We Share The Same Moon

Hi Everyone,
A few nights ago we had a HUGE, gorgeous full moon. Because we were coming off of the rainy season, we hadn't seen a full moon in a long while. Crist and I stood outside our apartment just oohing and aahing. We took a picture - and look at what happened - it looks so small, doesn't it?But looking at the moon made me remember that animated cartoon of many years ago - An American Tale - about two mice that are separated and one night each of them look up at the sky and see the beautiful moon and even though they're apart they feel comforted by the fact that the person they love is seeing the same thing that the other is seeing. Then a really pretty song is song, Somewhere Out There. I remember some of the lyrics:
"And even though I know
How very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star."
That's how we're feeling too. Most of you are in the states and we're here in Nigeria - but we do share the same big moon and the same Creator that created that moon. This gives comfort when a moment of homesickness kicks in. The next time you're enjoying a full moon - think of Crist and I and smile.
Chat with you again soon.

In-joy,
Eileen and Crist

New Birth

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday morning, my daughter, Corrie and I, went to OLA to spend some time with the babies. Usually we go in the late afternoon so we can see the older kids home from school too. But, this week's afternoons are filled, so we decided to go in the morning and just have some quality time with the younger ones. It was such a good morning. We were able to change diapers and put some new clothes on little Mary that were donated by Next Chapter Church. You diehard Louisville fans will love the red sweatshirt that little Mary is wearing. We sat on the floor with some toys and just held and played with the kids. We also learned that a very young unwed girl died in childbirth a couple of weeks ago and her extended family is unable to care for baby Joseph, who survived his birth. He is in the OLA hospital where he is being cared for. We went to the room he is in and peeked into his tiny crib and he is so very little. We were told that he needs very badly to gain weight - so please pray for baby Joseph's health and well being. Also, a 4 year old little girl will be coming this week to the OLA Children's Home. Her mother is unable to care for her so she will be taken from the home and brought to OLA. We don't know her name yet - but pray for this little girl - how frightened she will be going to a strange and new place.

As Corrie and I were leaving OLA we were both fairly quiet thinking of baby Joseph and this new little girl. We were driving on the village road leaving OLA when we saw a mother sheep laying in the middle of the road and as we passed we noticed a bundle of white fur by the side of the road so we turned around and went back to where the sheep were all gathering. And there was a baby lamb, still wobbly but trying to stay upright next to its mother. He was so cute and so clean looking compared to the yellowish white color of the rest of the sheep. Another newborn starting out in this great adventure we call "life."

What a great morning to be able to experience new birth - the start of life for a lamb and the start of life for a little baby boy named Joseph. Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb that died to take away our sins so that one day little Joseph may experience enternal life. How cool is that?! A Lamb and a baby - the salvation message for us all.

Have a blessed day!

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist

Two Groups

Hi Everyone,

This picture right below is unique in that it is a photo of the Fulani family that lives right next to the land that houses our viewing center and Education Center. This family is Muslim and they won't normally allow you to take their picture. When the Next Chapter team was here we did an outreach on the property and the Fulani children (as they always do) came a-visiting. Fulani are nomads and they do the herding of the cattle in Nigeria. This family, however, seems to be more permanent as they have lived in the same place for quite some time. They are very poor and the children are usually wearing what we would call "rags." The father/husband of this Fulani family is to the far right of the picture and he has three wives (which is normal in the villages) and about 11 or 12 children (we can never be sure). When we ate lunch that day of ministry we had leftovers so we were able to feed the children and gave some to the father also. He seemed very appreciative. We hope to soon be able to give the children some clothing also. Wouldn't it be awesome if one day soon this entire Fulani family would know of the love of Jesus in their lives? We serve an awesome God - so that's what we're praying for.

The first picture up above was taken last Tuesday after our staff meeting. Our newest staff members, Will and Theresa, are in the middle. Theresa has a blue shirt on and Will is standing behind her. They're a wonderful addition to the team. Theresa will be teaching/tutoring at the Education Center and Will is captain of one of the childrens' homes we minister to. We're so thankful for this group of people the Lord has put together for "such a time as this." But there's always room for more. grin

Two groups - both loved by God. One group trying to stay alive, living as a family in very harsh conditions - but lost. The other group hoping to bring Life as we live in community with one another in new and strange conditions. Please pray for our two "groups" as we each try to find what's really important in life - "and He left the 99 to find the one lost sheep."

