The Sahelian

The Niamey English Worship Service on December 9^th, 2007 proved to be a fun time of worship led by the Sahel Academy Elementary Choir. They presented the musical, Hark! The Herald Angel. Lachlan Bunn played the lead role of Hark, and Rotimi Jones-Evans played the supporting lead role of Gabriel. All of the students were involved and had their own special role to play within the angel choir who had arrived for choir rehearsal in Heaven. They were asked to make an incredibly important announcement about the birth of Jesus Who came to save the undeserving people of earth. The music went well, the lines spoken clearly, and the power stayed on all night…until just after an announcement thanking our Big God for keeping the lights on all during the entire program! ~Kathie Golde

December is now here and with it the sad reality that our Math teacher, Mr Dan Field, will be leaving us. We are still praying for who will fill his very large shoes next semester. I took a little time to interview Mr. Field, and I learned some new things about him which I’d love to share.

Mr. Field grew up in Southeast England as the son of a pastor. He accepted Christ as his Savior in his late teens and was baptized in his third year of college. He attended the University of Warwick where he majored in Math. After university he didn’t know what to do, so applied to do a short term with Wycliffe. Wycliffe sent him here to Sahel to do six months of teaching math. Six months has stretched into three and a half years! It is now time for the next step in Mr. Field’s life, and he is going home to England where he will apply for jobs. He is looking for something in management accounting possibly for a corporation with sponsored studying on the side. His first choice would be a job with the National Health Service. The idea of this training is so that he could possibly go back into missions when he is more qualified.

Mr. Field has been involved in many things while here at Sahel and in Niger. These include teaching, Student Council, coaching soccer, organizing Field Day, organizing Math Day, Admin Team, doing scheduling, Singles Bible Study, dorm sitting, and helping at the Foyer.

When asked why someone should come and teach here at Sahel, Mr. Field had a whole list of good reasons. There are small classes and great kids who you can get to know well. It is a great staff and missionary community to live in and work with. It is great to experience a different culture and stretch your boundaries. There are many opportunities to integrate into the local community if you want to. During break times there are great places to visit. Two highlights were his visits to Agadez and Timbuktu, both famous desert cities. It’s not all fun and adventure and Mr. Field did admit that there are hard things about living here as well. It’s difficult not having transportation, being single and having to cook (not much fast food around). It’s just all around more difficult to do the daily living things, especially when life gets so busy.

Some of Mr. Field’s favorite memories during his time here have been:

• the play the grade 7/8 class did imitating his classroom;
• playing soccer in the rain.(twice at end of the year games);
• generally talking and getting to know students; and
• the baptism services.

Lastly, Mr Field’s advice to the new teacher who is going to take his place, “Take time to build relationships; it’s a great opportunity to do more than just teach. His advice to Sahel students is, “Make the most of the time you have here. It’s a unique environment even if it’s not where you would choose to be.”

Thank you, Mr. Field, for all of your hard work, great teaching, heart of service, and all the many ways you have invested in each of our lives! You will be greatly missed!  ~Aunt Cathy

At Sahel Academy, assembly period on Wednesday afternoon is never boring. Sometimes students are in charge of the assembly, sometimes parents talk about their ministry, and every once in a while we play games.

Yesterday in Assembly we played one of Pastor Dave’s extremely wild and wacky games, like Djiboutian Baseball which we played last year at the plateau. This time we played Blind Flamingo Kickball which was completely different, but involved some ridiculous and challenging rules nonetheless and really mixed up traditional kickball.

Rule one: The fielding team has to stand on one leg, hold the other leg with their strong hand, and pickup and throw the ball with their weak hand.

Rule two: The kicking team has to kick and run the bases blindfolded.

As the rules would indicate this game held great potential for embarrassment as standing on one leg the whole time actually proved quite challenging. We divided up into our Field Day teams and played two games at once out on the field: Green vs. Yellow, and Gray vs. Blue. Yellow and Gray were the winners. Both the Secondary and Elementary students got a chance to play. It was a lot of fun for everyone who participated.

