To Have Your Cake, And Eat It, Too!

I seem to have inadvertently picked up a new profession.  I never would have imagined myself in the WEDDING CAKE trade, but it seems to have fallen into my lap, and I enjoy the challenge of making something beautiful out of just about nothing.  Cake-making is no small feat in Niger.  Not only are supplies hard to come by, but the heat (we're up to 100 - 110 degrees Fahrenheit now!) certainly adds to the challenge.  As I mentioned, I basically stumbled into this.  A friend asked me to do one for her wedding, knowing I loved to bake, and  knowing that I had a stove in which we could bake a cake (most Nigeriens cook over a fire).  I thought long and hard about it, of course thinking at first, "There's NO WAY that I can make a wedding cake!  I can't even make a wedding cake in the States, much less here in Niger.  It's just not my thing! 

I'm just doing good to decorate CHRISTMAS COOKIES!"

 

But then again, how could I say no?!  I wanted to give my friend a lovely wedding gift, and I did know how to bake a cake, and could it really be that hard?  And thus it began.  I've done four since then, two of which were in the last 3 months!  You see, word gets around here, and before I knew it, another dear friend was getting married, and he had seen the first cake, and he hoped that perhaps I could make one for him, and so on and so forth...  "Professionally made" cakes (whatever that means, and whatever it means here is most certainly different than what it would mean in the States!) are very expensive, and the average person cannot afford to have one at their wedding.

 

This weekend we celebrated the wedding of a very dear friend of ours, Issufou (Joseph).  We have known Issuf since just after he had become a Christian 3 years ago.  He went through the two years of Discipleship Bible School and Leadership school here in Maradi, and is now a pastor.  Wow, and are we proud of him!  We couldn’t have been more thrilled when he shared with us that he was going to be getting married.  We knew and really loved his future bride.  She had just graduated from the Discipleship Bible School this last year.  The wedding came up quickly, and sure enough, guess who was asked to make the cake?!!   I wanted to contribute something special to this incredible couple, so I said yes.  Here’s the journey…

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Making a beautiful cake from scratch may sound exotic, but the realities are far from it - especially here.  I’ve simplified things down to making one or two 9 x 13 cakes, then cutting what I need from them.  Having just gotten home from a 10 hour trip from Niamey, Niger’s capital, I was running low on supplies, had no time to shop, and just a day to spare when Issufou asked if I could make a cake for his wedding.  I only had enough supplies for one 9 x 13, and knew I’d just have to just make do.  Considering the 100 - 110+ degree temps we've been experiencing, I try to get the cooking done ASAP so we can get it over with and TURN THE OVEN OFF!!!  Please!!!  Then the cake goes in the freezer.  Frosting, once made, goes immediately into the fridge so we can avoid puddles of sugar and butter melting all over the counter top.

 

Forming a solid base is pretty important.  Questions I ask myself about when making one include:  Is it strong enough to hold the cake?   Is it made of completely disposable things?   I don't want to have to wait all day at the wedding to get my (you name it) back.   Does it fit in my cooler? (HA - forgot to ask myself this question this time and ended up cutting off two inches from my board on the wedding day as we're running out the door to the wedding. Ooops!  Because of the heat, if we don't store the cake in the cooler when we go to the wedding, we will have one soggy, saggy mess by the time cake-cutting time comes!

 

 

Here's what I've come up with.  Niiiiiiiice, I know.  :)  But covered with some aluminum foil, it looks great!

 

Time to gather more supplies...

 

I gather whatever can be scrounged up from around the house.  Just about anything will do...  artificial flowers, ribbons, cookie decor, candy, confetti, and stickers to name a few.

 

Time to cut and layer the cake! 

 

I think three will do this time.

 

Oh, let's make it four, with this perfect little heart to top it all off.

 

Frosting!

 

Now we're getting somewhere...

 

By now, I'm in danger of losing my frosting.  It's starting to melt and absorb into the cake.  Time for a little "Time Out" in the freezer.  No, not for me (I wish!) - for the cake!

I will probably resort to sticking my head in there for a few moments at some point, though...

 

I think it's time for a snack!  And, after all, the cook should most definitely taste the cake (yes, some FROSTED cake) just to make sure it tastes good.  Someone has to do it, right?!

