Messages from
Niger

We enjoyed a great night’s rest here at Pastor and Mrs. Labo’s home in Zinder. They brought us warm water for a quick shower and we had breakfast of coffee and French bread
dipped in condensed milk. After breakfast we toured the site of the new proposed
Christian School. It is a 12 acre parcel of land given to the EERN by the regional government for the purpose of building a school. It is a flat sandy lot with a 6 foot mud brick wall around the perimeter. The wall was funded by a German individual. The EERN officials guiding our tour were excited to show us the land, and later to show us the blue prints, plans, and details of the project. They presented strong information and rationale for the building of a Christian School in Zinder.

We also went to a cooperative artisans complex which provides training opportunities in areas such as the dying of cloth, leather craft, and various cottage industries. They had a retail shop and we bought a gourd bowl and dipper.

One of the officials with us, Abba Moussa Moustapha, is the son of the first Christian in Niger. His father became a Christian in 1930. Abba Moussa Moustapha is a wonderful story teller and we loved hearing the intriguing stories of his father.

It is very hot, but it is not blowing sand and we have not been bothered with mosquitoes or other insects. We are feeling well and drinking lots of bottled water!

This evening our hosts arranged for an audience with the Sultan of the region of Zinder de Niger. We were received in a meeting room in his historic palace. He welcomed us as visitors from the USA, and through an interpreter, he said he had two children in the US and wanted us to know that Niger was a peaceful country and did not have extremists as one might find in other countries. We made a short stop to a small local museum which was of historical interest. We got back to our hosts home and had a wonderful dinner of roasted chicken and French fries with a spicy sauce. It was delicious. It is now 10:30 and we are ready for bed. Church is at 8:A.M.

Love, Ted and Eleanor