A Light Like No Other

A letter from Claire Zuhosky, serving in Niger

November 2017

Last month, we were blessed to have Debbie Braaksma, Presbyterian World Mission Africa area coordinator, and Josh Heikkila, Presbyterian World Mission regional liaison for West Africa, come to Niger. During their visit, we were able to travel to many different regions of Niger, receive firsthand updates on many of the Evangelical Church in the Republic of Niger’s (EERN) current projects, pray for pastors and evangelists, and encourage our brothers and sisters in the expansion of the church as they seek to fulfill their vision of reaching the unreached. Wow! The testimony of God’s work in Niger is so vast, so inspiring, and so spiritually stirring. One of the most inspiring moments for me was getting to see the new Boukoki Duex Church in Niamey, one of the churches burned in the riots just after my arrival in the country in 2014. It has just finished the rebuilding process. What a magnificent site it is! One of the biggest churches in Niger, it stands as a witness to God’s protection and provision for his children, a lasting testament of beauty from ashes.

Pastor Maman and family in front of plot to build Youth Hosting Center in Sabon Machi.

We also had the blessing of visiting two of the sites ready to start construction for the youth hosting centers that will provide housing to Christian and Muslim students walking from 15 to 25 kilometers (9-16 miles) to school. They will stay there through the week, receiving help with homework and participating in Bible study, prayer and discipleship. We were able to speak with both Pastor Maman, located at Sabon Machi, and Pastor Nomaou, located at Dan Kasari, who are both very excited to be working with the students in this capacity. They anticipate 20 to 30 participants who will have to walk at most five minutes to school. This will give Christian students the opportunity to be in fellowship and grow in their faith as these pastors and their families seek to disciple them. Muslim students will be encouraged but not forced to take part.

Over the past four years, I have become very close with the children of our church and their families. Each Sunday, they bring me so much joy through their smiling faces, eager desire to be picked up, and laughter as we play together. I also really enjoy going with them to children’s Sunday school to help wrangle all their energy so they can listen to the lesson. This year, I had the joy of celebrating my birthday with children and their families—my guard’s family and fellow mission co-workers Rachel and Michael Ludwig and their children. I invited them over to my house for dinner and a movie. We projected “Ice Age: The Meltdown” on the wall in my living room, which was a really wonderful and interesting experience, as the movie was only offered in French but half of the audience understood Hausa and the other half understood French. Thus, many of the laughs came from watching the comedy unfold before our eyes or hearing others laugh first and wanting to join in the fun. Admittedly, my laughter was among the loudest. And why not? All you want is for the squirrel to finally get the nut he has been chasing the entire film.

This is a photo of Josh, President Kadade and Pastor Namow Samie of Dan Kasari, one of the youth hosting center sites.

Many thanks for all of your support, prayer, financial gifts, and words of encouragement! Each day in Niger has been a blessing, as I have had the opportunity to really know my brothers and sisters in Christ here, to be inspired each day by their work and sacrifice. Debbie Braaksma touched my heart when she ended her visit in saying, “I really enjoy seeing you interact with the locals here. I see you have made real friends.” My Hausa name is “Husky,” which means light, and Claire means light in French. The vice president of the EERN said it is a very fitting name for me, as I am always joyous when he sees me. I could not be so without your prayers and continued support. There is no light like the light He gives!

The new Boukoki Deux Church in Niamey.

Prayer Requests:

• For the youth of Niger as they continue to go to school, find opportunities to make a little money, and participate in church activities—that God would give them a vision for a better future and the steps to take to get there, and that he would grant them the patience to stay it.
• For God to provide blessings of unfathomable account for the Youth Hosting Centers, spiritually, financially, and programmatically. Please lift up Pastor Maman’s family and Pastor Nomaw Samie, that God would give them wisdom for the road ahead in shaping the lives of youth.
• For opportunities to use my gifts of photography and video to help aid the communication agenda of the EERN.
• For the almost finished construction of a pastor’s house that my church has commenced, that they would have all the materials needed and the construction would finish on time with no issues.
• For soldiers of Niger and many other countries fighting against Boko Haram and ISIS. We have lost many good men here in Niger to this fight. We pray for soldiers’ safety, health, and safe return to their families.

Your Sister in Christ,

Claire Zuhosky, M.Div.
Youth Center Development Specialist

Please read this important message from Jose Luis Casal, Director, Presbyterian World Mission

Dear Friend of Presbyterian Mission,

What a joy to send this letter! As Presbyterian World Mission’s new director, I thank God for your faithful support of our mission co-workers. The enclosed newsletter celebrates the work you made possible by your prayers, engagement, and generous financial gifts. We can’t thank you enough.

After I began in April, I met with mission co-workers and global partners and was blessed to see firsthand the mighty ways God is working through them! Our global partners are asking us to help them move forward with life-changing ministries. Because of your support, we can say “yes” to these creative and exciting initiatives.

I write to invite you to make an even deeper commitment to this work. First, would you make a year-end gift for the sending and support of our mission co-workers? We need your gifts to end the year strong. With your help, we filled two new mission co-worker positions and plan to recruit for others. The needs in the world are great, and World Mission is poised to answer the call to serve.

Second, would you ask your session to add our mission co-workers to your congregation’s mission budget for 2018 and beyond? Our mission co-workers serve three-year or four-year terms. Your multi-year commitment will encourage them greatly.

Our mission co-workers are funded entirely from the special gifts of individuals and congregations like yours. Now more than ever, we need your financial support.
In faith, our mission co-workers accepted a call to mission service. In faith, World Mission sent them to work with our global partners. In faith, will you also commit to support this work with your prayers and financial gifts?

With gratitude,

Jose Luis Casal
Director

P.S. Your gift will help meet critical needs of our global partners. Thank you!