Fruit in February

Hello Again,

I hope the first several weeks of 2013 have gone well for you. If you are like most people, you have settled back into the normal routine of life. Life in Niger seems to actively avoid being normal.

If you follow world news, perhaps you read that there was a war in Mali a few weeks ago. Islamist extremists had seized about half of Mali and had been ruling there for several months. France attacked the Islamist-held areas and used Niamey as a staging area. The Malian border is just a few hours of driving away from Niamey. Niamey, the capitol of Niger, is where I live. When Islamists attacked, kidnapped, and killed several foreigners and nationals in Algeria, the possibility of further reprisals spread into Niger. I attended multiple meetings with various security personnel, and have tried to be more vigilant. The threat of kidnapping and carjacking has always existed in Niger, but it has come to the forefront recently. Foreigners have been advised to stay in Niamey and require a police escort to drive out of the city. I have tried to be more observant (though I’m not sure how to do that), I’ve networked with other missionaries with regard to security concerns, and I have planned (I think) a basic evacuation plan if it is necessary. However, life as a whole seems to have changed very little, I do feel safe, and the general population is calm. But, anything can happen.

I work very closely with a small group of new local Christians. A few weeks ago, I felt as if I should try to add a person to that group. However, finding a new Christian in a predominately Muslim country is never easy. When the next Sunday arrived, I decided that I would speak with my friend, Pastor Boureima, after the service and see if he had any ideas of someone who needed discipleship. As the service was starting, the pastor was introducing visitors. There was an unfamiliar face occupying the second row. The pastor said, “This is John (that’s not his actual name). John had a dream in which Jesus told him that he wanted to take his burdens. John has entered the first church he could find and is among us to today to find some answers.” I was stunned. God had dropped a new person into my lap. John attends a Bible study in my home every week. Discipleship among new Christians is often like catching a fish. It’s best to real them in slowly or risk losing them all together. So, that is the process that John is in at the moment. Pray for John and his family; he has a wife and young son. Pray also for John to find employment. Finding a job in Niger’s economy is difficult for anyone, but it can be particularly difficult for Christians. Two other new Christians that I work with also have expressed a difficulty in finding sufficient work and income.

The previous rainy season was very good for Niger and food availability seems to be as good as it can get. However the hot, dry season is beginning, and this means that people somewhere will probably suffer. Also, the instability of Niger’s neighbors has increased our population. So, praise God for the previous rainy season, but also keep Niger’s need for food in your prayers.

Thanks for everything you do to lift me up in prayer and to keep me sufficiently funded.  I would like to remind you that the donate option here on the website is functional and safe.  This may be more convenient for you than mailing a monthy check.  The few months I have spent here so far have been strange and tense at times, but God is already revealing fruit.  Thanks for everything.

Jeremy