I hope you and your families are well, anyway, and are enjoying peace only. Thanks for the letters and emails, which are all read and appreciated, and reread. And reread. Thank you also for the various suggestions I have received as to where the hyena goes at night. Most instructive.

In Gorom-Gorom times are quite hard, to be honest. I mentioned in my last letter that the rains here had been sporadic but not disastrous. After writing that we had three weeks with no rain at all followed by a strong wind which destroyed much of the millet. The week after that there was a heavy rain (125 mm in three hours) which flooded our part of the town and knocked down some of the houses. I often feel that this region is just not designed for living in.

Fulani men and women are usually stoical about suffering, allowing no outlet for their sorrow or exasperation. They simply shrug and say "Ngesa fuu boni. Al hamdilillay" (The field is ruined. Praise God) or "Suudu am saami. Al hamdilillay" (My house fell down. Praise God). Only occasionally does this composure slip. A few days after the flooding, I visited my friend and language helper Ibrahiim. Smiling, he told me that the day before the rain he had bought a cartful of mud-bricks to enlarge his house, and had laid them out to dry. Praise God, he said, all the bricks are ruined. Then he added quietly, "We are very tired. We want to leave this town."

Thank you for praying for Musa and Abdullai. Abdullai is well. He has started bringing his friend Hamadou to church on Sundays. Musa is okay too, so far as I know. After making that initial commitment he disappeared for three weeks. Then he came back one afternoon and we ate a watermelon together. I asked him "Noy laawol Iisaa?" (How is the Way of Jesus) and he said, "Jam tan". Then he disappeared for another two weeks. Wherever he is, please pray that he will be aware of God's nearness and love.

I have started learning the one-string, a traditional instrument which is half drum half guitar. The idea is to eventually be able to use it in village outreach, as an accompaniment to story-telling. Those around me have been understandably concerned during these early days of tentative twanging, and have suggested various remote places for me to practice. Nevertheless I am beginning to make some progress. In the words of the old hymn:

There's no discouragement
can make him once relent
his first avowed intent
to play the one-string.

There have been some discussions with SIMand Horizons about our forthcoming move from Gorom. Keith and I will not be formally seconded to SIM, but we will join the SIM Djibo team and be accountable to their team leader Jim Harrington. Jim and his wife Helen are from New Zealand; they have been in Djibo since 1991 and started a Fulani church in the town. We have been with them this weekend and done a bit of househunting. We are still hoping to make the move in early January. Please pray that we would find the right house and for good friendships with the Djibo team. And in the meantime that God would help us to be salt and light in Gorom.

Love to you and your families.

Alla beydu jam,

Steve