DC:
But in recent years I believe that famine that we had in 2005, a news person, the media got hold of it and finally started to air, and that’s when it started becoming a forgotten crisis. But God has not forgotten Niger.
LR:
God was raising up a bunch of kids.
DC:
We believe there’s more people out there that God has called to Niger that need to answer that call.
LR:
The number-one need, Neal, practically and logically speaking, the kind of people you need, the kind of—and I know you’re starting school. I mean, you are right in the process—
NC:
Well, we need people that have a vision to reach the unreached, that’s the first thing. But we have opportunities in the area of education. We’re believing for some medical outreach. But we need people that are really just ready to come and be available, faithfulness and ability is probably the biggest thing.
You don’t have to have a lot of qualifications. If you’re ready to say, “Yes, Lord,” He’s ready to use you. The harvest is great, the laborers are few. And that’s because the laborers aren’t willing to go.
And that’s where we’re just telling people, “Come. It’s time. You’ve got to answer the call to the mission field. You’ve got to go out and reach the harvest.”
LR:
Is there air-conditioning?
DC:
No.
LR:
Is it the hottest place in the country, in the world? Yes. Is it a mission field? Yes. Is it the poorest country in the world? Yes. Are people starving? Yes.
NC:
But, you know, it doesn’t matter. I mean, it doesn’t affect you if you’re hot. When you’re leading somebody to Christ, you’re fulfilling the purpose that God had for you. It doesn’t matter how sweaty you are, whatever it is. You are telling somebody Jesus loves them for the first time. It’s awesome!
DC:
I developed, I guess I would call it maybe a coping mechanism when we first got there. It is a difficult place to live. It’s harsh. It’s a harsh climate. It’s harsh on your physical body. It’s harsh on your electronics. It’s harsh on everything for people there.
And there was a time I felt discouraged, “What am I doing here? You mean God really called me to this place?” And it was just a momentary, it wasn’t a long-term. But, I mean, it was just one of those—and I was hot, you know.
NC:
So then we had to say, “Well, you’ve got to get out and go do some ministry.”
DC:
I had already committed that day to go out to a village. I wouldn’t have gone, had I not already made the commitment. And I went out there, and I was with those people. I was in a village service. And it was just like, “This is what it’s all about.” And I came back so renewed and refreshed after being in ministry.
And Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of my Father.” And that’s what I realized, so now I know whenever I start felling like that, I need to get out and do some ministry. And it’s my fix every time.