Niamey, Niger, Update #4, 1-9-09
Dr. Kathy Koch on January 10th, 2009 | Filed under International Trip
Motorbikes everywhere. Taxis fighting for space. Our van maneuvering between them, behind them, and in front of them. Seatbelts are on. I feel strangely safe. Our drivers know what they’re doing. Praise God!
The bridge may be open to traffic. There may be a backup.
There may be traffic police at the traffic circle. There may not. But, if they’re there, you better see them and obey!
Dust in the air, blue sky, some white clouds. Beautiful and large flowering shrubs and trees. White and ruby red flowing flowers cascading over fences looking like I imagine my niece’s wedding dress will flow this coming June.
The Niger River. I think I studied that when I was a kid. Now I’m seeing it. Sunday I’ll be taking a boat ride in it. Amazing! I am privileged.
I’m not here in Niamey, Niger, to see the sights or take a boat ride. Those are just bonuses of this cross-cultural experience. I’m here to help missionary families stay on the field. I think the conference has been a success. We have one day left. Today.
As much as I enjoy speaking in the States, and trust me, I know it’s important, speaking to missionaries and their children will always be high on my list of joys. Some of these men and women have traveled 800 miles and three days on dirt roads in 90 degree heat to get here because they love their children and their Lord and they want to do things well. That’s humbling!
In addition to my two hours with adults today, I enjoyed sharing about multiple intelligences with 25 5-11 year-olds. They were encouraged and openly delighted to discover that their great God has made them smart in important ways. Later today it will be my joy to share the same message with their parents. Of course, I’ll share more details and illustrations. I trust these parents will be encouraged, as their children were.
So, we’ll all be working hard today. Happily. If you read the earlier posting, you know some of what I’ll do tomorrow. Here’s the rest. Believe it or not, in between walking among the giraffes and hunting for hippos on the Niger River, we get to ride a camel. Maybe I’ll post a picture of me doing that on Monday’s post. We’ll see!
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