I went to Africa to tell stories – I didn’t expect God to change me

Ann-Louise Graham reflects on the lessons God taught her during her years living and working in West Africa. From witnessing the devastating effects of famine to seeing the gospel transform lives in unexpected places, her experiences in Niger taught her about gratitude, suffering, hope and trusting God’s sovereignty.

When I read the headlines reporting that missionary pilot, Kevin Rideout, had been released after being kidnapped and held for ten months in Niger I felt such joy as I had been praying for him. I had flown with these brave pilots a few times in tiny four-seater Cessnas across Niger to Galmi Hospital, a Christian teaching hospital situated around 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of the capital, Niamey, in sub-Saharan Africa.

I had stepped out of one of those Cessna aeroplanes back in 2011 together with my husband, Norman. We were recently married and, at 40 years of age, old by Western standards to be getting married—and positively ancient by African norms. But that didn’t seem to bother the Nigerien men from the nearby village who worked with Norman on a construction project at the hospital supported by the missionary organisation SIM. Together, they were labouring to build a new surgical wing in average temperatures of 40 degrees. They ambushed him with hugs while the local women sang out a song in Hausa. What a welcome.

The news also brought with it a string of memories from West Africa—a place that had been my home for several years. Now back in the UK, Niger is far away, and yet life there has left a permanent mark on me. Looking back, God taught me many things during those years—not least that life is fragile.