Gathering to Give Thanks

This Sunday, our family attended a Taron Godiya service at the village church in Dan Makadi.  I'd like to bring you along for the ride! 

 

Taron Godiya is Hausa for Thanksgiving Gathering.  No, it has nothing to do with the traditional American Thanksgiving holiday, although it is a time set aside to do the same thing - to thank the Lord for what He has done.  Everyone brings a special offering, most of which goes to bless the pastor, thus making it Pastor Appreciation Sunday, as well.  While the offering is usually that of money, it can be food, chickens, clothing, you name it!  After the service, everyone gathers for a meal, and enjoys a time of fellowship together.  Are you ready to take a peek?  Here we go!

I decided it was best to spare you chaotic scenes from the morning's preparations - you know, the ones with dirty dishes, crazy bed-heads, and generalized it-looks-like-a-tornado-went-through-here.  We'll start with the happy Bowden family, already on the road!  To set the stage, it's a beautiful, sunny, breezy day, with temps in the mid 80's.  Our destination is about 13 miles away...





The Bitty Bowden girls!  Anna's ready with a smile, and Grace is enjoying the silly antics of her big sister.

 

Yours truly!

The road ahead - just leaving Maradi.  This is one of the greenest areas in town, because it's close to the river.

 

We're not the only ones on the road.  All kinds (and I mean ALL kinds!) of transportation means are out and about this morning.

 

And here's the RIVER!  No, really, it IS the river.  We won't get rain here for another 6 months or so, and when we do, this will be absolutely rushing.

 

A banana tree grove!

We're now leaving the "big city" and passing through smaller villages.

 

Here's my first attempt at uploading a short video clip to give you a better view.  Hope it works!

 

After 40 minutes on bumpy sandy roads, we reach our destination. 

 

We're a few minutes early (a minor miracle - seriously!), so the Bitty Bowdens and I sit down to wait for the service to begin.

 

Isn't she sweet?!!

 

Let the worship begin!  We were excited to have our fellow Vie Abondante missionaries, also our mentors here in Maradi, Pastor Rich and Ginger Jorgenson, also attend this Taron Godiya service, along with another missionary friend from Maradi.

 

I noticed this little girl is "backing" her flip-flop, like the Nigerien women back their babies.  Cute!

 

Speaking of which, here is Gracie, snug-as-a-bug on my back...

 

Awww...look who's sitting in front of me.  I think these Nigerien babies are just adorable!

 

Jonathan was the guest speaker, and opened up with a Hausa Scripture song that he wrote from Galatians on the Fruit of the Spirit, and "Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap."  This led into his message, which talked about how important it is for us to sow good seeds in our life, seeds that will remain and bare fruit that will last.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control...  Hey, why try to describe it when you could just hear it for yourself?!!

 

 

 

Listening to Daddy...

 

Grace is making friends with everyone who's sitting around us.

 

It's almost offering time!!!  Isaiah's getting ready, and brought a contribution of his very own money.  I had to break the tough news to him that some of those American pennies wouldn't be too useful here in Niger.  :)

 

This is no ordinary offering. There is music (lots of it, with that incredible African drumming). We all go outside and wait in line, then come in joyfully dancing, to give our offering to the Lord. It's fun!

 

You really can't get a feel for this until you've heard the music!  If you watch closely, you'll notice that Anna isn't quite sure how this is all supposed to go down.  She "helps" Jonathan by taking his money back out.  hehehe...  "Nope, Sweetheart, it's ALL supposed to go in!"

 

The service is now over, and the fellowship is about to start. 

Here we are!

 

We are so thankful for Pastor Rich, who has taught us so much about life and ministry in Niger.  He and Ginger have been here for 15 years.  We have just recently found out that Jonathan and Rich are often mistaken for each other around town - many of the people in our area can't tell them apart.  I wonder why?!

 

Next...  A shared meal!  Yep, a group of 5 or 6 adults will gather around a tray like this and share the meal.  This was the dinner the ladies of the church worked all morning to prepare for the Taron Godiya service.  It is traditional tuwo (in this case, boiled cornmeal) with a sauce.  It was quite tasty.

 

Isaiah's making sure to wash his hands!  These pots are filled with water from the village well, and were available for hand washing.

 

Did I mention we get to eat with our hands?  This is every kid's dream come true (maybe every adult's, too, if we'd only admit it to ourselves).  Here are Isaiah and Ginger sharing some tuwo.  Don't worry - the look on Isaiah's face is not that of pain...  He's just working on refining his camera smile.  Still working on that...  :)

 

What?!  It can't be time to leave already!  The morning flew by so quickly.  After visiting for a while, it was time to go, and we had a great farewell.  These kids ran alongside our car as fast and as far as they could, waving and smiling.  There's nothing quite like it to grab your heart and get you addicted to life in Niger!

 

On the road again!  What's this up ahead?

