How do you help?

We arrived in Niger to encourage, to get educated, and to engage in any way we could.  There was no agenda given before we arrived, no todo list, and there were no expectations on our part.  But we wanted to help.  As I shared in my last post, we learned so much!  But we were able to help around the edges as well.  Helping looked like working on the EERN guesthouse that we called home.  This is a building which is still being finished.  David looked pretty dramatic installing screens on the second floor windows (not a simple proposition).

Tobiah improved the looks and function of a hand rail – nothing very dramatic, but an upgrade for everyone who uses the stairs over the coming years.  Or there was the laundry line installed by the washing machine.  Just a little something which needed to be done.  Some of our serving was also self serving.  With schedules, families, and other considerations it was easier if we took care of our own meals on multiple occasions.  We got creative with food we bought at the supermarket in town, and we always had more than enough. 

Sometimes helping sounds pretty mundane, until you move it to Niger.  For example, taking a church vehicle to a mechanic.   This meant I had and excuse to drive in Niamey.  Now I sorta like driving in developing countries.  Here there is all the normal crazy of driving with people, bikes, goats, wagons, vans, trucks, motos and most everything else on the road, but it is coupled with the worst roads I have ever seen in a city, or even a large town.  These roads were equivalent to rural roads in Bolivia which are only used by potato trucks.  But when we arrived we got to meet Eric.  An American in his mid-60s who married an Nigerien woman in PA, and then they came here and he step up a shop (as there are basically no trained mechanics in the city).  Oh, he also set up a hard core weight gym where he sells memberships.  Yes, he is a character, right down to his 300+ hp Ford Ranger with a NOS tank…

But helping also looked like being guests of honor.  Visiting a new and developing school which is sponsored by the EERN.  Sometimes taking an interest is helping.

While we did not change the world, it was great to help out just a little bit while we learned so much.