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 :)

Mun gode Allah (We thank God)

Well the past few days have been very trying on me. Dad and Derek left on Tuesday and Colin and I moved from the LCCN guest house to the JETS (Jos ECWA Theological Seminary) guest house. This is where dad will come back and teach his classes in July. It was suprisingly hard for me to see dad leave, I was pretty shook up. I think mostly because he is our connection to all the work we will be doing and having him here was like a security blanket for me. Luckily, I saw the transition for the lesson it was-depending on God's strength and supervision rather than my own. Thank you for praying for a smooth transition time because without those prayers I think I would have been lost. The Lord really comforted me during those few days and I am continually astounded by his love for me. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as we begin work.

The past few days have been a lot of sitting around and waiting for things to happen. Once dad left we were without transportaion so we now have to wait for a ride everywhere. Kauna Magaidi has been an angel throughout all of this. Her job here in Jos is to train missionaries and help them adapt to the culture and that is just what she has done. She took us into the city to go 'grocery shopping' which basically consisted of stopping at various shops on the side of the road. That day it was pouring down rain so we didn't get the full experience of going to the market. She was going to teach us to taxi here and also how to barter for our goods, but the rains complicated all of that. She was amused that I don't really know how to cook and we ended up just getting the basics-rice, spaghetti and bread. We ate lunch at the Net Cafe and enjoyed a chicken pizza. We spent the night at the Magaidi's home, which is in one of the slums here. It was a very nice home and I was thankful to have electricity that evening. At the guest house there is none and at night we have to do everything by battery powered lantern. I don't mind but it was nice to have a bright light and some television rather than playing rummy by lantern.

Today we got a taste of what we will be doing for the next couple weeks. Barje (Kauna's father and senior pastor of the church here) took us to EMS (ECWA Missionary School) and introduced us to the owners as well as the teachers there. We were able to spend about three hours with the children who were so happy to have visitors. Colin is in a classroom with teenagers and my classroom is about ages seven to ten. The children are all very sweet and you can tell they are eager to learn, however, they have such limited opportunities there. The classrooms are quite basic and the students all go at their own pace. Basically all the teacher does is teach one lesson, maybe two a day and then sign that they did their work. She doesn't even check it. I found myself wishing I could stay here longer and really interact with them, so pray that the next weeks are fruitful in showing these kids they are loved.

Also pray that I don't starve because we will be cooking on our own for the next few weeks and we have no electricity which could prove interesting. This weekend will I hope will be exciting, Kauna is taking us to the market (if it doesn't rain) and we are getting Nigerian clothes. Then Sunday will be our first Nigerian church experience since last week we were in a car in a flood! I am looking forward to the lessons I will learn along the way. Thank you for faithfully reading my stories and keep Colin and I in your prayers as we really begin to minister here.

Back in Jos!

Well I have officially been introduced to the Nigerian way of life...almost every single aspect. The road trip was a huge adventure and after so much had happened we just had to laugh about it all. Here is my attempt at a summary! On the way there we got a flat tire and then our spare was bad, we then witnessed armed robbers get arrested, got stopped by a road official who wouldn't let us pass, and then sat in traffic for over three hours-in blistering sun. Once on the campus in a town called Okada we met with many different students and got a lot of interesting interviews. I had sardines and margarine on bread-for breakfast. Yum! The good news is, they have ice cream here so I enjoyed some chocolate that night. :) There was no running water which proved interesting in the bathroom. The next shower you take, enjoy a few extra minutes for me!
I thought the trip home would be more mild than the way up, but the enemy really wanted to shake us up. It rained the entire day which caused the roads Benin City to flood. We sat in traffic there for about three hours and only got a little water in the car. Which Bola then told us was parasitic and my feet started burning. Derek developed a rash of some sort but Colin seemed healthy. A few hours down the road we got in another three hour traffic jam.
Apparently the road officials had stopped a trucker and broke his windshield so he decided to block the road when they released him. Since every Nigerian driver is impatient and attempts to drive around anything in their way a two lane road had four lanes of traffic from each direction in a gridlock. We had to stay the night in Abuja since we had over six hours of delays.
Overall the trip so far has given me a taste of Nigerian driving and their time-if you say be there at seven, it will be at least eight before anything happens. I am growing tired of chicken and rice, I think we have had every variation possible.

Tonight, back in Jos, we had actual spaghetti with pineapple Fanta. It was a wonderful change of pace and just what I needed. We are all becoming more comfortable around each other and I am looking forward to the weeks ahead. Colin and I will change housing on Wednesday. Please pray for a smooth transition and safety in our new 'home'. Also pray for good opportunities with ECWA and that we can really help those is need.

Still on the Road

Well, it seems that the road trip is somewhat extended. The rains today made one of the rivers impassable for a while, so the team stayed in Abuja tonight rather than risk travel after dark to Jos (another 3+ hours). I am told the interviews with faculty and students went extremely well, and that Brittany and Colin are "made for this." Not sure what that means, but sounds like they aren't bored.

Tomorrow (Monday) should bring some pictures from the campus visit and road trip. Pray for a good night's rest and safe travel on Monday. No doubt the team will spend the rest of Monday in R&R.
Babba

It's Chicken in red sauce and spaghetti!

On the Road

This is Babba (dad) for Brittany. . . she is still in the west of Nigeria at a university assisting with our HIV/AIDS program. She and the team are collecting audio interviews with faculty and students that will be edited and put into the program called: "Sex, Power and Relationships: Everything you wanted to know about HIV/AIDS but were afraid to ask."

I received a text message from one of the team that said that she and Colin "are made for this." I am sure they are relating well to the students, and give encouragement to them even by showing up.

