Pouring rain and the Bush

Hello all. I can hardly believe that my time here in Nigeria is coming to an end. I have been so blessed while being here and will always cherish the memories I made over the summer. I travel home in one week so please keep me in your prayers. The past couple weeks have been filled with rain, every day. Since it is rainy season here (they just have two seasons--dry and rainy) it rains at least once a day if not more. This has led to me being cold in Africa which I didn't think was actually possible. I have been wearing my sweatshirt for the past couple of days and understand now why Nigerians say that it's a cold that creeps up on you. This makes all travel, even into town, very tedious because it's much harder to see while driving since most cars don't have working air systems.
Since dad arrived back here most of my time has been spent with Bola working on the NIFES project. What I have been doing is transcribing all the recordings we did in Benin. Let me tell you, while it's not been the most exciting work it is necessary. Bola has started calling me 'Ms. Kentucky' which consequently everyone else has caught onto, so now everyone calls me Ms. Kentucky! The rain makes me incredibly sleepy so each afternoon I have tried to take a nap. I can't complain though since I love to sleep.
This past weekend was by far the most exciting thing to happen in weeks here. We got to take another road trip, this time to the north. I decided while I was here that staying in one city wasn't enough, I needed to see the North, the South and everything in between! And that is just what we did. The countryside is more beautiful than I can describe and the further north we went, the more mosques popped up and I started seeing camels-so cool! This trip consisted of my father, Colin, Nuhu (Hausa for Noah) and Emmanuel-two pastors with ECWA, and I. We were going to do an outreach to the Kambari people, which is a tribe that covers a good portion of the country. We visited one small tribe out in the bush. And when I say the bush I mean, a dirt road at best through rivers and forests. It was awesome. We drove for almost an hour off the main road when we finally came up on the first huts. They are farmers so their different families have clusters of homes around their farms. We went all the way to the back to the chief of this particular town. Immediately all the children came out and just stared. That's what I love about African kids, they're so fascinated by seeing white people all they can do is stare. And if you try to say hi or touch them then run away screaming. It's awesome.
Their life there in the village is very sad and I was very excited to be part of the first outreach to them. We learned that their number one need is clean water and education about waterborn diseases. They have little or no access to good water and the water they do get from the nearest bore hole is few and far between. As a result, they suffer from diseases such as Malaria, dysentary, and TB. Most all of the children were naked, and the women were topless. But I was glad to see the men fully clothed! They don't speak English out that far, so we mostly listened to Emma talking in Hausa with them, although that isn't their main dialect. Dad got out the MT4 which fascinated them and I think the education that will come from it will be lifesaving. They are affected by HIV even that far out which was sad to hear. Their marraige practices allow for stealing of wives so if one husband gets infected you can see the reprocutions. I loved staring at them as much as they stared at me. Please pray that the content developed will be perfect in educating them and spreading the gospel. We spent most of the time there talking with the pastor who has been there for over a year, and only five or so people have accepted Christ. Please please pray for their hearts and minds to be open in the months to come.
Unfortunately, my time here at the internet cafe is running out so that's all I have time for today. Thank you for reading and pray for my last week here, that I can make even more of an impact than I thought possible. God bless!

Hi Mom!

This post is for my mom. She said she checks my blog everyday and I haven't posted anything in like a week..sorry! I love you and can't wait to see you next week. :) I am healthy and happy and sad to be leaving but glad to be home. And guess what...I saw two more camels!! So cool. Love you mom!!!

One Week Gone...

