A treat from Niger: the best peanuts in the world (in a whisky bottle)

Anyone who has lived in West Africa knows that the best peanuts are bought on the street. They are usually sold in bottles of gin or whisky (see photo). Excellent example of recycling!

Recently our daughters came back from a trip to Niamey and brought us two wonderful bottles of whisky...filled with delicious Nigerien peanuts. These were one of our favorite snacks in Niger, either roasted or caramelized.

Now, take a look at the whisky bottle itself. I've never tried this brand, and I'm not really enticed to do so either. A whisky called "Lava" doesn't seem too promising to me. The "Best Quality" on the label doesn't convince me either.

The bottle is perfect though. I'll stick to Lava's peanuts.

The Swiss Linguistic Landscape: Challenge and Opportunity

Swiss Linguistic Landscape (2000) - www.bfs.admin.ch

We live very close to the so-called "Röstigrabe" or "Barrière de Rösti," that is, the term for the linguistic border, especially between French and German-speaking populations. (Click here for a linguistic map.)

This is not to be confused with the Swiss borders with France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. That's challenging enough when you consider that Switzerland (15,940 sq mi/41,285 km²) is smaller than my home state of Virginia (42,774.2 sq mi/110,785.67 km²).

To give you an idea of this linguistic landscape, look on a Swiss map for Senèdes (where we live, hard to find!) and Giffers (where Lilian works, also hard to find!). Senèdes is a French-speaking village. There are no road signs or shops in German to help those from the other side. Lilian drives ten minutes to the east and she's in Giffers, a German-speaking village. Now, politically, Senèdes and Giffers are both in the same canton (similar to a state). Official documents are always in both languages. Kids learn German, French, and English, so they are supposed to be able to communicate well with each other. Many are bilingual, even trilingual. Swiss people grow up with visual and audible reminders that they live near "other speakers." This ranges from multilingual ingredients on food products, technical instructions, media, and public announcements like in trains. Or on a more personal level, you might meet someone who just speaks to you in their language, since you are supposed to understand it, and you have the right to answer back in your language. This happened one day when I was trying to figure out how to get a bus ticket from the vending machine on the French-speaking side of Fribourg. The bus driver noticed my perplexity and compassionately got out of the bus to help me. So, I started to speak to him in French, but he let out the ticket for me explaining the whole process in his German dialect. It worked. Sometimes this linguistic encounter can be quite simple like when you enter Fribourg (where I work), you are greeted by a bilingual sign with "Fribourg" and "Freiburg." Not too hard to figure that out. Yet, if it were only that easy...the difference in place names can be so drastic as "Düdingen" (in German) and "Guin" (in French)!

Besides these obvious differences between languages, a few things complicate real communication. First, on the German-speaking side, they also speak dialects. So, you can imagine how the French-speaking population feel...they learn standard German in school and not one of the Swiss German dialects (because there are in fact many Swiss German dialects!). This problem can be overcome by the fact that French speakers can just speak standard German, because the German dialect speakers know standard German well...or at least they should...You see they are very proud of their own language and in general don't really like to speak standard German. Ugh. You see how it's complicated...and this leads to the next challenge or opportunity, namely, the use of English!

Second, these days most Swiss youth like to learn and speak English. This is true on both sides of the linguistic border. So, what often happens is that when young people from German and French-speaking sides meet, they often choose English as their common language. It works quite well when both parties feel comfortable expressing themselves in English. This happens in private conversation, but even in university classrooms and research centers. At the University of Fribourg/Freiburg, I constantly here German, Swiss German, French, Italian, and English. Sometimes you can hear people switch from one  language to another in mid-sentence.

So, for English speakers, this means it is fairly easy to mix with Swiss people, right? Yes and no. Yes, with the younger folks, but much less with the older generations. Also, English can only get you so far socially, since it isn't reasonable to expect an entire group (class, family, club, etc.) to switch to English just because you are there. Swiss are hospitable...but let them be Swiss, please. There simply has to be an agreement when English is necessary to allow communication to happen or to get the job done.

Now, you might be wondering what this "Rösti" is all about. It is a Swiss dish like "hashed potatoes," which represents one of those national myths that Rösti is a defining factor between the regions, that is, that the Swiss Germans actually eat more Rösti than their French-speaking compatriots! In fact, people on both sides enjoy this dish and there are different competing recipes for it. So, if you want to eat well, come to Switzerland (there's more than just Rösti!), but even more so, come to Switzerland if you want to experience a linguistic challenge or opportunity!

Salut, Tschüss, Ciao, Bye!

An Action Packed Year 2012

Dear friends,

What an action packed year 2012 was...but we're not going to repeat all that happened. Our transition from Niger to Switzerland was right in the middle (June). 

We have so much to be thankful for...including you all, our friends and family around the world. 

Here are a few recent items for praise and prayer from each of us. We'll start with the kids. 

• Christina moved up to another class mid-December because of her excellent grades. She really likes her new class. We're thankful that she's doing so well in French. 
• Melinda had a great first semester at the Bible School Schloss Klaus in Austria. She will go back for another four months. Pray for the next step: what to study and where? 
• Daniel really likes his apprenticeship in the architect's office in Heimberg. He's enjoying learning high German (at school) and Swiss German (at office and home). This program will continue another three years after this year. So, he's set for awhile!
• Lilian received an apprenticeship/job on December 31st in a nearby nursing home. It will go until the end of April and is renewable. If she continues there, she will also do more studies in geriatrics. This is a huge encouragement to her and our family!
• James (Maurice) sent his book manuscript to Wipf & Stock on Dec. 28th according to contract. So good to have that behind (now for the proofs, last corrections, and printing). I'm thankful that my work with Inter-Varsity (on loan from SIM) and the University of Fribourg is going well. I have agreed to join a group of pastors and theologians about developing ministerial training for churches in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. There is huge potential for equipping servant-leaders. We need God's guidance! 

