HIV testing and miracle

HIV TestingWe have decided to test all of the boys in our Care Centers for HIV. Although none are showing signs of the virus and many are not in the age range of expected infection, we decided it is best to not distinguish between them. Testing all of them also allows for pre-test education about HIV/AIDS. If they test negative, then we can use that as a platform to encourage them to continue to live a safe and pure lifestyle to remain negative. If they are positive, then we will be able to better care for their physical and emotional needs. I recently traveled to one of our Care Centers in Makurdi, a town four hours from Jos. This was the first round of our testing and all 22 boys are negative! Praise God! However, two of the volunteers and one of their babies are positive. We are now providing medicine and education on how to prolong their lives. The leader is an amazing man who will be able to counsel and encourage them. We have more than 100 more boys to test, so please pray for the pre-test counseling and if any of our boys are positive, how to discreetly and compassionately handle the situation.

Miracle! Last August when I visited Makurdi, I visited a woman who had been bedridden for two years. Apparently, she had received an injection and for some reason, became immobile due to stiffness and intense pain in her legs and back. No one had been able to help her. God gave me the opportunity to pray over her. When I visited Makurdi a couple weeks ago, she WALKED to visit me at the Care Center!!!! God has healed her! She said that nothing specific happened. Just one day, she could walk. What a blessing to see how powerful our God and the name of Jesus is! She still has some stiffness and pain, so please pray for complete healing! See pics of this miracle!

Off to the Theatre!!

Not to watch a movie, but to have surgery! "Theatre" is the term used for operating room. About a month ago I was at our Care Center and I saw Bola, a man whom I had only met briefly. I greeted him and reintroduced myself and told him I serve the boys as a nurse. Bola got really excited because he is the director of Christian Medical Fellowship in Nigeria and he wanted to see if we had any boys that needed surgery! Talk about a Divine Appointment! Over the next couple weeks, I assessed the boys and had a list of them to be seen by a surgeon. This resulted in four of our boys having surgeries to repair hernias and to remove cysts. Mama Kaka is a widow who lives with and cares for our boys, and she also had a cyst removed… one that caused pain for over 20 years!! All this was done completely free, thanks to God and Christian Medical Fellowship.

Off to the bush!!

I recently traveled to a village, where there are few Christians. However, there is a new church being built and the Believers grew from one last year to thirteen now! We received the blessings of the local chief to be in the area and we showed the Jesus Film and had drama and music that was very clear in the Gospel. During the day on Saturday, Dr. Cindy and I gave immunizations and saw patients. Last year, seven children died of measles. We praise the Lord for the ability to immunize against measles and also polio and tetanus. While we were doing the clinic, our Nigerian colleagues were visiting all the nearby villages, sharing the Gospel with them and inviting them to come to church in the new building. God has provided a pastor and a Nigerian missionary in the area, allowing for continued evangelism and follow-up.

A Village Experience – Amenities Include:

•cold bucket bath in three-sided stall made of straw

• freedom-of- the-bush bathroom

• a 6ftx6ft tent to be shared by you and your equally filthy colleague

• wet-ones galore

• early morning wake-up call by local roosters

• a guaranteed audience at all times

For more pics, click here