MEHANNA ROAD

I have now been home almost two weeks. Still the faces of the women and children we ministered to and befriended are etched in my mind. The women with their beautiful smiles and colorful jewelry and clothing were so friendly and eager to hear the story of Jesus. It was a rare opportunity for them. Many of the men were out in the fields planting which meant the women were home with the children. The women were able to stop their work briefly to hear the good news of the gospel. What a joy it was to see them nod their heads in agreement or smile at us to show their understanding of our communication to them. Thank God for the translators!

The children, oh, the children. So many of them. They were so hungry, not just for food, but for our attention. And, of course, they were very curious about these white-skinned people who wore pretty bracelets and watches or even eyeglasses. Everywhere we went, there they were with their runny noses, dirty skin and hair, distended bellies or herniated belly button, bare feet or even bare body.  It was so difficult not to just want to scoop them all up and clean them up and give them new clothes and shoes.  A stranger can easily see that the Songhai children are not nearly as valued as American children, especially the girls.  Some of the girls are absolutely beautiful. Their skin is flawless and they have beautiful teeth and smiles to go with them. The children all love to touch and be touched. They so appreciate a smile, hug, or simply holding their hand. It was so hard at times because there were so many of them. The other women and myself learned to spread our fingers out on our hands and let the children grab one finger each so more of them could hold on as we walked around the village.

My first impression of the village itself was of the lack of the color. Everything is the color of sand; the road, the houses or huts and the bricks or adobe used to make them. There is not much vegetation because it's the desert. Maybe that's why the women wear such colorful clothing, to contrast with their environment.  

They have so little. It is amazing what they can claim as theirs. Obviously, to those of us who have far too much, it was shocking to see. It made me feel guilty for having so much and for not being more thankful for everything I have and can claim as mine. It also made me feel so very fortunate to have been born and to live here in America. We are most definitely an affluent society, and yet, we still want more. We never have enough. God really spoke to me regarding my attitude toward material possessions. I pray that he will continue to change my attitude and my heart where they are concerned. The only thing in life that is eternal is God and my relationship with him.

Everyday he continued to stretch me as I learned more and more about the Songhai culture and its people. They are so unlike us. They are not pressured by time and rushing here or there to do this or that, and then off to the next thing. They just live for that day. Of course, the dark side of that is they have no hope for the future. However, there is one who has more hope than the rest. There is a new believer among us; we have a new Christian brother. His name is Hamza. We had the privilege of baptizing him in the Niger River the last day we were in Koulikoira (I finally learned how to spell it!). Our team leader, Michael, waded out into the water with Hamza. That very day, Hamza sought out the team who ministered to him, and he helped them pass out cassettes to the people of his village. We need to continue to pray for his spiritual growth as Loauly disciples him.

God brought me, along with five others, to Koulikoira, West Niger, Africa to tell his story, and that we did. However, there are still many more Songhai who need to hear it. God wants other believers to answer his call to share his truth with the people in the villages along Mehanna Road. Many are needed to share so many may hear and know. The current generation of the Songhai may not be the one that is changed so completely by knowing God; it could be the next. But, unless we are obedient to God, we won't know. So, I encourage you, if you have ever considered going, God will equip and prepare you to meet him in a new and refreshing way. I told God from the beginning, if you want me to go, then you will have to provide the means for me to be able to go. He did just that! All my funds were raised before I left; I even received more than I actually needed. When I thought I wasn't going to be able to get all the immunizations that were necessary, he helped me find a place and people who were willing to provide me with all that I needed in a friendly cooperative environment. He taught me that when I am faithful and obedient to his call, he will provide and make a way for me. He can do the same for you, too. If you feel God nudge your heart, I urge you to say yes to him. You WILL be blessed!  

In Him,

Pam Hardisty

Now, maybe that doesn’t make any sense to you, but to those of us in West Africa it does. There are four of us from Hurst and two from Tennessee.

How does that equal -7 you say? Well, at the airport in Niamey, between the six of us we had seven boxes of cassettes confiscated. Brad told us God just has a better plan for them. But, he is sending someone out tomorrow to see if they might release them.

On another note, ALMOST all luggage arrived. Only Michael is batting 66% in the loss column. Both of his did not arrive, and he was already familiar with the routine for completing the forms. So, he was attacked for the second time. Tomorrow another flight comes in, so maybe it will have his two suitcases on it.

Last night the electricity was out in the restaurant where we had reservations and where Brad was planning on doing orientation with us. Satan has begun his attack. We just adjusted our schedule, which is something you have to do around here, I have already learned. (People don’t wear watches too much and they do things very leisurely. Boy, Americans could learn something from that!) We oriented this morning, enjoyed lunch and then went on a trip to see the GIRAFFES. Whoopee! We saw a total of 7 giraffes. Drove right to them. It was great.

The Womble’s daughter, Ruth, is graduating from the French school. Tonight is her graduation party and we were included.

