Church in a Tent and in a Grass Hut

Today was an extremely busy day. We left this morning for worship with a church in the Niamey area. When we arrived after driving down some of the narrowest streets you have ever seen and not being able to make it down the last we walked into a group of people preparing for the service. The buildings are all block patched around them with mud. This one was no different. It was about 20 by 20 feet with a metal roof and right behind the opening (it was too big to be a door) was a tent. When we finally began there were about 70 people on the inside and about 30 or so outside.
The music was very lively. They would have danced I’m sure if there had been room. But, there were people everywhere and barely room to stand much less dance. A number of the ladies all wore the same clothes and all of the women wore beautiful, bright colors and some kind of head dress.
We didn’t stay for the complete service. After we were introduced we had to leave to go to the next church which was about 80 miles and two and a half hours away. We drove down a nice paved road until it ran out. Then we drove on a pretty good dirt road until that ran out. Then we drove on a rough and rocky dirt road with potholes. Finally we drove down a lane to a village with about 2000 people.
The homes are made of either mud like in Niamey or grass huts. There are no urban designers and as a result the roads like the houses go every way you can imagine. An interesting tidbit; when you enter the town you have to stop and give greetings to the town Police Chief. When you leave you have to do it again. So, after paying our respects we drove on to the church. The church is in a large compound with the church made of grass on one end and the pastor’s home on the other. The house is really a big bedroom. They live outside like the people in Vietnam and Cambodia. They have a round structure with a grass top but no walls. They stay under there and rest during the heat of the day. There is one tree, a place to cook near the tree and a wall around the entire thing.
When we arrived at about noon they had likely been there for an hour or more. But, they sang the special which was from the choir which danced, sang and had a great time. They were really in to it.
After the singing the pastor came and introduced all of us as the guests and then said that Jim and I would be bringing the message. It was wonderful. I spoke from John 17: 20-26 and my points were that we have been called to a purpose and the purpose is to take the message of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. We do that in unity that this lost world will see that it is real and want it too. So, I focused on three points, we have a common mission; the Great Commission; a common message; Jesus is the Christ, the world is lost and needs him and if they will turn to him, confess their sins and call on the name of Jesus Christ, they will be saved.
Jim spoke from the book of Revelation. He did a really good job. He is such a pleasant and wonderful man. I love his spirit. He blesses me tremendously.
After church we went over the pastor’s home where they served us water, a soft drink and a rice and chicken dish that I didn’t eat. I had told our national director to tell them to not offer us food or drink. He felt it would be a worse slap against them to ask them to not prepare it than to not eat it so I choose that one. I am very conservative when I travel about what I eat or drink.
We had three testimonies. Two were from itinerant preachers in nearby villages. One had gone into the village where there were NO Christians but today there are more than 50. His name was Oualie
The second man was a tremendous young man who had started three churches in the same area and was running about 90 to 100 people between the churches. This pastor was named Issa.
The pastor of the church we were visiting and in whose house we were sitting asked to give his testimony. All of them talked about the value of Bible League to their churches. Pastor Sale’ was very gracious and kind and he has been very successful. He came to this village in 2008 to start a church after being run out of another village. He now has between 300 and 400 members that have been saved and baptized.
After the time of visiting and fellowship we left. One of the ladies with us asked if we could take her and her two children back to Niamey with us. It’s a custom that you have to do it so they climbed in and we all squeezed in to the truck. I was good because Director Issa insisted that I get upfront. But, not so with everybody else.
The ac in the truck didn’t have the oomph’ that I was looking for so I recommended when Jim comes back they find some other vehicle to use.
We drove back and then went to the National Museum which was very interesting. They have crocodiles, hippos and many other docile and not so docile animals including a couple of hyenas.
That’s about it for Sunday. I will write more at the end of the day on Monday. We leave here on Tuesday afternoon. It’s really hot here but supposed to be a little more comfortable in Dakar.

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