Except
the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
except
the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psalm 127.1
Richelle
was sitting at a staff meeting for Sahel Academy staff recently when the
director quoted this verse as a reminder to the staff before he started
detailing “lock down drill” plans for the school campus. As this region of the
world has made international headlines recently, some of you are probably aware
of escalating conflict going on… literally just upriver from here. We listen to
military aircraft fly overhead, are stopped at checks where military police
search through our veggie bags, and we watch our first grader drag her pink
“Hello Kitty” backpack into the school yard, slipping by two heavily armed
guards standing next to the door.
We
can honestly say we’ve never lived in this sort of a “climate” before; it is
unsettling. And so
we follow suggested “guidelines:” keep a few more staples in the pantry, store
up extra water, keep the gas tank at half full or above, and collect all important
documents and papers into a readily accessible place. We alternate routes
through town, listen more attentively to sounds on the street, read the news
from a myriad of sources, ask our local friends what they are hearing and
generally try to be prudent and circumspect. Thankfully, all of these “changes”
do not seem to have disturbed or overly worried our children.
However,
as the school director so aptly pointed out, we make our plans and do what
seems wise and careful, preparing for possible eventualities – but in the end, we must remember that God
builds, God keeps…
Lots
of other things have also been going on around Niamey. We’ve phased ourselves
out of ministry at the Harobanda church, although we still look forward to
fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters there from time to time. In fact,
we are hoping to have a get together at our house with the church members later
this week. Some Sundays, the entire family is thoroughly enjoying listening to
the previous week’s sermon preached (and recorded) at our home church, back in
Midland, Michigan.
Tim
has spent several hours this past month archiving the 2012 radio programs and
updating the studio inventory and program listings. We’ve hosted several television recordings of sermonettes in Tamajeq,
Zarma and a few other languages. These will eventually be aired on the
private television station, Fidelité,
operated by the Institute Hosanna. These sermonettes were shot in the large
basement television studio and we are very thankful for this large purpose-built
room which includes an overhead lighting grid allowing for this type of
videography.
The
book of Psalms in Zarma has been edited through chapter 44; through chapter 100
has been recorded. We are still recording actor’s lines for the Tamajeq language
version of the film The Godman. Please pray for us as we are working on a plan to facilitate the
continuation of both “The Hour of the Gospel” (weekly 30 minute radio program
in Hausa or French on the government station) and “Thru the Bible” (daily 30 minute
radio program broadcast on the private station, Radio Lumière) during our upcoming home assignment.
Richelle
has made several visits to local schools scheduled from now until March. Consulting
with Nigerian Christian teachers who seek to minister to students with
disabilities in the classroom has such exciting potential. Typically, these
students never have an opportunity. In
those classrooms where teachers have decided to love children with exceptional
needs and their families in this way, God is doing some pretty exciting things.
Richelle is delighted to have even the tiniest part in this effort… led by a
Swiss missionary and Nigerien Christian educators! Please pray that the
Lord provides a French-speaking expert in this area to help encourage and
stimulate conversation and problem solving among the teachers and
administrators keen to participate.
We
have two additional items for prayer. Sahel
Academy, where our children attend school, is looking for volunteers: 1) work
teams to travel to Niamey to help in the clean-up and restoration of the school
campus from last summer’s flood damage and 2) teaching and other school staff
for the 2013-2014 school year. To find out more information about either of
these opportunities, please go to Sahel’s website: www.sahelacademy.com , or take a few
minutes and drop us an email
for more specific information.
Finally, we
have had the privilege of working with the Evangelical Baptist Church of
Penchiango during much of our time here in Niger. They have struggled with
inadequate church building facilities for as long as we’ve known them. By the grace of
God, they received a new well for their church and village this past year, and
they are much looking forward to having this well of water in proximity to the
church, as well as to the multitude of ministry opportunities it will surely
provide for them.
Over the past few
years they have been setting aside money for the construction of their new
church building (approximately 30 by 45 feet). We have often
remarked about their hands-on attitude when it comes to setting some realizable
objectives, and then their perseverance in pursuing their goals. They have now
completed the construction of foundation and walls. We have been considering
for quite some time helping them with the next phase of construction - the installation
of metal roofing, windows and doors.
Our home church has
given us permission to try and raise the funds necessary for both materials and
labor to install metal roofing on this church building. The approximate cost will
be $2,700 USD. If you are interested in supporting this project, please
send a contribution to Faith Baptist Mission (address on the bottom of this
page) with an enclosed note stating that the gift is for the "Penchiango
Church Project."
As always, we are forever grateful for your partnership with us in
this ministry.
All
because of Jesus,
Tim, Richelle,
Brendan, Rebekah Joy, Nadia, Anna, Victoria,
Jonathan, Elsie Mae and Mary Michelle Wright
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