Raindrops on tin roofs

By Julie Faulkner | Niger in West Africa

Representative image.

Pastor Amos, an SIM partner, was exhausted. His home in Niger had been at risk of flooding. Close friends had moved in with his family after their home flooded. The pastor was moving his own household possessions to the church property to keep them dry in case his house flooded. People commented that the sound of raindrops on tin roofs at night, instead of bringing comfort, was bringing fear and dread.

Finally, the dyke broke on August 24. 230,000 people were displaced from their homes. It took four weeks for the waters to recede.

In late September, Pastor Amos began to check in on the neighbours outside of their church. People were slowly returning to their land to see if they could repair and rebuild. He took notes of who had lost their homes or parts of their homes and what their needs were.

About two weeks after the flood waters receded, he contacted 50 of the neighbour families. Pastor Amos gathered together several men from his church, and they put together a basket for each neighbor that included mosquito nettings, soap, 25 kilos of rice, and some large floor mats.

The church elders spent the morning buying all the supplies and the afternoon distributing them. It was a long day, but a good day.

When the distribution was over, Pastor Amos went into the church and was doing some sermon preparation when there was a knock at the door. He opened the door to find a man standing there.

When he asked if he could help him, the man asked if the pastor had given out some food that day. Pastor Amos said yes, and to his surprise the man remained silent, but tears began to slip down his face!

The man said that he had no words to express his gratitude. Little did Pastor Amos know, the man had lost his job two months ago, and there was no food in his house for his family. That day he came home to his wife cooking them a meal and smiling.

Pastor Amos took that moment to praise God for his perfect timing and provision. The pastor laughed when he told me that now each time the man passes the church, he stops to talk for a minute and trusts God will use these precious moments.

Help those affected by the Niger River flooding

Would you consider donating to the Niger Emergency Relief fund to help many like Pastor Amos minister to their hurting communities? Visit our donation portal, select the office nearest you, and use project #97131.

Pray with us

• Ask God for this compassion to bring this man and his family to know Christ. Please pray that they will see God’s lovingkindness and receive the free gift of salvation.

• Pray for the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been altered by the flood. Ask that SIM’s food and resource distribution would help many more who are struggling.

• Pray that the Nigerien church would be an active source of light, pointing many to the eternal hope of the gospel.