Andy and I have been spending a lot of time with our noses in our computers to finish our curriculum, but I thought some of you might like to see what our office atmosphere is like. This lovely building (above) has a large multipurpose meeting space and several smaller offices. It is equipped with excellent internet (Starlink – thanks Elon!) and plenty of filtered water and Nescafe to keep us happy.

It is simple and welcoming. When we need to meet with someone, we have a comfortable outdoor space nearby, called a paillote, which is a french word that means “thatched hut”.

Here is where we have spent many hours with pastor D and his wife, working and re-working the material we will start teaching next week. There is usually a slight breeze to keep us cool, and the atmosphere is open and lovely.

We are grateful to have the freedom to meet like this, in such a beautiful space! I only wish I could invite my family and friends to join me here in the paillote for a cup of coffee and conversation.

Recently I received a WhatsApp message from one of the women I’ve invested in through our ministry to couples in Niger. It came at just the right time.

With our plans for Niger hanging in the balance, and the uncertainty of our future heavy on my heart, my mind wandered to the dark places of doubt… what are we doing, anyway? Is all of this even worth it? Are we making a difference?

In some types of work there are measurable results at the end of the day. A building is built. A project is finished. A life is saved.

Then there is the type of work where it is nearly impossible to measure results. Teachers, artists, and caregivers fall into this category. If your work involves investing in people, you know what this feels like. You are giving your full effort while not truly knowing the level of impact or what the outcome will be.

Our ministry serving couples in Niger is what I call an invisible work. We make lots of deposits of love and information and prayer and teaching… realizing that we may never see outcomes. It takes concerted effort to keep our hearts and minds connected to the goal: serve and let God do the rest.

But, honestly, this mentality can wear thin.

I don’t recall that I prayed for encouragement, but I guess God knew that I needed a pick-me-up!

Here is the message I received:

Hello Nikki, today I want to encourage you to continue your ministry in my country because couples need it. What you taught us helps me a lot. May the Lord give you more wisdom in Jesus name. I am proud because my friends see a difference in my relationship. Thanks to your teaching I am fulfilled and my husband and I can communicate well.

Words are powerful!

Those words meant a lot to me that day. My spirit and my sights were lifted! Andy too, when I shared the message with him. Perhaps you’ve been praying for us and our ministry in Niger – I hope those words encourage you too!

The ripple effect is that I started thinking about who else in my circle of influence might need a simple word of encouragement…

Is there someone in your life who just might need a timely encouraging word?

Every year since we’ve been full-time missionaries in Niger, with the help of some faithful friends, we have sent a “snail mail” newsletter to our family and friends. That means envelopes and stamps – old school!

Did you get one this year? If so, then you know there was a little gift inside.

If you didn’t, then you need to reach out and we’ll send one right away. nikki.gray@sim.org

However, if you are more of a techie (and you don’t mind zooming in), then you can simply read the newsletter here. Enjoy!

Our family spent one year in Quèbec, Canada to learn French since our ministry would take place in a French-speaking country. Language learning doesn’t end when class is over, though. It is a continual part of our life in Niger – always working to improve our communication skills.

Last year, a missionary friend of mine knew I was searching for a language partner to help me with my conversational skills, someone who would be willing – and had the time – to sit and chat with me. She knew of a widow who has lived in Niger for many years, though she is not Nigérien. She is from Lebanon, having moved to Niger with her husband to raise their family and run a business. This woman, my friend assured me, would love to have a visitor from time to time since her children are grown up and moved out, and she speaks wonderful French. I decided to give it a try.

What began as a little experiment based on my language needs, has turned into a sweet friendship. I began to visit Lina in her home for one or two hours every week, where we would chat about all sorts of things – politics, family, God, and our faith experiences. We always have coffee and some little sweet treat that she has prepared, something unique to her culture.

That friendship began in March of 2023. This year, upon my arrival in January, we picked up right where we left off last summer!

This time, though, I also began to meet her friends. They would often stop by while I was visiting, giving us even more to chat about. It was delightful! And one Sunday after church, Lina hosted Andy and I for lunch, along with her grown son and one of her friends. Of course she doted on us, and the next time I visited her, she gushed about how handsome and kind Andy is.

I am not sure if my language skills have improved at all from these meetings, but I am deeply thankful for Lina nonetheless. Her unlikely friendship has been a sweet surprise from the Lord.

