Day 2

OCTOBER 24, 2009 – Day 2
After a delicious breakfast this morning, we set off in vans and SUVs to go to the city and participate in the men’s and women’s seminar services at two different locations about 3-miles apart. The women’s meeting included guest speakers Dr. Cindy Martin and Maureen Yockey from our team. Through an interpreter, Cindy shared with the women about the importance of taking care of themselves nutritionally before getting pregnant and during pregnancy, as well as the types of foods that have the proper nutrients and can be found here in Niger. Maureen talked about nurturing your child after they are born, and building the bond of love and trust. The interpreter did a very good job keeping up with the ladies, though at one point, Cindy was talking about using a clean washcloth dipped in chamomile tea to aid in calming colicky babies. After seeing the puzzled looks on the faces of some of the women, we realized that the interpreter thought Cindy was telling the women to us camel milk! Yikes!!
This afternoon, we went to a football (soccer) game. The young men playing are part of a local athletic club of sorts. We drove about 15 minutes and then turned on a road that drove through make-shift homes, cattle and children, and trash everywhere, everywhere, everywhere. Then we parked. This is the soccer field? … Just dirt, unleveled ground, junk all around and cinderblocks serving as goals. Where’s the bleachers??? Apparently you stand to watch these games … okay.
Two men beating drums and two men blowing horns marched through the village to announce the beginning of the games. People came out of every corner – children and adults followed the pied-piper to the “soccer field”.
What struck all of us so deeply were the people. You know those pictures you see in National Geographic? … the ones with children’s faces and eyes that grip your soul? They live here. We could feel the love of the Christ calling each one of us to love on these dear little ones … so many people, with so little hope. I pray we can share true Hope with them.
There’s much more to tell you, but our internet access is slow right now, so I will write more later.
Blessings,
Teri