My dear friend Laurie, from Chicago, passed away last Monday, April 23rd.

I received the message when I arrived in Nigeria on Wednesday. It is such a shock and it is difficult to grieve when I am on the other side of the world. I take some comfort in the fact that she and I had a wonderful time together in Chicago when I visited in September. Here is a pic of us enjoying a Chicago Bears game together.

Back In Nigeria!

Just a quick post to let you know that I have arrived safely in Nigeria. The 40+ hour trip was pretty uneventful - which is a great thing!

I cannot get online every day, which is an adjustment, and it makes it a bit difficult to get a good blog to you at this point. I am borrowing my friend's computer at the moment and wanted to just send a shout of praise to God for His faithfulness and protection.

More to come!

Dreaming of a white... Easter?

What a treat to watch snow fall from the Texas skies the day before Easter! My parents and I marvelled at how beautiful the snow looks against the green grass and trees.

I have two more weeks in the States and lots of things are extra special to me, because I know I will be saying good-bye to them soon...cream cheese, constant electricity, anonymity, cream cheese, quiet afternoons, card games with my families, pizza, broadband, good water pressure, Sonic Drive-In, no lines at the gas station, mexican food, Wal-Mart, movie theaters, and of course, Starbucks (thank goodness for those gift cards!).

But wait, what am I thinking? I can look forward to:

mangoes, tropical storms (those are incredible!), palm trees, dancing in church, walking everywhere, bargaining for food prices, seeing my two dogs, spending time with my dear friends Ritmua and Lami, and ......

SEEING MY BOYS!!!!! WHOO - HOO!!! I am SO excited to see the kids!!!!

It is ok to ask

What a gorgeous Texas morning. I sat on the front porch and just drank in the silence, the sweet smells, and the incredible sunrise. I just love it when trees come into bloom after the rains come.

The thunder and lightning are so powerful and to me, communicate God's power and sovereignty. The rains bring freshness, vitality, and rebirth to our land. God's might is displayed in our lives and He desires to bring His power and rebirth into our lives each day.

My mom has been pouring over Nehemiah and I had to ask her why. I mean, I just naturally turn to the New Testament because it is familiar to me. The Old Testament sometimes seems daunting and really intense. Know what I mean? She said Nehemiah is a great book to read if we feel God is moving us to a new place in life or if we need direction. Cool. Because that is where I am!

The past few months of rest and healing have been incredible and my eyes have been opened in many ways. I praise God for doing a new thing in my heart and for allowing me to return to Nigeria (soon I hope!) with a new song to sing.

So I started reading Nehemiah this morning, while on the front porch. Good stuff. Intense stuff. I need to remember that this man was just that - a man. And yet, he called on God's power and God showed him favor.

I love it in Chapter 2 verses 7 and 8 how Nehemiah was not afraid to ask the king for help. The text note shares that we should not be reluctant to ask others for help. People will usually surprise us by how willing they are to help us meet our needs, whatever the need may be.

So, take it from Nehemiah, who first asked God and then asked man. It is ok to ask for help.

Pray for sick children

Over the past two weeks, 10 of our kids in Nigeria have been hospitalized for various reasons, at various times. As you can imagine, this is very difficult for the children and for the staff to handle. I have called Nigeria a few times and prayed with the kids who are sick. The staff is really doing well and we are thankful there is a hospital nearby.

It is possible, even probable, that this is a spiritual attack that is being manifested in physical sickness. God has protected the lives of the children and not one of our kids in the 11 years the ministry has been running, has died. We are still trusting He will return Usseini, but only He knows.

The reality is that many children in our ministry have come from satanic or islamic backgrounds. God rescued them out of Satan's army and the enemy continually fights against us. This has happened since day one of the ministry. However, this is the first time that so many children are being affected physically.

Whether it is a spiritual attack or a coincidence that all these kids are sick, they still need our prayers.

So can you please pray, for 30 seconds each day, for the physical and spiritual healing and protection over the children and the staff in Nigeria?

