David's third letter from Niger
Does I2UIY mean anything to you? Didn't think it would.
It meant nothing to me until I arrived at the SIM Guest House in Niamey.
I2UIY is the call sign for Paolo Cortese, an Italian amateur radio ham who,
along with two of his friends, is living at the SIM Guest House with me.
Meet my new mates: Silvano, Marcello and Paolo. Apparently they have come
to Niamey on a Ham Expedition. Niger is one of the top twenty sought after
contacts for hams around the world. The reasoning is simple and will not
be lost on the twitcher in your midst this morning. There are only four
licensed radio hams in Niger. All are expats and only one has any interest
in using his gear for recreational purposes: that's Dan, one of the SIM Air Pilots.
Consequently hams around the world who want to add Niger to their list of countries contacted have to hope that some day they hit on Dan and that he's willing to talk to them. That makes Niger a rare contact in amateur ham terms with the same thrill as a rare sighting in twitcher terms. Having Niger on your list of contacts made is a cool thing. Paolo says "We are here to make many thousands of people happy! We will be on de air 24 hours a day. De boys know we are here as we have posted the expedition on the web. Dey are queuing up to talk to us. We will make many people happy these days!" It doesn't make me happy. It plays havoc with my little short wave radio so I'm living without the World Service at the minute; but from what I can gather your news isn't particularly good this weather.
Paolo, Silvano and Marcello are passionate men. They talk with passion and much laughter. They eat their pasta with passion, boy does Paolo eat! They are football fanatics and alongside the Italian flag flying from the highest antenna on the compound is the flag of their football team, "De best team in de woooooorld!" They are also passionate about coffee. They have brought with them kilos of the best Lavazza coffee. They have their own stove top Mocha maker and, my were they impressed with my little one person coffee maker? "Dis is wonderful" cried Paolo as he took yet another photo of me with my personal expresso maker. However, their passion knows no cultural sensitivity. Dan and Lisa, two gentle Americans, have brought lunch to the guest house and gallons of iced tea. They have also mentioned something about liking speciality coffees, flavoured coffees. Big mistake! "I travel to America and I take de good coffee with me." says Paolo. "You know what dey do with coffee in America? Ha! Dey ruin it! Dey take me to Starbuuuks, dey say, all eager to hear what I have to answer, what you thinka de coffee? I say, dis nice day outside today. Dey ask again, what you thinka de coffee? I tell dem - its rubbish!" Silvano falls about the place laughing. Marcello has caught the general drift and is wiping his eyes. "More iced tea anyone?" asks Lisa sheepishly. Pray for me stuck in Niamey, but do not worry about me. Silvano says I'm to use as much of their coffee as I want - I think I'll be ok.
My new friends have stirred some thoughts about call signs and the balance of cultural sensitivity and passions. Paolo is unashamed of his identity as an Italian and a radio ham. It causes me to reflect on how discreetly I wear my identity as a Christian. I am more convinced than ever that what I know about God and his grace to us in Christ can make many people happy in such a profound way, but today I am greatly challenged by my silence.
I have learned a lot about the importance of cultural sensitivity and relevance on this trip to Niger. I think I'm fairly committed to trying to make the gospel understandable and meaningful in our changing cultural and social situation in Belfast. But I'm challenged about the degree to which I can allow that sensitivity to become fear or a convenient cover to excuse a dulling of my passion for the gospel. I have been reminded that total insensitivity to cultural difference need not necessarily be offensive when there is passion, warmth and a great deal of kindness on display as there is with my Italian friends. Sensitivity is not meant to be a substitute for passion. May God give us the grace to love Jesus and our community with real passion and may there be much warmth and kindness on display in our life together.
I trust you have a good day in Windsor. I'm disappointed I can't be with you but the guy who is standing in should be OK! John Stott has, over many years, been a help and inspiration to many through his preaching and writing. As a young and inexperienced Pastor I benefited greatly from conferences organized in the mid-eighties by the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity which John Stott had the vision to establish. The 10 day conferences provided teaching, encouragement and an opportunity for fellowship with other pastors from around the world. It is no exaggeration to say that the two conferences I attended had a profound impact on the nature and shape of my own ministry. I learnt a great deal about how to try and think biblically in a changing world and found myself changed in the process.
My dear brother, may God continue to bless your ministry in the gospel. I pray that you may be refreshed through your visit with the church in Windsor. You are among good people - the best!