change happens

the new Chez Jo.

Hello from a new house.  Just one of the many changes that are happening all around us right now.  Sorry that we’ve been out of touch.  My mom likes to say, “Never underestimate the misery that is moving.”  She uses a different word for misery.  In truth, moving is hard work.  Even harder, perhaps, in 100+ degree heat.  This Saturday will mark 3 weeks for us in our new house and it is just beginning to feel like home.  We’re building kitchen counters, installing AC units, changing the plumbing and some wiring for fans, washing machines, and other appliances.  Making this house work for us is a large task.  The more we are here, however, the more we start to see that this is going to be an really amazing place to live.

the Teagues and Johanssons

Bigger things than that, however, are changing in our world.  Our friends and coworkers, the Teagues, have been transferred to Abidjan, Ivory Coast.  They left Tuesday and will arrive tonight in their new home after a long drive across the region.  We are so sad to see them go, but so excited for the work they are called to in their new home.  Abidjan is a large and fancy city, in West African terms, with a beach close by and lots of shopping.  We hope and pray that they enjoy life in this new place.

our team: Jeremy, Dave, Brent, Shelley, Amber, Danika, Ashley, Hope, Beki, Caleb, Nathaniel, and Samuel taken on Sunday

Back here in Niamey, we are preparing for more change on the horizon.  Danika, our sweet friend and roommate, is helping with famine relief for 7 weeks near the village of Gaya 4 hours to the East/ Southeast of us.  She is with Amy Williams, our friend from VA, who is a nutritionist.  When Danika returns to Niamey, she will be living with another American friend who is in Niger working with Samaritan’s Purse.  That will leave three empty bedrooms in our house for Amber and Ashley Teague and a friend from church who is coming to be our Nanny.  Amber and Ashley will return in August to continue their studies at Sahel Academy.  Our new Nanny will be helping us with our boys so that I can spend more time in ministry.  (More about this later).  So, as of the end of August, we will be a family of 8.

the front porch: where life happens

When we moved to Niger, Dave and I committed to serve the Teagues in any way we could.  Now we chuckle as we welcome their daughters into our home.  We could have never dreamed that we would minister to the Teague family in this way, but we love them and their daughters.  We are so excited and happy that they will be with us this year.

the boys and kids from the Kaura Kano church have really been enjoying our yard… specifically Amber and Ashley’s trampoline.

I am posting a few pictures of our new house here, but will put more in a private album on fb.  Thank you for praying for us through these changes.  We have also been battling sickness these past few weeks.  All three of the boys have had fever and Sam has had malaria.  God has been so faithful to walk with us.  We know that it is he who orders our steps.

medical team update

What’s one of the most fulfilling, tiring, and awe inspiring (for us) things we do here?  With out a doubt hosting teams.  So much goes into hosting a team, and there is always a ton of work to be done behind the scenes, but it’s work that Dave and I (and Sammy and Nata too) love.  From preparing 50 sandwiches or an evening meal, to counting out each team member’s spending money to going grocery shopping to moving tables, chairs, and people across town to fixing electrical problems at the bible school (something Dave has done a lot of lately)… the jobs are varied and many.  And we love it!  (Did I say that yet?)  There is nothing for us, quite like the feeling you get when you experience this culture for the first time through someone else’s questions and gasps.  Or the pride you feel when you read a team update like the one I read this morning from our medical team.  It gave me a moment to reflect on the awesomeness of the body of Christ.  You see, I’m not qualified to prescribe malaria medication or a pair of glasses, but by hosting this team, I get to be involved.  I get to help in the work that these amazingly qualified people are doing in this culture that I love.  You are awesome in this place mighty God!  Enjoy the team update…

September Medical Mission Team Update #4
A Day in the Life

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick”.   Matthew 14:14

One of our eye clinic team helped a middle aged woman with cataracts be able to read again.  The grateful woman lept out of her chair, hugged our clinician, and actually said “I love you”. Laughter is often heard through the eye clinic door as many people who entered with vision problems leave seeing clearly once again.

One young boy sat perfectly still while the dentist numbed his mouth.  As soon as the dentist extracted his tooth, the boy began to weep inconsolably. Apparently when the dentist explained the importance of good dental hygiene in order to avoid the possibility of losing all of his teeth one day, the boy misunderstood. He thought the dentist was going to extract all of his teeth.  Even with interpreters, some things still get lost in translation.

