COLORS

I just love colors….all the various shades….the different feelings…..you can have a very blue day and then a cheery yellow day and how the color green just makes me feel alive! One of my favorite things as a kid was to get a fresh box of 64 Crayola crayons! Oh the possibilities. I am so thankful for colors…..Today, was a WONDERFUL coloring day. I love watching the kids choose their colors. Some are quite content to use the same one the entire time and others need  new one for each line and space.

                                   

                                           

Today I did not dance and only blew a few bubbles…today was a coloring day! The kids in the ward were more plentiful as it is now Wednesday and there have been 3 full days of surgery. I am amazed how quickly some of the lips are healing up….again, there were some kids who have had their surgery and some waiting.

             

Yesterday there was a little boy who just cried and cried and Hassane decided to carry him along on his rounds. When the ward rounds were over he asked the nurses if he could carry him outside. When his friends who were still awaiting their surgeries saaw him they were amazed!  They encouraged him not to cry because of the transformation that had already taken place…..I am hoping that seeing him caused them to fear less and be more expectant for their surgery day. Seeing the children in these various stages of healing is interesting, some are really “out of sorts”, as one can imagine, some cry loud, some just have tears, some are relieved, some confused, who knows what they are all thinking. But I have to wonder as I watch them….the arms have splints to keep their hands away from their freshly stitched mouths and they are in a strange place sleeping in a bed (which most have never done) far from home.

                 

I had the privileged of sitting with the same peaceful boy that I held in my arms yesterday (he fell asleep while playing). He must only be two. Today he was in a much different state, looking at the IV in his hand and just waking up from surgery, crying out…..how I just wanted to cuddle him….I just sang to him and prayed that God would settle him and give him peace.  Oh, I pray that each of them meet Jesus in a profound way, that they feel His touch and His love.These kids are like a box of crayons….each their different color and expression…..they change day to day and I think it is quite wonderful how God creates us all uniquely….some blues, some yellows, some greens…all shades and mixtures with the ability to change and show different emotion… I love them all……and so does HE…I know he sees us as so much more than brown & black & white & pink & peach & sunburned & tan & freckled and well….you get the point! That is only one facet of who we are! I am sure His heart swells as he sees the amazing color display….…..so WONDERFUL indigoes, lime greens, fuschia, and so on…just like a Crayola box without limits!

Chicken Dancin’ in Niger

 

I absolutely LOVE it when we have surgical camps. They not only provide important training but they fill the hospital to the brim. A group of 28 children, with a few adults arrived last Thursday evening from Zinder.  They are such a polite, fun and lively bunch. I spent both yesterday and this morning meeting all the new children who have come to have surgery (Cleft/palate). Some have had their surgeries and were not very happy about it, some were awaiting surgery that particular day and the rest were still playing and somewhat carefree.

This camp, I wanted to change up my activity there a bit. I had the silly idea of downloading some new music to my Ipod and teaching the movements. Chicken Dance was at the top of the list! After only 2 days, the kids are using the chicken hands to motion what they want to do. Yes, it is hot (VERY hot) dancing in the unbearable heat, but the giggles are priceless! Other songs in the repertoire…Cha Cha Slide, Freeze Dance, Electric Slide……

            

Yesterday, Julie and I just danced and gave the kids waiting in the ward a nice distraction (I hope!). Not sure who had more fun? The nurses were quite amused as well….they even judged us and handed cards indicating their winner when we finished….a little biased as Josh won and he was not actually dancing!

Today, there were many unhappy kids in the ward first thing, I tried my best to comfort them and help them best I could. Sometimes just sitting beside them and holding their hand was what was needed. Coloring books and of course BUBBLES! I did envision myself as a “Candy Striper” here!!! With much joy, I played the part today. I am so grateful that my gift of silly play is coming in handy!

When I took my music to the outside area, Harouna  met me with a HUGE smile. He wanted to dance again today. His dad asked me to take a picture of the two of them and he encouraged the rest of the kids to join.