 

 Yummmm.  Okay.  Taste-test passed.  Back to work.

 

And what's a busy mom with 3 small children to DO with her little ones while in this tedious, time-consuming process?  Well, a picture's worth a thousand words!

 

Here they are, chillin' just outside the kitchen door where I can keep a close eye, and hear those adorable giggles!

 

Gracie thought having her own bucket was pretty cool!  Everyone had a limit of one bucket of water.  If you splashed out all your water, that was it.  So conserve and enjoy!  Great way to keep the kids close to Mama, cool, safe, busy, and HAPPY!

 

Here's my finished product for the day.  As you can see, my favorite accents are ribbons and flowers.  Ah, and you also get lovely view of my back yard here!  Completely off topic... but we just discovered we have owls living in our eucalyptus trees (the ones you can see on the right), and we can see them almost every night.  Yes, very cool!) 

 

Back to the wedding!  And our Bride and Groom with their cake...

 

It is truly a privilege to take part in one of the most memorable days of someone's life.  

 

Cutting the cake

 

  Not only is having a cake special, but it gives everyone the opportunity to lighten up a bit and laugh.

 

This girl's got a GREAT sense of humor!  She had everyone laughing.  What a perfect way to break the ice.

 

This little wedding-goer thoroughly enjoyed her rice and stew, which is traditionally served at many weddings. 

She wasn't the only one.  We all did!

 

  These days, whenever I am approached to do a wedding cake, I tell Jonathan, “I’m only doing this because we're really close to so-and-so, not for everyone!”  He just gives me that smile and says, “But we’re close to them all!”  Yes, it’s true.  All these Nigerien young people - in the youth group, our young Bible School students, and our friends from here and there - have become very dear to my heart.  We’re thrilled when we hear about one of them getting married, and I know, deep down inside, that I’ll probably be asked to make the cake, I’ll probably feel a little overwhelmed at the time, and I’ll probably (most definitely) say yes!  All because I (secretly!) really enjoy doing it, and am excited to be able to give them a gift they could otherwise never have had on their wedding day.  It’s a privilege and honor to be able to take part in the celebration of the joining of our Nigerien friends, most of whom are the first generation of Christians in their families.  What an honor to be there as they join their lives together…

 

It is at times like this, when I'm watching the lovely Bride and Groom on their wedding day, that I feel like I'm having my cake,

and eating it, too!

  

 

 

 

 

Valentine's Reflections, Now and Then

We made pink frosted sugar cookies this week for Valentine’s Day.  Mmmmmm…  Not only are they yummy and beautiful, but they bring back so many memories of years gone by.  My mom made these for us when we were growing up, and I love to make them each year now for my family. 

 

Big Helper

(who probably got more frosting in her tummy than on her cookies)

 

As I savored my scrumptious treat, licking the deliciously pink frosting, I realized that we have now celebrated Valentine’s Day here in Niger for 3 years.  Wow!  As I looked back over some of my pictures from the last several years, I could barely believe how much the children had grown from year to year, and how much had changed in just 4 years.  Our location, culture, climate, day-to-day life experiences...  We've been stretched and grown more than I could ever have imagined possible.  Join me for a quick walk down memory lane. 

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Four years ago at this time of year, Jonathan and I were preparing to move to Niger.  Isaiah was 2, and Anna was about 10 months old.  I enjoyed reading through this entry that I had posted on Valentine’s Day that year.  Here's a few pictures of the Wee Bitty Bowdens back then.

 

A proud little boy with his freshly made Valentine's Day box.

Anna enjoying a gift from Grammi...  Forget the crackers - paper tastes way better! 

 

Continuing on, as I looked through my pictures from 2011, I was surprised to see that I hadn’t taken any pictures on Valentine’s that year.  Then I remembered why.  We were still in the throws of learning Hausa, adjusting to a new culture and climate, setting up house, and Jonathan had just begun teaching his first course in the Discipleship Bible School the month before.  Even though we’d been in Niger for over 7 months, we were still in transition.  I did find some pictures of the children that I took within a few days of it, though.  Here they are: 

 

Miss Anna (19 months old) discovered a can of cocoa drink mix, and enjoyed as much as she possibly could before Mommy found her. 

