Surprise in Casablanca

Did you hear that? We just took a deep breathe. We returned to Niger last Sunday and literally hit the ground running. In fact, it was only yesterday that I was able to unpack; some things are still not put away yet.

Thank you for praying for our trip. Not only was it relatively smooth, but we enjoyed a special surprise. At the airport in Casablanca, I heard someone call my name, and was warmly greeted by friends of ours from Cote d\’Ivoire who are now in Casablanca. We were able to spend some time with them and exchange personal ministry updates. What a blessing! We came away very thankful for being able to share the gospel openly here in Niger.

As we arrived home, we were greeted by Boubacar who has been watching our house this summer. As we noticed before, he is very interested in us and everything about us. We\’re not really sure how truly interested he is in our Savior. Continue to pray that Bob will have opportunities and find ways to continue his witness to Boubacar.

My busyness has included fixing things that quit working sometime this summer, both at Sahel Academy and a few in the wider mission community. Bob has been busy helping to remove all the clutter from the hallways that accumulated as closets and storerooms were cleaned out this summer. Of course, we\’ve both been busy with lesson plans for our classes which will start in just 2 days, August. 14th.

The staff at Sahel Academy is somewhat depleted this year. We are starting without a principal (one may be coming in January), and our math teacher leaves at the end of December. Please pray that God will send His laborers here to Sahel. Might that be you?

During last year\’s closing assembly, an 8th-grade girl shared about her fears and how she deals with them. Those fears involved her mother\’s loosing battle with cancer. As we begin this year, her mother has taken the ultimate field trip; she has gone on ahead to heaven and is with our Father. Because this mother was on the school board and even taught for a time at Sahel, we will celebrate her life in our opening assembly. Please pray for this girl and her father and 2 younger brothers during this time.

As we sit here on our first full Sunday after returning to Niger, we want to mention one more time how blessed we have been by the time we spent with many of you this summer. Although we weren\’t able to talk to all of you, even our phone meetings were a blessing. You have encouraged us by your interest in the ministry God has given us and in your prayers not only for this ministry, but for us personally as well.