The LINK™ 2014 LiveTen24 Men's Service Mission - Update One

SATURDAY

We started the morning with rise n' shine duty carried out by Josh. Prayer and discussion was led by Matt, who spoke about God's call to Abraham and his family who lived in faith despite seeing immediate rewards. God's call, to those then and to us now, requires us to live and step out in faith, which is what we see in each other's decision to come to Niger together.

On the way to see giraffes at the game preserve, our convoy drove through a sea of humanity in Niamey and outside the city. We saw a vast array of locals either working, relaxing under makeshift tents or thatched enclosures, walking, or conversing amidst streams of motorcycles and donkey drawn carts. At the game preserve, we picked up a guide and we rode in the cargo racks atop the roofs of our vehicles as we headed into a hot, dusty, outback savannah. Despite never finding the giraffes, we all had a good time. 

 

Before leaving for our visit to the Remar Orphanage, Geoff, Josh, and Dave pounded the downstairs wall while successfully installing an exhaust hood in the kitchen for the staff at the LOC.  Edem, one of the staff members was healed of sickness through the laying of hands and the power of prayer from the night before. What a blessing it was to see God's work firsthand within 24 hours of being in Niger.

We just got back after a wonderful afternoon visit with Paul, the gentle man who started this Remar Orphanage out of his own home back in the 1980's. Since then, it has been expanded many times over with help from a gentleman in Spain, the LINK™ | LiveTen24, which recently donated the solar powered panels and storage battery system which powers the well pump, and others.

 

 

We were entertained by some of the 37 children (ages 3-15) who live there. In the coming days we will visit the inner city branch of this orphanage which is for kids aged 15-23, some of whom also attend a local university while others learn the tailoring and carpentry trades. Paul took us all around his compound as our team found itself amazed by what he and his children have done in what appears to be very 'inhospitable' soil. Newly planted Papaya, manioc, noni (medicinal), tomatoes, and other trees make up their own garden which they use for food year-round. All 37 children are fed by this food supply and a 50 pound bag of rice purchased every two weeks.

What a great job Paul is doing by caring for these children while showing them the love of Christ which seemed to pour out from the children onto the members of the team. Each of us enjoyed dancing, singing, playing soccer and catch, and showing love to these kids, who despite having little, exuded more joy and happiness than any of us could've imagined.

 

Our gift to the children included a 'Christ' bracelet which each member tied onto the kids's wrists. The beads of the bracelet colored black, red, white, blue, green, and yellow represents our sin, the blood of Jesus, our purity through Jesus' sacrifice, water baptism, the growth in Christ, and the eternal promise of heaven, respectively.

 

If you want to see grown men become best buddies with softened hearts, pair them up with 37 loving kids and let the dancing begin! After our visit, we returned home for another great meal and fellowship followed by evening prayer and worship together. In all, it has been a great first full day in Niger.