Home Again

After our visit to the States for Christmas, my parents and I arrived to Niamey late on Saturday, January 9th.  The next day, I took time to rest, welcomed by a cool morning, sunshine warmth.  A definite change from Pittsburgh.

Monday, there was a lot of work to do.  A week of work, and one day to do it all!  By God's grace, the planning and preparations all got done.  And I was ready to teach on Tuesday.  Of course, the 6 hour time difference made the first week of teaching a bit challenging.  I lay awake all night Monday, unable to will myself back to sleep.  The following weekend brought much needed rest.  I enjoyed my new hammock in the shade of African palms.  (Thanks, Chad!)

Since being back in the classroom, fourth grade has kept busy!  We made pet rocks to go with our geology unit.  We exploded a coke bottle after talking about volcanoes.  And thanks to Jacob and Amy for the "Insta-Snow," we had a snow day!  Students who have never seen or felt snow before were able to get a glimpse of the white magical flakes.  We finished a book called "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle," ending with me dressed up as Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle herself!  We've continued to learn about how to research.  Some of the students commented on how much they felt like their parents or college students as they looked through books and encyclopedias to record information in their note books.    We still have a raffle every Friday, which the students so look forward to.  And we continue to pray to start every morning, and now end the day with a "high and low" of the student we prayed for.
 
There are a lot of changes on Sahel Academy's campus.  My dad has been involved in the construction of the new elementary wing.  The foundation is laid and walls are up!  A team from the States came to replace the roofing on the dorm.  And just this past week, we watched as another team and about 100 Nigeriens poured concrete for the new covered court.  After about 14 hours of hand mixing concrete, filling and dumping wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow, and carefully smoothing it all by hand, the court was finally done!

It's good to be back in Niger.  And I am grateful that I didn't completely miss cool season while I was in the States.  The brisk mornings and breezy afternoons are such a blessing.  I have enjoyed meals with family, brunch with neighbors, and game nights with friends.  We even went to the French Cultural Center for an evening of classical guitar!  An afternoon of kite-flying with a student and her family and an evening of tossing the frisbee with housemates are a couple more blessings.  As I adjusted back into the routine of life in Niger, my gracious housemates cooked for me and even did the dishes!  I am overwhelmed by the generosity and love of the community here.  I am looking forward to another semester together!

My housemates and me (Naomi, Lisa, Julie, Hannah)

Being Stateside

After returning from Urbana, the Lord knew what I needed.  I had just enough time to see a few good friends before feeling ready to return to Niger.

Being back in the States was good, and I had kept busy enough up to this point to not really think about the transition of cultures.  But there were a few things that reminded me that I was no longer in Niger.  For example, when I needed to run errands, I didn't think twice about getting in the car alone and going where I needed to go.  I knew how long it would take me to get there and I could count on the store to be open.  Drivers actually stay in their lanes.  There are no bush taxis or motos zipping in and out of traffic at their leisure.  Oh, peaceful American driving.

Hot showers, soft tissues, cuddling under big comforters, and fires in the wood burner were a few simple pleasures.  I enjoyed peanut butter oreos, real milk, and delicious venison.  We ate out at the Olive Garden for my birthday, and I had shrimp and chocolate cheesecake!  And I definitely made sure to find a Chic-Fil-A before returning to Niger.  Costco has everything you'd ever need in one store.  I could drink water from the tap, go outside without being stared at, and attend a church service in my own language.  Yes, home brought a few reversed-culture-shock experiences, but nothing too extraordinary.  Home will always be home.

I was able to see friends that I might not be able to see again for awhile.  I visited professors at Grove City and of course, stopped by the Outlets.  I ran errands in Cranberry.  I went to the mall with a good friend.  I visited neighbors and mailed letters.  The family celebrated Amy with a baby shower.  My time at home was full, but rich.

My mom had a night with some ladies from church - what a blessing.  We talked about living in Niger and my mom was able to share her story and struggles.  They prayed for the both of us, showing us what it means to be a part of the body of Christ.  A long-time friend and neighbor offered to help with some last minute shopping - how helpful and so generous!  God is good to provide.

While my time at home was wonderful, I thank God that I felt ready to return to Niamey when it came time.  On January 8th, my parents and I went to the airport for a long day of traveling.  We made it to Niamey late on the 9th, greeted by good friends.

From one home to another, the Lord is good and He is God.

Blue skies, clean air, sunshine...ah!

Urbana

While I was at home this Christmas, I had the pleasure of attending Urbana Mission Conference in St. Louis, Missouri for the third time.  The day after Christmas, my parents, Chad, and I packed up the truck for a 10 hour road trip.  While others might groan at such an endeavor, road trips are a blessing to me.  I love being on the road again with family.  Mom and I chatted in the back seat, we listened to whatever music was playing on the radio in each town we passed, and took the occasional pit stop for snacks.