Well this past week hasn't been exactly what I anticipated. First of all, on Saturday Colin and I went on a medical outreach with Bola (who we went to Benin City with) and that was too awesome for words. We drove about an hour and a half north of Jos, first on highway then on dirt road, into what looked like a huge cornfield. Come to find out there were little huts hidden in the corn and we were at the village! We went into the day not having any idea of what we were doing. Bola and his wife Queen have started an organization that reaches out to villages through medical needs and also brings the love of Jesus along. This was their first outreach and I was honored to be included. There were about 40 other college students, from the University of Jos, who were all mostly medical. It was so fun to see such a humble effort on everyone's part to bring healing to these people. We all filed into the chapel when we first got there to get a plan of action and pray for the day. I have never in my life witnessed prayer like this, literally everyone on their feet, praying out loud as loud as they could, with the preacher reading the Bible over everyone. Just thinking about it again gives me chills all over! We also sang a hymn and heard a short message of encouragement which really made all of focus on our main goal-to spread the love of Christ. After we left the chapel we lugged the benches along into the middle of more corn where the school was. Then a pouring of women and children came from all around and filled up the benches, which we had put under a tree. Bola lectured on basic hygeine like wash your hands after you use the bathroom, and cover your food so flies don't get in it. He also talked a little on HIV/AIDS and the need to live a pure lifestyle. For the most part I think everyone was very receptive. While he was talking the students were divided up into four groups-medical, counseling, giving, and prayer. Unfortunately, Colin and I could do little because they could only speak Hausa but it was still awesome to be there.
I'm pretty sure all the kids were terrified of us because they would just stand in groups and stare. Then we would try and get them to slap our hands and a few brave ones did but for the most part they just looked at us. Bola took Queen, Colin, some missionaries, and I to the chief's house and speak with him which was cool too. He is a believer and we encouraged him to set a good example for his village. He was more than grateful to have to Americans witness his village and was excited to be receiving help from the rest of Nigeria. Along the way, we also got to stop and console a grieving family who had just lost their daughter. The father (I am guessing) was very open to us being there and right then and there, in Hausa of course, he accepted Jesus as his personal savior. It was so cool to see this old man who could hardly hear, give his life to Christ. His friend also accepted the invitation and tears rolled down my face as I watched these two men humbly accept the gift we told them about. Colin got to pray for one of them and I urge you to pray also that these men will continue to grow in their new faith.
It was an amazing experience to not only see a village but see the Lord move through the entire place. The rest of the week was not nearly as exciting, mostly because I have been in bed for the majority of it. The two days I was well I got to go to the Spring of Life house. They offer counseling and care for HIV/AIDS victims. This week turned out to be their training for counselors so I got to sit in on that. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't interact with people but it still opened my mind to things I hadn't learned before. Please pray for the remaining weeks here in Nigeria. Pray that our health would be nothing but good (Colin also got sick this week) and that everyone we encounter from here on out would be touched by the love and grace of the Lord.

Children...God's Gift to Me!

First of all, I apologize for not posting anything for the past week. Lets just say I fell into a routine and then fell ill, both of which didn't allow me to spend time updating my blog. Thanks for checking anyway. I believe that my last post was about my time at EMS. We ended there on a Wednesday and I can honestly say that I was very sad to go. I feel that I was definitely there to help not just the children but the teacher as well. I walked away knowing that I had improved their lives, at least for a couple weeks. By the last couple days the teacher had me doing everything, which I in turn was grateful for because I could take the time to make sure they understood what we were reviewing. I spent a whole day on telling time and I know at least some of them could show me what 'quarter to and 'quarter past' meant. I think it was one of the first times that they could draw on the board and not feel like they were doing something wrong. I had them drawing clocks all over the place and they loved every minute! Two boys especially soaked up the extra attention I was willing to give-Elisha and Samino. Elisha was very outspoken and we practiced with an actual clock sans the batteries. He kept saying, "Aunty! Give me one that will really make me think! One that I do not know the answer!" So I would ask him to show me times like 7:37 and three minutes to three. He would just giggle and say, "Aunty! That was a good one!" Samino on the other hand was very soft spoken but so smart. Every single question I asked he would work through silently and then shyly ask me if he had come up with the correct answer. If Africans could blush I think he turned ten shades of red with my praises! My last day there we reviewed science and I brought them all candy to coax the answers out of them. Although none was really needed it was still fun to see them chomp on taffy and gum. When I bought the candy at this little hut, the lady couldn't understand the word candy (they call all candy, cake, cookie, etc sweets) and she kept bringing me candles. Finally I pointed to some gum and she understood-hence giving eighteen children chewing gum instead of Twix! The best part about the last day was right before I left, the teacher had them all pray for me. So I watched each child get on his/her knees and thank God for my life. The teacher then prayed out loud and thanked the Lord for my time there and what a blessing I was to their lives, especially hers. Man, talk about being choked up! I was truly sad to walk out the door and leave them all but I know my time was well spent.