Yep, that's me on the radio!!!! How fun is that? I was invited by Steve Burke to join him and his colleague for an hour of discussion of missions, my life in Nigeria, and how BIG our God is. I really enjoyed it. It is a local station (Temple, Belton, Killeen) KTEM 1400AM. The show will air this Sunday 10-11am. It was a great experience and I pray God uses it to move people outta their comfort zones and into His battle - the battle of Hope.

This week, Temple Bible Church hosted the

African Children's Choir. I felt right at home among these beautiful children. They are from Uganda and are seven to ten years old. Just like in Nigeria, they called me Auntie. :) ahhhhh.

I enjoyed cooking a meal for them at the church, watching them sing and dance, and also joined them on an outing to the Inflatable Funland! What a trip. The children have been on tour since May and sing 4 times a week. It was so fun to see them enjoying themselves so much. I joined in on the bouncing for about 10 seconds before my lungs told me to stop (bummer) but it was worth it!

My heroes, the children who, in the face of suffering, poverty and death, choose joy and contentment because they know the ONE who will save them from this world.


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Let's Go Bears!!!

I may be from Texas, but I LOVE the Chicago Bears! BUT, I was sure glad to be rooting for them while sitting in my parent's warm house in Texas. :)

And yes, if da Boys were to be winning, I would be rooting for them too...

pic with childhood friend, Rebekah, and her precious baby Gillian Grace on Game Day

Thanks for visiting my blog. I have archived all entries from my previous site so that you can see what I've been up to the past 3 years. Please take a moment to read some of the entries, as I hope they will give you a peek into the lives of some of my favorite people - the orphans and street children of Jos, Nigeria.

I am new at blogging, so please bear with me as I continue working on this site to make it attractive, yet simple and engaging. Your comments, questions and suggestions are appreciated.
In the past, I was limited in my ability to share with you my heart and my experiences. But now, with this blog, I hope that this will be a way to connect on a more personal level.

You may also check out my website for pics, video, and more information about Nigeria: http://www.webmissions.net/erinrigsby

To facilitate prayer for Nigeria, I send out a Prayer Calendar each month. Click here for January:
http://www.webmissions.net/erinrigsby/januaryprayer07.doc


At the moment, I am in Texas. I had planned on returning to Nigeria this month. However, I am being treated for a bacterial infection in my lungs and have been asked to remain in the States for the time being. I am hoping to return to Nigeria sometime in March.

Passion 07

Even though I am not in college, God opened the door for me to attend Passion 07 in Atlanta from Jan.1-4th. During my college years, the Lord greatly used the ministry of Passion to draw me close and to send me out. Check out the website http://www.268generation.com

23,000 college students gathered to worship our Savior and to learn how to be used for His glory around the world. Part of impacting the world, was using the resources God has given us.

We were given the opportunities to buy verses to help in translation of the New Testament for 2 people groups http://oneverse.org, buy bricks to help build a Freedom Center in northern Iraq, sign a petition against child trafficking, and much more. Also, we were able to express our passions, loves and commitments through 'Graffiti Art'.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars came out of 'poor college students' pockets as a response to an overflowing love for our Lord. And many have committed to serving Him overseas and in America. Praise Him.

He is God

Hope you had a great Christmas!

Thanks to many of you emailing me, I realize many folks are praying regarding my health and I want to give you an update. I will not be able to return to Nigeria in January as I hoped.

I saw my pulmonary doctor yesterday and because I still have a cough and lung pain and a small hole in my lung, his wise recommendation is that I remain in the States for now. When I pressed him for a time that I might be able to return, he suggested we be flexible, but perhaps in March. I am continuing to take medications to kill the bacteria in my lungs. The doctor asked that I focus on resting, so for the time being, I am not available for any speaking engagements. Resting sounds a bit boring to me, but wise and just what the doctor ordered. :)

I realize that the Lord answered our prayers for a wonderful doctor and God placed Dr. Beckendorf in authority over my health. Because of this, I am at peace.

Although this is not what I had planned... that is the beauty of it - that the LORD is in control and His ways are better and are full of love and wisdom.


"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." Isaiah 55:8

"We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9

Content to trust,
Erin

www.webmissions.net/erinrigsby

Christmas with the family

Merry Christmas 2006 !!!!