NIFES (Nigerian International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) is related to the parent organization that InterVarsity Fellowship does in the US. Keep praying for their success, and a safe and uneventful trip back to Jos on Sunday. I'll let her relate the events of their 12 + hour trip to the West.

Road Trip!!

The past few days have been so exciting and I don't even know where to begin telling the story! I cannot believe some of the experiences God has blessed me with, and He is continually teaching me new lessons. The biggest one so far is that He is in complete control.

The trip to Benin City has been full of adventure and I continue to feel more and more at home in Nigeria. Our team (Bola-works with NIFES, Edith-his assistant, Derek, Colin, and I) left early on Thursday morning and no one could anticipate what would happen on the way. I usually fall asleep instantly when driving long distances but I couldn't take my eyes away from the countryside. The further we got away from Jos, I started seeing more of the Africa Americans think of. We passed countless women carrying things (jugs of water, food, bundles of wood) on their head and as far as the eye could see was mountains and trees. The roads continued to get worse away from the city, and Edith was quite interested in knowing if we had potholes like that in America. I said some but not like this; here, your entire car could get lost if you hit one. Every so often we would pass a village and the poverty is truly heartbreaking. It was really hitting home how phenomenally blessed we are in America when the car started shaking-a lot! And, we got a flat tire. Then the spare was bad. So here we are, on the side of this highway, in the middle of Nigeria with a broken down car. Bola flagged down a motorcycle and the man was kind enough to take the flat into the nearest town-Keffi to be fixed and bring it back. In the mean time, the main concern was getting all of the white people off the side of the road because if any robbers passed, they would have stolen everything and possibly hurt us. So, God sent a taxi at the perfect time and the four of us (Derek, Colin, Edith, and I) went into Keffi. We rested under a tree and then I look up and my heart stopped. There was a lot of screaming and I saw one man pointing a gun at a car...all I could think was someone is going to die!!! Derek really took care of me and hid me behind a tree while the entire village literally went after the robbers (there were four of them). They were screaming 'Theif!!' and chased them into the field. After realizing we had escaped danger we came out from behind the tree and then heard a gunshot. Apparently there was a policeman undercover who had a gun as well and he shot it to get everyone to back away. Then, the entire crowd came back from the field and the actual police got there and took them away. It was like watching a movie and I couldn't believe it. God had protected us through it all and if we had been on the side of the road when they passed, who knows what could have happened. Edith said if those theives had been caught further North they would have been put in their car and burned alive. I am very glad that didn't happen becuase I don't think I could have handled seeing anyone die. We were on our way just as soon as Bola came and picked us up and he couldn't believe what we had told him. Then, a few hours later we were passing some policemen, well they can't really do anything but they are there to stop cars at their leisure. We got stopped and since Bola didn't slam on the brakes exactly when he directed him to, we made the guy very angry. He asked Bola to get out of the car and even though his paperwork was all there he didn't have an acutal license with him. The cop asked Derek, 'How could you let a man without a license drive you around? Are you stupid?' I really thought he might take Bola to jail but Edith reassured me they just wanted money. Luckily, with God's help, he let us go after simply giving us a hard time. What a journey! We didn't make it all the way to Benin City that day, needless to say and we stopped at a hotel along the way. It was very nice and I enjoyed seeing Edith's reaction-she had never stayed in a hotel before. That is just one of many things I have taken for granted.
The next morning we left early again to complete our journey and although it was a little less exciting, we still hit a few speedbumps. First, Bola didn't know exactly where we were going but that was alright because we found it eventually. Then we got stuck for three hours in a HUGE traffic jam. When I say huge I mean trucks literally blocking us in on every side and sitting in the road for almost two hours. We finally got off and to the University.
Our work here has been very interesting and I am learning a lot about the Nigerians perspective on HIV/AIDS. They honestly don't think it is a threat and believe that AIDS is simply an American invention to take over the world. We got some really good interviews and I enjoy listening the their dialect.
Unfortunately I don't have anymore time in this computer lab but I will post more later. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!! Please continue to pray for safety and good health. Also pray that we begin to interact on deeper levels with everyone.

Plateau State: Center of Peace and Tourism

Well we have arrived safely in Jos thanks to many prayers and God's protection. He guided us smoothly on the journey over, straight through customs and down the highway to Abuja. I have officially fallen in love with Nigeria and as they would say here, I have drank the water.

The driving is by far the most entertaining part. Everyone here honks and flashes their brights in order to go anywhere. My father's good friend and driver, Bitrus, drove us around and the best way he could describe the drivers was, "They are very rude." Once we in Jos, the motorcycles swarmed the roads and it became nearly impossible to drive around them.

We have met so many people, all of which are completely warm and welcoming. The traditional Hausa greeting is 'Sanu', which I am growing accustomed to saying. I still have not become used to people saying, 'You are welcome.' In every conversation, it is probably said in almost every sentence.

Derek, Colin, and I have had the great opportunity to travel to Benin City to work with a man named Bola at a university and gather more information for NIFES' student ministry (they are the equivalent of InterVarsity in the US). Please pray for safe travel, it is about ten hours to the south of Jos. Also pray that our communication with the students be clear and we gather all of the information needed.

I tried to post some pictures but it didn't work. I will try again the next time I am on; pictures can give a better picture than I can describe. Thank you again for your prayers and support. I am growing every day I am here and am so thankful for the opportunity.

On my way!

First of all I would like to say a huge THANK YOU for all the love and support from everyone. I truly could not have made it across the pond without your financial support and prayers.

Our plane leaves from Lexington this afternoon and we will go to Detroit, then Amsterdam, and arrive in Nigeria on Monday evening. I can hardly contain my excitement!!!

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers and feel free to message me anytime! As often as I can get online I will send updates on the work being done. I praise God everyday for my blessings and cannot wait to be His hands and feet.

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love.
Eph 6:23-24