Pic of the week

This weeks picture(s) of the week were taken out in the bush as my pastor and I traveled interior into the bush to baptize five new believers from one of our daughter churches. The road was rough all the way into the village and one point we had to just ditch the car and trek by foot to where the believers were all waiting. It was a neat experience trekking with the believers to the water where 5 of them were going to be baptized. As we trekked we sang songs along the path and then returned to the fellowship hall for communion.

My pastor could really use a nice vehicle that would enable him to go interior to where others will not go. If this interests you let me know.

Here are some pics of the day.

picture of the "weak"

With three weeks to go before I return to the states I find myself laid up on my bed nursing a badly sprained ankle. The injury took place on Saturday afternoon while playing a game of ultimate frisbee with some Westerner's and a few of my Nigerian friends. I sprained my left ankle as I went up for a pass and came down on another player’s foot. The result was what you see here. As I lay in bed I’ve really enjoyed the time to read and just think. Injuries are tough because pf the pain and the lasting effects but I believe God uses them to slow you down and encourage a little introspection. Paul says “examine yourselves”, which, is exactly what I am trying to do.

"sermon on the mount"

This past Sunday I had the wonderful privilege of preaching at the site where our local church formerly met for fellowship. During the Jos crisis in November of 2008 the building was tore down and left in a pile of rubble. The believers at the church are strong and committed and will not de shaken. The last Sunday of every month they go up to the mountain to worship together and hear from God’s word despite the onlookers who don’t like us being there. This past week I went up to the mountain for the first time and I preached from “Yahaya sura goma sha hudu, aya shida” which of course is “John chapter fourteen verse six”. It wasn’t exactly a “sermon on the mount” but it was a sermon on a hill. I wish I had better pictures but what you see here was taken by a 10 year old boy who I taught how to take pictures. The boy just so happens to be my pastor’s son, his name is Emmanuel.

The picture of the week is in honor of the courage and determination of the believers to press on despite the fierce persecution and tribulations that the last 8 years have presented to them.

Picture of the Week-Ibraham

For those of you who remember my friend Ibraham, here is a picture of us recently. I was talking to him the other night (through a translator) and found out that he used to have a Bible but it was taken from him when he went out to farm one day. He said he would love to have another one so I asked him in which language. He said he would like one in the Hausa language. This week I will be able to present him with a Bible to replace the one that he had stolen. There are many other’s like Ibraham who hold another faith but it is my prayer that they will come to salvation. Pray along with me for Ibraham and his students. He reminds me of Nicodemus in John chapter 3 who was a teacher but still didn't know the things about Jesus Christ.

The picture of the week is of Ibraham and I sitting in front of his house...

In Nigeria, if you are a father or a mother it is common and appropriate to just call you “baba” (father) or “mama” (mother). If your child’s name is Joseph, or Stephen or Bryan then you can be called “baba Joseph, or Baba Stephen” and so on. The same works for the women. My mother can be called “mama Joseph, or Mama Julia, Valerie, etc..”. My pastor, Reverend SundayGwomna, has become a Nigerian father to me so it is fine if I refer to him as “baba”. We spend a lot of time together visiting members of our church and just talking and having a cold minerals (bottle of soda) together. He has become a great friend and source of encouragement and wisdom. He is a very busy man because he is the only pastor of our local church plus he has had a lot to deal with the last 8 years with the attacks upon our church but he has handled it all marvelously and with much love and patience. I’ve really grown to love and appreciate him and his/my “family”. The picture of the week is honor of a man that has stood strong in times of persecution and hardship and of a man who is steadfast in his walk with the Lord.

Meet my pastor, my friend, my baba…

It’s been a long wait but finally I was able to buy a much needed car. Nigerian roads can be quite dangerous and often times the conditions of the roads and the other drivers can be equally as bad. Sometimes you can be driving down the road, shifting gears, honking your horn while it is storming, motorbikes are buzzing on both sides of the car, you are dodging holes, goats, people, pigs, chickens and taxi’s. It’s not as luxurious as we have it back home where the roads are smooth and the cars are under control. Sure, my Pittsburgh friends can complain because Penn-Dot always seems to fail us miserably and you too have to dodge holes as you drive from point A to point B but add the other elements and driving can be very difficult. Even as a trained school bus driver and a holder of a commercial driver’s license I still find it hard to venture out on the roads. Having lost a brother in a car accident I often times become determined to not allow the same fate to be decided for my own life and as a result I find myself trusting in the Lord more than I did when I would venture out onto the roads back home. This is Nigeria and being here has been wonderful. The challenges of driving are part of the difficulties that one has to face when they leaving the US but at the end of the day it is worth it to be here and be able to minister to such needy children. Having a “moto” (as we say here) simply makes my life a lot easier. Normally I am entering taxi’s with people and animals shoved inside (great cultural experience) and if I sit in the front the driver usually tries to get a second rider for the front seat making it three including the driver. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the gear shifter as the driver is pushing me in the backside to sit up so he can shift to the next gear. Having a car doesn’t mean everything is going to be much easier. I now have to wait in lines over a mile long for hours upon hours just to get to fill up my tank. Currently we are experiencing some sort of fuel shortage and tankers have gone on strike which makes it difficult to find someone selling gasoline. Recently I was desperate and had to pay 500 Naira ($3.33) for a gallon of gas but normally they sell it for 65 Naira a liter making it about 260 Naira for a gallon. So, I say this to let you know that you may have to wait a while for gas when you go to the pumps back home but just think about having to wait in a line that is literally over a mile long and then having to pay twice the price. It’s crazy. My picture of the week is in honor of my newly acquired automobile. I’m happy to take some proposed names for it and will let you know what I decided for a name once I hear your suggestions. The car is a Volkswagen Golf. Currently it is getting an alignment and new shocks so I’ll be back in business in a few days Lord willing.

Lastly, thanks for those who help contribute to the car fund. Sorry I couldn’t get a helicopter like I wanted but this little guy is going to have to do.

Oh, and yes I fit inside of it.

Ahh, what a refreshing feeling it is to have a cool plateau breeze coming in through the window just after a heavy rain। The rainy season is finally here after having rain on Saturday for a short while and then a heavy thunderous down pour just about an hour ago. Having rain is much appreciated after having months of just dry, dusty air and streets. Seriously, the dust was just out of control. Having had rain twice in the past week has prompted me to post my picture of the week in honor of the much needed and long awaited for rainy season. Thank the Lord because we really needed it. Oh, I couldn’t help putting one more picture of Precious. Enjoy…