Finally Here

Greetings to everyone from Niger! It is so great to finally be where for so long I have felt called to be. Before I left, the most common question asked was, “has it sunk in yet that you will be moving to Niger for the next two years?” I was excited, but it still didn’t feel real. But as I flew over the desert it began to settle. And when I was greeted by new family, Brent (the 14 year missionary from Texas), Dave (2 year missionary from MCC), Rodrigo (4 year missionary from El Salvador), and Boureima (a pastor who sits on the board of the National Church) with “Welcome Home” the reality of the situation finally sank in. This is home. I’m not moved in to my apartment yet, and I am still living out of my suitcases, but this is most definitely home.

Reasons I know God wants me in Niger:
1 I had window seats on both plane rides… score
2 The seat next to me was empty on the first plane (7 hours)
3 How excited all the missionaries and pastors were at my arrival
4 How perfect my new apartment is

Ok, maybe those are just details that have gone in my favor. But I like to see them as God smiling on me, showing me in little ways that I am doing as I am supposed to.

I have experienced a huge change of pace from the life I had gotten used to in the States. Contrary to what one might expect, I am way more busy now than I was before I left. That’s partially because I didn’t have anything to do in the States, but also because there is so much to do here. I came in the company of a medical team from the states that will be running a free medical clinic in the villages for two weeks. The team includes two surgeons, two PA’s, a general physician, a couple of nurse practitioners, an OBGYN and two dentists from El Salvador. My first two days I assisted the two dentists from El Salvador, translating where possible, but mostly assisting them as needed since I am the only one, other than Rodrigo (who can’t stand to watch) and Juanita, who understands them. If you ever want to feel stretched, come to work in Africa. In my first two days I have made dentures for a pastor, pulled teeth, translated from Spanish to English and French, where possible, and already had 3 hours of French class.

So instead of moving into my apartment, I am currently living with Dave and his family, which includes his wife Hope and sons Sam (2) and Nathanial (5 months). I’ll be living here until I get fixed up with a cell phone and a way of getting around town. I’m currently shopping for dirt bikes, which means the Mechanicsville redneck in my head is doing cartwheels. I’ll probably move into my apartment soon after the medical team leaves and things settle down.

As a side note, Ramadan ends on Tuesday, which I am pretty excited for. As I understand, the holy month culminates with a great feast and ceremony, including mass goat sacrifices, commemorating how God provided for Abraham when he was about to sacrifice Ishmael, not Isaac as Christian doctrine teaches. It’s exciting to see and learn all of these differences first hand.

All in all, I am so happy to be here and things are going really well. I know this initial excitement will wear off, which is why it is reassuring the best things for me are people and places that will endure. When the honeymoon ends I will still be in a place I love with people I love, and that is what matters most.