This morning, the middle school students at our American International School in Niamey, NIGER /West Africa came in before 5:30 AM to be able to watch the election results and Obama's touching speech on TV.  We all shared breakfast in our small TV room in the Community Center near the school's playground.

We were six hours ahead and as we approached midnight Eastern time in USA, our clock showed 6 AM.  SUCH EXCITEMENT and JOY as we got ready to listen to the speech...  I sat there watching all of us, these amazing children of all colors from all over the world and us, the American and Nigerien teachers among them... I saw my eyes and their eyes sparkle with emotion as Obama gave his powerful words to the world ... 

The CHANGE is here NOW.

As I tried to continue my school day later, I was blessed with an amazing reminder...one voice stood out as a SYMBOL for the voices of these beautiful Nigerien brothers and sisters rejoicing  for all America right  here, in the poorest country in the world...HEAR it now and enjoy its BLESSING!  

This is a short text message that my friend Carmel (a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger) received today from a friend who lives in her village...

This is the ONE VOICE of Niger celebrating the Beauty of our Oneness...

 

Hello, Carmel!  All my congratulations for the glorious and significant victory of the wanted, brave, unchangeable & brilliant Obama! 
Long life, USA! Long life, Obama!

(Adamou, NIGER/West Africa)

You are my Delight, Emphasis on LIGHT…

(Poem by Cezarina Trone)

He whispers words of love
into my ear. I sit before this candlelight
and I hear the Universe sing,
Forgive yourself for good. You are
my delight, emphasis on LIGHT.
I smile because nothing is as it seems.
Love has come into Being more alive
than the loveliest notion I had…
Love longs to bear my name and yours
and everyone else’s. It sits at each street corner
begging for attention for it can’t remember
a thing about color, race, status or place.
Rising above mortal love into the arms of pure bliss:
for such a task we were born, my Love.

(Nov. 9th, 2008)