Fo-Fo! (Hello!)

I am officially in Africa!!! So i got to Niamey Tuesday afternoon. I had no problems traveling and a safe trip here. Its really hard to update because all my teammates and I are taking turns sharing Cody's computer. The internet is very slow and there are seven of us so that's why it has taken me this long to simply let you know I'm here. Therefore, its going to be hard to tell a lot of whats going on by writing on here- takes a lot of time, so many of my stories are just going to have to wait until I get back to the States. I'm going to try to keep prayer requests up though because y'all are so faithful in doing that and its really needed. Prayer is powerful! So since its already past midnight here and I start my day at 6 with incredibly long days... its going to be short and sweet with how you can really pray.
1. learning Zarma-we have intense language study for 4 hours each morning for 5 dyas... once we leave Niamey we are on our own- no translator, kind of scary thought! but it has been fun. today was our first day of learning
2. physical body adjusting to the heat- it is HOT here and it really wears on you physically!!! Please pray that I'll continue to have the strength to stay healthy, eat and minister with motivation.
3. the poverty- living conditions, the lepers, the orphans, the widows, the lame, the hungry- i've seen it all. it's all here and it has been incredibly hard for me to adjust to and accept that its they way life is here. as one of my teammates said the other day, its like we're living the national geographic and we are! ( Niger makes the list for the top 5 poorest countires in the world every year.)
4. The people in the compound and village that I will be living with and interacting with for the next 9 weeks. May their hearts be soften.
5. and finally Tuesday morning we leave early to move to the bush. I'm very excited but it will be a challenge to adapt to a new way of life completely.

Thanks for being faithful in prayer. I miss you all and love you dearly!!!

"Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
declare his glory among the nations
his marvelous deeds among all people."
Psalm 96