Things have been happening here so fast I can't even seem to keep up with it, but often that is exactly how God works! For several years I had a community center in Ouallam, but closed it 3 years ago due to lack of interest. We then made the classes "Mobile" taking them to several villages. This seemed to be working well. However, it continued to burden my heart that Ouallam was not receiving the teachings: health, hygiene, sanitation, nutrition and some medical hints, and the Word of God.

It is amazing how God works things in His perfect timing! He has placed in my path one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had. Even just thinking about it - my heart shakes! And what does all this have to do with outhouses? The day I arrived from my Stateside Vacation I was greeted in Niamey by Mark, a young man that works with Samaritan's Purse. He wanted to come and check out the possibility of working in Ouallam since it was one of the worst hit with famine. So Don and I brought Mark and his team up to introduce them to some of the government people and show them around Ouallam. Also, at the same time there were two other groups working to meet some of the needs; Humedica (German Medical team) and Doctors without Borders. All of these organizations realized that they were meeting surface needs and the real need was education.

In the midst of this I received a message saying the Mayor of Ouallam wanted to talk to me. My first thought was "What have I done to get into trouble?" When he talked to me - I wasn't even in trouble!!! What is amazing to me is how God continues to weave things together. This Mayor is new to Ouallam he has been here about 5-6 months and is trying to get some really awesome things done in Ouallam as well as in rural areas. He also was one of our patients when Dr. Braswell came to Ouallam to help many hundreds with eye problems, and Mr. Mayor was one that drove from Niamey to get his eyes seen! While Dr. Braswell was operating on the eyes, I was the one that diagnosed many of the patients, giving some drops, giving many glasses - and sending all off with a prayer - "In Jesus Name".

Anyway, Mr. Mayor asked me if it would be possible for us to help out by building some latrines since there are so many diseases and illnesses caused from the lack of latrines. I asked for more information and he gave me a book with several of the needs he would like to see addressed. Bringing the book home and looking at it, Don and I talked about it and saw that one latrine would be less than $100. But looking at the book closely, I noticed that many of the needs they outlined were of education--primarily the classes that I teach out in the bush! So, I went back to the Mayor and talked to him about the latrines - and the fact that since I teach these classes, would he think about my teaching them in Ouallam!?!

He did not even pause - he said that he wanted me to teach all of the women! I told him to think about it some, because I am a Christian and will add some of my religious beliefs. He says: "I know you are Christian, you prayed for me when you gave me glasses and some medicine, you prayed in Jesus' name".

Don and I are in the process of writing up the project requesting money for about 100 latrines, even though the need here is for about 1000, 100 will really help and be a good starting point.

Don and I went to talk to the Mayor one morning about the latrines and the Mayor had in his office the Chief of Ouallam. He said: "Isn't it something how it just worked out that the two people that need to be here are here at the same time?" We were able to make plans for the classes to start the next week. What happens is that there are 11 different neighborhoods in Ouallam and my classes take about 2 weeks. I usually have some problems with the kids - or various animals, or apathy of coming to class. But the Mayor and the Chief are telling who to come and where! So we are meeting in the Mayor's conference room every day. Each neighborhood comes for 2 weeks, and then a new neighborhood comes.

I am not only teaching to some of the chosen that are attending classes at the Mayor's conference room - each dwelling place that gets a latrine will also get a class of health/hygiene and sanitation along with safety and nutrition... Hopefully we can also tell the Bible stories too.

This is keeping me really busy now since I am trying to keep it organized and interesting - and packing what I do for 6 weeks into 10 days! I am almost finished with my lesson plans, I have been teaching now for 3 days and it is going great!

Another note, World Vision came by the other day and talked to Don and me about their plans to build some latrines in various villages and in the schools in Ouallam. World Vision wants us to work together on this as they are known as a Non-Governmental Organization and cannot do any religious work. Isn't God amazing???