Tomorrow is our first day out on the road to Kuli Koira. Pray for safety in travel, the Person of Peace, open hearts and minds among the Songhai, wisdom and discernment among us, as well as confidence in our storying to them.

We know you are praying for us. We all appreciate our faithful prayer warriors who lift us up daily. It helps us.

God’s blessings,

Africa Team

Our ninth team to Niger, six folks in all [only four pictured] landed in Niamey yesterday afternoon pumped and ready to go.  The team members names are Jenn, Pam, Jennifer, Michael, Linda and Danny.  Danny and Linda are from a church in Tennessee.  They will work in one maybe two villages - KK and Y for the entire week.  Michael Well's, the team leader, bags did not make it but everyone elses did. The airport took 10 boxes of cassettes [of 17]and said they could not bring in Christian cassettes. Then, they decided they could for $500. They are at the airport still and they will send  Yomi, an African believer, after them later the week.  TIA - This is Africa!  Pray for the team's energy and health;training and orientation today; the 700 confiscated tapes to be released; and their five days of ministry on the road. 

Here is an update after four months on Laoualy, the discipler we have hired on the Mehanna road.  He is all alone, doing his best to do what God has called him to do.  Please pray that a partner will be found for him.  He needs the support and companionship,  accountablility and friendship that comes from having a partner in a tough mission field! 

Village KK - He had been faithfully discipling one believer, Ayouba.  Another man accepted Christ last week named Idrissa.  The others baptized have moved, gone underground or returned to Islam.  They are stuyding the Gospel of John. Laoualy reports about Ayouba "God is opening his understanding because those first days were difficult and now he is getting easy understanding."

Needs:  Prayer for chief [Laoualy stays with the chief], Ayouba and Idrissa.

Village T - They are working on their 2nd discipleship book.  Their are five consistent believers that gather to study and worship.  Laoualy writes "I am doing my best to show by action and words what Christianity is about."  The believers, most were outcasts and involved in criminal type activity before becoming followers of Christ, really need prayer to continue to learn and act like Christians as they are coming out of darkness.  The believers names are Amadou, Keila, Adamou, Mohamadou and Abdoulaye.

Needs:  Prayer for Lolo - Laoualy reports "we are losing him day by day." Prayer for Laoualy as the believers have scheduled a time for prayer for people struggling with "evil power and demon possession" this month.

Village M - Pray for this village, Laoualy reports a real openess to gospel there.  Our May team and Laoualy gave out six Bible to seekers Hassane, Abdoulaziz, Bachir, Yaye, Bourama and Issa.

Needs:  Prayer for the clinic - there is a real need for material and medicine.  Also pray for Laoualy who is preaching on the radio in M once a week during the month of June.

Let me just start out with telling you all how many times I said "No" to Africa. Probably about a thousand times. My husband Jeff has been a part of two other trips, so I was well aware of the cultural and climatic differences between Niger and the U.S. I really had no interest in going and every time someone asked me if I would follow in Jeff's footsteps I said " uhh............no".

It all boiled down to fear. I was afraid of what I would find in Niger. I was convinced I would be in tears the entire trip because of the poverty and dire conditions I would witness. Looking back now I know that God had been urging me all along but I would not budge.

Karissa began asking me if I was at all interested in going to Niger on one of the vaccination teams since I had some experience with it. My answer, "No thanks". Chelle Mount told me "you really should go, you would love it".  Again, "No thanks". My husband said "if you want to go, you can, it won't be a problem." Really people, "thanks, but NO!".

God had a different plan and one day He told me so. Out of nowhere, or so I thought, God was telling me I was supposed to go to Niger to help give vaccinations. After arguing with God a bit, I finally stopped dragging my feet and told Karissa I was in.

When we finally arrived in Niger, it was so surreal. I had heard so much about it and it was strange to finally be there. It was not near as scary as I had let myself imagine it.  The people, the colors, the smells; it was all very new but somehow familiar. I guess that was because of all of the stories I had heard from the other mission teams.  Being on the Mehanna Road and doing the vaccination clinics was amazing. I wasn't in tears constantly as I had thought. God gave me His eyes to see these people. I wasn't feeling sorry for them, I was happy to see them and be around them. I was happy to let them watch me with their curiosity. It felt really good to have something that they needed. It felt even better to know that what we were doing was going to help them live a longer life and in turn, give them an opportunity to hear the gospel from our future teams. Sure we saw sick people with needs we couldn't meet and yes that hurt. But what it all came down to was that God had asked me to go and in doing so, I helped change lives. My own included.

I really want to encourage anyone who is considering Africa as a mission trip, or any mission trip for that matter. I have been fortunate enough to go on several in my life in different countries all over the globe, but I was still scared to step out on faith and go to Niger. It is natural to be scared of the unknown. Through that fear, God has the opportunity to show you who He is. God is loving and caring and compassionate. In Africa, He gave me the strength and comfort I needed to serve Him and His people. He gave me the peace that was necessary to get through each day. I pray that those of you reading this give God the opportunity to show you the same.