2011 CA Vision Discovery
Mission Team Update #3
Dear Friends and Family, It has been a long and wonderful first day here in Niger. The theme of the day is interruptions. Here in Niger, we are learning that agendas and the general sense of time are paced not by electronic alarms and appointment reminders, but by relationship. Today, we were introduced to Pastor Terah. Terah is a striking man looking much younger in years than his wisdom in his eyes and few grey hairs betray. He is a thin man of medium height with a dark chiseled features and the kind of eyes that smile at you even before his mouth moves. He is from Nigeria and has lived here for almost twenty years. We spoke of ministry and the clinic God called him to build. We learned of his fathers call to faith by a Lutheran missionary doctor in Nigeria and the way that God has called he and his family to to the same here. He spoke of his wife Rose, the head nurse of the clinic. It is not an exaggeration to say that the presence of God was felt as we spoke. Terah loves God and trusts him with each step of family and ministry. We shared story after story about God's work in us and through us. We learned about giving from Terah and we learned about trust. What struck us most was his gentle unimposing spirit, shaped by years of service and trust in God. He deeply cares for those he serves. This has been our experience of Niger... one faithful servant after another. First was Rekia, a pastor's wife we visited this morning in one of the impoverished neighborhoods of Niamey. She runs the Karitegui sewing center which teaches young women to make and mend clothes, offering them hope in a brighter future through a trade. Children herded around her as she proudly showed us the new preschool her church has started to provide children with an education. Next we met Bargo, from Burkina Faso, who runs the Banifondou School. Here he leads a team of teachers and over nine hundred students in one of the most excellent education programs in the area. It was deeply moving to see many of the children raise their hands as he asked who would like us to pray for their parents. We visited the Kamna NGO, lead by Pastor Kader, which focuses on bringing aid to those in need in the name of God. They have done significant work in fighting malnutrition among the poorest of the poor. In there storehouse we saw thousands of operation Christmas Child boxes, like those we filled this Advent, ready to be delivered through the local churches. We were warmly greeted by the pastoral leaders that make up the executive council of the national Assemblies of God Church in Niger. We also attended an evening revival meeting put on by churches in the area. It was a great day full of wonderful interruptions. We can truly say that we met heroes of the faith today. We are all well and being stretched in our listening and understanding. Please continue to pray that our eyes and hearts will be open to what God is up to here in Niger and how he is inviting us to join in his work here. With love, The 2011 LINK™ California Vision Discovery Mission
| 