A young man came in to speak with the doctor about his and his wife’s inability to conceive a child. In this culture, barrenness is considered a curse from God and carries painful ramifications for the childless couple. The doctor gently addressed his concerns, encouraged him, and told him while no doubt this is a difficult circumstance, he did not personally hold to the belief that this was God’s curse on them. He asked if he could pray for him. When he finished, the man looked up, smiled at the doctor and shook his hand.
Four friends carried a lovely young woman in her twenties into our exam room. She had collapsed while standing in line and had no control over her movements. Without diagnostic testing, it would be difficult to determine the cause although it appeared to be neurological (there’s only one neurologist in all of Niamey). She had been suffering with chronic pain for 5 years yet she managed to flash a beautiful smile at our staff standing around her. We prayed for her and placed her in a car to be brought to the hospital.A mother brought her 17 month old twins in to be tested for malaria. The smaller twin weighed only 7 lbs. Both tested positive. We were able to give nutritional counseling for her and her children. We sent her home with vitamins, rehydration fluids, and malaria medication. Because her children had been sickly, she had placed amulets from the witch doctor around their necks. Before we prayed with her, one of the staff asked her if she knew about Jesus. Within minutes, the woman decided to become a follower of Jesus Christ. She was asked if she’d like to get rid of the amulets. She immediately took them off her children’s necks and threw them in the trash. She left the clinic with such hope and joy.

The final numbers weren’t in yet for today’s update but yesterday we saw 150 in the eye clinic, 295 in the medical clinics, 25 in the dental clinic and 328 were seen for pastoral counseling. Many of the cases are hard and follow up medically and spiritually will be a challenge. The local church is doing its best to keep track of every patient and attempting to connect them to a local congregation or pastor. Some cases we are able to help right away, others we can only pray and leave them in a loving God’s hands.  Either way, we are grateful to be here with these beautiful people.Sending our love home to you,
The 2009 LINK Medical Mission

full of expectation

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.  :)

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.

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.

putting the finishing touches on the girl’s shower.

inside the huts.  try not to be jealous of these ritzy digs.

inside the huts. try not to be jealous of these ritzy digs.  not everyone can have a sandbox in their bedroom. 

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 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.

the faces that will tug at their hearts and give new perspective to their lives.

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IMPACT 09

We’re definitely in the fast lane around here.  We spent the first week of February hosting 34 Americans for IMPACT Niamey 09.  This was a team that came to work for the Kingdom in the neighborhoods of Niamey, our home town.  The team did a great job, and God was totally glorified through them.  We saw healings, people set free from addiction, and hundreds of Nigeriens gave their hearts to the Father.

One of the highlights of our month so far, is the time we spent at the orphanage with the IMPACT team.

resolve

Today, for the first time in 2009, I’m taking a quiet moment to think about where I am and where I’m going.

2008 was a big year for the Johansson Family.  We celebrated a new member of our family, began the third year of Sam’s life, and the seventh year of our marriage.  I have to say, the view is pretty great from here.

When I think about my blessings, I can’t help but focus on our location.  In many ways, right now, it defines who we are.  Third culture kids. Last week, my 8th month old saw elephants and lions in the wild.  All before he said his first words or took his first steps.  It’s pretty crazy to think about the turns our lives (mine, Dave’s, Sam’s, and Nathaniel’s) have taken with our change of address.

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Dave and I used to be home owners and car owners.  We used to be people who collected paychecks and parking tickets.  It feels a bit strange, and sometimes a little irresponsible to be a 29 year old mother of 2 who doesn’t own a house or a car.  It goes against success as judged and defined by my home culture.

Today I watched as my husband led a church service of (I’m guessing) 35 kids, 10 teenagers, and 5 adults.  He started with questions about who Jesus is, why He came to earth, and ended with how that it important for each of us.  Then he led 3 Fulani teenagers in a prayer asking Christ to be the center of their lives.

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This is really, truly, worth so much more to me than anything money can buy.

But honestly, there is a place in my heart that has to be reminded of that sometimes.  This life demands that I prove what I believe every day.  Bringing glory to His name is more important than bringing glory to my own.  I love that.  I love that I’m challenged by it.

Which brings me to my resolution.  In 2009, I want to think less about what I have and more about what I can give: to my family, to my neighborhood, and to my God.  I want to spend less time comparing myself to others and more time tuning my heart to my Savior’s.  I want to be a better manager of my time.  This next year is sure to be full of challenge, adventure, and (hopefully) growth.

I’m excited.

Today I watched as a father said goodbye to his daughter.  They had a sweet visit in the far away land where she lives with her husband who pastors a Fulani village.  He prayed over them with tears of thankfulness, pride, and sadness for the moments missed because of the long road that separates his home from hers.  And I was reminded of this same feeling in my own heart.  The pulling that you feel when the rubber meets the road and your words of commitment to the call have to become action.

I was reminded of God’s promise in Psalm 126.  “When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.  Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tounges with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, ‘ The lord has done great things for them.’  The Lords HAS done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.  Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev.  Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with him.”

The blessing, the fortune of souls, the songs of joy, make the going out worth it.  This year, may we sow with all we have.  May we give it our whole hearts.  May we be reminded that the tears of today will become the joy filled songs of tomorrow.  And may we never think that just because we have gone out from our home, the work is finished.  May we press on to the harvest.

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