We danced & clapped & listened & laughed & took pictures & blew bubbles &chased bubbles. Just a super time being together.  Habib came and tried to get some of the girls to show us a dance from their village. A little too shy today, but maybe at the end of the week?

            

They really loosened up as we hung out. It was a great time for all ages ……we even danced sitting down!! My morning concluded with a precious little two year old asleep in my lap. See what Chicken Dancin’ leads to? An absolutely WONDERUL morning with new friends.

            

M A N G O E S!!!!

Could not resist! It may be very hot & dusty BUT this season’s redemption??  The BEST fruit ever!! Nothing like the mangoes from my tree….

tree ripened!

Ferdninad keeps a close eye and picks them at the peak of perfection. He lines them on my kitchen shelf. He is so skilled at climbing the tree and then using the pool skimmer to gracefully gather them to safety before they fall.

I just scoop them out of the clever “container” that God has provided for them….so juicy, creamy and perfect. They are truly something wonderful!!

Tuesday Morning with Hameed

I love Tuesday mornings, I start my day with a visit to CURE to do rounds. I visit the patients, pray and of course blow bubbles. This past Tuesday, I was a bit late and so I was in still in Leron’s office when I heard the cutest singing coming from the corridor just outside. I opened the door a little and joined my little friend in song. He stopped and then peeked around the corner. What a delight, a sweet little boy about 6 years old with the brightest smile.

          

We spent a few minutes giggling and then out came the bubbles!!!

      

Then came the camera. Hameed would NOT smile for me but just wanted to be silly every  time I pointed the camera at him. The crazy eyes…the double salute (thanks to Josh)

      

So, Hameed insisted on being the photographer….and a few times even pointed the camera straight at himself. He took several pics of me as he had me pose on t he brick wall. It was so cute.

       

He would giggle and smile and the camera would not captures it. So What Yaya came in, he could not resist but to laugh at his friend.

Something quite wonderful…..tow friends laughing together!!! I LOVED it!

dusty dry season

just a few phrases and pictures of life here right NOW…. most of these were taken between 3 & 4 this afternoon

low dust in the sky dominates most days now…..Becca refers to it as African fog

sandy roads can be tricky to drive on…..loose sand feels a lot like driving in the snow

the abundance of sand is plowed to the side of the road to find more solid ground for drivers

the sand also drifts and it reminds me a bit of snow

           

increased dustiness in and around the house (if that was possible?)

the Niger River is shrinking day by day

areas in the river that were once full of water are now green feeding grounds for livestock

 

can hardly see the Chinese Bridge (or the “Deuxieme Bridge of Niger”) from the Kennedy Bridge

many many people wear masks to filter their breathing

masks worn are often the nice blue blinders complimentary on Air France

small sandy “tornadoes” blow down the street and I take cover

     

did I mention the EXTRA coating of dust….check out these leaves

the air remains hot into the evenings

a dusty pool?

inside walls are hot to the touch and it often feels like I just opened my oven when opening the door

what a unique experience we are having!! Here is just one of Drew’s pics of a taxi that I thought I would end with……(oh there is the Ministry of Justice building that burnt down at the beginning of the year….hmmmmm…a bit suspicious, but that is for another day….

International Woman’s Day

 

I had never been aware of this “holiday” until I moved to Niger. The first year CURE was open, all and I mean ALL of the female employees came to Leron’s office to have a meeting. I think I have a picture somewhere that I will attempt to dig out…found em!

It seemed funny that they came in to tell him that he needed to do something very special for them. The stressed how important it was that none of the men benefit from their special treatment. So it began, celebrating our females employees. It is a pretty big deal here. Some people have special outfits made and some even have fabric made to commemorate the day. Here are some pictures from last year.

