So, Lisa and I wandered around the village singing this Christmas song the other day. Now why, one may wonder, were we singing this song in May, in +50 degree heat and with no snow in sight (let alone not even rain clouds)?? Good question.
Last Friday, we reached the mid-point of our training on goat care in the village. We have partnered with Samaritan's Purse, who have provided a veternarian who is teaching on basic animal care (goats, cows, camels), disease recognition and prevention. There will also be some training on micro-enterprise and on how to use goat milk and yoghurt to sell in the marketplace.
Friday marked the day we delivered 100 goats to the village.
The village committee had chosen 25 recipients of the goats - and each of these 25 women received their goats - 3 females and 1 male.
When the goats arrived, so did 100+ people from the village!
It indeed felt like Christmas! For the gift was not just to these 25 women, but to the village as a whole. The gift of goats follows the Fulani
habani (animal loaning) tradition. After these goats have had young and the young are weaned, the original goats will then be passed along to another 25 ladies in the village. In this way, these 100 goats will bless many in the village with milk for their children and a livelihood through being able to sell product in the marketplace.
Under the village tree shelter, the recipients gathered on one end patiently waiting the goats to be unloaded - four by four.
First 2 Goats:
They stepped forward when called to pass over their rope and sign their names - often circles, lines or squiggles - as they are illiterate and often were not quite sure what to do with the pen.
Their goats were then brought around the table and Lisa and I wandered around to take photos of them with their goats and the little village boys proudly 'herding' a group of four goats for each of the women.
Goats:
These goats are specially bred for the heat of Niger and are capable of birthing twice a year - often twins. This breed also produces considerably more milk than other local goats.
It was amazing to be a small part of this day - to see the excitment on everyone's face and then the joy and pride on the face of each woman as she received her goats.
Please pray that the gift of these goats and training will be a symbol of God's love which draws these Fulani and this village to know of God's love. That they will hunger after His truth and seek to follow Him who can provide all their needs - physical and spiritual.
So, Lisa and I wandered around the village singing this Christmas song the other day. Now why, one may wonder, were we singing this song in May, in +50 degree heat and with no snow in sight (let alone not even rain clouds)?? Good question.
The village committee had chosen 25 recipients of the goats - and each of these 25 women received their goats - 3 females and 1 male.
When the goats arrived, so did 100+ people from the village!
It indeed felt like Christmas! For the gift was not just to these 25 women, but to the village as a whole. The gift of goats follows the Fulani habani (animal loaning) tradition. After these goats have had young and the young are weaned, the original goats will then be passed along to another 25 ladies in the village. In this way, these 100 goats will bless many in the village with milk for their children and a livelihood through being able to sell product in the marketplace.
Under the village tree shelter, the recipients gathered on one end patiently waiting the goats to be unloaded - four by four.
First 2 Goats:
They stepped forward when called to pass over their rope and sign their names - often circles, lines or squiggles - as they are illiterate and often were not quite sure what to do with the pen.
Their goats were then brought around the table and Lisa and I wandered around to take photos of them with their goats and the little village boys proudly 'herding' a group of four goats for each of the women.
Goats:
These goats are specially bred for the heat of Niger and are capable of birthing twice a year - often twins. This breed also produces considerably more milk than other local goats.
It was amazing to be a small part of this day - to see the excitment on everyone's face and then the joy and pride on the face of each woman as she received her goats.
Please pray that the gift of these goats and training will be a symbol of God's love which draws these Fulani and this village to know of God's love. That they will hunger after His truth and seek to follow Him who can provide all their needs - physical and spiritual.
1 comment:
It is amazing that a gift like this can radically transform and change a village! What a blessing! We'll definitely pray that they'll see this act of kindness as a blessing from the One true God!
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