The LINK™ 2014 LiveTen24 Men's Service Mission Update Five

WEDNESDAY

Every day is a new adventure here. Many of the best days have involved getting together with kids, as was, again, the case today. First we visited MGD, a preschool day care and school. When we walked into the courtyard, the 3 and 4 year olds were busy carrying out 'hop, skip, jump' type routines and having a ball. We watched a bit before 2 tubs filled with water were brought out and we had the opportunity to wash the hands of each and every one of the 20 some children.
 

Then it was inside to observe the teachers (who are very well respected and listened to by every child) who had the children practice the alphabet by pointing a stick at the wall-mounted letters when she called out the name of each letter.
 

All the schools we visited today were very well run and the kids well clothed. We then went over to a second classroom where other very young ones were learning their basic numbers.
 

From there we headed over to Banifandou, a large preschool through elementary and middle school (over 1100 students) in large part built by Schools for Niger, Africa (an extension of Effective Ministries, Inc.) - what an incredible commitment they are making through the many schools they are building and/or improving. We were welcomed wherever we went by children with no attitude other than love and acceptance. It is really special to see and experience such unconditional affection. Escorted by the Principal, we visited almost every single classroom and in many were asked to say prayers over the children. We also prayed over teachers surrounding them and laying hands on them.
 

In addition, we handed out 'Not Just Ordinary' tee shirts to some of the older kids, courtesy of Chick-fil-A.
 

It was all quite out-of-the-ordinary for this small group of Christian men from America. This year will see the first 8th grade graduating class of those who started preschool here and went on from Kindergarten through 8 grades here!
 

We then headed to Effective Ebenezer High School which is still under construction though classes are in session there. Schools for Niger, Africa is also responsible for funding for this school's construction. It is soon to graduate its first high school class, many of whom will then go on to a University. Again even these older kids are so respectful and sincerely open and interested in us. All students have a mission to learn - learning is serious business and essential to a better future for Niger. Again we observed, spoke with, and prayed over several classrooms of kids.  And as we left, a staff member had a large soft drink for each of us. As Matt noted: "Why did they do that? They have so little and that was for them a lot to give."

We returned to the LOC for a nice luncheon put on by the Lightys for the staff and for us as we all are soon to prepare for departure Thursday night. The LOC staff presented each of us with a small but very nice gift of a tassled key ring and a small brass giraffe, noting that we are all friends now and this is a memento of that friendship. Such wonderful people, Fati, the dancing cook and Halima, the head cook, Adam, Edem, and Ibrahim, our drivers, and the many others who have loved us and served us over this past week all rejoiced with us.

And let the shopping begin! A half a dozen of the city's best vendors were brought in. They set up their wares and man, did we shop. Lots of bongo drums, jewelry, textiles, and carvings were bought.  20% of whatever price we paid for an item goes to support the LOC, so though there was bartering, I think everyone paid a fair price.

After a short break, we drove out through the city to a small, worn, and bumpy dirt road that took us down to the Niger River where there was a low, slung, wood African longboat that was taking on water but had an engine, a backup engine, a mate to bail out the water, and a captain to run her plus 4 well-armed police to escort us. We climbed in under the grass mat awning and lounged on old but comfortable pillows, then headed upriver.
 

It was quite beautiful and the river quickly took us upstream out of an urban setting and in to semi-wilderness where we saw the partially emerged heads of one pod of 3 hippos and another of 6. Rich grassy estuary islands and lots of birds (Kingfishers, Shrikes, Egrets, Herons, etc.) on a quick flowing wide glassy river--that was some nice solitude for us. After an hour of upriver motoring we landed on the south side of the river where the vehicles were waiting to drive us a bit up the road for our camel ride. What great fun riding a camel up to the top of a large sand dune and once up there and disembarked, spending an hour marveling at a near biblical scene (Phillip noted as he looked across this vast vista of hills, escarpments, dry river bed and dunes that he could envision Moses and the exodus taking place here) with a setting sun over all. Some went off a short ways to sit and think about our recent journey, others stayed together and talked, but all were pretty well awed by the 20 mile views.
 

Upon return we ate on some pizza before another time of prayer and worship. As men, we continue to grow together and in Christ during this special time on the roof which we all cherish. Soon we will be leaving which is bittersweet for all.