Two Weeks To Go

     So my dad explained to me that I was not as explanatory as I should have been so here is my comments expounded on the last post. I did interviews with the boys so that biography pages could be made for each. Once a child from the ministry has a sponsor, they received these biographies so that they can learn about the boy they are sponsoring. I am also working with the couple in charge of sponsoring on some changes to improve and expand the information available to current and prospective sponsors. I am going to Makurdi again this week so finish some of that work and talk with Uncle David, who is the ‘man in charge.’
     My time with the boys has been both a joy and a struggle in multiple ways. The difference between this summer and last is simple. At camp, I only get one week with the kids. That one week is the only opportunity for those children to be reached out to. However, here, I am only here for ten weeks, and these boys will be in the ministry for several years. It’s hard to balance how much I want to get involved and attached to these boys when I am just going to leave them. This is why I have been doing more of a games and fun time with the boys. We have learned about the twelve disciples and that God made each of us special. But I know that these children are in a discipleship group with a staff person and in a family group with other boys, and so I didn’t feel that that was a position that I needed to fill. I have found that I am learning far more than I thought I would and being trained for something. Being with the boys in this atmosphere has let me see the ministry, and I am excited to share my thoughts with the staff when I leave. Through both my time with the boys at the CARE centers and my time with Luke, I have definitely noticed that I have a passion for raising up children in the way they should go…the day to day things. So I have really enjoyed a chance to be involved in that.
     This next two weeks will start my process of saying goodbye. Last minute purchases and confronting friends. Besides my trip to Makurdi, I am hoping to get to spend a day with Claudia who runs the camping program for all of the ECWA churches’ youth. Please pray for me as I start to divulge what I have learned in my time here to the staff here.

Shout-Out to My Sista!

Many of you may know the wonder that is my sister. She is a wonder indeed. We talked the other day and one of her many questions included, “Do you have a stand-up shower?” I responded with a simple, ‘yes,’ however, as I was pondering this question later in the day a new thought arose. There are only two different kinds of bathing apparati (yes the plural of apparatus); the sitting and the standing, or, if you prefer, a bath or tub and a shower. By very definition, a shower requires you to stand up. So my question for you Allison Martyn is what kind of shower have you been using!?
P.S. I have been informed that friends from work read this blog so I am now urging, pleading, and charging you all to tease her for the whole day (or at least more that usual)!

The Art of Candle Walking:

You may think this task is something simple, but there are things that need to be understood. First of all, the circumstance that would requiring walking with a candle is that the power is off. No NEPA. This means that there are no lights in your house, your neighbors house, outside, or on the street. You can’t see your hand in front of your face. So after you feel your way to the last place you had matches and find a candle while trying to avoid furniture and walls, you then might be required to walk into another room. Simply enough you pick up the candle and start walking. If you do this, you will soon find out that you are in complete darkness again. The light breeze from walking is enough to reduce your candle to still being lit but not providing any light, therefore, it is necessary to place your hand in front of the flame so that you don’t fall and ‘break your face.’ (ELLIE!)

How I Have Adapted to Jos:
I no longer flinch when a lizard scurries across my path.
I wear a skirt and earrings every day.
I almost lost my voice from greeting people on the street.
I was watching a movie, and thought it was strange that a man was drinking water straight from the faucet.
I think any furniture involving a cushion is comfortable furniture.
I ignore the presence of roaches.

Please let me know if you have any random questions about life here. It’s more fun to answer questions that to try to come up with something randomly interesting.