Niamey, Niger--I've traveled a lot the last three years but nothing prepared me for the W. African bush. It truly was a blessing and a gift from God. The end of September I flew to Burkina Faso and Niger on assignment from OneHope to photograph and interview churches who had been formed by using OneHope materials. The faces and the stories will be forever etched in my heart. I visited places with names like Ouagadougou and Ufuamou. I thought, "I've been to Haiti, this will be easy..." I was wrong, conditions are different. There are places in this world where people think they are entitled to have what they have or to be given their fair share but then there is this part of Africa where they keep living with nothing and do not expect a handout, they do what they can to just to survive. They do not get any media attention even though there is drought and starvation in one area and flooding and clean water issues in another. Where wild animals attack and travel is difficult. The heat and dust are a way of life that most outside cannot fathom. There were times on this trip that I felt like I had stepped into the pages of National Geographic but after talking with the people and praying with them I realized it came down to one thing...the love of God sets all people free regardless of possessions or entitlement or lack thereof.
Our travel team in Niger, consisted of two pastors, a young bible student and myself. We would travel from Niamey to the small towns in our 4-wheel drive vehicle and pick-up the local pastor or someone from the village that we were about to visit. After leaving town a typical trip would start down roads between the mud brick homes of town, into “the bush”, down the red dirt roads through river beds and sand patches, and finally narrow paths through corn fields. Sometimes we had to leave the vehicle and walk short distances through the corn to another area that usually contained a structure made of sticks, although a few of them did have metal roof canopies but no walls. It wouldn’t take long for villagers to begin walking out to greet us and assemble in the church. They would heat up the box drums by a fire to make them good and tight and soon began singing to the beat of their drums. They sang songs of gratefulness and of God’s goodness, some to a very African beat and others were the hymns of old in their own language. After a short meeting where our team spoke and prayed, the congregation would gather outside under the tree or they stayed under their roofs in the shade where we would interview several of the people.
We went to village after village in the middle of the bush where people were hungry for the Word. Person after person would tell us how they used to sacrifice to idols, how they were very sick and angry but then they saw a film that showed them something better. They now worship the One who heals all their diseases and takes away their nightmares and brings peace to their souls. Other were bound by the rituals of Islam, a stronghold in the area and a bondage that has entrapped them, leaving them without knowing true hope. A couple of ladies opened my eyes when I asked them what the difference was between their old way of life and now and they said, "fellowship". They were now free to meet and talk with others, to encourage one another and love each other. They said before they were bound into a world that was controlled and isolated and subject to criticism. Many receive persecution for their faith which is why I cannot mention them by name but they are resolute and would not think of turning back.
The last two villages will stand out as being in one of the "uttermost" places. We were on the Niger/Nigeria border speaking with a tribe that did not have a formal church yet but were in the beginning stages. When several teens responded to the message. Then they began to ask questions such as if they didn’t read how will they learn more about the Lord? And if they accepted Jesus do they need to pray like the Muslims? And how can they grow? They received wise council but it was also agreed upon to send several of them to a four month training to learn how to read so that they could bring the scripture to others. There also were three Christian young men working in the area at a medical clinic and EHFC who will work with these new believers until a pastor can be found. Then as we were finishing up at this village another chief sent a guy to ask if we would come speak to his village. So we went, and presented the gospel to them for the very first time. Our team spoke directly to this chief while the entire tribe gathered around to listen. Several responded and I am pretty sure they will be getting the opportunity to view the GodMan film in the very near future.
All of these people live off the land by farming and raising animals. Most do not read. They do not live by the clock just the light of day and night. They do not live in fancy houses, just a small shelter for protection. Most walk to town on market days but if they are fortunate they may own a donkey or a bicycle or a motorcycle. They are very family oriented and when one member accepts Christ they all do and when one village comes to Christ the next one is interested which is why one young pastor we met was pastoring 10 churches. He was exhausted and my heart went out to him, but it made me realize that we have something that everyone needs because God is love, and that makes all the difference.
Photos can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch or on Facebook
