New Friends

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday, Crist and I ventured out once again to visit the Pastor and the village doctor. Pastor
Dauda wasn't at home, but his wife, Ladi, was home (women in the blue). She is also either a teacher or a teacher's aide at the village school (see picture below). School is only in the morning and as we arrived there after lunch, Ladi was home and took us on a "look-see" at the school. This little school is across the street from the church we attend and is for the first five grades. On Sunday mornings, they use the rooms for Sunday School.



Back2Back Ministries about two years ago made the school benches (above picture), but they weren't treated (we now know to do that), so very quickly they deterioate as you can tell by the picture. Back2Back also paved the floors. They used to have mounds of dirt and the children would sit on the mounds. The village is poor so conditions usually don't get better.

The "blackboard" is just black paint over the wall.....yet, inspite of these primitive teaching aids, there is learning taking place and we know the families are thankful that at least their children are able to attend some form of education.

Ladi speaks very little English, and I, of course, speak very little Hausa, but her smile is as big as the ocean and her hugs are warm and genuine. We communicate as best we can and friendship is growing.

This picture to the left is of Ladi and Respa (I'm guessing at the spellings of their names). Respa is a neighbor right next to the church. Her grown children live in town and she does farming in the village and visits her children during the weekend. This is the only way she can support herself. I value these relationships that are being formed; actually, I'm finding I need them. That's how we women are, huh?

Isaiah 58:6-7 ' "Isn't the fast I choose: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and to not ignore your own flesh and blood?" Hard words to read but even harder still to put into practice.

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist