Into the Jungle

The morning of our journey we all piled into vans to travel to the base of the mountain. Pastor had rounded up kids to help us carry our things. From the look of all the mountains surrounding us, I knew I could not carry my backpack, so I made sure that someone had it. A few kids carried generators and other heavy equipment. Unreal. The weather was perfect. It was drizzling and cool. We started the trek and I hung back to take a pic. Then caught up, then took another pic as we started our ascent. Doing these put me at the end of the line. We had about 50 in our group. As we started up what my friend later named 'Death Mountain', I was like 'Oh boy'. Straight up. No nice winding trail. Straight up. I had three small bags around my shoulders which became heavier and heavier. Two great guys from Gidan Bege, Victor and Yats, stayed with me, encouraging me and helping me. Then Pastor Matthias came and literally pulled me up the mountain, stopping patiently when I could not breathe:) And then pulling some more. Eventually 2 of the bags were taken from me, leaving me only with my water and my wet clothes to lug up the mountain.

When I rested, I would turn around and it was such an amazing sight. We were above the clouds! Mountains everywhere. Rainforest surrounded us. God provided rain and clouds. If it would have been hot and sunny- we all would have been in trouble. Although it was so tough we 4 enjoyed each others company. I say 'tough'- but the men were barely breaking a sweat! Even Pastor, who was literally pulling me up the mountain! Eventually, a couple others had slowed down from exhaustion and the 6 of us continued on. Finally we got to the top of the mountain. What goes up must come down. The rain had caused the mud to be slippery, so this was quite a challenge. Also, I had opted to wear my Teva sandals and not my boots bc they are so heavy and not so comfortable. The sandals are open toed, so bc of the slippery surface, going down a mountain, my feet kept sliding right out of my shoes! Eventually I just took them off and went barefoot, because otherwise I was going to twist my ankles.

I fell many times, yet never hurt myself! Amazingly, my feet did not even get scratched. I know why. At the beginning of the climb, God reminded me of the verse "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."Ps 91:11&12. I was assured that I would sustain injury and I did not. Even though I fell many times. The people with me could not understand why I did not break a bone or have a dislocation, they said, bc they were seeing how I was falling and slipping. Yats even took pics of me falling :) We all laughed alot and really had a great time.

The descent was really into the jungle! It was so incredible. There was one spot where we could see the mountains of Cameroon. Our last 45 min or so was travelled in the dark with flashlights- again, I did not get hurt! We arrived to the camp to the cheers of all who had made it before us. My friend ran up to me and gave me a big hug. She had been worried bc we were travelling in the dark. The whole journey was only a little over 3 hrs.

We spent 4 days camped in one village. We slept in tents, surrounded by mountains and palm trees. During the days we split up into 14 teams. My team conducted the clinic and the other teams trekked to other villages in the mountains to share the Gospel. At night we showed the Jesus Film. It was an incredible week, one that I will never forget.

Meeting the needs

Our ministry is expanding! This week we are moving some boys out to our new Care Center. There are about seven more Centers that are being developed at this time, all over Nigeria!

By 2015, Nigeria will be the #3 country in the world with people with HIV...

meaning there will be millions of orphans. We are trying to stay ahead of the game, so to speak, rather than react to the problem. God has also given us the responsibility to care for the children of Nigerian missionaries. These kids live at a boarding school on the outskirts of Jos. There is nobody trained to care for their physical needs. I will be responsible in training staff to care for the health of the children in these Care Centers, meaning that I would need to be traveling to the different places, many which will be in the bush. Gyero, which is opening soon, is near Jos, but the roads are impassible, except by truck or motorcycle.

To be a Nigerian

TO BE A NIGERIAN:
1) Pick out the fabric, design the dress and take it to the tailor. Voila –- beautiful clothes at bargain prices.
2) Dance, clap, wave your arms and dance some more when praising your Risen Savior.
3) Hop on a motorcycle with your 2-year-old sitting in front of the driver, your 5-year-old behind him, and your 6-month-old tied to your back as you sit on the edge of the seat!
4) Master the art of driving, which resembles a video game: objects (goats, people, other cars, dogs, motorcycles, chickens, etc.) flying at you in all directions and your goal is to get to the finish line without dying.

I have mastered three of the four above. Can you guess which ones ?!?

