Niger - Day 7

Niger – Day 7


Today we spent the entire day at the Village of Okoufounou for the dedication of the well. It is about two hours away from the school where we are staying, so we got to see a lot of the countryside today. Miles and miles of brush with people living in huts and shacks periodically along the way. We also passed through a few markets, which were very interesting. We had to cross the JFK Bridge (yes – THAT JFK) to get to the other side of the river. The United States gave Niger the money to build the bridge during the Kennedy administration, so in their minds, it was JFK who paid for the bridge.

There were many dignitaries there to speak at the dedication ceremony. It began with a choir singing and then our music team sang three songs. Then the dignitaries each gave a short speech. Depending upon who was speaking, each person had two interpreters so that there were four languages being spoken – French, English, Djarma, and another tribal language. Pastor Ali was also one of the dignitaries who spoke, including a man who is the governor of the area. Then there were dancers and another singing group. Several of the speakers thanked Grace Chapel, and particularly they were so grateful to Marcia for her grand love of these people.

After the ceremony, we walked to the well and they asked Marcia to be the first to catch the water from the holy spigot. The governor was next, and then they asked the music team to also catch the water from the spigot. It was pretty amazing to think that this well will now serve the people within a few yards from the well, as opposed to walking five miles for water, which is what they have been doing.

The medical clinic was set up once again, and Cindy, Carol and Ann saw about 40 people – children and adults. It was an incredible day. We interacted with these people with big smiles and speaking to one another not really knowing at all what the other was saying. But we got to hug them and hold the little ones. It was a great joy.

The highlight for these people is when you take their photograph. They love to look at the picture you took, and flock to the camera to see their image. They giggle and laugh, some are shy and surprised at looking at themselves. A personal experience for me was walking around with a water bottle that had a frozen chunk of water still floating in it. Some of the women I was standing with kept wondering what it was, so I handed the bottle to them. They jumped at the cold feeling of the bottle. Then I told them to take a sip of the water, and they were so amazed. I gave this one woman my bottle, and she started to poor a little water into the bottle cap and let each of her friends try it. They all laughed and thought the cold water was so amazing. I wondered if they will be sad when the ice melts!!

Blessings from Niger.

Teri