Camp started today. I visited the junior boy camp today to say goodbyes, and tomorrow morning I am going to the senior boy camp with Erin. It was hard to say goodbye to the staff today and to one particular eight-year-old, Francis. I wrote shortly about him in a previous post. He came into the ministry during my time here from a very abusive home. When he first came he spoke a little Pidgin English, but now we can speak to each other quite well. We play a game where we simple just name the different parts of the body in Hausa. In most of my pictures he is not showing his beautiful smile, but it is ingrained in my head as I picture his placing both of his hands on his head and saying, “Kai.” When I went to say goodbye today, he was sleeping. He woke up but wouldn’t talk to me. It was hard to tell if he was upset at me leaving or just didn’t care. About five minutes later he came up to me and started playing again. I decided not to actually say goodbye and went to the car. After I shut the door and put my things down. I looked up and noticed a face in my window. Francis.

     Please keep me in your prayers as I am traveling these next three days. I leave Jos tomorrow at 2 PM, and the plane leaves at 10:30. On to Frankfurt. Layover in Chicago. Debriefing in Charlotte, NC and spending the night. Home at 8 PM on Thursday. It’s going to be a long three days, almost like 3 days plus 6 extra hours! Thank you all for your support again. I could not have come without all of you, and I can’t wait to see you!

     Today, I went back to the EMS school for the last time. School is out, and only the staff children are left, six in all. I had some good time with the children while the mamas were making me a special meal. We ate and I felt very blessed to have such good friends here. I am thankful that I was able to encourage them during my time as they are often a neglected ministry here in Jos. I am definitely sad as I wind up my time here(I am leaving Jos on Tuesday) since I feel that I am just now understanding more of the culture and the language. I know feel I understand more of how I could work well in this ministry, and I have a deep love for both my Nigerian and bature(white people) friends here. While I was playing with the children today we took turns telling stories, and I will attempt to retell one of them here. I was surprised slightly at this story, and now as I am writing and I am surprised that I am only ’slightly’ surprised.
     “There was a family that had one daughter, Julie, and one son. The father loved the daughter, and the mother loved the son. One day the mother sent the daughter out to get meat, but she came back with no meat so the mother said that Julie would be the meat now. The mother cut off her head and put it under the pillow in an unused room and cut her up and cooked her. Then there were birds that went to where the father worked. The birds sang, “Julie go and die. Julie go and die. Look under the pillow and see her head. Julie go and die.” When the father went home, he asked his wife, “Where is Julie?” The mother said, “She is out playing. Come and eat.” The father sat down at the table, but the birds came again and sang their song. Again, the father asked where Julie was, and his wife lied again. He then began to search all of the rooms in the house until he came to the last. He looked under the pillow and saw Julie’s head. He told his wife to go fetch a barrel and fill it with boiling water. Then he put his wife in the barrel. Then End.”
     This story, given light-heartedly, examplifies a key difference between my childhood and that of a Nigerian. We try to hide lifes unpleasantries and protect our children from harsh and wicked things. In Nigeria, everything is left in the open. For example, even at one’s funeral, both the good and the bad is spoken of even by the closest of family. In America, we would not dream of speaking ill of someone at their own funeral. This story may not be true, but it does show what is common to this culture. Poverty. Hunger. Abuse of children. Murder. Mysticism. Almost of the children that I have met here have experienced several of these. Please continue to pray for the ministry here for wisdom for vision and the boys who are in the ministry and are yet to be in the ministry. Many of these boys are suffering deeply from their past but do not allow any outward appearance to suggest their pain. Please pray that the ministry continue to grow in how to aid these children physically, spiritual, and emotionally.

First I will explain the last five photos from the post ‘Two Weeks To Go.’ The one with the children is of the girls at the EMS school practicing their songs and dancing for the graduation ceremony we had. The two girls in the front are Jedidah and Jael. The other four pictures are all from when we went to the river in Miango last Saturday. The last one is of me and Kate on one of the huge bolders left from the volcano. It was quite a feat to get all the way over to that one! Oh…and I added one of my sister whom I dearly love.

Funny Signs

Luke doing his school work

This is the little girl and the pet monkey that living next to me. I currently forgot both of their names. I think the monkey might be Kefas? but I called him Marcus for a while.

