While many aspects of life in Niger are different, the basics often remain the same. Food must be cooked, and certain details must be remembered. Here is a story. I wanted boiled eggs. I wanted the boiled eggs to be cold before I ate them. So, I decided to boil them in the morning, set them in the fridge all day, and eat them in the evening. I awoke one morning, prepared myself for the day, and readied four eggs to be boiled. I returned at the end of the day and unlocked my gate. Something smelled funny; my neighbors must be cooking some odd recipe again. I unlocked the door to my house. The smell grew stronger. It smelled strangely like Chick-fil-a, and the scent literally hung in the air. Not until I entered my kitchen did I realize that I had boiled my eggs for about 7 hours… Every drop of liquid had long ago been vaporized, and smoke no longer emanated from the pot. The eggs had been reduced to lumps of oozing coal. Almost every stove here in Niger is fueled by a bottle of natural gas, and so I am seriously thankful to God that my house didn’t blow up and burn down.
A few weeks ago, I helped host a medical team. The team of doctors, nurses, and volunteers worked with nationals to organize a clinic for the residents of a neighborhood in Niamey, the capital city. I was thrilled to be able to use my handful of Zarma words and then hear the women giggle as they listened to a white person speak their language. The week went well, and many residents received medicine or glasses. One man came to the clinic who had previously received faulty dental care. His gums were infected, and he had been unable to eat. The infection had progressed to the point where his life was in danger. He was given antibiotics over a period of a few hours, and his health improved.
During a particularly occupied day I hurried to my car and fumbled with my keys. My phone rang. Even in Africa, phones tend to ring at the worst possible times. I was really in no position to talk, but it was one of the men in my discipleship group. I answered. Amadou was very excited to tell me that his family had given him permission to be a Christian. And, he wanted me to talk to his father. To clarify, his father had not become a Christian, but he had given permission to his son to become a Christian. These kinds of decisions are made by the men of the family, and they are not made lightly. I spoke to both of them for a few moments, but then hurried on with the rest of day. As I drove down the road, I realized that my priorities were skewed. That was an amazing phone call. I felt I had missed the joy of the moment, ruined by the busyness of the day.
Lately, I have been struck by the huge social price that Christians pay in Niger. I have written about it before, but it keeps coming to my mind. Often, people will become Christians and not tell anyone of their decision. Pray for Christians in Niger. Pray specifically for new Christians who live in villages across the country.
The Muslim community recently celebrated the festival of Tabaski. This festival celebrates the occasion when Abraham agreed to sacrifice Ishmael on Mount Moriah. Muslims generally trace their religious heritage through Ishmael. The festival is observed by butchering a ram and cooking it over an open fire in remembrance of God’s provision. In Niger, family units are broad and people often travel to large population centers in order to obtain the communal experience. Since the entire animal must be cooked, most people with homes or huts roast at least one ram in their yards along the streets. The smell of roasting ram covers the entire city. It is not uncommon to see 5 or 6 rams stretched out on an x-frame, circling a single fire. It is a day of joy as people thank God for his provision in the past and his promise of future blessing. This is my favorite Muslim holiday. As I drive down the road and see the rows of roasting rams, I can’t help but think about Jesus. Jesus is, after all, God’s greatest provision.
I recently received my first paycheck from my editing job which is an answer to prayer. This income will go to supplement my monthly missions budget. I want to thank everyone for your prayers and your financial support. If you have any questions or requests, please let me know.
Blessings
Jeremy
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