JR: We would like to be able to build a school where we’re sending out these meals. I think that it’s something that seems to be really doable. Even at the time, my friend Amber was the one who had originally talked about with me. And when she was talking, she’s just like, “You know, I think it would be great if we could go and build a school.” But it was just kind of throwing the idea out.
But as soon as she said it, it was like, “Sure, why not? Sounds great.” It’s not like, “Well, that’s nice. Maybe one day.” It was like, “We can do this. We could really make this happen.”
We were talking about we went to Africa together the first time, so both of us just love it. And so we were like, “Hey, this is a great idea. We should go out. We would love to go out there and help kind of get the ball rolling and then see it once it’s done.”
It could really impact a lot of people. For us, it’s a school, but for them, you know, they get an education, they get food, they get to live for years longer because they get nutrition that could drastically change them.
LR:
The poverty level, by government, is the poorest country in the world, hottest country in the world. And you chose to live there. Go figure!
NC:
Well, the harvest is great, and we’ve got to go where the harvest is.
LR:
You know, Christians on the mission field don’t think like other people. They think in terms of the opportunity as the coolest thing in the world, that God gives you the privilege of doing this.
DC:
It’s an honor for us to have been a part of something like that. And what Haley was saying, she’s not alone. When people come to Niger, the bug gets them, whatever you want to call it. I don’t know of any visitor that we’ve had—and we’ve had quite a few over the years—and the people say, “I would pay double for this experience.”
And those people by and large are all part of supporting us, part of our partner base, because it’s in them. They’ve been there, and part of their heart is for that nation. And I believe that now is the time for Niger. The windows of heaven are open over Niger.
When we first started raising our support back in 1997, we would talk to pastors and churches. And we’d say, “We’re going to Niger.”
“Oh, Nigeria?”
“No, no, Niger, because at that time people didn’t even know Niger existed.
NC:
The news media calls it “the forgotten tragedy,” because it’s just there.