Eighty years ago, Mr. Ed Rice, an SIM missionary in Nigeria, trekked into southern Niger to establish the first SIM mission station at Zinder. Over the years, fifteen mission stations opened as workers invested their lives in the people of that land. Last November, fifteen retired missionaries, including us, returned to Niger by supersonic jet to find 120 churches partnering in ministry with SIM. The occasion for our return was the Nigeriene church's celebration of SIM's work in Niger over the past 80 years. It was a time of praise to God for what He has done in Niger.

We traveled by van, land cruiser, and airplane about 500 miles and covered most of the stations. In each place, where there had been no believers when SIM began working there, the churches welcomed us and gave us the opportunity to explain the history of the station. The missionaries challenged the churches to continue in the faith. A power point presentation accompanied each meeting, showing the missionaries and their foundational work.

When we arrived in Galmi in 1950 to open a new hospital, there were no believers there, either. In the early years, we saw very little response to the gospel. But on the Sunday we were there, the two churches in town held a joint service, and over 200 people attended! Both churches participated, and the retirees gave greetings. The hospital continues to minister to both the physical and spiritual needs of the patients.

In the celebration on Saturday evening, the former Awana building was packed with hospital staff, Christian workers, and townspeople as we reviewed our ministry at Galmi from its founding. Many of the people who were children and teenagers when we were there brought us joy as they greeted us. Many introduced themselves as "sons (and daughters) of Awana." Awana is a church youth ministry similar to Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, which we adapted to the Hausa culture. The "sons of Awana" sang our old Awana theme song--they still remembered it--and many of them quoted verses they had learned. Many have gone on with the Lord, but some of them have gone back to Islam. Pray that the Lord will continue to work in their hearts and draw them back to Himself despite the Islamic pressure they face in their villages. We have just touched the tip of the iceberg in a country of 20 million people, mostly Muslims.

Our final celebration event was in Niamey on Sunday, December 3. Eight churches celebrated the anniversary together under tents on the Bible School property. A crowd of almost 800 participated. The four-hour meeting didn't seem that long. What a celebration of praise to the Lord who has done so much in Niger!