Although this was not my first Urbana, I was feeling a bit uncomfortable to begin.  Why was I here?  I already knew my call.  But the Lord continued to open my heart and mind.  My good friend Abby Cline and her fiance Stephen roomed with my parents, brother, and I, which was a special treat.  To be able to process and share life again with such a good friend was life-giving.  I also caught up with a few others from Niger!  Rachel, a good friend and old housemate, was there, as well as my future housemate, Julie!  A former Sahel student was there representing CIU, and another single guy wanting to minister to the Fulani in Niger was there!  It was truly wonderful to make so many connections.

Through seminars, Bible Studies, quiet times, evening sessions, worship, and conversations with friends and strangers, I learned some important lessons.  I was reminded of the purpose behind missions - JESUS.  David Platt warned us to be committed to Jesus before committing ourselves to missions.  Francis Chan reminded us of the beauty of living under the authority of Christ.  In Bible Study, we discussed how the body of Christ needs each other.  And after talking with friends, I realized that it's ok to not know or understand the future.  I am in the palm of Almighty God - there is no better place to be.

God is good.  We headed home after a loud and eventful evening of New Year's Eve worship, grateful for all that the Lord had done and will continue to do.

Abby Cline, Abdoul Bala, Rachel Gillner, Hannah Knox

Family

Time at home this Christmas was wonderful.

I was able to be with family - the entire family - for a total of 5 days.

We made the most of it, emailing a schedule of events before my parents' and my arrival.  Which means that even though my parents and I landed late Saturday night, we got together Sunday afternoon for game day snacks to watch the Steelers play.  No time to lose!  Grandma brought a cake so that we could celebrate my birthday all together, as well.  After a year and a half of separation, it was great to be reunited...and pick up right where we left off.

Amy is halfway along in her pregnancy and boys will still be boys.  My brother threw grapes to each other to see who could catch the most in his mouth.  Incredible.  But it's things like these that make me smile and know that I'm home.  Things like playing ping pong in the basement, listening to music turned up too loud, and just eating dinner together warms my heart.

The next night, we got together again for pizza from our favorite restaurant and to watch a Christmas movie!  After much debate, we settled on "It's a Wonderful Life!"  Thanks to the unusually warm weather, my brothers and I went for a hike with Jacob and Amy's dog Annie Wednesday afternoon.  The woods' crisp air, smell of pine trees, fallen leaves, bubbling creek, yellow fields...it was all so good for my soul.  The rest of the family met up to go bowling that night and we met back at Jacob and Amy's for hot chocolate and games.  Even though we are all grown and living in different places, it is easy to have late night chats among siblings.  I am so grateful for each of our own experiences and how we can still share life and joke together.

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated Christmas with a huge ham dinner with some of my favorites!  Sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, crescent rolls, cranberry sauce...mmm!  And of course, pie for dessert!  What a treat.  We shared gifts around the Christmas tree and cleaned up for the candlelight service at church.  It was our last night all together for at least a few months.  I cannot describe to you how full my heart was to be with family again.

And on January 8th, my parents and I packed up to board another plane, on our way to Niamey.  Until we met again!

Two Worlds

You know that feeling you get as a kid right before you jump into an ice cold pool?  When you kind of have to pee, but the goose bumps of anticipation creeping up your legs and arms keep you from walking away from the edge.  You're smiling on the outside, maybe even laughing, but behind your eyes you know it's going to be SO COLD.  And then you jump.

Or remember the feeling you have as you're standing in line for your favorite roller coaster?  As the line shortens and you creep closer and closer to this monster ride, your stomach is sinking.  Yet you maintain conversation with the people next to you, maybe because you need a distraction or perhaps you want to hide your nerves.  In the back of your mind you keep telling yourself that it's going to be worth it.  So you buckle up.

I remember feeling these exact emotions the day I left for Niger, West Africa.  Feelings of incredible anticipation and adventure mixed with curious fear and caution.  In some ways, I had an idea of what I was getting into.  But mostly, it was a leap I had never taken before.  It was simultaneously thrilling and terrifying.

It has been almost 18 months since I took that leap.  And God has been with me every step.  I have been reflecting this Christmas season on who God is through Jesus' birth.  He is Emmanuel.  God With Us.  Looking back on my time so far, Jesus has proven this part of his name to me over and again.

And now I am returning to the place where I spent 22 and a half years of my life.  To the place of early familiarity and family.  Where I made friends, went to school, and attended church.  I am going "home."  You'd think that I would be at complete ease, returning to such a familiar place.  But I find myself experiencing the same emotions as when I first came to Niger.  

The other day, I was having a conversation with my dad about being in Niger.  I've heard this analogy before, but it seems to fit.  I told him I feel like a child feels when they are being tossed into the air by their father - stomach in your throat and a quick moment of fear, until you realize you're falling and it's actually fun.  Because you know dad is going to catch you.

That's how I feel.

My heart is full of eager anticipation as I think of the family I will see and the friends I get to hang out with again.  And yet there is something scary about reentering my home culture.