The next couple days we were with our American friends and the orphans they work with through an orphanage called CLAF. Thursday and Fridays are more hands on there so we took them to Leatherworks (where they make shoes, purses, etc out of leather) and the pool (yes they have pools in Africa!). Leatherworks was funny because the man who gave us the tour used very big words, some of which I didn't even understand. He would then ask them review questions and every kid would just stare at him blankly. I prayed quietly that he wouldn't call on me because I really had no idea what he was talking about! What I did catch was the smell...of chicken feces. They use it to clean off any extra feathers or hair on the hides/skins (there is a difference!) and let it soak to 'process'. Eeewww! I'm sure the pile of rotting excess skin and hair didn't help the matter. They were all so well behaved and each child held an adults hand. It was too sweet! I had one girl on each arm and they literally didn't let go until we got to the shop where they could touch things.
We had the boys (all seven of them) spend the night on Thursday night which was nothing short of fantastic. Jason (Emily & Jason are the missionaries who live here from Cincinnati) had the whole night planned to the minute. First, a game of football. I think that goes without say here. Second, a game of Tug-a-War. That was awesome to watch! At first they couldn't quite see the fun in pulling a rope as hard as they could away from the other team. Once they realized how awesome that is, their little faces were nothing short of determined. As well as worn out! Next, water balloon tossing. Again, what fun is in that? Well once the first one dropped and water got all over him, they were all ready for the next. And the next, and the next, and the next until it was an all out water balloon war! After dinner was the ultimate male bonding experience-Play Station 2. All seven (plus Colin and Jason) were glued to the screen for the next two hours. They would all dance to the music and cheer whoever was playing on. I'm pretty sure they didn't actually understand what was going on but it was still funny to watch.
Friday we picked up the girls and headed to the pool. Well, we headed there after we went to HillCrest (a local missionary school) to play outside because it was very overcast. All I can really say about the pool is I have never seen so many kids terrified of water. At one point almost every kid was hanging onto an adult or the side of the pool. Once they realized they could touch the ground it was a little less hectic. Except then the hypothermia set in. Not really but they were all freezing and shivering so the end of the day consisted of me rubbing more than one down with a towel until they were warmed up. Even though it was like HOT outside and the sun was shining, just the water was enough to chill them all the way through.
The week was filled with more smiles and laughter than I could have ever wished for. I will always remember the children here and the joy they brought to my heart.

Nigerian Garb Rocks My World!!

The Little Things

So I survived one week at the school and I'm still alive to tell about it. And the best part about it is that I can proudly give credit where it is due-my Creator. I found myself frustrated as we started our work at EMS thinking that I was going to have little or no impact. But of course, God had bigger plans for my time there. My frustration with the lack of organization and structure to the kids education brought just what was needed-organization and learning. One day the teacher and I graded every single test and recorded the grades on each child's progress report card. While we were doing that all of the kids went through all the Pace packets and glued missing pages in as well as sort them within their categories. I was in organizational heaven and realized that my willingness to help may have been exactly what the teacher needed-someone to do the work with her. I see now that her view of the classroom was that of an unbearable sense of being overwhelmed and in a way, God brought me in to 'hold her hand' and work through the piles of disorder. While we were busy grading and recording she began to open up a bit to me. I learned that her daughter, Hope (also my name), is in the class which is one reason she is so hard on her-so it doesn't appear that she is giving her a break. After talking for a bit she invited me to dinner at her house once school is over and I sat in amazement realizing why God had put me in that classroom-for her! As we left that day I just felt thought, "Duh Britt! This teacher just needed some good company and an extra set of hands to finish the work. That's why you're here!"




The children at the school are so sweet and besides helping in the classroom I have enjoyed just being around them. Their curiosty about white people and America is so funny and I really enjoyed answering their questions. "Aunty! What is the meaning of this?", one little girl asked while pointing to my braces. I can't tell you how many children asked me that and I would just smile and tell them all about the meaning of braces. As well as contact lenses, sunglasses (just about every girl in my class tried them on), the brain, Kentucky, and my hair. The girls just couldn't understand why I didn't plat it (braid it to my head) and why if I cut my hair it could be so long.


On Friday I brought my box of goodies to keep them occupied and I have never seen so many little hands reaching out in front of me! Most of the stuff I just gave to my teacher-pencils, notepads, bookmarks, stickers, and sticky things to hang stuff on the wall. She was a little more excited than the kids about some of it and especially grateful that, "The classroom will be so colorful now!" One of the notepads I brought had pictures of the planets on it and she had the class write ten things about creation on the back of their page (I handed out one to everybody) and then draw pictures of what they had listed. It was so cute because once they were done they would bring it up to me and I would help them hang their work at their desk, proudly on display for all to see. We also got to make 'Jesus bracelets' which was a hit with the entire school, not just my classroom. I got to stand in front of the class and tell them what each bead meant. I wrote on the board: Black-We are all black with sin, Red-Jesus blood saved us from our sin, Blue-We were washed clean by the blood, White-To be made white as snow, Green-So we could grow in Christ and live forever with Him, Gold-To walk the streets of gold in Heaven. As I finished I saw some kids writing it down and my heart was bursting with happiness because not only had I helped the teacher with her needs, I also got to share Jesus' love with every child there! And here I thought I wouldn't be able to make an impact on their lives. Something so simple and little as a bracelet brought the truth and joy of Jesus into their lives. God is so good!