So many of you have been praying and I wanted to give you a short update.

Usseini : This is our 8 yr old boy(in blue) who went missing last Thursday. He is still missing. The Jos police stations have his picture and information and the local TV station has broadcasted the situation. I called Nigeria yesterday and the boys are having a hard time with this, understandably, as to why God allowed this and what really happened to Usseini. We are assuming that he was kidnapped. A praise, though, is that the staff are feeling more at peace in knowing they have done all they can, and putting complete confidence and trust in the Lord. Please pray that if he was kidnapped, and if he is still alive, that God would make a way for him to escape unharmed.

Me : After many blood tests, the only one that was abnormal shows that I have Melioidosis. Never heard of it? Me neither. :) The bacteria (Burkholderia pseudomellei) is found in soil, vegetation, and water. As much as I love Nigeria, I have never claimed it to be a clean place. :) So, now I will start a 4 month treatment of meds to kill this bacteria. I am not a perfect picture of this disease process, but my physician feels confident enough that my lab tests and symptoms qualify me for treatment. By the way, if you are in the Central TX area, I highly recommend Dr. Richard Beckendorf, if you have any lung problems. He has been incredible.

I will re-do a CT scan at the end of December to monitor if the little leak in my lung has worsened at all. Please keep praying for complete healing so that I can return to Nigeria in January as planned.

Thank you so much for your prayers!


"The Lord is near. Be anxious about nothing." Phil 4:5&6

My best friends and a wedding

helping with invitations....

I was so thrilled to be in TX for the wedding of a dear friend, Jessica. She has been a constant source of encouragement, prayers and laughter since we first met our freshman year of college. God has blessed her with an incredible love, David, and will surely use them powerfully as they serve Him together.


with the bride!!, with Becca Jean

Touched By Joy

"The kids have such joy in their faces." "How is John doing, the boy with depression?" "What do I do to become a missionary?"

These are a few of the things I have heard during the past three months. -- After seeing my DVD about Nigeria, numerous people have been touched by the joy in the eyes of the boys in Nigeria . These kids have every reason to be angry and bitter, yet they choose to be free and to trust in the Lord.-- Prayer warriors have been interceding for John, who I told you all about 5 months ago. John is OK. From what I have heard, he still battles depression, yet has not been suicidal. I have been so blessed to know that people really pray for the boys by name. Check out the the November prayer calendar! -- How thrilled I am when someone shows an interest in serving God’s people overseas!

One goal of being back in the States is to plant seeds of interest into people’s hearts.September was an incredible, abundant, God-filled month! He just LOVES those kids in Nigeria ! He wants hundreds of people to hear about them and I get to be the spokesperson! I spent three weeks in Chicago and was able to share with a Chinese youth group, the Moody Church congregation, ten Sunday schools, house groups, Moody Graduate School, individuals, kids in inner–city Chicago –- it was SO much fun! Currently I am involved University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's Missions Emphasis Week. I graduated from UMHB in 2000 and it is fun to be back on campus. I have had the opportunity to share in classes and seminars about how God called me to missions while I was at UMHB. http://umhb.edu

Chicago!!!

I LOVE CHICAGO!!

AIDS Walk with Sue and Cheri,

time with Amy and kids,

at the Bears game with Laurie...

so many wonderful memories were made.

Click here for more pictures.

If I were to move back to the States, I would want to return to Chicago. If you have never visited this incredible, beautiful, clean and friendly city - check it out! The warm months are preferable, of course :) and those are usually late May - early October.

In the States

Time is flying by and I am enjoying my time in the States. I am eating lots of Mexican food, catching up on movies, and enjoying fellowship with family and friends. This weekend I travel to the Dallas area. The ‘Crazy TX Team’ from Rockwall has been visiting Nigeria every year for 5 years. I look forward to spending lots of time with them, along with other contacts in Dallas , over the next 5 days. Please pray for safety as I will spend lots of time in the car and for all the people I am meeting with - that they will be encouraged by what the Lord is doing in Nigeria.

This pic is of my bro and me at the airport when I arrived.
To view new pics of my first month back in the States, click here.

