Can you read this?

For the United Nations, one of the development indicators is literacy. In 2009, the UN released various statistics regarding the development of 182 countries in the world - Niger ranks at the bottom of the list as 182 - least developed. In terms of adult literacy:

• Canada - 99%
• Niger - 28.7%

Last year, in a survey done in 2 Fulani villages, we found that of the surveyants & their families:

• 7% completed primary school
• 9% of the children currently attend school
• 13% ever attended school

This year, I am hoping to help change this statistic among the faces of those I meet.

This goal includes a multi-phase plan:

1. Alphabet book

I've read these books myself, to my nieces, to smaller cousins - you've read them too . . . A is for apple, acrobat and airplane.

So in the last few months, I started compiling an alphabet book in Fulfulde to help with letter recognition - hopefully a precursor to literacy lessons.

In my Fulfulde book, A is for: almeti (matches), albacce (onions), ara (donkey).

2. Literacy Primer

In the last few months, as well, I have been working with two other organizations to finish writing a Fulfulde literacy primer. This book includes a key word for each letter, syllable recognition games, a short story, phonetics of new words . . . it reminds me a bit of Sesame Street when the characters taught a new word and the 2 syllables entered the tv screen from each side until they connected and made a word.

My job has been to help with the short story writing and the composition of the booklet - the syllable recognition games and phonetics. The short story writing has been great for my vocabulary, as none of the stories can contain words with letters not yet taught. So, I search through my dictionaries to find words that fit in the story line of that key word. I have learned so many new words!

The stories remind more of some childhood stories as well: See Spot. See Spot run. The story in the text above is about a scorpion:

The scorpion came to Ruwa's house.

Ruwa ran.

He is fast.

Rugga came.

He killed the scorpion.

3. Fulfulde Literacy Class

My Fulani friend Abdoulaye is a teacher in Niamey and has a heart for children learning to read. In his neighbourhood and among his village are a number of teenagers 13-21 who are unable to afford to attend school. These teenagers have organized themselves and started a group to raise funds in order to receive some education - a number of them desire to learn to read Fulfulde.

They also desire to learn numbers and math. (Those who know me well are now laughing!) No, I am not planning on teaching math!! My friend Abdoulaye, a teacher, can do this!

In February - pending the printing of the literacy primer - I hope to start Fulfulde literacy class out in this neighbourhood. The students range from teenagers as part of this group above to possibly some men who want to learn as well as young women (married and unmarried). I have already learned of cultural differences surrounding education - another woman whom I visit in the area who would like to join the class. Abdoulaye told her she was too old, when she insisted, he decided to leave the decision up to Khadiza (me). By all means - if Aissa wants to learn to read, she can come to class!!

I hope that through these classes, beyond these participants learning to read, I can teach them some about development and health. Already, the story on 'ee' is about a mosquito net above your bed (leeso) that protects (reena) you from sickness. Once their reading level progresses beyond the first primer, some materials we have in Fulfulde are health and wellness booklets we use for training in the villages.

My greatest hope and prayer is to share with them about Jesus, and that one day - they will be able to read the Word of God in their own language!

Washing Feet??

Jesus: got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. . . . You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

John 13:4-5, 13-15

Living in Niger - a country of sand, sheep, goats - imagery from the Bible comes to life as we see the images in daily life around us. One such image is the washing of the disciple's feet . . . I walk around every day in sandals. In the dust and sand, sinking in among the business of animals and ashes from fires. My feet are dirty - more so when I am in the village:

Yet . . . as Jesus commanded us to follow His example - What does that mean? Though I have - back home in Canada and here in Africa - washed feet and had my feet washed . . . how does that play out in every day life?

As mentioned in a previous post, I am reading a book called: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Joanna Weaver. She speaks to this example Jesus set for us and poses a question in a unique form that has challenged me. As before, I have the author's permission to blog about this - and her writings are in orange.

Last year, at New Year's, I reflected on 2009 and how I submit to God - as a camel protests submission or as God desires whole hearted obedience. I am not saying I have conquered this in my life, but this year, I want to add on reflecting and following Christ's example of washing feet.

What Jesus did must have shocked the disciples. The Midrash taught that no Hebrew, even a slave, could be commanded to wash feet. . . So when Jesus bent his knee to serve his followers, it was a graphic display of humility. Their Teacher became the lowet of the low. Then he invited - no, commanded - them to do the same.

Joanna quotes J. Oswald Sanders in saying that 'only once did Jesus say he was leaving his disciples an example, and that was when he washed their feet'.

Despite the dirt and sand and dust here in Niger, I do not walk around washing people's feet. Even more so in Canada, we do not walk around washing people's feet.

