Description of Summer

After a week of intense orientation and a crash lang. course, me and a partner will live in the bush in a mud brick house, eating with a national family, and using a squatty potty. I will penetrate a village with the Gospel through prayer walking and Bible storying, as well as creating a map of my area. I will learn to be jiggly like Jello and walk in the Spirit as never before.Niger is part of the Sahel region on the edge of the Sahara. The majority of the Zerma people live in the southwest region in small houses of mud block construction. French is the official language, but you can almost always find someone who speaks Zerma. Islam is by far the major religion, although there is much mixing with African traditional religion. The rainy season lasts from June to September. April and May are the hottest months with highs sometimes reaching 120 degrees.A simple mud house with bare necessities will be provided. Sleeping will be outside on a mattress with an excellent view of the stars. Mosquito nets will be provided, and you can expect it to be noisy since there are many animals, people, and drums. There is sometimtes electricity but no AC. There is no running water, so I have to plan on a bucket bath and squatty potty in an outdoor community shower area. Meals will be cooked and eaten with a national family and a water filter provided.The customs of the Zerma people are tied closely to their Islamic beliefs. Greetings are integral in my day-to-day interactions and any coversation must be started with asking about family, work, and home, or I will be considered rude. Relationships are a key part of Zerma culture, and life is centered around the family. Shopping is primarily done at the local outdoor market but some small grocery stores are available in the capital city.Terrain and climate is similar to Arizona. In general it is hot and dry. Dusty conditions can be severe in the summer months. April and May are the hottest months with daytime temperatures often reaching 135F or more. Niamey gets an average of 22 inches of rainfall between May and Sept., normally in short downpours with dust and wind. You will be doing lots of walking and other physical work, so being in good shape is important. I hope that this gives you some insights about what my daily life will look like once i get there. I am excited and can't wait to share more about all of my daily activities!!!!