Another wonderful blessing has been some fellow Americans we met here. They are from Cincinnati and the couple that runs the ministry lives here in Jos and hosts different teams and interns throughout the year. We ran into them at a restaraunt downtown when we first arrived and Colin was smart enough to get their phone number (although I'm pretty sure it was just because there were some pretty cute girls at dinner! Haha) They invited us for dinner with them one night and I was pretty sure I had died and gone to heaven-we had buffalo chicken wraps and brownies! YUM! After eating just rice the night before, and just noodles the night before that, we were more than grateful for a well cooked meal. It was also a complete answer to prayer because I think Colin and I were both getting a little lonely and bored of just each other. No offense to him but sometimes a girl just needs some other girls to giggle with. And after two nights in a row playing Catch Phrase, I am feeling quite happy and giggled out. We even got to meet some of their friends here (also American) staying at the Baptist Hostel for a Fourth of July cookout. The company and food were the perfect boost of energy for the weeks to come.

Please continue to pray for good fellowship during the coming weeks. I am infinitely grateful to those that have been praying for my time here and to the One who answers prayers. As far as I know we will continue our work at the school next week, however, we may begin work at Evangel Hospital. Please pray for continued blessings to those we come in contact with and that all of our work would point to the Lord at all times.

I will end with sharing something that Jonathan (our guest house attendant) said the other night. "If you simply worship God with all your heart, then serving will come naturally. It won't seem like a task at all and in turn you will want to worship Him all the more."

One Month Left

Today I realized that being the last day of June, I only have one month left here. I can hardly believe how fast the time is going. This weekend was fun and relaxing for the most part. We got to go to the market and pick some cloth to make our Nigerian outfits (I promise to post a picture!). The whole experience of being in the middle of this crowded place with people either staring blantantly at the Bature (white person) or greeting us to come into their stores were overstimulating. It was funny to me to see one booth selling live chickens and the next selling shoes. I am learning that the number one way to offend a Nigerian is to either not greet them at all or not greet them properly. I am in such a habit of either minding my own business or simply saying hello-not so here. You greet initially with 'Sanu' which means hello, followed by a slew of Hausa phrases asking how you slept, how work is, how your mother is, how your father is, how you feel, and on and on. Its funny because people are still saying sanu, lafia, sanu, etc as they are walking away, even if the other person has moved on. The number two way to offend someone here is to not accept something they offer you, especially in their home. For instance, if you are sitting on the couch and they offer you a drink-accept even if you aren't thirsty. You don't even really have to drink it (or eat it if it's food) just the simple act of accepting their offer will make them 'very happy'.

This morning was our first official day at the school and my morning was spent grading papers and checking off the students work. At one point I felt like I should be getting a paycheck! The teacher of my classroom is fairly harsh with the kids and you can tell they are all terrified of her. When we walked up to the school she had a group of them outside and was using ruler to slap their hands-my blood started to boil and I had to calmly walk away. As soon as you enter the classroom they all stand up and say, "Good morning Aunte!". It is so cute and sweet. They all introduced themselves to me and I think its going to take me longer to learn their names than the time I will be there. Some of them are starting to look me in the eye as they turn in their paper and all I have to do is smile or wink and they giggle all the way back to their seat. I'm hoping that during the next couple weeks they will learn that they don't need to be afraid of me unlike their teacher. School starts at 8am and goes until 1pm with a long break and a short break-thats literally what they are called. The long break is at 9:30 and the short break is around 11:15 or so. Most of my kids used the breaks to study because there were two tests today-science and social studies. The teacher wrote all the questions on the board and they were to answer on their own paper, unfortunately a lot of the words she wrote on the board were spelled incorrectly and it made me think long and hard about how blessed I was as a child to receive the education I did. The saddest part for me of being at the school is that these children do not know any better, they don't realize the teacher is spelling words wrong and teaching them incorrect grammar. They all think that it is completely normal to essentially teach yourself everything with little accountability for achieving the right answer. I'm not saying that they aren't learning anything but it's at such a slow pace that it aggravates me.

Please pray for patience as I enter the classroom for the next couple weeks. Pray that I am able help where it is needed and not where I want to 'fix the problem'. Thank you for taking time to check my updates and I love and miss you! Grace and peace :)