you create a file or install a new program on the computer you want to make a backup copy of whatever it is.  Then in case the original copy gets corrupted or deleted,  you haven’t lost all your work.  In a war, the troops on the front line need plenty of support and backup to maintain their momentum.  Without adequate transportation facilities, doctors, air support, food, water, and ammunition, the army cannot do its job. Planning ahead and working together as a team are essential if the war effort is to succeed. Likewise,  any country needs a good infrastructure to maintain a certain standard of living.  Roads, airports, electric grids, water and telephone lines, sewers, schools, postal systems, offices, churches, and manufacturing plants are all essential to our way of life.  But what if all these backup systems were pulled out from under us and we had little support to continue living our lives the way we always have?” (Written in 2002)

We have often said that if it were not for the support of Sahel Academy, we would not be able to continue our work in Tera.  That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but we certainly would not be able to continue with the same amount of effectiveness.  We also look at how well Daniel and Suzanne are doing and know it is in part because of the partnership we have enjoyed with Sahel Academy.

Because we are 100% behind Sahel Academy and their mission, we come to you with two very urgent prayer requests.  By mid-January (or before!) we need to have a high school math teacher (or two) and a principal (grades K-12).  It would be ideal if the principal were also familiar with the accreditation process for ACSI and MSA, but we won’t be too picky at this point!  We need somebody to fill each of these positions until early June. 

Our high school math teacher came to do a year and will be finishing 3 1/2 years in December!  So, a warning comes attached to this plea: You may like it well enough to stay!  He extended another 1/2 year this year because no math teacher was in the pipeline for the fall, but he needs to be back in England in December.  Our principal has finished a four-year term and is on a much-deserved home assignment in Australia.  She will be back for the beginning of the school year in August 2008.

Please pray for these positions to be filled.  Our teaching staff is already over-extended and cannot take on any more classes.  Our director is trying to do his job, the principal’s job, and keep the school moving forward in the accreditation process and has more to do than one man can possibly ever get done.  Some of the teachers have taken on extra responsibilities to try to lighten his load.

Please think about filling one of these positions.  If you are interested, contact SIM directly through their website (www.sim.org), write to them at Box 7900, Charlotte, NC  28241,  or call them at 1-800-521-6449 or 1-704-588-4300.  We’d love it if you were able to partner with us in reaching the Songhai.

It is also possible to come to Sahel Academy under EBM (www.ebm.org) or SIL (www.sil.org). If that were to be your preference, contact them through their websites.

Thanks so much for your prayers for these urgent needs.

Love,

Nancy and John DeValve (and Suzanne who needs a math teacher!)

Maybe you are God?s answer to this prayer. If you need more information, please visit the school website at www.sahelacademy.com.

Night of Power

Many of you have heard of Africa’s worst floods in three decades that have swept across 20 countries wiping out homes, crops, and even sometimes taking lives. These people have no resources upon which to fall back; they have no savings, they have no crops from last year, and they have no family or friends who have enough to share. Because of monies regularly given to EBM’s (Evangelical Baptist Missions) famine relief, we have been able to help at least one of these villages where 210 families lost everything but their lives. Last week, several of us, along with Pastor Yacouba,  took them food, salt and soap. Please pray that this ministry of concern will make these villagers more receptive to the gospel of Christ.

This week as Ramadan comes to a close, devout Muslims will spend the Night of Power in prayer seeking a vision from Allah. Many who are involved in Muslim evangelism here in Niger will hold a “Night of Power” tonight, praying that God will reveal Himself to those who are earnestly seeking Him. Please pray with us this week – for peace and for opportunities to share Christ.

Within the past few years, Sahel Academy has been opened to non-missionary students (up to a certain percent). This year, this has brought families from Nigeria, Pakistan, Korea, Belgium, and Cameroon into our family. These students will hear the salvation story many times while here at Sahel Academy, and we pray that they will see Christ in the lives of their teachers and classmates. Already, some of these kids are noticing the difference and asking questions. One girl who has been raised in a very strong Roman Catholic home has said that for the first time in her life she realizes that she is lost. Another student, a beautiful Pakistani girl, loves being at our school, and we love her! As a staff, we are praying daily for God to work in the lives of these kids, to reveal Himself, and to use us to lead them to Him.

The percentage of MK’s (missionary kids) who end up in the Lord’s work, and especially in missions, is high. TCK’s (third-culture kids) quite often end up in places of leadership within their own countries or as ‘ambassadors’ to other countries. That’s why we believe we are Training the Next Generation. These kids have a headstart over kids who grow up in America; they are comfortable in a non-American culture, and they usually grow up fluently speaking at least one other language in addition to English. Most of them are already involved in ministry efforts with their parents or through Sahel Academy on a regular basis.

We at Sahel Academy are also praying daily for qualified people to commit themselves to this ministry. These MK’s and TCK’s are very special. We believe they will change the world, at least in their corner. Please visit the school website at www.sahelacademy.com to see how you might help.

We are an offering…

Lord, use our voices. Lord, use our hands.
Lord, use our lives; they are Yours.
We are an offering; We are an offering.
(2006 CCLI. All rights reserved.)

This is our prayer and the desire for our ministry. As you pray for us this month, please pray that God will use our voices, our hands, and our lives in Training the Next Generaton.

We’re enjoying cooler, rainy weather – for a few more weeks. Praise God!

Bob loves his classes this year; I think he always does since he loves to teach. He’s teaching 7/8 Science; 9/10 Advanced 20th Century History; and 11/12 Government. No matter what Bob teaches (science, history, or Bible), his goal is to impart a Biblical worldview. Please pray that his students will all learn to think through things for themselves in a Biblical framework.

Three other technicians have left the field for home assignment, so a lot more technical needs are coming my way.  However, I’m praising God for a short term co-worker who has technical skills. He works in our mission office part of the time, then comes out to Sahel to help however he can. What a blessing!

Sahel Academy needs teachers. We are all overloaded right now. Specifically, we urgently need one math teacher ((better yet, two) for the second semester starting in January. Another elementary teacher would also allow us to split some of the elementary grades. A principal would help with the workload for all of us as we’re each trying to cover some of those responsibilities. Please pray that God would provide these teachers NOW! (OK – in His time.) For next year, we need either a history or a science teacher. We’ll also need a math teacher (if the one above doesn’t stay) and two elementary teachers. Please pray for God’s people for these positions.

Over the past few years, Sahel Academy has begun to accept students from non-mission and/or non-Christian homes. We see this as an extension of the evangelistic outreach of the missionary community. Since what we teach and communicate here at Sahel is life-changing, we want to share it with others. Please pray for the students and their families who come to us not knowing the Lord. Pray that God’s message of salvation will be clearly imparted to them through what they hear from us and see in our lives here at Sahel.

Northern Niger is experiencing political problems; Agadez is under military command. All missionaries and embassy people have officially left, although a few remain behind without their agency support. Please pray for the peace and stability of Niger; pray that missionaries would soon be able to return to Agadez.

Continue to pray for Boubacar, that the seed that has been planted will fester and germinate within his heart.

We’re praising God this month for 31 years of marriage. What a journey this has been!