Around Niamey, people are talking about the new bridge, the one that is being built not far from the existing bridge that serves as the almost-always congested, only way to cross the Niger River for 400 miles – unless you cross by pirogue or ferry. Most of us are surprised at how fast it’s going up, but then those of us who live near this construction know that the work continues 24/7.
Bridge building – we can’t help but draw the comparison between the bridge being built across the Niger and the ones we’re striving to build here in Niamey to cross the chasm that exists between God and those He wants to save. Although there is usually no outright resistance to the gospel and to those who are here to proclaim it, there are most definitely underlying efforts to thwart and hinder this ‘bridge-building’. An indigenous group of Nigerien educators have been trying to start a Christian school for Nigerien children, but are being hindered at every turn. Now it seems that they need only one more signature which should be coming as a result of a meeting in December. Please pray that this signature is forthcoming and that the Cornerstone group would be able to open their school in January and start building bridges for the children of Niger.
In past updates, we have asked you to pray for a math teacher for Sahel Academy. We rejoice to tell you that Daniel Meade arrived Oct. 25th to take on our high school math classes for the rest of the school year. He’s young and full of energy and is just the person you’ve been praying for. Thank you for your faithfulness.
How about you? Have you ever considered living abroad for a school year and teaching or helping out at an international school. You will find it very rewarding and will probably learn more in that one year than the students you teach. Do you think that you are too old? This year we have a retired missionary teaching Grades 1/2 who is 83! The students love her and she very definitely loves her students. Just check out our website to see where you might fit here at Sahel Academy. We still have many needs for 2009/2010 school year. We ask you to once again pray for God’s person for each position.
Previously we’ve asked you to pray for the situation with our renter. Nothing has improved. We know that he has had some reversals in his life through which we’ve been able to share the love of Christ. Please pray that our renter will continue to search for answers and that he will find them in the Lord. Pray that we would have the wisdom to know when to tell him that he has to move.