Who can blame her, though?  What girl doesn't love chocolate?!

 

Daddy's Helper - Jonathan built many shelves to help me make our then bare-bones house more homey.  The children loved helping whenever they could.  Precious memories.

 

Thinking of last year, Valentine’s Day of 2012, brings back really special memories for me.  My closest childhood friend, Mary Anderson, came to visit us for 3 weeks.  I was 7 months pregnant with Grace, and had nary an ounce of energy for celebrating a holiday.  Mary made the day shine, though, doing crafts with the children, making cookies, bringing candy from the States, and babysitting the children so Jonathan and I could go out to dinner together that evening.  Thank you for the memories, Mary!  We were thinking of you this Valentine's Day!

 

Mary with Her Little Helpers

(one of whom, I'm pretty sure, was snitching in the flour)

 

This year, our 3^rd year in Niger, brings with it another special guest.  Becca Cavari has been with our family for 5 weeks, and will be spending a total of 3 months with us.  She came to Niger to serve the Lord by blessing our family in any way she could, and, wow, has she been a blessing! 

 

 

We are all enjoying Becca’s time with us.  She has such a sweet, joyful, helpful spirit, and has been an incredible help to me.  Since Jonathan has been away from home more than ever before assisting with church planting in a previously unreached village, as another year of Bible School begins, as we host teams and missionaries who are traveling through Maradi, and as I home school the children, Becca’s assistance and companionship have been an incredible blessing.  If you are friends with me on Facebook, you have Becca to thank for most of the fun family pictures that you are now seeing! 
Like this sweet one of me and my Valentine...

 

 

  While Becca baked our sugar cookies with Isaiah and Anna, I made the frosting, and then we all enjoyed eating those yummy bits of heaven, made with many treasured ingredients.  

 

Frosting time!

 

Check out the "this-looks-so-yummy" tongue.  Priceless!

 

I couldn't help but put up this picture from last year, because, as you can see, the "this-looks-so-yummy" tongue is ever present when making sugar cookies.

 

My mom, ever so thoughtfully, sent a Valentine’s Day package from the States with cards and gifts for all of us.  How fun! 

 

Daddy reads Anna's card from Grammi to her.

 

Even Baby Gracie had her own card.

 

My sweet, resourceful husband gave me this beautiful bouquet of flowers that he gathered from around our yard.  This is no small feat as Niger is hardly known for its flowers!  But Jonathan, knowing that I LOVE flowers, made me this bouquet of desert blooms. 

 

I am so blessed.

 

The last 4 years have been an incredible journey for us, and they are only the beginning of a longer, unfolding life-story.  If you look back, you will see the same beautiful hand of God working in your life.  I love seeing how the Lord takes the situations, circumstances, people, and events in our lives and shapes them into something bigger, something different, and something more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.  Think about baking a cookie, like our Valentine’s Day cookies, for example – so many ingredients go into them.  Some sweet, some bitter, some salty,
some blah, some savory, some ugly, some beautiful. 

 

 

It’s then all mixed, jumbled, molded, reshaped, and lastly, put into the heat of the oven.  It comes out something new!  Our lives are often like this.  The Lord takes everything, working it together, the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, and makes something from seemingly nothing.  He adds His beauty, His love, and His grace.  Is there anything more beautiful than a life that has been carefully shaped by the hands of a loving Heavenly Father?  
 I don't think there is.      

 

 

 This week, before bedtime, the children were talking about heaven.  Isaiah said, slowly and thoughtfully, "I'm thankful that Jesus has bigger hands than us, and can hold us."  Anna piped up a minute later, adding, "And I think when we go to heaven,

we might find out just how big His hands are!"

 

What a delightful thought.  One day, we'll be able to stand in eternity and see just how big those hands are, and just how many times they were holding us.  Even though you may not be able to see what He is making yet in your life, my prayer is that you would be able to feel the tenderness and love with which the hands of Jesus are taking all of the "ingredients" in your life and forming, working, shaping, creating - something beautiful.

 

Happy Valentine's Day. 

Let your heart rest safely in the hands of Jesus.    

 

 

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