Travelling and Speaking
On September 12th, I leave for Chicago for three weeks! God has opened lots of doors to share with many people.

Women and Girls
Praise God! I received an email that our Women and Girls Center just opened last week! There are 10 girls who have moved in. An older Nigerian woman will care for them, teach them trades, and disciple them. Because of the prevalence of male orphans and street kids, our ministry has focused on them the last 10 years. Unfortunately, more and more girls are being kicked out, abused, or orphaned. The work will never finish. God will continue to use me and use YOU as we are available to Him.

Encouragement
Mom and I were blessed with tickets to a Women of Faith conference last weekend. One thing God really taught me (nothing new, but the lights finally went on)…

The past is over. There is nothing we can do about it.
The future is not in our control. We are not promised tomorrow.
All we have is the present. Enjoy it! Embrace it! For it will not come again.


Enjoy today, friends.

On US soil

I am in America! It has been great to spend quality time with my family here in Salado, TX. Leaving Nigeria was tough. Part of me was fighting it -- I feel at home there. I know that is strange. It is a difficult place to live. Yet, I was not anxious to get out of there and have a break. I love living in Nigeria. Must be a God-thing :) Click here to see photos taken before I left.

As I prepared to leave, the boys were getting sad, too. For them, January is a LONG ways away. But they felt better knowing that I was coming to the States to raise awareness and support for them. I am excited to see you and to catch up on your lives. I also have a video and pics for presentations (large or small groups - Sunday school, children, home groups, corporate, individual, etc).

I am SO thankful for the partnership of so many of you. It is because of your prayers and support that I was able to stay in Nigeria the past 2 1/2 years. I look forward to seeing you in the coming months!

Andy

Andy is a 12 year old boy who was crippled in a motor accident 7 years ago. Since then, he has walked with a limp. We have been discussing his case with various doctors and a visiting orthopedic surgeon recommended that his leg be amputated above the knee and then a prosthetic be placed to allow for better mobility.

We discussed this with Andy and with his grandmother who lives nearby and they were both in favor of the operation. Here are some pics of Andy before the operation, with his grandmother, after the operation in the hospital. He is such a brave boy. All who know him, love him.

Leaving for furlough

God has allowed me the blessing of living in Nigeria for the last 2-1/2 years. I have loved it and am finding it difficult to prepare my heart to leave for my furlough. Yes, I do plan on coming back here in January, when my furlough ends. It is difficult for me to leave this place that I now call home. However, I am excited to see many of you and to catch up on your lives! I will arrive in the States in late July. After some serious family time, I will be notifying you of various meetings, Bible Studies and the likes where I will be sharing about these precious kids in Nigeria. For those of you in Chicago, I will be coming to visit the last three weeks in September.

Prayer for the boys
Andy had his leg amputated and is healing well, getting around quickly on his crutches, and awaiting the prosthesis to be made. Thanks so much for your prayers! Also, please keep praying for John, who has started seeing a counselor for his depression. It will be difficult for these two boys, specifically, that I am leaving, because of all the time I have spent with them and their physical needs. I need your prayers! As I finish this term in Nigeria, I am delegating a lot of medical responsibility to others. I need to let go of control, to know that I have tried the last 2-1/2 years to train the staff for this, and to trust that they will do well. The hardest part, though, is preparing my heart and the heart of the children for my leaving. Please pray for Aunty Erin’s emotional state.

Project Nutrition*** As our ministry keeps growing, we have on ongoing need for funds to help improve the nutrition of the kids. It takes just $5/kid/month to improve the food! To donate online, check out prayer and support on this site. Or mail a check to SIM, PO Box 7900 Charlotte, NC 28241. The gifts need to be designated to "Erin Rigsby - Ministry/Nutrition Plan."

Saying Good-Bye to Nicky

My dear English friend left on the 24th to return home, raise support, and come back as a long-term missionary! I am really thankful because she has been such a wonderful friend to me. In typical Nigerian style, we held a send-forth party for Nicky to celebrate her and all she has done in the past year. While I am the medical consultant, Nicky was the educational consultant and she worked mainly in our rural Care Center, Gyero. She will really be missed… but we are praying she comes back quickly!

