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!
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