Besides having fun during our usual assembly period Pastor Dave actually used these games to teach important life lessons. To help the runner run the bases, the kicking team was allowed to put coaches at each base. The runner needed to know the voice of their coach and listen very carefully to it. Many times the fielding team tried to yell at the runner and confuse them. Pastor Dave talked about how we need to be firmly grounded in the Bible so that we would be able to recognize voices that are trying to lead us astray. When it was my turn to kick I made sure I knew who my coaches were so that I could know whose voice to listen for. In the same way I think it is very important to read the Bible daily and be strongly grounded in God’s Word. Pastor Dave talked about how we need to set our hearts and minds on things above not on earthly things.

Yesterday’s assembly was a good example of how fun and games can be used to teach spiritual truth. Sahel’s integration of spiritual values into every aspect of school is something that I think many students may take for granted but will ultimately be very thankful for.  ~Matt

 The masquerade was a wonderful evening of elegance and relaxation. Considering that it was placed right before a couple of very busy weeks, Student Council did an amazing job. They worked incredibly hard to bring together a wonderful banquet. There was good food, an amusing raffle and hard to beat dancing. The grassy area was decorated with Christmas lights, glittering masks and purple, black and blue sashes. The atmosphere was comfortable, yet very sophisticated with the aroma of pasta primavera, lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce floating in the air. Everyone started out by socializing and checking out each other’s creative masks. We all then sat down for a delicious Italian buffet. As we were eating, a raffle was held that required the ‘winner’ to do something crazy to get the prize. After supper was over, you could either watch Beauty and The Beast or learn the Waltz and Two-step. The evening ended with laughter and I would say it was a completely successful evening! ~Jessica

Eagle’s Nest dorm went camping on Saturday to the river with the Winsors who were there to replace the Smiths while they were on their weekend off. Mr. Winsor worked on setting up the campsite for so long just to make it fun for us. I personally found it interesting because I’ve never camped before or slept in a tent. When we got there Mr. Winsor gave us some rules and then we started unloading the supplies from the cars. We girls slept in the biggest tent. After setting up, Tam and John got out their guitars and played some songs while the rest of us sang along. Soon after that, we ate hot dogs and pasta salad for supper and Mi-Yeon’s birthday cake for dessert. When we were all done filling our empty stomachs we had devotions and more singing.

Mr. Winsor, who is a great planner, had a game for us to play. The game went like this. The person on the front line was allowed to have their eyes open and hold a flashlight. All the other people had to have their eyes closed and follow the lead of the person with the flashlight. It was terrifying for all of us with our eyes closed, but we had to trust the lead. Sadly, I got a thorn on the back of my heel, so I couldn’t go on. It was good because we learned to trust each other and work together to reach our finish point.

At night we had the camp fire set up and the secondary students got to stay up chatting for a long time. The next day we had a simple Sunday devotional in the morning and then we went on the pirogue to experience the river. Before lunch we also went hiking. Looking down from the cliff onto the river was such a beautiful sight, and once again I saw the amazing creation of God in a little country called Niger that not many people know about. ~Esther

Adam’s perspective:

This Saturday, November 3rd, was a busy day for many people. While several missionaries and a few national artisans tried to sell things outside, the student council ran a 50’s style diner in the dining hall with hot pancakes and coffee.

Inside 1000 cfa could buy you all the pancakes you could eat and coffee or hot chocolate to wash it all down. Meanwhile, oldies music played in the background creating a fun atmosphere. Another attraction was the Lego building competition where people of all ages had a chance to compete in constructing first a space ship then a land vehicle much fun was had.

Outside a horde of potential buyers swarmed around the tables rented out by the senior class which also had a table of its own where they sold donated. Many other people came hoping to empty their cluttered closets and earn a little money in the process.

Overall it was a fun-filled morning where almost everybody found something to do. Both student council and the senior class made a decent profit to help fund more fun events later on in the year.

