My Mission

My mission
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Welcome to a day in my life here in Niger!

Come take a peek!!

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Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Let's go see the village

Ruga Zabi in Rainy Season
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

This is what Ruga Zabi looks like during rainy season. The grass grows so much and so fast. Finding my way to this cluster of huts is a real challenge.

Let's see who we'll meet...

More millet pounding

More millet pounding
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

The Fulani women pound grain into flour everyday! I try to help when I can, but they usually will not let me for long. They refuse because 1) they like my soft hands and 2) frankly, i am not very good at it. I have gotten better over the year but still I spill the millet often.

I love to participate with them and be part of their daily life. Can you imagine doing this each day?

My friends

Cutey girl was a little camera shy
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

These are the people I see everyday. We laugh, we talk, we share trials and songs, food and drink. These are the people that I have grown to love more than I thought I could.

These beautiful people have such a rich culture and I am so blessed to be allowed to witness it. See the markings on her face? Those are regional as well as unique according to family. She has had these for a few years now and is very proud that she did not cry while she received them.

Lots of Fun

Lots of Fun
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

This is my house in village D on a typical rainy season morning. All the women and girls pull out their bowl covers and continue the tedious task of "weaving." It is actually more complex than weaving and I can't do it as good as the young girl in the foreground, Mariama.

Beautiful though!!

Village D

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Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Okay, just so you know I am pretty tired of pictures of myself, but by request here is one of me in Village D with some friends. Can you believe that I have made friends with the children? They are lots of fun! These girls are cousins and the one in my arms is such a sweet little one! Thanks for coming to see my villages today! I hope you enjoyed your "tour." Maybe one day you can come and see for yourself!

The past two weeks

So, the big thing I have been dealing with these past weeks of "away from home-ness" has been the four new believers in Village D. I know that they are open to the Jesus Way and have heard and accepted the gospel, but as soon as that happened I have been kept from visiting them. While in the village they were out working; while I was in Konni my trips to the village got postponed; and then I was taken to the capital for two weeks for the infamous quarantine incedent. I have been praying steadily for them during this time that they would remain hungry for the things of God and this prayer that they prayed would not be something they forget about.

It has been three weeks now since I have been able to meet with them. I am going out to their village on Tuesday, so that is pretty exciting. I will be staying out for five days this time because I feel I have missed a lot in the last few weeks. Jabo has had her baby, a healthy little boy; the millet is almost ready for harvest, beans are being planted and many families are making plans for yearly stay at their "cold season camp." They will take the cows to fields and places far away from the village where the grass and plants are plentiful. This is part of Fulani life but it makes it difficult to see good friends go away. Especially this season because I will probably be ending my time here before they return.

As harvest and cooler (heh) weather comes please be praying daily for the Fulani in village D. That they would continue to thirst for stories of truth and that they would make time to meet and learn more.

Please make a point on Tuesday the 26th to pray for our meeting and conversations, that God would be glorified in all I say; That the hearts would be touched by the Holy Spirit and that Individual Fulani would be burdened to share these stories with their families.

Thanks for being part of my team!

PS I will have email access until midnight Eastern time tonight. Send me a note will ya? Let me know what's up and how I can pray for you. God Bless

Cleared to go home!!

I am so excited! I just got news this morning that my test results came back negative and the doctor has given me the all clear to go back to Konni. I was hoping and praying that it would be so and had already bought my bus ticket. (Hopeful thinking!) I will be leaving on the 4 am bus. I am very glad to get to go back, but sadly I do not get to go directly back to my village. Excitedly, I get to do an interview with the band SonicFlood live at their concerts in Florida. 

Here is the schedule for the shows: 

Tallahassee, FL

Sep,21 2006

Showtime: 7:00 PM Venue: First Baptist of Tallahassee 615.941.8971 www.sonicflood.com

North Port, FL

Sep,22 2006

Showtime: 7 PM Venue: South Biscayne Baptist Church 615.941.8971 www.sonicflood.com

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Sep,24 2006

Showtime: 6:30 PM

Venue: First Baptist Church

615.941.8971 www.sonicflood.com

If you are near any of these venues you should come out for the shows! The band is going to rock and I hear there is a cool missionary too.

Check it out. 

I will be back in  my villages starting Monday. Please remember me in prayer!

Peace and joy,

Danielle

Update from Niamey

Hello and thank you for your prayers!

Things have indeed calmed down and the quarantine has been lifted. Two of our teammates have flown to Dakar for further testing and treatment, two have been cleared to go back to their posts and Seng and I are awaiting clearance to return as well. We are still in the guest house, resting, sleeping and eating well.

The doctor from Dakar will be calling tomorrow to order more tests or give us the all clear! Thanks for your prayers during this time! They have shown in my ability to accept this situation with Christ's strength and patience and to look for what He is trying to teach me through this. I have had some wonderful time of conversation and strengthening the bonds of friendship with my teammates.

Please continue to remember Toby and Rebekah as they are in Dakar!

Love and peace, Danielle

This is [most of] my family [older brother not pictured]

This is [most of] my family [older brother not pictured]
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Mom, Jonica, Gavin, Dad and Danielle



Gavin is not always so goofy as he looks here. Isn't my family

handsome? I love and miss them very much!!



Thanks Joni for the picture!

This is the path between homes in my village

This is the path between homes in my village
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

This time of year the millet is tall and getting ready to harvest. Paths like these dot the landscape, leading the way between homes, villages, wells and roads.

Just like there is only one path between one home and another, there is only one path between man and God. Please pray that the Fulani would thirst and hunger for the truth. That they would remember the stories that we share and desire more. Please pray that we will be diligent in sharing and being led by the Holy Spirit as we share stories about Jesus and what it means to follow His path; the only way.

Quite a Scare

Last week we had two visitors come to Konni and the surrounding villages. After they returned to the capital one of them became ill and was hospitalized. We were not sure if it was serious and so we’ve all come in to Niamey to run some tests and check our health. Yesterday afternoon we got tested for several diseases, even did a few x-rays. We were hoping to receive results today but have been told it may take up to three days. 

This is difficult for me because I have been having very important conversations in my villages lately and a few people have expressed interest in the stories I have been telling.

Please lift this up to Him: visitors Jesse, diagnosed with malaria and food poisoning, (currently in hospital but healing) and Emily her teammate, and my teammates Bekah, Tara, Seng, Toby, Bradley and me. Please also pray that the stories would stick in the minds of the Fulani in my villages and that they would thirst more for the truth found in them. 

Thank you all. We give Him all the glory.