Some of the boys at TH playing a game called Captain’s Coming.

Me and Moses

The Market (and yes…those are power lines)

Some of the boys from Gidan Bege

Lastly, please be praying for me as I am coping with leaving and finishing my portion of work here. I am finding that I have to fight not to want to give up now, instead of pressing on. With the end in sight, everything I can do seems trivial. Thanks…and gig ‘em.

     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.

This is a picture of some of the people I work with. Me, Erin, Ade, Elisha, Alex.

     So the trip I took to the CARE Center in Makurdi went very well. We had a little trouble on the roads, but God kept us safe, and we didn’t have to pay any bribes (we did pay in the form of sitting on the side of the road for an hour). We gave the boys the first shot for hepatitis, did interviews with each, and then just played and encouraged. After I got home, I had a long talk with the Sawyers and found out that the sponsoring department of this ministry has a lot that they could be doing. It looks like I may be doing a lot of work there both while I am here and after I get back. I am excited about it, but it is a quite daunting task infront of me. Here are some pictures of the boys in Makurdi.


     Another new task I have is homeschooling a 8 year-old boy named Luke. He is a foster child with one of the missionaries here. His mom won’t give her rights away so he can be adopted, and it’s a really complicated situation. He is also a really rough kid with a lot of attitude and disciplinary problems. This last week I have already seen an improvement in his attitude towards me. Please pray for intense patience for me as I am being tried so hard and for increased creativity for our teaching and playing times. Please pray for Luke that the Word of God would start to penetrate his heart and be reflected in his actions.
     I have also been working at the EMS school. Here are some pictures there. Last week they had exams, and their parents will be coming to pick them up at the end of this week. I will miss these children a lot. YAY!


     Lastly, I am going to two of the CARE Centers in Jos and having a club time with the boys. We play games and sing songs. …or at least that was the plan. In actuality, I go with a plan in mind, but normally end up doing very little of what I have planned. Here are pictures of me and two of the boys. The one in the blue shirt is Isaac. He is one of the 15 boys at Gidan Bege in Jos waiting to be moved to one of the other CARE Centers as soon as beds are available. He is the youngest at about 9, and we call him “The Chairman” of Gidan Bege.


These are the three youngest boys at the Transition House.

What I Am Learning:
All in all, I have more work than I have time for, and I have found that 10 weeks in this ministry is only a drop in the bucket. I will be sad to leave these children and my friends. But I am learning much about the kind of work that I would like to be involved in in the future. Walking this city has allowed me to learn a lot and to see many people. I feel very much at home. I have also recently made friends with two individuals on my way to Gidan Bege. I greet them on my coming and going. Please pray that these friendships would be pure of heart. My patience and my flexibility (with plans) is being tried, and I am also learning that I have much to learn about a servant’s heart. My Hausa is improving as well. I’m trying to learn as much as I can while I am here, and I have more teachers than I can count. There is one click that the Nigerians use and I am trying as hard as I can on my free time(did someone say free time?) to develop this skill, but so far I am lacking! I am also enjoying living by myself…cooking, cleaning, entertaining guests, going to the market for food as well.

Philosophy Time With Lauren:
If a question is posed in a positive manner, one will reply with a simple yes or a no, however, if the question is has a negative, the situation becomes complicated. For example, if I were to ask, “Are you not going to play with us?” I am really asking if you are going to play with us but with the assumption that you are going to say no. Therefore, one should answer in the affirmative, “No, I am not going to play. You are correct.” However if you are going to play, you should respond, “No, you are wrong. I will play.” Either way, the answer is no. Nigeria does not follow this logic. If you ask a negative question, it is not taken as a positive question with the assumption of the answer being no. The answer is either “yes” or “no” without any explanation, therefore, I am required to sit there and think a while. This new logic is baffling. Who would think that answering a question according to its worth could be so simple.

Out of the last ten days, I believe we have had one block of electricity for 48 hours. It’s back off now. The internet has been off for the past week as well and has just returned to grace us with its presence yesterday. So I am partially back and ready for 2 hours of action before my battery dies!

My roommate has left. Also, my brother and his wife are in Sudan now. Please be praying for them. They are going to see the city they will be based out of long term when they leave next year.

