February 2008

Mission Update, Thursday February 14, 2008

Happy Valentines Day,  :-)

Every year there is a softball tournament in the neighboring country of Burkina Faso.  This year, all three boys are part of a team that is representing Sahel Academy.  This will be Justin and Chris's third time to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, and Noah's first time.  Wanda and I have never gone for the tournament, but this year we will be going.  We leave early tomorrow and will arrive back, Lord willing, on Monday.  The boys are going with the group from Sahel, and Wanda and I are going with another group from Niamey.  Pray that everyone has safe travel, and pray for safety for the games over the weekend.

We shared with many of you the need of a different vehicle when we returned to Niger.  When we returned, the vehicle we had been driving was in the shop and through many snafus we did not get it back for 3 weeks.  In the interim, because it was getting very hard to get around, we did purchase a small 4 wheel drive car for about $5000.  Not the 4 WD small truck we had hoped for, but it should be usable and more reliable than what we have.  I say have, because we are still waiting, 3 plus weeks after the purchase of that for the paperwork to come through on the license!

I have made some progress on the web site so that there will be extra information there for you to peruse.  Obviously, there will not be much added this weekend, but be assured that we will be adding content as soon as we can.

Thank you for your prayers for us and for your financial partnership.  While we know without the prayers we can do nothing (and don't you dare stop :-)  !!), the financial partnership is really needed as we have found prices here have gone up, the dollar has gone down.  For example, when we were here in 2001, the exchange rate was about 750 CFA to a dollar.  In 2005 it was about 525.  Today it is 432!  A dollar has 57% less buying power.  At the same time gas is $6.20 a gallon!  So this time, let me say a special thank you for those who do support us financially.

Please pray with us:
For safety in travel and in games over the weekend.
For expediting of the paper work for the car license.
For time to update the website with information the will be interesting for all of you.
For strengthening of financial and prayer partnerships

Thanks and we love you all.
Randy, Wanda and the boys

The picture included today is of the English word "love" inscribed in the wall of a rice factory about a mile away from the school.

-- 
Potratz Family: Ministering in Niger, West Africa with SIM
Mission Address: SIM USA, P.O. Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241, 
Account #65825
Niger Address: Potratz, c/o SIM, B.P. 10065, Niamey, Niger