Jonathan’s perspective:

It’s Saturday morning. The seniors have all helped set up the scene for their first annual garage sale. It is almost 8:30. Miss Carriger, Jonathan, Adam and Matt are frantically pricing last minute items, setting up the items and making their senior table ready with all the stuff on it. Thirty minutes later, the stuff is ready to be sold. All four of these hard-working people are finally done and are eagerly waiting for the series of fortunate events to begin. Meanwhile, Student Council is preparing for a pancake breakfast at which they hope to make some profit too.

 It is finally 8:30!! The distant car sounds can be heard over the horizon. Customers are arriving. The seniors and StuCo are going to make some profit today. Artisans are coming down the dirt sodden road to sell their jewelry and weaponry in hope to gain something out of what they have skillfully made.

The dining hall is decorated with records hanging on the wall. You could hear the 70’s-music, the noise and activity from outside as people gathered around tables, chatting and getting caught up with each other. The music and the atmosphere were now becoming one harmony, both inside and out. It is a great gathering as many people from outside the community have come to join in the fun and interact. People from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds are interacting; exotic clothes and flamboyant dresses are clashing and blending together as we speak-literally!! The many voices that are heard sound like one piece of music blending together, each piece a part of the grand design that God has created.

The goodies were numerous. Ranging from freebies to Christmas ornaments, to artisan stuff to clothes-you name it- we probably had it! Many people came by to every stand and found a thing or two that they wanted. Some of the more African people bartered and we reduced the cost to make their day.

Chantelle’s perspective:

On Saturday the senior class and Student Council held a ‘double-whammy’ fundraiser. The seniors had a garage sale, where they sold donated items and rented tables for other people to sell stuff. They had creatively named it ‘A Saturday of Fortunate Events’. Student Council had a pancake breakfast with a 60’s twist. They decorated the inside of the Dining Hall as a 60’s diner called the Bee-Bop Pancake Shop. The StuCo members dressed like they were from the 60’s era with poodle skirts for the girls, and slicked-back hair for the guys!

I saw the from a very different perspective than most Sahel students. With my mom helping StuCo and my dad doing other stuff, I was the one responsible for our 6 garage sale tables. We were finally selling TONS of our old junk! When the sale started, there were very few people wandering around. Things were fairly easy, and I sold some things. As the hours passed however, I began to feel like I was running the Grande Marche single-handedly. There were so many people coming to buy our stuff, and I was feeling very overwhelmed! One small problem was change. There never seemed to be enough change around, and at least twice someone had to get change from elsewhere. There was also some confusion over purchased items. Some people bought things and thought that I would remember what they had purchased, and they could leave them sitting nearby. With so many people, and so much to sell, I didn’t remember for a few people. I accidentally sold something that someone else had reserved (but thankfully hadn’t paid for). I almost did this twice, but someone corrected me before I made the same mistake. It was very embarrassing.

I hadn’t eaten breakfast and as all this was going on, I was getting hungrier and hungrier. It was past 10 am before I was able to eat any of the pancakes that were being sold. Mr. Gillespie brought me something to eat when the crowed had thinned a bit. When you’ve waited that long for breakfast, it really tastes GOOD! By noon people were leaving, and we began to clear up and consolidate all the items that we hadn’t sold. It was incredible how much we had gotten rid of and along with that, the amount of money we made! Although parts of the morning were stressful for me, it was a very productive morning.

On October 29, 2007, six people were baptized before the missionary community. Everyone looked a little nervous, maybe a little cautious, All I can do is to tell my side of the story. Every since I was in pre-school (and before), I have been raised in a Christian home. I was expected to love Jesus and follow Him. I had no problem with that. In fact, I liked it a lot. As I matured in my Christianity, conviction and realization surrounded me as I dug deeper into how to really live my normal day-to-day life for Him. I knew I needed to be baptized - it’s commanded - and the longer I put it off, the more convicted I felt. As I was being dunked under that cleansing water, I was more convinced that I was saved through God’s grace. I now feel like I don’t have to worry about my relationship with God. I believe that before I was baptized, I had already given my life to God, and I was His. But now, after being baptized, everyone knows it - and that brings glory to God. ~Jessica