IMMUNIZATIONS, DEWORMING & ALL THAT JAZZ
The past month in ministry has been very encouraging to me. I praise God for a breakthrough in my relationship with the boys. We were able to obtain Tetanus and Meningitis vaccines for all the boys. I have observed a lot of problems due to worms, so last week all of them were given pills to kill those buggers! The boys are beginning to understand my role with them. They knew I was a nurse, but giving the immunizations was the first time they really saw me in action. After the injections, a dozen came up to me with various problems, showing me that they are beginning to trust me. Because God has healed my ears, I believe Him for healing in others. It is a great honor to pray over each boy, asking Jesus to heal and restore them in every way. As I develop the health care system for these boys, pray that I will work in the strength and wisdom of God. In Nigeria, people are called ‘Auntie/Uncle’ or ‘Mama/Babba’, depending on their age. So, all the kiddos call me Auntie. When I arrive at Transition House, many run up to me saying ‘Auntie, look at this cut’, ‘Auntie, I do not feel good’, etc. It is great! Spending time with them is the highlight of my day.

Bush Outreach!!!

A few weeks ago our team went into the bush for an overnight outreach. The villages are chosen because either a pastor or a missionary have been trying to minister to the people and need help getting started. It was awesome! I kept wanting to pinch myself because I could not believe I was actually in Africa, traveling in a bus packed with Nigerian teammates, bumping along a 'road', with no civilization in sight. When we arrived at the village, our leader went to talk with the chief. We soon found out that the chief did not want us there because there was a wedding the sa

me day. It would not be good to have two events happening at the same time.

Our leader asked us all to come over and see the chief- perhaps our presence would help him change his mind. I have never seen a chief before and was not sure what to expect. We walked past a group of about 8 women and 15 children. One of my teammates told me those were his wives and kids. Out of the hut came a man, maybe in his 60's, no taller than 5'9". He had a kind face, which wore a tentative expression as he saw all of us. His skin showed evidence of many years in the sun and his clothes, although nicer than some of the others in the village, were not elaborate. Despite all of this, his demeanor demanded respect.

It was finally decided that we could stay until the wedding started. During that time about 50 people came to our makeshift clinic. Members of our team visited different families to share about Jesus. We praise God that 16 people committed their lives to Christ during those two hours! The local pastor will follow-up on their decisions. We received word that another village had invited us to come and stay the night with them! We piled into our vans and made our way down the 'roads' to this village. On our way, I marveled that we had planned on staying with the original village- however, GOD directed us to this one… and we would soon find out why! When we arrived, we could see a couple of huts at the top of the hill. The problem was that there was no road to the village. No problem! Men of the village hacked away at the dirt and rocks, making a path.

It was almost dusk, so we hurriedly pitched our tents and set up the 'screen' for the Jesus Film. The screen is a white sheet stretched between two sticks. For the first hour or so, a video was shown with Christian music and a short Gospel presentation. At this time there were only about 30 people present. As the music traveled across the plains, I could see people walking in the distance, arriving in anticipation. Many if not all had never seen a film before. Excited chatter of children and adults alike were heard over the music. As they arrived, they stared mesmerized at the screen as they heard the actors speaking in their language, telling them about the Truth of Jesus. By the time we started the Jesus Film over 300 people had arrived!! I sat on top of one of the vans and praised God all evening. His love transcends language, culture, countries… into the heart of the person He has created. I kept looking up into the night sky, where the thousands of stars twinkled, and thanked Him for allowing me to be there, for taking me out of my comfort zone, for giving me abundant life.

The next morning we started our medical clinic early. There were so many people waiting in line that I was told to take care of the men. 'Take care' meaning- be their doctor. :) Yeah, I was a bit nervous. But, my translator had been on many outreaches and although she was not trained medically, she helped me out a lot. Together we diagnosed and prescribed meds, which were picked up by the patients in the tent next to us. I learned a lot that day… mostly that I do not know a lot! Ha.

At the end of our time, we learned that almost 100 adults and children had accepted Christ! The pastor, who joined us, will follow up on their decisions. Those 100 souls are why God took us to that village. It was a blast! The next outreach is February 20 and I am pumped to go! Last year, 10,000 people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior through these medical outreaches!

This is my home...

A wise missionary gave me great advice over 4 years ago when I committed my life to missions. He said that many missionaries get to the field and count down the days until they can go back 'home'. This prevents them from fully engaging with the people they are serving. He said that when I arrive on the field, I must completely unpack - not just my boxes - but my expectations, memories, and rights. I have never forgotten this advice, and it has helped tremendously. My home is no longer America. My home is where the Lord wants me… Nigeria! I praise God for graciously enabling me to be at home here.

