Some Good News from Hamdallaye

If you remember, the last time I went in to Niamey I told you of some sad news about my host family in Hamdallaye, the training town. To remind you, just before the last time I went to visit them, the father of the family passed away from a heart attack, while praying at the mosque and the future of the family was uncertain and there was talk that they might need to split up, leave Hamdallaye and stay with different friends and family members. Well, when I was back in Niamey for swear-in I took a day to go out and visit them, a little nervous about how they were doing. And they’re doing really well. The family has pulled together with a couple other family members coming to stay with them and help out. And what made me most excited was that while they won’t be able to continue paying the rent of their old house, they recently bought some land right nearby and have started building a new one which they will own. I was unbelievably relieved to hear that. One picture is of me with the oldest brother, Mohammed and the two twins Husseina and Hassana who were my best friends in Hamdallaye. We are standing on their new piece of land and behind us you can see the bricks that will become their new house.

The kids all seem to be doing pretty well, though a couple of them still (understandably) seem in the process of recovering from the shock of losing their father. But again, I was thrilled to see the family again and to have a little time to troop around with the kids.

Of course I can’t resist putting in another picture of me with Rookaya. Maybe because she’s so beautiful, I just like trying to catch some of the spotlight for myself when I have the opportunity. She forgot me again when I first got there, which I didn’t take terribly personally whereas she isn’t even 2 yet, but after about 2 minutes she remembered me and agreed to pose for a few glamour shots.