One thing we have most definitely learned in our years in Niger is that we are essentially powerless to create any lasting change in people’s lives. We can teach truth, love people, and do our best to model healthy relationships, but real life-change happens inside people’s hearts and then flows outward to changed actions. Only God can change a human heart!

So what is the point? Why do we even try to do anything?

The truth is that we do our best with our human efforts, such as teaching and counseling and modeling, and then we must partner with God in prayer. More than ever before, we recognize the need for prayer.

The beautiful thing about living in Niger, is being able to know people personally. We learn their real struggles and joys. Their sorrows and their dreams. Then we know exactly how to be praying for them!

This summer we created some prayer cards to share with our friends and family – sharing real families in Niger, with their specific prayer needs.

Would you like to join us in praying for some of our friends?

Parenting a missionary kid can be tricky. Honestly, it has been one of the most challenging parts of our ministry and life in Niger. Not because our kids are so challenging. On the contrary, they are incredible! All three of them are extremely intelligent, resilient, thoughtful, and courageous. Spending most of their adolescence in one of the world’s most undeveloped countries has shaped the way they think about everything! They are mature in ways that amaze us because they have had to adapt to an unusual lifestyle.

As parents of these outstanding young people, we’ve sometimes anguished over their “losses” and often struggled to trust God with the ways He was shaping them through our unique circumstances. It hasn’t been easy for them and we know it. And even though caring people often tell them that they are “so blessed” to have their experiences, it still doesn’t take away the pain and awkwardness of their real life.

Recently, our daughter Ruth was asked to write a poem for one of her classes. When she read it to us, I was simultaneously heartbroken and bursting with pride over her! I want to share it here, because I know that those of you who read this blog have been on this journey with us and you know our joy and sorrow as we’ve served in Niger. While Andy and I can celebrate all that God is doing here, we want to give voice to the reality for our kids. I think you’ll agree that it’s an honor to get to peek into Ruth’s heart as she opens it for us in this poem. She puts into words the joy and sorrow of her own journey.

Enjoy.

A Warning in Hindsight

By Ruth Gray, written on February 23, 2023

“Come” they said

You didn’t know it at the time

But when your parents took you to this country

They were asking so much more of you

Than you would ever know.

Now you wish you could go back

And have a warning:

«Come,

Here the sand will dye your feet the color of apricots

Come.

Here plastic bags fly through the air like songbirds

Come,

Here muddy waters will swallow your home

Once, twice

Come,

Here you will wake to the sounds of gunshots and think

Fireworks will never sound the same

Come,

Here your dreams will be extinguished time and again

Come,

Here careless teachers will only teach you what it is to feel

unimportant

Come to this place where you will find yourself

Find community and friendship

Here you will hurt so much that the only logical response to

leaving is grief

Come

Where scars will be etched into your soul so deeply that saying

goodbye

Will be more painful than everything else combined

Come.

Maybe it’s a good thing you didn’t know

Because if you’d refused and didn’t come

Who would you be now?

As you would expect, church services look much different here in Niger than in my home country. As in every part of the world, culture and tradition strongly influence life, including the way a group of people choose to celebrate their faith together. I thought I would share a glimpse of some of the worship services that we’ve experienced.

Click here to watch a 25-second video I took recently at a church service.

Our family has participated in church life here since 2017, because our work has been to support and strengthen existing communities of believers. Our two sons were even baptized here in a local church in 2019! We have the privilege of being in relationship with several pastors in different congregations, and this helps us to have a broad understanding of culture and faith in this country.

Some services are three or four hours long, and some are just two hours. In every service we’ve attended, without exception, singing and dancing have been paramount!

Click here to watch a 21-second video of one church we visited recently – they really have rhythm!

Andy (my husband) says that in these services he is afraid they might invite him into the dance circle. Ha ha! That has happened to me before, and it is definitely intimidating – especially with my own lack of rhythm!

Most churches here are quite small, having less than 50 people, including children. But there are some churches, like the one pictured above, with 100-200 people who attend regularly. Even so, Christianity is less than 1% of the population.

Many churches here sing and preach in more than one language. French is the official national language, however it is the second language for nearly everyone. (Including us!)

Click here to watch this 28-second video of a worship service in a primarily Tuareg church. (“Tuareg” is a people group)

This was definitely just a quick glimpse! There is so much more to church life here – choirs, baptisms, skits, congregational memory verses, women’s month, teen month, potlucks, prayer meetings, special seminars and retreats. Of course, all of these things have their own Nigèrien flair!

I wonder what style of worship services you enjoy?

Would YOU like to get up and dance?