You know you are in Nigeria when...

1) A man is standing on the street corner selling rat poison. It works, he says, as he dangles dead rats in front of you!
2) The electricity coming on is a highlight of your day.
3) You walk into the store and freak out over seeing Dr. Pepper.
4) You show up at 3:30 for a meeting that was scheduled for 3:00 and you are the first one to arrive.
5) You breathe a sigh of relief when arriving to your destination safely, since there were 10 near misses in the taxi you rode in. (There are no street signs, traffic lights, lanes, etc).
6) You see 2 LIVE chickens hanging upside down from a motorcycle as they head to their dinner date.
7) Complete strangers profess their love for you… as you walk by their storefronts!

Arrival into Nigeria

ADVENTURES DURING MY FIRST WEEK:

1) The plan was for me to land in Abuja (the capitol of Nigeria) for change of flight crew and continue on to Kano. As I waited with the other passengers, I observed a group of Nigerian ladies across the room, two who had newborn babies. They surprised me by crossing the room and sitting down next to me! They did not acknowledge me at first, but began speaking to each other in Hausa. I spoke up and for the next 3 ½ hours I laughed and shared stories with my new Nigeria friends!

We then found out that KLM was going to put us into a hotel because they had to cancel the flight to Kano due to zero visibility because of the harmattan (sand blowing in off Sahara). Praise God I did not have all of my 20 boxes with me (shipped out earlier) because it would have been impossible to take all of them to the hotel, along with all the other passengers' baggage. We booked into the Sheraton (!) and I finally crashed at 4:00am. At 7:00am we learned that KLM was going to take us to Kano by car (5 hour drive). Abuja is actually closer to Jos, in the other direction. So after praying and calling SIM, I jumped into a taxi and took the 3 ½ hour drive to Jos (again, yeah for minimal luggage)! It was a great introduction to Nigeria. We passed by villages where little children played in the yard, women carrying loads on their heads, cars jammed with people and goats, beautiful rock formations and so much more. I praised God all the way to my new home- for the honor to be here to share His love with others. I knew that because so many people were praying, I had been kept safe and had joy despite the circumstances of unexpected change.

2) The driving here is so different than in the States. There are unspoken rules of the road - necessary since there are no stop signs, traffic lights, lanes, or even street signs. It definitely provides a rush!

3) I love my new home! I live in a one-bedroom apartment in a small complex owned by SIM. By the end of the month, the building will be full with 4 men and 4 women missionaries and the Hammack's, a couple who help us to thrive in our new lives. Every evening us singles meet for dinner. It is such a blessing to have singles to spend time with to encourage and edify each other.

4) I met Praise, a Nigerian about my age, who Leslie Pelt (missionary from Moody Church) asked to come check on me. I look forward to building this friendship.

5) Shopping! This has proven to be a time to hunt for treasures. The 2 main stores I shop at are only about 50 feet in length and 20 feet in width- but have more than you would think. I found Dr. Pepper and was so excited! It is a treasure hunt, because you never know what you will find on the shelves. The market place is great- fresh fruits, vegetables, fabric, clothing, and the opportunity to try out my bartering skills. Shopping definitely wipes a person out!

6) Yesterday Mary, GayLynn (my neighbors) and I went to a small store at a corner where we bought beautiful matching Nigerian dresses and head wraps, bracelets and a necklace. We are performing the oldies hit "I Will Survive"- rewritten for what each of us has had to survive- for the talent show at SIM's Spiritual Life Conference Jan.7-11. I cannot carry a tune, but have been practicing drumming on a jimbae (African drum)

7) I visited Transition House, a branch of Gidan Bege, where about 60 boys live. They have shown responsibility, a desire to stay off the streets, and have committed their lives to the Lord. I was overwhelmed with joy to finally be with 'my boys' I have been thinking about for so long! They are precious and I cannot wait to share stories of them with you over the years.

8) NEPA (Nigerian Electric Power Association) - aka Not Ever Power Always- goes off sporadically throughout the day, for unknown amounts of time. The other night I made spaghetti on my gas stove by candlelight. I had to laugh and say "If they could see me now." You who know me know I cannot cook w/ all the conveniences of the States!

