Celebrations!!!!

I love to celebrate, whether a birthday or an accomplishment or anything else wonderful. Well, last night we were privileged to celebrate CURE Niger’s first birthday!  VERY WONDERFUL! The Grand Opening last year is still so fresh in my mind…the sheep’s hooves clicking on  the roof of the Cruiser on their way to be prepared for the mes chuoi (sp?)…. the kids even look much younger!

the kids getting acquainted with lunch		Special lunch (last year) VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL
clickety clack	in the special outdoor oven

the wonderful speeches, lots and lots of different languages, ribbon cutting, speeches, and introductions of many guests…from America, England as well as Niger.

Jamilia (nurse) and her baby Hassane		Grand Opening Oct 18, 2010 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL
cheesers	nurses, Dr Roark and some family members		our cooks	everyone lined up to greet
Leron greets the Lanohas		ribbon cutting with the Harrison's and the Minster of Ed	Harrison's & Lanoha's	Leron and Andy Groop

Last night’s celebration did not disappoint. A few of our employees rounded up  some local musicians and actors for 3 original sketches. The celebration was kicked off with a brass ensemble....my ears are still ringing a bit… what a joyful atmosphere! I just loved looking around at our employees and guests from near and far as well as some current patients (so great to have Marcia and her team and Maureen)!  many that were intregal parts in our beginnings were not present and were missed but not remembered. So great to see how CURE Niger has grown and changed in a year. New volunteers and 378 surgeries do date! Smiling faces, dancing, eating (this time no sheep...pintade and rice and of course cookies and candy) and joy joy joy! I just LOVE to see the employees with their families and being together! What a WONDERFUL time of celebration!

		Our 1 year Celebration Oct 18, 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL
Rabi, Amadou and Rabi's some Hassime	So sweet!			Jamilia's 2 oldest children
Hajara and her daughter & niece	Pastors...Hassane and Josh ( CURE Spiritual Directors last 2 on the rihjt)	Leron and Abdrahamane	Samna & Jocelyn
Drew and Abdrahamane	Issafou loving on a little one	Welcome	Omuar and his daughter	the crowd
one of the dramas

birdbaths

Today, I had a treat. My day started like most, Nugget had left her calling card on the top step of the terrace. Like I have said before….she is lucky that she is still laying eggs! Since the kids are still on their “fall” (really the season does not ever REALLY change) break, Ben was here to clean up after his chicken. He likes to use lots of water to clean up the mess. His clean-up created a lovely treat for the birds of my yard.                                           

Puddles on the stone pathway were soon being used as birdbaths. One little male finch really got into it. I just sat and enjoyed their enjoyment.

                                             

You see, our home in PA had such a lovely yard and it was always teeming with beautiful birds. No matter the season (which I am missing leaves changing and soon snow,,,real changes), I could just get lost sitting and watching the birds…woodpeckers and humming birds are my favorite! Here in Niger I have enjoyed watching the finches and although it is not an English garden with a Koi pond…..puddles were just as relaxing to watch today.  

This got me thinking. I think in all my years, my body and mind have become accustomed to changes in season. I do miss that, but not to worry….I am right where I belong and today God knew I needed to watch the birds enjoying a change for them. Standing water is hard to come by in this dry place. SO, I think it is wonderful that the birds could have an unexpected surprise today….. very wonderful!

                                             

the sky

I was exercising yesterday and listening to the new "Afters" album ( purchased on I Tunes.... technology is amazing). I LOVE their song  Light Up the Sky. I love looking at the sky... the clouds in formation, the many hues of blue, black, pink, orange and brown.  I love the sky, the stars and just gazing. Just getting lost in it. Thought I would just share it with you. It is pure poetry...How wonderful that everyday the sun rises and sets.....God is so HUGE and yet knows us each so intimately!

                                                          Light Up the Sky

                                                    When I'm feeling all alone  

                                                    With so far to go  

                                                    The signs that know we're on this road  

                                                    Are guiding me home  

                                                    When the night is closing in 

                                                    Is falling on my skin
                                                    Oh God, will you come close

 
                                               You light, light, light up the sky  
                                               You light up the sky to show me that you are with me  
                                               And I, I, I can't deny
                                               No I can't deny that you and right here with me  
                                               You've opened my eyes  
                                               So I can see you ALL around me  
                                               You light, light, light up the sky
                                               You light up the sky to show me that you are with me
                                               

                                               When stars are hiding in the clouds  
                                                I don't feel them shining  
                                               When I can't see beyond my doubt  
                                               The silver lining  
                                               When I've almost reached the end
                                               Like a flood you're rushing in  
                                               Your love is rushing in 

 
                                               So I'll run straight to your arms  
                                              You're the bright and morning sun
                                              To show your love there's nothing you won't do

 

Now that's a BIG fish!