(PS - those are bottles of soda :)

Medical Update

As the nurse for the boys, I am 'on-call' to help with various illnesses and wounds and the like. I am also training the Nigerian staff to care for the boys, so that they will not be dependent on me. A missionary is always trying to work ones self out of a job! Recently, I was asked to look at one of the boys, Caleb. As soon as I saw him, I knew he had the mumps! Now, I have never seen mumps before in my life, since the States provides the mumps vaccine. So, from the medical viewpoint, it was exciting. But poor Caleb, and then two other boys after him, were in a lot of pain. We are so thankful that the complication of sterility did not affect them!

Joseph was carrying boiling water in a bucket on his head and tripped. The water burned a portion of his back and chest. Very painful, but no infection or dehydration has resulted. We also tested all 58 of our boys in Gyero for HIV and all are negative! One of our boys was in a motorcycle accident. The witnesses told me they thought he would surely die because of the severity of the accident, but no broken bones! In the 10 years of this ministry, not one boy has died! Continue to pray for protection and wisdom for those of us caring for the boys.

Meet Christian

Age: 10 yrs old

Likes: Football, Ice Cream, Bicycles

History: "Our parents who are not true Christians brought up my seven brothers and me. I grew up in Miango but my father grew sick and so my uncle took us to a woman who called herself a herbalist. "She said we are in a secret cult and she beat us. My father agreed we are in a cult and said we must leave, so he made my brothers, my mom leave and me. "My mom had no work and could not look after all of us so some of us left to live on the streets and beg. A staff member of Gidan Bege found Sunday and me on the street, he then took to us to Gidan Bege's Transition House, where I now live with my brothers (Timothy, Sunday and Daniel) I am the youngest boy there. "I received Christ at Gidan Bege. When I grow up I want to be a Pastor."

Sponsor one of our boys for only $25/month! This covers food, education and other necessary expenses. Email john.sawyer@sim.org if you are interested in adding one of our beautiful boys to your family!

Kenya

Nigeria does not have any giraffe's, lions, or the such, except for the ones in wildlife parks.

Since I was in Kenya, one weekend at the conference, I used Christmas gifts and saved money to go on a safari.

Incredible. For more pics, click here.

In Kenya

On Sunday I arrived in Kenya to attend the Christian Medical Dental Assoc Conference for missionaries serving in Africa. It was recommended that I come to broaden my understanding and knowledge of medical care in Africa. I am really excited to connect with other missionaries who can share their wisdom, to be challenged intellectually, and to be fed spiritually. I am especially praying for a woman to bond with and share heart needs with while I am here. I return to Nigeria on the 18th.

Another friend goes to heaven

You have heard about the Musa family. I shared with you that Rebekah, mother of John and Peter, died on Jan 3rd. It is so sad to share that on Feb 3rd, one month after her mother died, Ladi also lost her battle to HIV.

Ladi loved Jesus and ended her days singing praises to Him so all in the hospital ward could hear that she was not afraid of death.... for now, she really lives, with her Savior.

She leaves behind a 5 year old, Jerry, and 10-year-old Kyauta. John, Ladi's brother, is dealing with a lot of anger at God. And what becomes of Jerry and Gift? Please cry out to God on behalf of this family!

www.juststopandthink.com

He is healed!!!

On January 13th I received one of the best calls of my life. Abner's doctor called to tell me that Abner is able to walk! He is assisted by the use of braces on his legs and crutches, but he is no longer crawling on the ground! Praise God! Abner travelled to his village to visit his family, who are missionaries. He told me later that his father was crying, he was so happy, and that many people in the village called Abner a miracle.

He returned to Jos on Jan 25th and was greeted by 100+ fellow classmates who began dancing and crying and laughing, praising God that their friend was walking! When I saw him walking towards me, I was filled with awe of our Lord's goodness and His love for this precious boy. God used many people in the States to partner financially and to pray (you!). Many others in Nigeria helped in so many ways over the months to ensure that Abner received the best care. Thank you, Lord for this team of people you used to change the life of this dear one. Abner wants to follow in the footsteps of his father and be a pastor when he grows up.

