Messages from
Niger

Monday, January 26, 2004
We moved again today. We left the SIM Mission guest house this morning to relocate to the Southern Baptist guest house which is a newer updated facility in a different section of the city. We are in a very metropolitan area, right across from the Algerian Embassy and a short distance from the American Embassy. We went shopping for groceries (we still do our own cooking) and we can get anything we want here!! We bought coffee, Knorr soup mix, powered milk, and even a pizza mix. We looked carefully at the Pringles, but decided they were just too expensive...about four times more than we would pay in the States. Packaged - prepared food is very expensive as is everything else since it is imported. Most imported items come from China, Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. We believe the church officials plan for us to stay in this guest house for the remaining two weeks of our tour. It works out nicely for us as we enjoy a bit more independence.

We continue to be amazed at how the Lord links us with individuals who add to our understanding of our task here. At 1:o'clock we met with representatives of two teams who are also looking at Christian Education in Niger. These contacts happened because of who we met at the SIM guest house over the weekend. It was a wonderful session of vision and long range planning. At 5:30 we met with Dr. Addo and Mr. Hassane specifically about two of the EERN proposals; what was discussed at the 1:o'clock meeting had direct relevance to this meeting.

We began our first class at the Niamey Church, from 7 to 9 P.M. We were delighted to see many high school age, a few middle age, and two older people join the class. They speak basic English and it was easy to communicate. It was so much fun for us, we are teaching English, but really they are teaching us. During a period of introduction several told about becoming Christian
and the challenge it presented with family and friends.

It was another long day, with supper about 9:45 P.M. Now we are ready for bed in our lovely bedroom....no more twin beds! Praise God for our health, adaptability, and His provisions; and pray that we may be given wisdom in decision making.

Love to all, thanks for taking this trip with us!
T & E