God’s Girls is a club for girls in 3^rd- 6^th grade. Every Thursday we meet after school. We usually start with a snack, say a prayer, and then study the Bible. Right now we are studying about Heaven. We also memorize verses, and sometimes play games to help us know them even better. Our time ends with a craft or game with Rianna or Miss Tiffany. I’m looking forward to God’s Girls this year. ~Moriah and Alicia

5^th and 6^th graders had a chameleon - for a day. When we went to P.E., Aunt Cathy, who is our teacher in P.E., had found it. Cody Bliss was the one who took it back to our class. We put it in a small cage until Mrs. B. gave us a better and bigger one that was made of mosquito netting. In the afternoon we gave it a lot of grasshoppers to eat and put them in its cage. When we got to it next morning though, it was laying in its cage dead. Right before recess we took it out and buried it in a grave behind the new elementary building. It lies there now.

Faithful Prayer Supporters, I’m sending you this special update which includes a letter from a missionary family here in Niger. It mentions a major concern of ours that we ask you to pray about tonight as you meet together and then this week as you think about us. Thank you.

 "Whenever you create a file or install a new program on the computer you want to make a backup copy of whatever it is.  Then in case the original copy gets corrupted or deleted,  you haven’t lost all your work.  In a war, the troops on the front line need plenty of support and backup to maintain their momentum.  Without adequate transportation facilities, doctors, air support, food, water, and ammunition, the army cannot do its job. Planning ahead and working together as a team are essential if the war effort is to succeed. Likewise,  any country needs a good infrastructure to maintain a certain standard of living.  Roads, airports, electric grids, water and telephone lines, sewers, schools, postal systems, offices, churches, and manufacturing plants are all essential to our way of life.  But what if all these backup systems were pulled out from under us and we had little support to continue living our lives the way we always have?" (Written in 2002)

 

We have often said that if it were not for the support of Sahel Academy, we would not be able to continue our work in Tera.  That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but we certainly would not be able to continue with the same amount of effectiveness.  We also look at how well Daniel and Suzanne are doing and know it is in part because of the partnership we have enjoyed with Sahel Academy.

Because we are 100% behind Sahel Academy and their mission, we come to you with two very urgent prayer requests.  By mid-January (or before!) we need to have a high school math teacher (or two) and a principal (grades K-12).  It would be ideal if the principal were also familiar with the accreditation process for ACSI and MSA, but we won’t be too picky at this point!  We need somebody to fill each of these positions until early June. 

Our high school math teacher came to do a year and will be finishing 3 1/2 years in December!  So, a warning comes attached to this plea: You may like it well enough to stay!  He extended another 1/2 year this year because no math teacher was in the pipeline for the fall, but he needs to be back in England in December.  Our principal has finished a four-year term and is on a much-deserved home assignment in Australia.  She will be back for the beginning of the school year in August 2008.

Please pray for these positions to be filled.  Our teaching staff is already over-extended and cannot take on any more classes.  Our director is trying to do his job, the principal’s job, and keep the school moving forward in the accreditation process and has more to do than one man can possibly ever get done.  Some of the teachers have taken on extra responsibilities to try to lighten his load.

Please think about filling one of these positions.  If you are interested, contact SIM directly through their website (www.sim.org), write to them at  Box 7900, Charlotte, NC  28241, or call them at 1-800-521-6449 or 1-704-588-4300.  We’d love it if you were able to partner with us in reaching the Songhai.

It is also possible to come to Sahel Academy under EBM (www.ebm.org) or SIL (www.sil.org).  If that were to be your preference, contact them through their websites.

Thanks so much for your prayers for these urgent needs.

Love,

Nancy and John DeValve (and Suzanne who needs a math teacher!)

Maybe you are God’s answer to this prayer. If you need more information, please visit the school website at www.sahelacademy.com.