| The
word exotic is what comes to mind in describing
Niger. As soon as you arrive you realize you’re
in a different world. There is no modern architecture
here but rather people and buildings from a
time past. Other places I visited like Beijing,
Bangkok, Lima and Harare all have a contemporary
look and feel that has yet to come to Niamey
or Niger.
After
spending the first night in Niamey, Don Bolls
took me the two hour dirt road trip to Ouallam
where he and his wife, Teresa have lived for
18 of their 24 years in Niger. Ouallam is a
small town of 10,000 people and about 20 cars,
but rich with culture and tradition.
Most
days on my 12 day visit Don and I traveled to
different villages around Ouallam. These roads
were more like trails across a landscape similar
to West Texas except there were people along
the way carrying water or food, sometimes on
donkeys and occasionally on camels.
People
in the villages were always happy to see us
and we were there for two reasons; Jesus and
trees. We came with Neem trees, orange, lemon,
baobab, stage and mango trees. Trees that could
mean life as well as words that could mean life.
I
have owned and operated a small tree nursery
in Oklahoma for the last 15 years which has
created witnessing opportunities to local high
school boys who have worked for me, but never
has my knowledge of trees been so valuable.
The Africans were very interested to hear the
instructions on planting trees as Don translated
into Zarma.
If
there were Christians present we would do a
Bible study and prayer as seekers would listen.
If there were no Christians present, we would
simply testify about Jesus. Even though most
of them were Muslim, they would still listen
and be respectful. Trees would be distributed
and then on to the next village
Some
of my time in Niger I spent prayer walking in
the villages and in Ouallam. This was probably
the most effective thing I did because of the
spiritual darkness that consumes this land.
I
would like to thank the Bolls for their dedication,
hospitality and hard work. How Don finds his
way through the meandering trail without getting
lost – I’ll never know.
I
appreciated Teresa for her love for the Niger
people, her teaching on AIDS and health and
her excellent cooking.
I
hope to return to Ouallam some day. God Bless.
Paul Speake
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