Jours Ordinaires

Ordinary Days

So much of life is just ordinary – things we do that don’t seem like much in the scheme of things – but much of life is made up of what I call just ordinary day stuff.  Some things need to be done.  Some things make life fun or more interesting. Some things are hard.  Some things just are!

One of our ordinary day things that we “count” on is a working Internet so we can get e-mail, do our blog, stay in touch with many of you.  For the most part that has worked even better than we expected.  That is until the past couple of weeks.  We really missed being in touch and are grateful that it seems up and slowly running again.

We have discovered that when you stay in one place for a while as we have here in Niamey, you begin to make new routines – new ordinary day stuff.

Living here at the Center, we have some things we do most days, like the prayer and break time, and taking Florentine and her two children home every evening. 

Break Time

Break Time

Florentine on the right

Florentine's kids are on the left

We have neighbors who also live here and office at the center – most are SIL expat staff or bible translators.  We see them everyday.

We also often have new people coming to stay at the center for one night to two months or in our case six months.  This center is part guest house – like a small motel.  People who have been part of SIL over the years or people who have been on furlough, return and stay at the guest house.  People coming into town for conferences will stay here for a night or two.  People who live here get really excited because “old” friends or new people are coming.  And for us it has been nice as we have had exposure to many people from many different parts of the world.  They add new life around here and frankly sometimes that is really needed.

One of our new “routines” is to grocery shop on Sunday mornings.  We have been going at that time because there is much less traffic than during the week – easier drive!!  I often go during the week too with one of the women from the center.  I’ve included some pictures of the some of the four or five grocery stores that we visit hoping at least one of them will have something on our list. This is not one stop shopping.  I have been looking for strawberry yogurt for a couple of weeks.  None available in any of the stores.

Baaklini is a grocery store

Marina Market

The nearby 7/11 i.e. Talit

I have had I think 6 dentist appointments to both get and check and recheck my temporary tooth – praying to get home to Dr. Steele before I have to do anything more.  I have had 4 x-rays on this tooth and been on antibiotics twice!! 

Almost just like home

Mary and I went to visit Anna – the Nigerien seamstress who had the fire that burned up her sewing machine – to see her recently born baby daughter.  She doesn’t have her new sewing machine yet and with a new baby I think she isn’t quite ready – but she has one picked out so hopefully she will be able to sew again.   

Anna and her baby

Elgin has a new fast food – only it isn’t fast – more like a drive through where you pick it up and bring it home.  Brochettes done on grills right along the street are a culinary delight for Elgin – actually a break from all the rice, pasta and potato diet. 

Fast Food

I continue to take my early morning walks which are really delightful right now as the temperatures are actually cool.  So cool for the African guards who are the only other people up this early, that they are wearing knit hats or turbans and heavy coats!!  The night guards who are still on duty early in the morning speak very little French but like me can say “bonjour” and “ca va.”  The greetings and the smiles are a wonderful way to begin my day. 

None of these in and of themselves is life changing or terribly exciting or making a big difference in the world but through little routines like these we are integrating and sharing in the life here.  And this is good.