It's Saturday morning and the fish monger stops by our gate. Yes, I can certainly use some more fish. One of our favorite meals is capitaine from the Niger River. I soak it in eggs and then dredge it in a flour mixture including pepper, salt, garlic and onion powder. I love to I buy it fresh and freeze it. Today I bought 7 kilo (that is 15.4 lbs). Now that is weighed bone, head and all. You have to buy a whole fish and he only had fish weighing in at 3 or 4 kilo....I wanted 5 kilo so, I settled on 7.

The poissinere fillets the fish right on our walkway. He puts the wonderful fillets in a big bowl for me. Ferdinand takes the head, skin and bones for stew. Today, he cut 2 fish for me but he had a fish that was 14 kilo (that is a 30.8 lb fish). Ferdinand is measuring it next to Becca. Becca said it was stinky, but really capitaine is such a mild fish.

African Plumbers!!!

Well, I am feeling much better and had yet another wonderful morning with Mrs. Riggs and the K/1st class of Sahel Academy. When I returned home around lunchtime I noticed  a few things from the bedroom sitting out on the terrace.......DRYING.  Ferdinand greeted me and began to explain that there was a bit of a problem in my bathroom/bedroom. When he was on his tea break, a hose from the bathroom sink burst....bathroom flood as well as the bedroom that is attached to it. Oi Vay! My thoughts quickly turned to...."I just want to relax and now I have to call someone and not be free to move about my house because someone will be here...." That was not the case at all. Ferdinand had it all under control. He had notified Leron who told him, to secure a plumber and get things taken care of....everything was already FINISHED!!

In a place that efficiency is not notable, I have been very pleased by service we get to have things repaired. Not only was the hose quickly replaced (hopefully with one of a better quality than the last, that's a whole other problem...faulty weird ill fitting materials) but he also fixed 2 pipes under my kitchen sink that have been leaking for as long as I can remember. The leaks had become so significant that I had to place pretty good size containers in the cupboard to catch the water or after the dinner dishes would bring on flooding in the kitchen.

So I am quite pleased that for just 5000 CFA (about 10 USD) my plumbing woes are over for the moment. Now that is service!!! How wonderful! I am just so happy with the plumber we have dealt with lately...the other one did a beautiful job installing a new A/C split.....and that is also very wonderful.

Our Humble Home

Yesterday, I was on a field trip and got very sick. Not so wonderful.....but what is wonderful? My comfortable, clean home. 

Today, I am home resting in my very comfortable bed and I got thinking....I have so much! Here in Niger it is not uncommon for people to live with dirt floors, thatched houses....no screens, no electricity.....poor conditions, poor health. It is not even a comparison. I am so glad that I started blogging about what is wonderful, it is humbling though. Sometimes when I loose sight of the bigger picture I can tend to complain...my house is too small for a family of 5....my kitchen is cramped.....

or Iam uncomfortable and hot, then I see the reality that I have a roof over my head, I have an abundance of resources, we are healthy, usually....I even have A/C in all of the rooms of my home (well, not the kitchen...not gonna go there). I am thankful for a place to rest in comfort today but am reminded that it is not material things that bring me happiness. When we decided to come to Niger my greatest desire was to be a well watered garden in a desolate and dry place...... even the house that I am privileged to live in is a garden indeed. Such life and beauty here!

The joy of the Lord is my strength even when my body is so weak and weary. It is wonderful being stretched in life and seeing the bigger things.....right now, I choose to focus on my wonderful husband and 3 amazing kids and the joy we experience in our humble little home!

 

 

here is the "snow day" we had

 

 

 

 

 

So, the bigger things...the WONDERFUL purpose for being here....being challenged and growing and loving the precious people of Niger.... 

SUNFLOWERS

Our first sunflower is BLOOMING!

Sunflowers make me happy.

Looks like it is smiling.