Going to market

Going to market
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

We Walked to Bazaga!! Only 6 kilometers! ( a little over three miles :))


So, on Mondays the bush taxi doesn't come to Djiko because the market in Bazaga is the place to be. So, with my beans on my head and all my friends either carrying their milk on their head or their baby on their back, we hoofed it to Bazaga to catch a bush taxi. Fun times!!

Looking Forward to a Wonderful Christmas!!

I can't complain about the lack of snow or any of those coldish things that most people are missing about Christmas this year. Back home in Florida I could go to the beach on Christmas day if I wanted. Actually, yesterday it was exactly the same temperature here as it was in Florida. Due to the time difference it was 11 pm here and 5 pm there, but still, pretty close.

What I am missing lies mostly in the joy of the Christmas season! I just remember feeling it in the air, in conversations with friends, in planning to get together with family and friends and rejoicing because Jesus was born. Decorations, nativity scenes, childrens' crafts and music in the stores; The christmas story being read and joyous singing filling the night air.

It's a little different here. For most people, life goes on like usual, with little change from the routine. The weather has cooled down, and prices have gone up but there is nothing especially Christmasy in the streets. Christmas music only comes from my own cd player and my nativity is small. Coming back to the capital this week was my first chance to wish someone Merry Christmas. I won't get to hug my family as they all come over to celebrate or wrestle with my cousins on the floor.

I do, however, have a family here that is looking forward to a wonderful Christmas. To celebrate what it means to truly understand that small baby in a manger; to gather and thank God for sending His son and for sending us here, to Niger.

No, Christmas is not going to by typical this year, but I hope you too can come to see through all the extra "padding" that Christmas gets and see the true meaning behind this day that we celebrate December 25th each year.

God Bless and have a Very Merry Christmas!!!

The Blessings Keep Coming (sorry Drew and Jen, no pun intended :))

I got to share the whole gospel for the first time in Fulfulde this week! It was in Djiko, my main village, talking to a woman and her mom. They were very agreeable to it! They seemed to understand, but not yet in their hearts. After going back over it and thinking about it a lot I think they just take whatever I have as true because I am a westerner and have lots of "anndal". (fulfulde for knowledge) Do you know what I mean?

R was being my informant. After we finished talking about their marriage traditions she asked what our marriage traditions were. I told her and then we talked about their death traditions. She then asked about our death traditions. They were basically the same, and she commented "Maayde fuu wela" (which means "all death is unsweet (bad)) At first I agreed with her, but then thinking about it more, and no doubt prompted by the Spirit I disagreed. I told her that my death was not going to be bad because I know that I get to go to heaven with Jesus. I led that into a gospel presentation thanks to the awesome Holy Spirit. The next day in their home I was able to give a more complete version with R and H (her mom) and they were very interested. I didn't want to ask them to accept JC too soon (like there is a too soon) so I wasn't going to ask if they wanted to accept the JC way, but then I felt convicted that If I didn't atleast give them the opportunity then I was no sort of friend. (It's a little complicated) So I did ask. R said not yet and her mom went along with that. Anyway, a man came into the hut right then, so maybe it's not their time yet.

I just wanted to share that with you. Please lift them up in your prayers!!