Less than an hour ago I sent my husband, Daniel, and our newest rommie, Danika off to the village with 3 cars full of young people and one mom. It was Jonathan’s idea. Jonathan is a friend of ours from CA who has been to Niger on 3 LINK trips (www.linkniger.com). Last summer when he was here for kid’s camp he said to us, “I would really love to come and stay in the village for several days.” That started the conversation about what kind of team you would need to make this happen. A team of people who like to camp. A team of people who aren’t afriad to try new things and eat new things and see new things. Adventurers. And so it began.
Not long after Jonathan decided he was going to recruit enough people to make his dream a reality, Benjamin got on board. Benjamin is Daniel’s brother. (The very same Daniel who lives here in Niamey and works with us). Benjamin had also been on a few LINK trips and felt like he could also find some friends that would be up for the adventure.
They left this afternoon for Alambare. A place that is new to us this year. Where we have been invited to build huts of our own and come and visit often. A place full of kindness and hospitality.
From California: Jonathan, Matt, Jake, Nick, Mackenzie, Sarah, and Brandon. From Virginia: Ben, Xander, Hope (not me), and Brittany. They seem to be up for the adventure. Today when Daniel asked who wanted to go with him to buy wood, they all volunteered. They piled into the back of the pickup and embraced the experience. I see this as a very good sign.
Did I mention I wish I could go with them? I do. But with Nathaniel, the nature explorer who likes to touch and taste everything, I just wasn’t feeling up to 5 nights in the village. We did go out there two days ago to bring supplies and see the finishing touches put on the facility. Here’s a sneak peak of what they’re gonna see…..
This is the latreen that Dave and Dan designed. Dave even installed a toilet seat. In the village that’s luxury. See the window? When we saw that we laughed. It’s right at eye level when you’re sitting there. I sent curtains. 🙂
Sam is walking from the latreen to the village. In the back ground are the huts that the team will live in for the next 5 days. Not a short walk in the middle of the night.
putting the finishing touches on the girl’s shower.
inside the huts. try not to be jealous of these ritzy digs. not everyone can have a sandbox in their bedroom.Â
the common area in the middle of the huts. this is where the team will eat their meals and spend a lot of their down time.
- the faces that will tug at their hearts and give new perspective to their lives.
I’m so excited for the village of Alambare and this team’s mission there. They really are of like mind and spirit and of a divine unity that will be the building blocks (pun accidentally intented) for the future. Alambare is also a special place where I got to dance and worship with the kids and people of that village under the moonlight, a place where I got to see first-hand Daniel minister, and a place where I killed my first dinner and the day/night of when I got engaged to a “native” of Niger, Krystal. Blessings!