 

 Camels!  Even though we see them almost every day, we still think it's a pretty cool sight.

 

Here we are passing by a Fulani family.  They have all of their possessions packed up on their donkeys.  The Fulani travel constantly, which makes it challenging to get the gospel out to them.

  We are seeing Fulani peoples coming to Christ around us, though.  God is so good!

 

There's the river again!

We're almost home...

This week we celebrated Thanksgiving twice. 

 

First, we celebrated in our home with our missionary family here, thinking of family and loved ones half-way across the world who were also celebrating a day of thankfulness.     

  

 

And, secondly, we celebrated in a village church with our family in Christ here, thanking God for the wonderful things

He is doing in Niger.



 

How blessed we are to have so much to be thankful for.  Oh, and there's one more thing...  We're thankful for YOU!  Thank you for coming on this Taron Godiya journey with me, and thank you for joining our life-journey here in Niger.  Your prayers, love, and support touch our hearts and the hearts of those around us every day.

 

 

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

 

- 1 Chronicles 29:13

 

 

 

 

Grace's Other Mother

It has recently become apparent that Grace has another mother, and not the kind of mother you might think she’d have.  It’s our family cat, Marco, who recently lost a litter of kittens when she gave birth prematurely.   I have never seen a cat take to a baby like this one has to Grace.  At first, I thought it was my imagination, especially since Marco tends to be skittish and would prefer to remain unnoticed.  I have a rug in between my bed and Grace’s bed, and I began to notice that Marco could almost always be found fast asleep on the rug.  I figured:  #1 – it was because it is a very nice comfy rug, and #2 – it was beside MY bed.  Seeing how I hand-fed the little thing back to life when her own mother died, I’d like to believe she feels some maternal bond and connection that makes her want to be close to me. 

 

I was wrong.  She wasn’t sleeping there because of me.  I started noticing that Marco would get anxious whenever Grace cried.  She’d pace back and forth by the bed.  Then she’d begin meowing, and would generally run over to me, then back to the bed.  “No way,” I thought, “...that can’t be.  I’m just imagining this.”  Well, one day, I moved Grace’s bed to another place in my bedroom.  Guess who was sleeping beside her just minutes later?  Then Grace was moved to another ROOM, sharing a room with Isaiah and Anna.  Upon going in to check on her one night, I heard as I reached down into the dark to arrange her blanket, “Meooooow.”  Yup.  Marco, nestled in between the wall and Grace’s bed.  Now this action took serious commitment on Marco’s behalf.  Believe me - any cat that would risk its life to sleep in Isaiah and Anna’s room is a brave cat-soul if I ever saw one.  These decisions are not to be taken lightly, and I suppose Marco weighed the risks, and felt it was worth those risks to be with “her baby”. 



 

Since discovering Marco’s secret, I’ve enjoyed watching her watch over Grace.  I wonder if she'll still sit as close once Grace perfects her crawling and discovers cat tails!   :)

 

A Cup of Cold Water

Last Sunday, our family traveled to the village of Dan Makadi for Sunday morning service.  This village is about 13 miles outside of Maradi, and it took us over 30 minutes to get there.  Most of the roads to Dan Makadi are made of sand.  After turning off the “main” road, we began traveling on a pathway consisting of two sandy tracks that lead the way to the village. 


On one of the village roads...

I must admit, the kids and I felt a little on the green side by the time we reached our destination!  It was a pretty bumpy ride, and this isn't one of the more remote villages either.  When we arrived, we were greeted at the church by a host of friendly children, grinning shyly, and adults who greeted us warmly in Hausa and escorted us into the mud-brick church structure. 

I will never cease to be amazed by the joy on the faces of these precious Nigerien believers.  Most of them lost almost any earthly possessions or inheritance they might have had when they became a Christian.  I love watching their faces as they worship Jesus.  There are flies buzzing everywhere, each one of us is covered with sweat and a good coating of dusty grime, but none of that matters.  There is true joy present, and I see in the faces of those singing here something that millionaires are still striving to attain.  Such peace.  Such contentment.  Such joy.  Incredible.



Jonathan is teaching a scripture verse he has set to music in Hausa.

Jonathan was the guest speaker, and talked about how the words of our mouth come from the heart, illustrating his teaching by having some children place dirt in one glass of water, then offering a clean glass and the dirty glass to the people, asking which one they would prefer to drink from, and which one would bring health and life.  Like the example, we daily need the blood of Jesus to cleanse us, wash us, and then transform us through the power of the Holy Spirit to be pure vessels that He can use to bring life, encouragement, and hope to those around us.

Two kinds of water - one is clean, one is dirty...



Would you prefer to drink muddy water or clear? 
What?!!  You don't want the mud?!! 

