Many people here in the Niger Republic call us Donal and Zakina. May 2008 marks 25 years service for us with the International Mission Board. Little did we realize when we married in 1971 that so many of our married years would be in Africa or that our 2 children would grow up there. Now they can relate their African experience to our 3 grandchildren.

While attending South Western Baptist Theological Seminary we were appointed in Richmond, Virginia May 24, 1983 by the Foreign Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention. I was given the title Agricultural Evangelist and Teresa Church and Home, career missionaries to the Niger Republic. We spent 1 year and 3 months in Tours, France studying French and arrived in Niamey, Niger near the hottest time of the year, April 1985. The temperature stepping off the airplane was 104F degrees.

The only other Southern Baptist missionaries in country at that time, Bob and Ruby Williams, met us at the airport. They had watched 10 years pass from the time they made the personnel request we filled until we arrived. It wasn't long before more missionaries arrived. The Niger Republic, located in West Africa, now has many missionaries. Much has changed since our arrival but not the hot and dry climate!

At present we work with the Zerma people and our home is in Ouallam located about 60 miles north of the capitol Niamey. I work in agriculture and church planting. Teresa does less work at home with our children grown and back in the US and more church work including health, hygiene and nutrition education.

Our work as missionaries has been very difficult and challenging. At the same time it has been good and rewarding. We have seen God at work in people's lives and it has been a privilege to have been a part of that.

dbolls@gowestafrica.org

This is our mailing address:
Donald & Teresa Bolls
BP 42
6001 Ouallam
Niger Republic
Cell phone: (227) 96 57 62 25
e-fax: 413 431 7838

Web Site: www.zermateam.org