  

So when Leron came home today and reminded me that today was International Woman’s Day, I asked what special treat the ladies had today. He said that Issafou prepared as special lunch of pintade, potatoes and green beans. then he commented how yummy it was. Confused, I asked how he knew. Really the ladies really don’t like the men to join in the celebration unless it is in the serving capacity. So Leron begins to tell me that Samna, our HR Manager, went home and got some of his wife’s clothes and he and Leron dressed up as women. I so wish that I would have been there! Samna is so jolly and loves a good joke. He really got into it.

     

I did not know that it was International Woman’s Day until dinner time but I did have a sweet lunch out at a favorite restaurant with friends today. I will count that as celebration. Then another nice surprise, our friend Souleyman’s mother came around dinner time with rice and spicy sauce. She also had a dress made for Becca as she is a young woman. So, today , even though it is almost over…..I celebrate woman…..from all walks of life, from every nation on the earth….all unique and wonderfully made. I count it such a joy to be a woman and to know so many great ones!

Football in Niger

On Thursday, Leron scheduled a match for the team that CURE Niger sponsors…..

They are a group of young men (I thought boys) who needed some equipment. They play and practice in Lazaret, where the hospital is located. Last fall Coach Jibo came to CURE asking for a donation. Leron gave them some money for jerseys (which, green could not be found…so red it was), balls and a net.

In the fall Leron was invited to one of their games. He took a very short ride to where they were playing. He said that day could have been filmed as a Coke commercial…..picture this…..Leron shows up to this dirt field….dusty, hot day…..everyone on the team came to shake his hand. Then out of nowhere a bench a appears and he is offered a seat…..then the ICE COLD COKE is handed to him. Ahhhhh….sounds like a dream. He said it was pretty neat..

I am finally catching up with the rest of the world. They are all crazy about Football…not the US brand, but soccer…hard core. You can see pick up games all over the place…little kids & men. They don’t need grass, or fancy anything…gee sometimes they don’t even wear shoes. They even get pretty creative with balls, I have seen them kick anything that will roll. Some of  you might be aware that Niger’s team, the MENA, earned themselves a place in the African cup just a few short months ago. There was so much hype and just earning a spot was amazing! They did not win but I am sure it just fueled a few more dreams here in Niger.They love it and they are quite skilled. Sport, entertainment, camaraderie and for some, aspirations of being a star....

Well, Coach Jibo has been after Leron to schedule a match with the Sahel Suns (where the kids attend school).  Sahel Academy’s team just resumed practice last Thursday. They are in  their second year under Coach Windsor & Coach Phenning. I have been so grateful that Ben can be a part of this! The team is a bit different…there are kids from all over the world, girls/guys, 7th-12th grades. Quite diverse. Needless to say, the Nigerien team was a bit intimidating to some of the younger players….size alone. It was a  great match though...great sportsmanship. They are just happy to be playing. ALL of them.

During the game there were a couple of minor injuries…one guy knocked heads with a teammate and they promptly brought him to see Leron. Too funny, he has to tell them over and over that he is not a doctor (I did however, as a joke buy him a Dr Pepper shirt that states “Trust me, I’m a doctor”…he wasn’t wearing it).

So the game concluded two very hot and sweaty halves later…..everyone shook hands and headed for home. This was the most amusing part of the day for me. Leron swung open the very back hatch of the CURE van and like a vacuum was sucking them in….. like lightning, entered the van…..I have to say I have never seen anything quite like it. The team, 2 coaches and others that came along numbered 25, this was guys 15 years old and up ….I am not exaggerating….Leron experienced bush taxi driving first hand….my camera died and I mourn the fact that I could not capture this with a photo. This will have to do....although a van and everyone was inside. when they were loading I was even questioning if they would all fit and Leron assured me that they would...not a waste of one inch of space......

It was a challenging match for the Suns, but a great experience. It was quite wonderful to be there….Ben played and Becca cheered from the sideline and we all sweat right along with everyone else....its was a scorcher!