You may have heard us talk about the Wodaabe of Niger. We got this email this past week about a fire that destroyed everything in their compound. Please take a couple of moments to read it and at the end I’ll let you know how you can help.

About two years ago, several families of the Woodaabe tribe made their way to the capital of Niger. They are traditionally nomadic herdsmen living in the sub-sahara desert.   They were searching for new opportunities in life after losing significant numbers of their animals during a severe drought. When they arrived in the capital city, one of their leaders became a follower of Jesus. He began coming to Hosanna church located in the city of Niamey. As this leader began to learn more and grow in his new faith in Christ, others from his village became interested in learning more about Christianity. Other families chose to come to Niamey to find new opportunities to support themselves. Hosanna church made the decision to begin a literacy program with them. Approximately 17% of the people of Niger are literate. A center was opened to help the people use their skills. The center provided a place for displaying and selling their crafts such as leather work, jewelry, clothing and traditional embroidered crafts. One by one, others among this unique group of people began to make the choice to follow Jesus. The joy that consumes them now is truly rooted in their new lives that they have discovered in Christ. The ladies have discovered that the new songs they sing have others wanting this new life in Christ that they have. Twenty-one Woodaabe  currently live in Niamey in one walled compound filled with traditional grass huts enjoying their communal life together. Within this compound, they also have set up a covered area with benches, a blackboard and one table which is used for their literacy classes. Every activity is done as a community. Yesterday, November 10, a fire raced through their compound and destroyed each of the 11 huts where they presently live. As others heard the news, people came to them and offered their help to not only try to salvage any item that could be saved but also to go and find the necessary things for them to have food to eat and a place to sleep for the night. Rice, beans, onions, salt, pepper, oil, and tomatoes were bought for them which provided food for their families, including five children.

Woodaabe literacy teacher looking at burned shelter and benches            

Woodaabe family looking at burned clothing

The immediate needs to be met for these families are:

Food Provisions – rice, beans, oil, millet, powdered milk, onions, salt

Rebuilding of grass huts – cost of one grass hut per family is 50,000 cfa(approximately $100 US or 80 Euros)

Clothing and shoes for adults(16 adults)

Clothing for children is available here(5 children)

Utensils used for cooking – pots, firewood, drinking cups, plastic bowls

Equipment to refurnish the sheltered literacy area – Bibles, desks, tables, blackboard, literacy books, support poles and grass matting for the roof

Items for hygiene – soap, buckets, lotions for skin protection, powder for babies

Thank you very much for your friendship and your desire to serve the people of Niger

Your friends, Yacouba and Renate

If you would like to help out you can send your donation to:

The Heart Church

6215 S. 107^th E. Ave

Tulsa, OK 74133

Or:

Hosanna Institute of the Sahel

PO Box 487

Enid, OK 73702