My most recent memories are here in Niger.  I have poured into students, neighbors, housemates, friends and coworkers.  I have spent the last year and a half building beautiful friendships with some great people.  I have grown to love and care about them and it's almost painful to leave them during such a wonderful and celebratory time of the year.  I've become part of a family here in Niamey.  It's hard to leave family during this season.

While I'm eager to perhaps see snow again, Christmas in Niger is beautiful.  The weather is cool and crisp in the mornings and sunny with blue skies in the afternoon.  People enjoy a slower pace of life as they take off work and relax.  Niger doesn't have the commercialism surrounding Christmas that I experienced growing up in Pennsylvania.  As a Christian, the materialism surrounding such a sacred holiday is almost upsetting.  Getting away from that allows one to really focus and reflect on Christmas' true meaning.  Even everyday life here, the dust and animals, seems to help paint a more realistic picture of the manger scene; the humble way in which our Lord entered this world.

What has been hard for me to realize and even admit is that although I know I'm coming back, leaving Niamey is hard.  I now know two homes.  I am a part of two worlds.  And I truly believe that two is better than one.  But that doesn't make it any easier.  The people in the States don't know the part of me that is from Niger, aside from what I can share via pictures or email.  And when I return to Niger in January, the people I know and love in Niamey won't know the part of me that comes from Pennsylvania.

Despite this tricky balance of worlds and relationships, I serve a God who never changes.  He was rock solid for me when I came to Niger, and I know I can depend on Him as I transition back to my home culture.   The worlds around me can shift and change, but the truth of my soul's security in Christ is firm.  Because of my relationship with God, my soul can be at rest while my outward circumstances look more like chaos.

A word of advice from an MK (missionary kid):  focus on the positive of both worlds.  It's easy to think about all the things that I would be missing in one place or another.  It would be easier to harden my heart to one place, just to make goodbyes less painful.  But one place is not "wrong," while the other is "right."  They are different and have there own unique joys.  God desires us to live fully, and I think that's going to require some vulnerability.  (I'm not crazy about the idea, but I'm getting used to it.)

I am so grateful for the opportunity to return to family and friends in the States.  I can't wait to hug my brothers again, to see my pregnant sister-in-law, to curl up in front of the fire with hot chocolate, to cuddle with my cat, to sing carols in church at the candlelight service, and to make new memories with my family.

And I am ever so grateful for the family that I have in Niger, too.  The same family that threw me an amazing surprise birthday party a month early because I'll be away on my actual birthday.  The family that has shared hippo rides, cheesecake, movie nights, and prayer.

I choose to praise God for my two worlds and all the people in them.  Thank you for being a part of this journey, whether you are Stateside or in Niger.  I am truly blessed to have you in my life.

"And Mary said:  'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name.'" 

- Luke 1:46-47, 49

Closing Another Semester

Classes are done, tests are graded, and report cards are finished...my first semester of teaching fourth grade is officially over!  I have enjoyed making memories with these wonderful children and look forward to another semester with them in January!

Here is a quick glance at our semester!

Fourth grade at the end of the first semester!

I love these kids :)

We studied economics, so of course, we incorporated apple pie!

Math isn't their favorite subject...

They loved re-enacting Old Testament Bible stories.

Reading....always reading!
Cool season:  when pillows are no longer for sitting, but for covering up!

Field trip to the rice factory down the road from Sahel Academy.

Field trip to NigerLait, a milk and yogurt factory!

Spirit week, class theme day:  cowgirls and cowboys!

God's Gifts

Happy Thanksgiving!  Though we do not have off school at Sahel Academy, I am happy to celebrate this joyous holiday with friends and family in Africa.

As I take time to reflect, I find myself incredibly grateful.  My heart is full with the blessings of God.  He gifts me daily with His love shown through the people, places, and things around me.  May I always take more time to praise God with a heart of thankfulness.

Below is a glimpse into the past few months (August - November) of the blessings God has graciously poured out to me.  They say "a picture's worth 1,000 words,"  so these are just some of the highlights.  Thank YOU for taking the time to journey with me as I continue to live this adventure with the Lord.  God is good.

"But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; 

I will tell of all your deeds." - Psalm 73:28

I am thankful for...

wonderful housemates and neighbors.

the opportunity to serve alongside my parents in Niger.

a bike with a basket.

boat rides with new friends.

girls' night with my mom.

junior girls Bible study.

the chance to celebrate mom's 60th birthday together.

red and yellow peppers from the market!

an incredible 4th grade class.

listening to Christmas music during seat work.

winning the "Spirit Award!"

growing a garden together.

laughs and giggles daily.

hugs from my very caring class.

God's gift to me.

a breathtaking sunset by the rice fields.

mail from thoughtful friends in the States.

a dad who can fix anything.

chocolate dessert and cinnamon apple tea with honey (my favorite!)

from friends who knew just what I needed.

a joy-filled and caring church.

worship in Hausa and French Sunday mornings.

pizza with good friends.

random dinner and game nights with these awesome neighbors!