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."

Abner, may you not only walk, but run to tell people about Jesus!

In Memory of a friend

Rebekah Musa (in blue), mother of John and Peter who live in our Care Center, passed away on January 3rd from AIDS. She was a precious friend of mine. This picture was taken just a couple days before Christmas, 2 weeks before she died. My friend Susan and I visited her and her daughter Ladi (in white, also HIV+) to bring some Christmas presents and to visit.

The day before she died, as I sat down to pray with her, she laid my head on her lap. She must have know that she was leaving soon and I am so thankful for her display of love and affection.

We do not grieve as those without hope, for Rebekah knew Jesus as her Savior and now she is healed, dancing, and is ALIVE.

Abner will walk!!!

I was recently able to travel to Kano, four hours away, to visit Abner. I was able to spend a lot of time with him. He was quite surprised and happy to see me. I also met with the therapist, Sheila, who will be working with Abner everyday. She did his first therapy assessment with me there and she concluded that, yes, Abner has a good chance of walking again! They have measured him for braces that will keep his legs straight and he will need to use crutches for now... maybe they can be discarded later. Sheila said that she has seen people like Abner walk well after just a couple weeks of therapy but that each person is different. It also really depends on his own cooperation. Poor guy was in quite a bit of pain during therapy. You can pray: for Abner's left leg, which is significantly weaker than his right, for good pain management, that Abner will not get discouraged, that his parents will be able to visit him soon (it has been over a month). He is called the chief by the nurses bc he has been there so long :) He has good friends with other patients and I was so encouraged to see the good care that he has received.

For more pics of our visit, click here.

Two years!!!

On December 28th, I will celebrate TWO years here in Nigeria! Can you believe it?! So much has happened and I have learned SO much. Thank you so much to all of you who have helped me to thrive here through your prayers and support.

To get more information on my last two year in Nigeria, please go to www.webmissions.net/erinrigsby

Sponsor a child!!!

We have hundreds of boys. We need help to care for their physical, educational, and material needs. You can sponsor a boy for just $25 a month! You will be given the opportunity to communicate via mail with them, if you choose. Please prayerfully consider adding a beautiful Nigerian boy to your family! How to give: Please consider a tax-deductible donation to sponsor a child.

Send your check, made out to SIM, to: SIM USA, PO BOX 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241. Please designate it "Urban Nigeria - #85550 - Child Sponsorship."

If you would like to donate online, please visit www.sim.org/giveusa.

Baptism

Twenty-nine of our boys were recently baptized! We piled into vans and headed out to Gyero, the rural/bush area where one of our Care Centers is located. It was a beautiful day with a bright blue sky expanding across the green land and hills that make up Gyero. We drove as far as we could, and then walked a ways to a small body of water. There were about 50 of us there, the boys and then those of us who came in support to witness and worship with them. The boys carried different expressions; of excitement, of contemplation, and of shyness. I could not stop smiling or taking pictures! All of them previously accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, some of them years ago, and have shown a desire to serve and obey Him. Thank you, Lord, for your grace.

Bible Study

Every Thursday I meet with our Middle Boys (ages 12-16) for Bible Study. There are eighteen of them and we get into some really good discussions.We have recently been discussing the topic of Eternal Security. This topic has been debated among Christians for many years and it is no different in our class. I have role-played as a non-Christian, peppering them with questions about grace, forgiveness, and mercy and have learned a lot about what they believe. This is a big responsibility and blessing that God has given me to teach Truth to the boys, to expose them to the Bible, and ultimately, to draw them closer to God. Please pray that I will have adequate preparation time each week and that each Thursday afternoon, God will reveal to us Who He is and the reality of what it means to be a child of God.
Check out this link www.juststopandthink.com

Visit from team from Moody Church in Chicago

While I lived in Chicago I attended Moody Church. Last month eight people from Moody came to visit me and another Moody missionary, Claudia Long. Claudia has a camping ministry. So we combined both of our ministries by having my Senior Boys work alongside the team out at the camp, doing construction. The boys really loved this, many times stopping their work to talk and laugh with the team members. It is so good for my boys to have exposure to as many visitors as possible, to expand their knowledge of the Lord and of His world. I was blessed with the hard work of this team and their love for my boys. The boys earned money for their work, giving them such a feeling of satisfaction that they are begging me for another workday, even though the team is gone! Please pray for our Senior Boys to continue to mature spiritually and emotionally and that I will know how to encourage them as a sister in Christ.