After the service, one of the ladies took me to visit some of the ladies from the church at her mother’s house.   The children and I walked hand-in-hand through the village, greeting curious women and children along the way.  We passed the village well, at which 2 or 3 dozen people were busy pulling up water.  They were using large bulls to help with pulling up the buckets of water.  The well must have been deep, because the lines of rope that the animals were pulling with were dozens of meters long.  Isaiah, Anna, and I, with Grace on my back, scurried across the path in order to not be run over by one of the bulls – their horns are long and sharp, and not something we’d want to get in the way of!  :)

Upon entering the compound, which consisted of a wall, several mud/brick one-room houses, a tall tree, and a few lean-tos for shade, we were escorted, amidst excited hustle and bustle to the tree.  The ladies, chattering a mile a minute in Hausa, insisted that under the tree was much cooler than any of the lean-tos.  As we walked toward the tree there was a flurry of activity as straw brooms were brought out, leaves were swept away, and a mat was laid out for us to sit on. 

Grace meets Mourja, one of our Bible School students
 who graduated last year.

“Would the children like some fura?”  came the question.  This village drink is one of the staple foods of Niger, and is frequently offered to guests.  It consists of ground millet that has been fermented.  I accepted, but part of me wanted to refuse because I knew these people hardly have food enough to survive on, much less to give away.  Still, I knew that it would be rude to turn down this act of hospitality. 


Isaiah and Anna enjoy their fura.

The question that came next was so humbling that it nearly brought tears to my eyes.  “Would Isaiah and Anna like sugar in their fura?”  I knew the children would love the drink sweetened, so I agreed, again considering refusing, knowing that sugar is a luxury that the villagers may not always be able to afford.  A flurry of activity ensued, and someone was sent out into the village and came back a few minutes later, having just purchased a small bag of sugar, which was then emptied into our fura.  I was touched by this simple, yet extravagant act of hospitality.  I know these precious people have so little, and yet they gave us their very best, and did it with such joy.   

In Matthew 10:42, Jesus talks about giving others a cup of cold water.  Here in Niger, that illustration means so much more to me than it ever did before.  It gets so hot here, and there is nothing more refreshing than a cool drink.  Jesus also said, "If you've done it to the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me."  (Matthew 25:40)  When these ladies offered us not only their fura, but took their hospitality to another level by purchasing sugar to go with it, they weren't just giving us a gift, they were giving it to Jesus as well.  Jesus goes on to say, for those who give that cup of cold water, "They shall by no means lose their reward." 

I came away from Dan Makadi feeling encouraged and challenged by the believers there. They might not have many worldly possessions to call their own, but they possess great wealth in the kingdom of heaven.  I felt as though we had been given a cup of cold water, except instead of water, it was a small bag of sugar.   

 

She's Here!

Announcing...

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~ Grace Moriah Bowden ~

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...born  April 23rd  at  9:03 p.m.

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9 lbs. 4 oz.  

20 & 1/2 inches long

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She is just perfect!

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A very proud big brother and big sister with their new baby!  :)

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Our family (of 5!) taking Grace home from the hospital.

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Baby Grace's safe arrival has been long anticipated and prayed for by many people on two different continents!  Thank you for all of your prayers throughout my pregnancy, as we traveled from Niger to the States in March, and during the weeks that led up to Grace's birth. 

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Our cup overflows... 

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Our First Week Back!

We have just finished our first term as missionaries in Niger, and after being away for nearly 2 years, we are back in the States for several months! After 4 days of intensive traveling (including a 9-hour drive in our land cruiser across the desert of Niger, 24 hours of flights and layovers, then 5 hours driving through Pennsylvania), we were one happy family when we finally arrived at our destination in Lawrenceville, Pa.

Something to smile about! :)

Isaiah and Anna were awesome little travelers! But what’s not to love, when you get to experience so many new, wonderful things all in the span of several days. Some of the highlights of Isaiah and Anna’s trip were seeing airplanes everywhere, taking off and landing in “our big plane”, riding escalators and elevators, changing terminals via buses and trains, doors that open automatically and toilets that flush on their own when you’re finished. I mean, come on, this stuff is COOL!

Still pretty bright-eyed!

But not for long... now they're out cold.
Mommy and Daddy wished they could be, too!

Watching plane after plane take off in Paris...

Escalator rides - this was a HUGE hit!



Isaiah loved the train that transported us from one terminal to another.

The best part of the flight was what was waiting at the end of it – Grammi and Grandpa!

Our whole family is savoring rainy days, hot cocoa in front of the fire, grass, running hot water, American food, beautiful countryside, and best of all, time with family and friends.

Not only does she have hot cocoa - she has MARSHMELLOWS!

No caption necessary... I think this speaks for itself! :)

Thank you for the incredible support you have been to us during our first term!

You have blessed us in so many ways - by praying for us, supporting us financially, encouraging us, keeping in touch, and sending packages, just to name a few. Thank you! We are looking forward to seeing many of you while we are here in the States.

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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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