Here is a picture of my city.

Nigerian Taxis:
So in Jos, there is a plethora of honking…always. Honking can mean many different things. “I’m coming so don’t move.” “I’m coming so you better move.” “Just letting you know I am passing so don’t randomly dart into the road.” “I’m a taxi. Do you need a ride?” And I am sure there are several more. This brings me to an interesting point. When I think of taxi, I think of…yellow, high prices, an awkward silence between me and the driver, and of my dad speaking Spanish. Here, taxi drivers are the masters of their own cars. In other words, there is no Yellow Cab or ‘insert another taxi company name here.’ Taxis are just normal cars which can lead to some interesting mistakes. I am getting better now, but I may have had some awkward moments asking private drivers if they were taxis. Also, taxis don’t just take you where you want to go. You have to be going somewhere along their path so you might have to take multiple taxis to get somewhere. There are certain places where taxis line up (kinda like at the airport) and just wait for people. This is always fun because you walk up and they point you to the taxi in the front of the line which is normally going where I need it to. However, then I have to wait for the taxi to fill up. Yes that’s right, two in the passenger’s seat and four in the back. Get friendly quick!

Things I miss (cont):
Internet
Friends
Not being run over

More Things I Am Thankful For:
I have not been sick! Praise the Lord!
All 15 boys at Gidan Bege (Jos) were tested negative for HIV! Praise the Lord!
I will be getting internet at my house within the week! Lord willing!

Blessed is the man WHO LISTENS to Me, watching DAILY at My gates, waiting at My doorposts. Proverbs 8:34

AND HE WILL BE THE STABILITY OF YOUR TIMES, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is His pleasure. Isaiah 33:6

The title here seems a bit controversial as I would not actually suggest anyone to taste Nigeria, however, after talking to some Nigerian friends, I have learned that it is common here for children (who are old enough to know better) to eat sand, just pick some up while they are talking and put it in their mouth. They don’t really know why they did it, but they did. I told them I would pass on that experience.

P.S. Tomorrow I will be posting more info on my ministry here and pictures. Get so excited!

Picture This:
An African woman is walking down the dirt road barefoot with a painted pot balanced atop her head. Now I will change that picture into the reality that is Jos. An African woman is walking down a dirt road with pot holes every other foot which are mostly full of water making the dirt road more of a slush road. She is wearing shoes with her heals hanging off the end. Without those shoes, she might get hook worm (I’ll leave out the description). On her head is a plastic bucket full of water or maybe a large tray of peanuts that are for sale.

Other Thoughts:
On the side of the road there is everything for sale, from watches to toilet paper to food to couches. Yes, large sofa chairs sitting on the side on the road in the dirt. I have often wondered that if one were to have the money to buy one, how would they get it home. Granted there are echabas (motor bikes) plenty at every glance for your personal chartering pleasures which have been known to transport any of the following in one trip: 4 people, 2 people and a small fridge, 2 people and a ladder. Now don’t get me wrong, this is a normal size bike. The fridge was carried to the side, and the ladder was placed on top of the riders’ shoulders and around their heads (safe right!). But surely a sofa chair or couch could not fit. Yesterday, my answer came as I saw two men moving a small sofa upside-down with the sofa arms on their head and walking across the street. Hey, if it works!

Things I am Thankful For:
Fluorescent Lights: This subject is tricky for two reasons. First, everyday when I wake up or come home, NEPA is not guaranteed to be on. In other words, there is no guarantee that I will have electricity at all. Secondly, sometimes you have to lure and coax these lights to come on at all even with power. The kitchen light has a mind of it’s own, and my bathroom light gives a nice strobe effect (except less consistent). For those of you who know me well, luckily I enjoy sitting in relative darkness.
Candles: See Fluorescent Lights.
Gas Powered Stove: Without NEPA I cannot use the toaster, but I can make toast on the stove!
Fast-Toilet-Refilling-Tendencies: In the US, the toilet refills real fast, so you can flush it as many times as you want. You know the whole 7 people/1 bathroom picture that we always hear from our grandparents…well the story could be the same here except you would have to add that instead of waiting for them to get out of the bathroom, you would have to wait half an hour before you could flush again. Ahh, simple pleasures that we don’t realize!
Pockets: Yes, my friends, I have upgraded by buying a skirt with pockets. Get excited!