In what unexpected ways could we wash the feet of those around us?

This is the question I am still ruminating on . . . if I do not walk around washing people's feet - how am I obedient to following Christ's example in my life? How do I humble myself? The Tuareg and Fulani people with whom I and my team in Niger works are very proud people . . what does humility look like in this culture? How do I unexpectedly serve those around me?

These are questions that I am searching for an answer in my heart - I hope to be able to share this journey and thoughts throughout the year.

But - it is also a question I challenge you to search in your heart, for your life . . . What does it mean to wash the feet of those around you - in unexpected ways?

If you have ideas - post them in the comments and perhaps we can all help each other in our discussion of how to follow Jesus' example of washing feet.

Christmas in Niger

2009 marked my second Christmas in Niger . . . though harder than my first to be away from family - I was blessed with an amazing 1.5 hours of skype connection including sound and video! While my brother's family were at my parents, they set the computer up in the living room and I hung out there while we all opened our presents together. I watched my nieces play with their new lego, chatted with the family and listened to them chat. At one point, they all trickled into the kitchen for dessert and I heard my brother yell: 'Oh no, we left Kristi all alone over there!' My dad came running back to talk and my mom soon followed . . . to taunt me with the cake they were all eating - I wasn't too bothered as I grabbed the small package of cheerios they just sent me and snacked on that! I personally think I got the better end of the deal!!! mmm - cheerios!

Madelynn & Michella modelling the t-shirts I bought them while holidaying:

I was blessed in Niger as well to spend time with my family here. Our Regional Directors flew in from Ghana and arrived in time for our team Christmas dinner on the 19th. We had a wonderful turkey dinner with all the fixings. We then sang Christmas carols, listened to the Christmas story, and opened all our presents. We did our traditional gift exchange with secret names from the hat. The highlight of our gifts though was the unanticipated from home . . . . say cheese: A family in one of our supporting churches in Noyan Québec (outside Montréal) owns a cheese factory. They packed up cheese for each of us - lovingly brought to Ghana by our Regional Directors who then brought it to Niger! The collective gasp and then cheer when we all saw cheese from home was incredible!! The week following, the majority of our team left for Tillabéri to celebrate with the Marineau family in their home . . . thus kicking off a 4 day celebration!!

Preparing lunch before the departure: We set up our cots and mosquito netting in their yard and camped out. As they temperature dropped to +17 degrees - it was cold!! But I had 3 blankets to keep me warm. Our days were spent making Christmas crafts, watching movies, playing games and eating food! Each evening we spent some more time singing Christmas carols and reading from the Bible. On the afternoon of the 24th, we drove just out of town to hike up a 'mountain'. The panoramic view was amazing! In the pictures below - that is me sitting about 1/3 way up the mountain - I didn't attempt the whole hike up as it was shale rock and I only had leather Tuareg sandals on. The next morning we went to the church in Tillabéri which the Marineau family attends. This was my first experience in an African church and I absolutely loved it! We sang songs in a continuous stream for 30 minutes - just to a drummer and a song leader; some songs in French and others in Djarma. Even with the French it was hard to sing along, but I loved the beat and the little dancing we did! After our singing, then the choir sang a few songs and the children then performed - each child reciting a memory verse and then the performance of the Christmas story. Daniel, our teammate then preached a sermon - about the first shall be last and the last shall be first: drawing a relation to the Christmas story of how the shepherds were the first to hear and come see baby Jesus. In a country - and church - full of shepherds, the analogy was beautiful. Many of the men and young boys (some of whom were at the church for the first time) raised their hands when Daniel asked whom had already been to the fields with the sheep or cows. Following the service, we were fed an African meal of rice and sauce. And then we went home to egg salad and turkey salad sandwiches! In the evening we had another traditional supper - chicken with the fixings and a traditional Québeçoise meat pie! Merci Sophie!! The morning of the 26th, we packed up and all headed back to Niamey . . . to my house for the traditional waffle day brunch!! The entire team - 19 people - were at my house for waffles. We made six batches of waffles. mmm good! I followed the tradition from my family with all the toppings: whipping cream, ice cream, strawberries, heated mangos (okay - at home it is peaches!) and 3 syrups - strawberry, apricot and maple! The rest of the day was spent visiting, playing games and then we had a supper buffet again. It was a full day of fun and fellowship, just plain hanging out together! This week, I am on vacation - following the hustle and bustle of finishing off the accounting for year-end. I finished at 4:30 on New Year's Eve . . . time enough to party! This week, I plan to relax: read a few books, eat a few meals out with friends. My big project - which I believe will endure a few more weeks - is the puzzle that I am working on in the evening. Next week . . . back to the books - the studying books that is! Fulfulde here I come again!