Wandering the Sahel

[wanderingthesahel]

July '15 - Transitional #refugee camp in southeast #niger. Many families have been separated, not knowing where relatives have fled. Boko Haram continues to threaten the population of northern Nigeria and southeast Niger, keeping populations in flux. This man had not seen his wife for several months; her father was registered to another camp and she was directed to go with him. Unable to find work, he along with many other young men sit idly each day, hoping for peace to return so they too may return home. "I was an auto mechanic, with my own business. I just want to be able to work, to provide for my family again." #unhcr #bokoharam

[wanderingthesahel]

[wanderingthesahel]

Every person’s tattoos have different meanings, mostly identifying their birthplace and tribe (smaller groups within a larger defined ethnic group). The Woodabe tend to have more facial markings than other Fulbe people; they often also tattoo their arms and legs with various patterns.

[wanderingthesahel]

Of course, not everyone who has fled violence lives with deep, sorrowful gazes. There are many who, by the grace of their Creator, maintain hope for tomorrow. Throughout BH’s reign of terror they have sought out Christians, attempting to wipe out any presence of the Light. Somehow, during my time in Niger in 2007, God brought me and the Fulani people together as though we were somehow meant to be in the same family. Since then, somehow, He continues to lead me to them in some interesting places around the world. No matter where I visit here in Niger, it does not take long for me and the Fulani to find each other. While visiting the conflict area in eastern Niger, I was extremely blessed to spend time with a group of Fulani (Woodabe to be precise) believers who had to flee when BH attacked their village. Leaving deceased brothers and sisters, and much of their precious animals, they made it across the border into Niger. My newfound brothers and sisters live on the edge: the edge of, what seems to me to be the world and the edge of faith, truly living out Christ, with death being their gain. 

Pray for my brothers, with whom nothing in this world can shut out the light that they pour forth. Pray that they will have food to eat and water to drink; many people viewing this will never question whether they will eat or drink tomorrow. Pray that nothing will stop the light of the Gospel going out and healing a broken people. 

[wanderingthesahel]

Kids are amazing, and amazingly resilient. It is always interesting to see how kids can experience terrible things and still wear a smile as big as this guy’s. Of course, the camera never hurts the situation. All throughout the refugee camp, kids came running up to us starving for attention. It was not difficult to get a smile to appear on their little faces. It is my hope that we can partner with local believers to initiate kids sports clubs in the camps to provide children and young teens activities that they can engage in.

[wanderingthesahel]

[wanderingthesahel]

As we walked through a makeshift refugee camp a few women crossed our path. This lady, after stopping to examine us for a few silent moments, motioned for us to move into the shade of a nearby tree. After brief introductions she and two other women invited us into a tent to hear their stories. We situated ourselves inside a hot tent provided by humanitarian agencies and the women began to talk. At first I sat still, wanting to respect their space and keep from distracting their stories. I could not help but freeze their expressions in time with my camera. I moved around while watching them through the lens as they talked. This lady, one of thousands who fled northeastern Nigeria, seeking escape to a nightmare that was all too real. She came from a town that experienced unimaginable atrocities. As I looked into her eyes, her weary expressions seemed to betray her deep thoughts. Even in her brightest moments, joy and hope were never expressions that found their way onto her face.

Pray for those who are living in camps and temporary places. Pray that peace would come soon so that they can return to their homes to rebuild their lives. Most of all, pray that they would find the one and only peace and deep joy that is eternal.

[wanderingthesahel]

Just got back from a long trip across the southern edge of Niger. Four days of driving across the Sahel to encourage and equip pastors and evangelists living on the edge and to listen to the stories of hurting and lost people. The conflict caused by Boko Haram in the northeast of Nigeria and southeastern Niger started in 2013 and is still continuing strong, despite what the media may report-if anything at all. There are stories which beg to be told, to be heard, understood; people who are hungry-physically hungry, spiritually dry and dusty like the terrain they live on. It is often said one’s eyes are the gateway to their soul, you can see into people’s emotions and life by staring into their eyes. I am not a portrait photographer, not much of a photographer period, but I had the privilege of sitting and hearing people’s stories while looking into their eyes. I took a series of portraits while visiting, portraits which reveal, for some, the sorrow and evil they have seen. For others, their eyes reveal a hope and fire that burns in their chests; they long for their enemies to know the One who created them, to have the same everlasting peace and hope that they hold dear to. As you look at the photos, take more than the usual social-media-fleeting-glance; look into the eyes of the subjects and imagine what these eyes have seen, what the soul has experienced on each person’s journey. Pray for eastern Niger and those who are constantly stricken and unable to escape their nightmares come true.

[wanderingthesahel]

Traveling across country and saw this on the horizon. Stopped to stretch our leg and had to wait about 15 min for the sandstorm to lighten up enough to continue driving.

[wanderingthesahel]

Since our house is the same color as the sand we have to use the homing signal in our space suit to find our way back in a sand storm.

[wanderingthesahel]

Big sandstorm rolling in. Usually means a good rain is coming. Unfortunately for us all we got was sand. It is always impressive nonetheless to watch these rolling in, swallowing everything in its path, including the light.

[wanderingthesahel]

Sand storm rolled through last night. Unfortunately all it brought with it was a cool breeze but still no rain. I'm sure there was probably a downpour only a couple km from us.

[wanderingthesahel]

After bouncing around in a convoy of three LCs and an armed escort for 2 hours, we stopped to check on the progress of a well under construction. We were, what most would call, in a very remote area. I looked in the distance and saw a lone man coming towards us; he looked as though he was walking with a purpose. As he passed our group, he paused just long enough to give an abbreviated greeting. I was able to snap some quick photos as he walked away. He said that he travels through the desert searching for animals to kill with his bow and arrow. He had the hide of a hyena, several skulls of gazelle, a fox skin, and several other unidentifiable objects. You never know what you will see out in the desert.

[wanderingthesahel]

Solitary confinement at the prison where thousands were held captive including Mandela and Gandhi for their involvement in the uprising. There is a very eerie feeling walking through the prison. It is surrounded by a large old fort with high banks of earth to isolate the prison from the sounds of the city.

[wanderingthesahel]

No one ever said it would be easy

"There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop." -Mandela I like this quote because it reveals the truth about life on this broken earth in more ways than one.

[wanderingthesahel]

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.

Nelson Mandela

[wanderingthesahel]

This shot only represents a small section of a very long wall full of thousands of rocks. These represent the lives lost during the period of apartheid in South Africa.