TRIPPING BACK TO THE ROOTS

Just over a week ago, Jim & Philip were scurrying around putting the last pieces of tape and string around their cardboard luggage. What a week it has been! We could not have imagined what it would be like to return to Niger after 5 years away. Jim’s trip to France last year was a nice escape, and for a great cause. But there is NOTHING like returning to one's roots.

The layover in Casablanca was a wonderful re-introduction to African culture. (Even though Moroccans might not consider themselves “African”, we outsiders perceive them as such). Their economy certainly affords much touristing even with a weakened U.S. dollar. For a total of $37, we rode the train round trip into town (an hour from the airport), and sampled foods all day whose names do not appear in common dictionaries. Body parts usually concealed in hotdogs and bologna were delightfully seasoned, stewed and served for pennies at street-side cafés. We had not a hint of either hunger or indigestion when we boarded our flight to Niamey at midnight on Tuesday. However, Philip provided a plane full of indigestion during the flight -- He had a nightmare about something and woke up the entire airplane screaming in terror. Usually negligent Moroccan flight attendants came rushing from both First and Cabin Class to investigate. Surely there were some passengers so terrorized they never managed to sleep again during that flight!

We arrived tired but excited in the wee hours of Wednesday, 09 July, and hit the ground running. We could tell that folks were praying for our baggage to get through Customs. They had already impounded two of our five pieces being carried for other missionaries. Jim patiently wasted 20 minutes of their time chit-chatting until the boxes were liberated without penalty. The sun was nearly ready to rise when we arrived at the SIM office – much too excited to be sensible and go to bed after two days of travel. We had a shower and a 20-minute nap, then borrowed the equivalent of a dollar from the guard to find something local for breakfast. It was the end of a great trip and the beginning of an incredible day.

To those of you who helped finance this trip, we will never begin to be able to thank you. SIM Niger is deeply grateful as well. We’ll explain why later.