Johnny

Johnny is a 16-year-old boy who lives in our Care Center. His father died when he was young. His mother, Mary, whom I have mentioned before, died of AIDS in June. The two weeks before she died, I spent a lot of time with her and Johnny in the hospital. When I received the call in the early morning that she had died, I wept for Johnny and I wept for the death of a young woman whose life was stolen by this awful disease. I immediately went to get Johnny at our Care Center and I held him as both of us cried. Then we went to his grandmother’s house to be with her and to make preparations for the funeral. Funerals are typically done the same day or soon after the death because embalming is so expensive. After a few hours, many of our boys came to the house to greet the family. The coffin came and in the small yard about 100 of us gathered to honor Mary’s life and to praise God that she had become a Christian just months before she died. The boys sang some beautiful songs and then we drove to the nearby graveyard for a final prayer.

Last month Johnny and John, whose story I have shared in the past, whose mom also has HIV, and I went together to the market so that they could make a cross for Mary’s gravesite. After they finished, we went and placed it at the site, along with two of our other boys. Johnny is close to his grandmother and he and I visit her often. Please pray that I will know how to love and support Johnny through his grieving process of his mom.

Update on Abner

After seven years of crawling on the ground as a result of polio, Abner is on his way to walking upright! (See blog on 8/23 for background on Abner.) He is in a hospital four hours away, but I was able to visit him recently. He is very happy, making friends with the other children on the ward. The ward is a big room with lots of beds lining the walls. There are cribs, too, with babies who have had various orthopedic surgeries. I enjoyed giving him small gifts, laughing with him, and praying with him. Both of his hips are contracted as a result of the polio. He has been on traction to gently pull the muscles of his legs straight.

On the 13th, he had a surgery to straighten one of his legs and a cast put on to maintain the position. In two weeks, the same operation will be repeated on the other leg. It is estimated that he will still need another seven weeks in the hospital. Please pray that he will not be lonely, for protection for his mother who travels back and forth from the village, and for complete healing so that he will one day walk again!

Exposure

Our oldest boys are called "Senior Boys."

They have been with us the longest and will soon be leaving us, transitioning into society. Our first boy "graduated" last month and is now attending YWAM Discipleship Training School in southern Nigeria! We want to expose our boys to life outside of our Care Centers, to give them understanding of all that God can do through them in the real world. To accomplish this, we took half of the Senior Boys to the YWAM base and the other half to Abuja, the capitol of Nigeria. Each trip was amazing and God really taught the boys a lot!

Highlights for the boys:1) First boat ride!

2) First elevator ride!

3) First visit to an airport!

4) Being served by people "higher" than the boys humbled them and encouraged them to serve the younger boys at our Care Centers.

5) Spending time with a wealthy, God-fearing man who testified that God honors integrity and that it is possible to be honest in a corrupt nation.

6) First time to see an automatic hand-dryer (pic on left).

Wish you could have seen this!

1) I see many different things being carried on the back of the motorcycles here, but this one took the cake - the passenger was carrying an entire car door! I just wish you could've seen it! I laughed out loud and was so bummed I was alone in my car with no one to share the moment with.

2) One night, on a recent trip to YWAM with our boys, I was eating dinner. I could not tell what meat was on my plate, due to the lack of light. So I asked one of the guys and he said, "Well, I was not going to tell you, but it is a chicken head and foot." What!?! I proceeded to pick up what I thought was the bone of the foot and soon discovered that it was the beak of the head! I screamed and busted into laughter. Apparently, honored guests are given these pieces. And I soon honored my boys with them.

3) Some of our boys recently experienced riding in an elevator for the first time. As we started moving up, one boy fell to his knees in sincere terror, exclaiming, "the end has come!"