Things I Miss:
Having a fridge that closes
Disposals
Not having to fight the urge to eat things that have dropped to the ground
My roommates!

     So today, we will start with an amusing anecdote! I went to church today with Erin at the church where all the boys from the Transition House (TH) attend. Again, the visitors were asked to stand up and introduce themselves. I was one of three. I was last. “Good morning. I’m Lauren from America…Texas, and I am here with Gidan Bege for 10 weeks.” As I sat down, I was asked from the pulpit if I was married…then he continued on with how someone here might just marry me, and how they can go to Gidan Bege and ask about the girl from Texas, and something about going to Texas, and something else that seemed to last forever…normally when one says that it only lasted 30 seconds…nope! This one really did last several minutes. Then you start noticing certain men glance over…AWKWARD!! Erin and I had just watched the movie, Memoirs of a Geisha, and I wasn’t quite sure if the bidding was going to start any moment. Then at the end of the service which was about prayer, we first prayed for everyone who was looking for a mate, “especially the ladies at Gidan Bege”, and they were to stand up(as our heads were bowed)…I didn’t dare move.
     As regards to the rumor, I was not able to come. However, had I come it would have made no difference. I don’t know if there has been any news about Nigeria, but this is the situation. The government has raised the taxes and the gasoline prices have doubled. The people are fed up. On Thursday, the people led a national strike. Schools were closed (but thats nothing new), banks were closed, taxis put leaves on their car to symbolize they were not going to give rides (which left the roads very bare), stores were closed, and then apparently on Friday night NEPA (the power company) also decided to shut down. I believe the strike is over now, but we are still waiting to see what the government is going to do. Please continue to keep the leadership of this country in your prayers…especially for protection against corruption and conviction to act on the people’s behalf.
     I want to thank you for your prayers. God seems to be giving me more direction and focus for my ministry here. With 150 kids in the city ministry plus maybe 60 more at the EMS school, it is hard not to feel like you are abandoning or rejecting some for the sake of others. There will be more on this as I know more in the next couple of days. PS The little four-year-old in the picture to the right is Faith.
     Lastly, I will be traveling this week to two other Gidan Beges. The four of us who are going hope to accomplish compiling a quarterly report, making health assessments, and interviewing all 45 boys there. These interviews is what I will be helping with. The hope is that eventually they will all be sponsored, and their stories can be sent to their sponsors. Please pray for safety while traveling and strength.

Rumor has it that I may be online this Friday night (your time). I would love to talk! Thanks!

This is Francis…He is eight or nine I belive. He doesn’t speak a lot of English. He has been at Transition House(TH which is one of the boys homes) for a week now. Praise Jesus that we were finally able to move him from his abusive home!

We climbed up a the rocky hill that is right behind TH last Saturday night.

The Top

Emma(commonly short for Emmanuel and pronounced E-mah) in a Tree!

Stephen in a Tree!

Emma, Me, Angwa, Daniel, Stephen

Yes, we did play frisbee on the top!

This is us after church. The clothes are very hot so Kate already took her headtie off. This is Kate, Me, Susan, and Erin.

     Good news! I have running water in my bathroom. Last Friday, we heard gunshots…the bank was being robbed…yay Nigeria!
     So I haven’t written a lot because I haven’t known exactly what to say. I have really just been visiting several of the different care centers for the last week. I also went today to the Blyth’s. They are missionaries here and foster parents. Their boy, Luke, who is 8 years old is very behind in school, and they have had a lot of trouble trying to school him. I may be trying to help them out a couple of days a week. Today, I realized even more that his problem is attitude! Oh wow! I would have never gotten away with that as a kid. I am learning a lot. Right now, I am really struggling as to find my place here, that is where God wants me to serve and how I can do that well. It’s kind of a free for all as to what I want to do, but that makes it difficult because there is very little guidance and structure for me to fall into. I think over the next couple days I am going to meet with the leaders at the different care centers and talk to them. Anyway, please be praying for me that I will find my group of kids and my ministry here.
     Tomorrow morning I am going exploring!