9) I brought in 2004 alone with the Lord, praising Him for all He has done in 2003 and looking forward to what He will do in 2004. On New Years Day I visited a local church celebration. I was also blessed to celebrate my 26th birthday with my new family.

Visa!

Hello Friends~ I just received my visa for Jos, Nigeria!!! Thank you so much for praying. I will leave for Nigeria on Saturday December 5th. I am soooo excited to finally go Africa! Right now I am in Florida, serving at SIM’s missionary retirement village. I will return to Texas on Nov.24th to spend Thanksgiving with my family- an unexpected blessing! I will send a more detailed email in the short future. I just wanted to let all of you know that our prayers were answered about the visa and send some new requests.

Back in TX

Howdy from TX! Yes, I have moved back to Texas. I miss Chicago a lot, but I knew that the Lord wanted me to come home. VISA... PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!I have not yet received my visa. We (SIM and I) are not sure what is taking so long, but we must wait and not pressure the Nigerian government. Here is how it works: the Nigerian government evaluates SIM's quota of how many missionaries are permitted into Nigeria. This happens every 2 years. The quota was up for renewal in August, which is why SIM told me that I should expect to leave in September, assuming there was space for me in the quota. Well, the Nigerian officials are still reviewing it, so I am just waiting. Once they send a letter of invitation to SIM in Charlotte, SIM then sends that to Washington DC, where my visa is actually processed. The time from Charlotte to Washington to my receiving my visa is about 2 1/2 weeks. So, all that to say...the tentative departure date is October 22, assuming that I will get my invitation in the next week or so. Clear as mud, right? :) PLEASE keep praying that the Lord will open this door! I really want to go!

MINISTRY One of the reasons the Lord brought me home was to assist with a ministry to children in low-income housing in my hometown. The director of this ministry is new and has no training. She is over college students (from my alum) who are the ones who do the ministry. We meet with the kids every Tuesday and play and share a Bible lesson. We are asking the Lord to open our eyes to opportunities and that the Holy Spirit will give us creativity and discernment.

FAMILY Another reason I am home is to spend lots of time with my family! We are making a lot of memories. I visited Shane in College Station on Saturday. We went to the Texas A&M football game and had a blast. My wonderful parents continue to love on me and disciple me in the Truth.

Saying Farewell to Chicago

Hello Friends! It was a beautiful day here in Chicago- about 80 degrees, sunny. I love it! This will probably be my last week in Chicago. I am awaiting word from the Nigerian government as to whether or not they are going to issue me a visa. SIM hopes that we will hear by the end of next week. It is out of our hands. Please pray that the Nigerian official(s) will see the need for a nurse to work with the street children, lepers, and others in Jos. Perhaps my papers have been set aside and not looked at yet, or maybe a decision has been made and they have not notified SIM Nigeria. Whatever the case, pray that God will move the official(s) according to His plan and His timetable. If I do receive the visa this week, the plan is for me to leave Chicago on the 8th for Texas, where I will be until the end of Sept/early Oct to pack and say good-bye to family and friends.

I am excited to tell you that my car was sold yesterday! Thanks to all who prayed. I received the $4,000 I was aiming for. However, I owe my parents $4,200, so I just expected to have to pay the $200 out of my pocket. Well, after selling the car I opened my mail and there was a check for $200 from a Sunday school class at Moody! How fun to see God burden the class to give me the exact amount I need and to have the check arrive the day that I sold my car!

In my last letter I shared that I would be attending the tropical medicine course in Vancouver Island. It was intense, but I really enjoyed it. I learned a ton and feel more competent to serve the Nigerians in a safer and more effective way. I highly recommend this course to any missionary- medical or not who knows they will provide health care in some capacity. There was even a mom there who wanted to learn in order to care for her 3 children as they live in Malawi. Go to http://equipministries.org (click on Missionary Medical Intensive) for more information.

On my last day of work, my co-workers surprised me with a box full of things I will need in Nigeria: towels, chapstick, soap, etc. I also received almost $500 as gifts from various co-workers! I was extremely humbled that they would do that, and blessed by their interest in Nigeria, what I will be doing, and why on earth I want to go! I praise God for all of them, who have been such a source of encouragement. My roommates and another good friend hosted a going-away party for me on Monday 25th. It was such a blessing to see so many friends that I have made over the past 3 years in Chicago. Each one of them is so special to me in very unique ways.