Schmidt is in Niger

You may wonder about the odd sounding title for this entry. It comes from a friend of mine at our Niger team pizza supper last December. When he and I saw the title on a poster that read "Schmidt's in Niger", where the apostrophe should not have been added, I whispered to my friend that the title was actually a complete sentence. After thinking about it for a few moments, my friend then loudly exclaimed, in everyone's hearing: "Schmidt is in Niger!"

All grammatical kidding aside, my friend's statement was bang on. After our team's visit to Madaoua in Niger, every team member got to witness that each of Mitchell, Ariana, LaRae and Mike, are indeed in Niger. We got to see, live in and dine in their home. We got to inhale the dust that pervades the buildings in their compound. We got to meet the poor people in their neighborhood. We got to travel in the dry, dusty streets between their house and the market. Most of all, we got to experience being with each precious member of the Schmidt family, and observe them close up.

The Schmidt family are cordial hosts. They gracefully put up twelve Canadien visitors simultaneouly for two weeks without a hitch and without complaining. We visitors never lacked for anything. We were fed so well, that I actually did not lose any weight while being in the world's third poorest country for two weeks. It was just a joy to be with the Schmidts and to see and hear their perspective of being in Niger.

They are a closely knit family. Each gets along well with all the others and they thrive on interaction with each other. The children are good friends and are friends with their parents, while showing the utmost of respect for their mother and father. Being with the Schmidts made me a little embarrassed at how poorly many families in North America relate to each other.

Most of all, I could see God at work in each member of the Schmidt family. I was both challenged and encouraged by witnessing their great faith in knowing they are in the right place at the right time. I appreciate them and greatly admire them for encountering isolation and a lack of luxuries with such grace and peace in their lives. We could all learn alot from this amazing family.

Mike and LaRae and Mitchell and Ariana, thank you for your hospitality and friendship and for making a difference where you are. God bless you all.