With thanksgiving for your friendship! 

The Morgans

Good things happen when...

Are you project-oriented or people-oriented? Or are you a happy mix of both?

If we can think of these on a spectrum, those on the project side like to get things done, achieve objectives...at times...no matter what the cost. They can run people over to get there. 

On the other side, folks oriented toward other people seem to live for the moment according to the most pressing need. In short, they're available...and...consequently, projects sometimes don't get done according to plan. I find that frustrating, because...you guessed it...I tend to be mostly project oriented.

What I have learned over the years is that when relationships are not healthy or are complicated, projects...or working toward some stated objective...can be difficult. Conversely, when relationships are healthy, good things can happen. For a good motor to work, oil is needed. Are not healthy relationships the oil that allows things (projects, objectives) to happen? 

Is there a happy medium between the two extremes on the spectrum? 

In some work activities, objectives have to be met or else the business fails. Customers don't come back...income diminishes...people start to lose their jobs. Not a good situation. 

Communities (families, social groups, businesses) need to indicate their reasons for being so that all understand what the stakes are if objectives are not met. Is it a loose-knit community with low expectations on personal involvement? Or are the stakes somewhat high and members need to held responsible for their part in providing a specific service to the public? 

What seems clear is that communication needs to be good. Expectations are clear. Objectives are agreed upon and measured. Personal responsibility toward the group is a value; and community concern for the individual is also a value. When relationships are healthy and communication flows, good things can happen for the good of the community and beyond. Maybe we can make a difference...

Another transition…from Niger to Switzerland!

Cutting the ribbon at the inauguration of the FEU building

The time has finally come to enter another phase of transition moving from Niger to Switzerland. Our six years of ministry there came to an end on June 17, 2012. We thank God for the opportunity to have served in the Student Outreach Center and at ESPriT seminary.
We decided to come back to Switzerland for our children’s education. Lilian and I have been in missionary service since 1991; thus, it is also a good time to be closer to our families (although visiting our family and friends in Virginia requires a little more organization). This does not mean that we will never return to Niger. It just means that it is a transition and an opportunity to serve in new places. God will show us in the future whether it is opportune to return to Africa.

We'll write more about what we are doing in Switzerland in the next posts...

Thank you for your prayers and support!

2011 coming to a close

Greetings dear friends around the globe!

Again, I've shown that the name of my blog was well chosen... "poche parole," that is, a few words.

As 2011 draws to a close, we’d like to wish you a happy and blessed 2012.

Here we recap some of the things God has done for our family in 2011 as well as plans for 2012.

· Daniel graduated from Sahel Academy in June in Niamey (Niger). Well done! In August, we left Daniel in Switzerland for a year (that was hard) and he's currently learning German and getting more acquainted with family and Swiss culture. He's already set up for next year, working in an architect's office and learning theory at school.

· Melinda is enjoying her senior year at Sahel Academy. One semester to go...She's looking forward to spending a year in Switzerland to explore various school and work possibilities. A return to the States for college is still an option for 2013.

· Christina is quite the writer and reader. We’re wondering if she has a career in writing or editing (then she would be a paid ‘reader’!).

· Lilian and I have been busy with the construction of the new Foyer Evangélique Universitaire. This was made possible due to some very generous gifts. We're thankful that we can be a part of it. Also, teaching is going well at ESPriT. We have a strong first year class in the two programs. It’s encouraging to be a part of training present and future church leaders here in the Sahel!

· In July, I was able to attend the international meeting of the Society for Biblical Literature in London. The article based on my presentation, "Emplotment, Plot and Explotment: Refining Plot Analysis for Biblical Narratives," has been submitted to a journal. Also, I've signed a book contract with Wipf & Stock to publish my dissertation (due for Nov. 2012). I think I’ll know what to do with my free time!

· We decided to return to Switzerland in June 2012. This will be a major change for the family. Lilian and I have a few ideas about work possibilities but nothing concrete yet. We're walking by faith!!! The same goes for Melinda and Christina for their schooling...we trust that the Lord has something special for them too! We're planning to live in the area of Fribourg (a bilingual city), just 28 km from Bern. This way we can be close to work and family (in canton Bern). We will keep you posted about our new ministries there and possible areas of partnership.

Well, that's it for now, just a "few words" about this past year. Keep us in mind in your prayers...we're going to need it with this major transition ahead of us. We’re very thankful for your partnership this year. It literally would not have happened without your gifts and prayers…Thank you!!!

Shalom to you in 2012!

Looking back, looking forward...

Happy New Year to all!
As I write, the trucks are rolling behind our compound even on Jan. 1st to bring sand for the building of Niamey's 2nd bridge - a massive project that should take about 2 or 3 years. It will be a welcome change for Niamey's growing population.

On a smaller scale, we have some family projects that are on going and a few will begin this year. Lilian, the kids and I enjoyed the last week of 2008 here in Niamey. It was a good time of rest and family time. We have so much to be thankful for. Last year for Christmas and the New Year, we were our family in the States, and this summer we were our family in Switzerland. It was a busy year again with work, school, and doctoral studies. After lunch we took time to share a few goals for this year and pray for them. We are aware of our frailties, but we count on God's strength and wisdom to accomplish his will.

God's blessings for 2009!