I Will Never Get Used to This

Sometimes there are no words that can accurately describe life in Niger. Sometimes, the joy is so great it is incomprehensible. Sometimes, the grief is so deep it is unfathomable. There is one thing that I will never get used to.
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It is the death of children.
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We have experienced the death of at least 5 children just within this last year, and that is only counting the ones that we knew well, or whose families we were close to. We knew the stats before we came: 1 out of every 5 children in Niger dies before reaching age 5. . It's one thing to read a stat. It's another thing to grieve with a family who has just lost a child. It is difficult to find a family here in Niger who has not lost a child. I have one friend who has lost 3.
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Last month, we experienced this painful loss again, when one of our Bible School student's daughter died unexpectedly. Little Rebecca was just over a year old, and was one of the prettiest little Nigerien babies I have ever seen! We had an ominous feeling when we received a phone call saying that we needed to come quickly - that there was a problem. When Jonathan returned home to retrieve our shovel, my heart sank. No! .She was gone. Like most of the deaths that occur here in Niger, the real cause will never be known. Was it the anemia that one clinic diagnosed her with? Was it the "injection" that she was reported to have received just before she died? Or was it something else altogether? We'll never know.

Little Rebecca, a few months before her death, with her mommy.

Jonathan has personally helped bury 3 out of the 5 children that have died this year. Their little bodies are washed by hand, dressed in their very best outfit, lovingly wrapped in a sheet, then placed in a grave in the Christian cemetery. The cemetery is a beautiful place - so quiet and peaceful. Whenever I stand there, I am overwhelmed by how many little mounds there are - so many children.

Two little mounds, about 3 feet long, both marked with a small pile of leaves. Most families cannot afford to have a head marker placed over the grave of their loved one.

The strength with which the Nigerien believers carry on after the loss of a little one astounds me. They are broken, yes. But they choose to look to Jesus, received strength from Him, and carry on. I have been humbled and amazed as I watch Little Rebecca's mommy choose to return and finish Bible School. She is learning to read, and is now reading portions of the Bible aloud in class. Please pray for her and her husband as they continue to deal with the death of their daughter on a daily basis. We know Little Rebecca is with Jesus. We will see her again. That gives us hope and comfort. .But still we grieve.

I will never get used to the frequent death of children in Niger. I refuse to accept it as normal. I believe, by God's grace, we will see that "1 out of 5 die before the age of 5" .ratio change in Niger! This was not God's plan! It's not the way it was meant to be. Jesus said, "The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. But I .have come that they might have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10

Please pray with me that the Lord would break this cycle of childhood death in the nation of Niger.

God's desire for the children of Niger is that they would have life, and have it to the FULL!!!

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Coming Soon - Dan Niger!

We are excited to announce that we are having another baby!!! .Baby Bowden is due on May 1st, and we are one excited family! Babies are suddenly "all the rage" throughout the house. Isaiah and Anna are busy mothering monkeys, elephants, cats, and baby dolls. They frequently have "a baby in MY tummy, too!" They are very excited about their new baby brother/sister. Here they are "backing" their "babies" Nigerien-Style.

What a good big brother and big sister they'll be!

To all of my faithful followers, I sincerely apologize for allowing 3 whole months go by since I last blogged. To be honest, this last month has been incredibly difficult for us. I suffered severe morning sickness that kept me nearly bedridden. I was only able to get up to perform the most menial tasks. Jonathan has been super-daddy and super-husband! I don't know what I would have done without all of his extra help. He put so much time and effort in, on top of all of this regular teaching and ministry responsibilities. He is my hero!

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I am, at last, seeing the light at the end of this long, foggy tunnel of nausea! This last week, I have felt almost .normal (well, as normal as a pregnant woman can feel - ha!). I am beginning to be able to keep fluids and solids down consistently for the first time in 4 weeks.

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We are SO EXCITED about this new little Bowden! We can't wait to meet him/her! We will be completing our first term here in Niger, then returning to the States for a several-month furlough, and the delivery of the baby. Please pray for us all, especially for me and the baby, for safely, health, strength, and grace.

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Our Nigerien friends are all very excited about the new baby, too, and have already titled it, "Dan Niger", which means, Son of Niger. I'm sure they won't mind switching that to "Diyar Niger" if it turns out to be a little Daughter of Niger! .:) All in all, this child will be loved and welcomed by many, on both sides of the ocean. What a blessing. What a heritage. Our cup overflows!
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