Update! :)

Written July 31, 2013

Well, this week so far hasn't been too exciting. The guys (Jody, Thomas, and Logan) headed out yesterday for a camping trip - to map out villages and such. (They return Friday - so by the time I post this, they'll be back.)

Monday we had a Songhai team meeting - and that was good. Tuesday we did ministry as usual - walking around asking people if they have time to listen to a story about Jesus. Some say yes - some say no. Monday afternoon April, Caitlin, and Sarah went out (so we could introduce Sarah to some of our contacts) - and I stayed in to watch the kids (which was a lot of fun).  

April told me that a few of our newer contacts said they believed in Christ. Now we don't know if they're serious quite yet - but please keep them in your prayers (2 more women not including Fati). There's a difference between knowing what we say is true and actually following Christ. Pray that the Spirit speaks through us to communicate these truths. 

Today (Wednesday) is market day - and usually everyone is at the market selling things - so it's a bit harder to do ministry. I woke up this morning with a sour stomach that was aggravating my Endo - so I stayed in. I bet I'll be fine to go out this afternoon. It's cooled off quite a bit (rain is awesome) - breaks from the heat are so nice. 

Lord willing, A week from today will be my last ministry day here (that is, until I come back... ;) ) Thursday I'll pack up and head to Niamey with the Foxes - we'll debrief and then I believe my plane leaves at 3 am Friday morning  (10pm EST on Thursday)... Which I have a 4 hour layover in Paris and a 2 hour layover in Atlanta - so with all of that it puts me in Louisville around 8:30 pm EST (on the 9th) or 1:30 am Africa time on the 10th  - if all my planes are on time. All together it's about 17 hours in the air - 6 hours of layover - and about 7,200 miles. Then I'll be staying with Tyler & Beth that first night - then I'll move back into the dorms - and the challenges will be readjusting to the states (time change and all) and to school (I've still gotta pay tuition and order textbooks)... And it's back to my usual routine with work. It's going to be hard to readjust. I feel like life here is normal. 

I have missed church - I'll be excited when the service is in English and I can understand it. ;) (we have been going but it's in French and Zarma). Just so y'all know - I plan to be at Bethany the first Sunday I'm back - the next Sunday I'll be at home (BBC). If any of y'all want me to speak at a church about the Songhai and what y'all can do - let me know. Y'all can email me directly at edawson027@students.sbts.edu or email my mom at emilyonmission@gmail.com. 

Anyway... Jody told us this week in our usual bible study time on Sunday night that people have warned him - week 4 with the interns is coming - watch out. It gave the impression that it would be one of the hardest weeks. Honestly, I feel like my hardest weeks were in the beginning - and then I grew to love the Songhai and most aspects of the culture around me - it just took some adjusting. I feel like it's going to take a lot of readjusting to get used to the states again. I'm glad I'm going straight to Boyce though - I've missed school so much. (Not the papers and massive reading assignments - but the community.) 

So in a way I'm excited to get back home. But... I do wish I could stay longer. Most of the people we come into contact with have never heard the name 'Jesus' before - and as Paul says, "...I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, 'Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.' (Romans 15:20-21) 

This week God has been teaching me that He wants all people to know His name - and He wants to be glorified. He wants to be worshiped - because only He is worthy of such. Read Isaiah 52 & 53.

What floors me is that sometimes I expect to be comfortable and accepted - which Christ obviously wasn't. Christ was rejected and despised. It was the will of the LORD to crush Christ - for us. Christ was wounded for our transgressions an iniquities. Who am I to live a comfortable life if our Lord didn't? Don't get me wrong here - comforts are fine - but for the sake of the gospel, we should be willing to give everything up. The gospel is offensive. It will offend people - and you will be rejected because of it - but in that we are partakers of the sufferings of Christ - and that is a blessing. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)

I love my comforts... My a/c, bed, food that doesn't mess up my stomach - I hate the heat... And I hate bugs... Especially spiders - and I've seen a bunch. I dislike snakes too - and we had a bit of a snake threat this week. Missionaries don't have to love all these things that most people dislike...

But we agree that the gospel is more important than our own comforts. 

The reason I'm in Niger is because the gospel is more important than anything. God is bigger and more glorious than anyone else could ever dream to be. God is worthy. The only reason I can even be here doing this is because of God's grace - because no one even seeks or understands God without God coming to them first. (Romans 3:10-18). So I can take NO CREDIT for any of this.

God is working among the Songhai - and we are beginning to see evidence. God is also working in our hearts. Continue to keep all of us in your prayers - especially the Songhai. Pray for safe travels for me - and a good last week. Keep April, Caitlin, Logan, and Thomas in your prayers. I'm leaving early because of school - they all leave on the 20th. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! Love y'all. 

Until the whole world hears.... ;)