Week One

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Thank you to everyone reading this for your prayers and support! It has been a great first week! The food has been great, I've gotten to see a few old friends and made some new ones! I arrived last Saturday night and thanks to jet lag, I woke up extremely early the first two mornings, (If you know me you know that doesn’t happen often.) but I got to spend some quality time with the Lord.

I’ve spent every day hanging with the missionary family that I’m living with — the family that is preparing to establish a girls home. After one UNO game last Sunday, it took no time for their five children (12-years-old and younger) to warm up to me. Each morning this week we have gone to a hospital where Mr. C works to walk around the track as the kids play. Then we usually go to the market for fruit and bread (puts a whole new meaning to daily bread) and spend the rest of the day doing school lessons, Bible lessons and cooking. After we finish dinner, Mr. and Mrs. C, their oldest daughter, R who is 17, and another young missionary here and myself sit and chat about all the Lord is doing and what our future together could look like. It is crazy because if you know me, you know I am not a home-body, but I have had such peace about not going 24/7 and instead, just getting acclimated to the family and seeing where I can best serve with them. We’ve had some amazing conversations about what the Lord is doing in their lives and in my life and it is honestly such a relief to know this is exactly where I am supposed to be. 

One night this week, we got to go to a local clinic for one of the girls (H) that is living with us to have an EKG to see if she could have a series of surgeries. On the way to the clinic, I saw one of the most amazing sunsets, which I do not think happens often in Niger due to the dust in the sky. The Lord cares about the details! The results of H's EKG were not what we hoped for but on Friday, we had her birthday party complete with Betty Crocker strawberry cake with cream cheese icing and sprinkles. We know the Lord created her and has great plans for her!

When someone says they’re going to Africa, you probably think they’re going to hold a baby in an orphanage and evangelize on the streets or go on a safari and sleep in a hut, which all have their place, but it has been so refreshing to know the Lord is preparing my heart for an amazing adventure with the C family. The second morning that I woke up well before the sun, I got a fat dose of humility from the Lord reminding me that He is not in a hurry and as long as I surrender to him, He is pleased. How wonderful that He has an amazing plan for us all! 

This week I am looking forward to more French lessons and helping the kids with school. They will go to school at the end of September so I’m sure our schedules will change. Honestly, every day is different here! 

Please pray for:
  • My health - besides a cute heat rash on my neck everything has been great;
  • H's heart - clarity and provision as decisions are made for her next surgery;
  • Continued peace and unity as a family as we seek the Lord for plans for the girl's home.
Stay tuned for more! I’m sure the Lord is not done revealing His plans!

Stay safe! Much love to you all. 

🌍 Kerra

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