".....I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly ." John 10:10

In-Joy,

Eileen and Crist

A Day of Rest

Hi Everyone,
I'm not sure why, but in the past I have been hesitate to blog about anything other than things we are doing ministry-wise. But that's kind of one-sided, I decided. I think we all do work pretty hard but there are some days when we just "chill." Today was one of those days, AND WE LOVED IT! Not too far from us is a hotel called LaMonde and they have a pool. For $5 each, you can swim and just hang out. They have a little eating place so you can order french fries, minerals (Diet Coke, Sprite, etc.) and a few other snacks.
Corrie called this morning and said did we want to pack a lunch and go with them and a few others to the LaMonde to swim? We said "sure" and off we went. The water was so COLD, brrrrr. But once you were in for a few minutes it began to feel good. Crist and I brought a book to read and so we spent the morning and early afternoon eating, playing in a pool and talking with each other. It was so relaxing and was good for us to get away and just do nothing. Thank You Lord for pools in Jos, Nigeria!
Chat with you soon!

In-Joy,
Eileen and Crist

I'm taking this Scripture out of context, but thought it fit for our day. "But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster." I King 5:4

Boy, Was I Ever Wrong!

Hi Everyone!

Boy oh boy - was I ever wrong!!! I think in the last two blogs I have mentioned that the rainy season is officially over and blue skies here we come!! Not so!!! We are sitting in our apartment just giggling almost because it is pouring down rain in one of the hardest downpours we have had all season. When we woke up this morning it was sunny and so pretty. And for about two hours it was a gorgeous beginning to the day. But really quickly it started getting darker and the winds began blowing and then the heavens just opened up and it feels like gale force winds now. I've closed all the windows in our apartment because it's getting COLD - can you believe that - in Africa no less!

So, now I don't have to feel guilty anymore about the rain - I've fessed up. MAYBE the rainy season is taking a bit longer than we thought. grin

Be blessed. Chat with you soon.

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist

Majesty, Worship His Majesty!

Hi Everyone,
Now that the rainy season is over, everything is green and flowering and there are such beautiful flowers EVERYWHERE!

Just think, in the United States at Christmas you pay $10 for a six inch pot with a few poinsettia blooms in it. Here, they are bushes the size of trees and they are sprinkled along the landscape for everyone to enjoy - and they're free!

This is officially the "windy season" and I love it! The Nigerians feel that this is too cold for them but it's not at all cold - warm with a wonderful breeze!

Did I share with you already that all the staff women are meeting each Tuesday morning at 6:15 a.m. (yea, I know - it is early but so worth it) for a Bible Study on the Book of I Peter? Corrie is leading it and this is her passion and you can tell. I'm excited to see what the Lord will reveal to me about Himself and myself. But I do know that "His Word will not return void" so good things will come from the study.

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Psalm 24:2-3

Chat with you again soon.

In-Joy,

Eileen and Crist

"And It Was Good!"

Hi Everyone,

"And God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day." Genesis 1:31

We must admit, sometimes as I write the blogs, I am guilty of some "complaining" and showing you some of the harder parts about living in Nigeria - and we forget to show you the simple beauties and the majestic elements of this vast country. So this blog and the next will be showing you some of God's best handiworks!

I think I can safely say that the rainy season is officially over for this year, so each day is bright and sunny with blue skies and white clouds. We're thankful that it is also more windy which keeps the day feeling less hot. The night time hours get cool which is wonderful! Living in the Plateau State is such a blessing!!

See you again next time.....

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist

Jos, Ministry and Crawling Things

Hi Everyone,
We try to keep our camera handy for whatever might come across our path. And I try really hard to find things that might be of interest to all of you - but somedays it's just plain difficult to know what to write to you about that will be interesting and informative. What catches my eye, might totally be "duh" to you - but here goes anyway!

While visiting OLA one afternoon, a group of young people from a Jos Catholic school came to visit OLA also and they had a group dressed in dance costumes and they performed some Nigerian dances which was alot of fun. Then the children/teens sang a lovely song by Whitney Houston about "Let the Children" and then they presented the Children's Home with HUGE yams from their garden, toiletry items, some used clothing and big bags of rice and other food items. The leader of the group talked for about ten minutes (kind of like a sermon) and what he had to say was very insightful and heartfelt. The first picture is of their dancers. The next picture is of a Nigerian beetle - nothing earth shattering about this little fellow - just thought you might like to see him.

And, of course, you need the monthly update of how the Education Center is coming along - and it's really coming along. The roof should be on probably next week. Now that Will and Theresa are here (Theresa will be the teacher/tutor here when the Ed. Center is completed) we're really excited to have this building finished and complete so that some village children can begin
some schooling.

You've heard us talk about achabas alot, so thought I would show an "action" picture of some of them. Since there are no road rules here, these small motorcycles seem to "take over" the roads because there are soooooo many of them. They swerve in and out and you really have to be careful when you're driving, because if you hit one (even if it's not your fault) you'll have to end up paying for any repairs and hospital costs involved (because we're batures - Americans).

The progress on the apartments for the staff at the ministry center is coming along well too.

Painting has been completed on the outside (a golden squash color) - thought in this picture it looks almost pinkish orange (it's not) and they're beginning to paint on the inside. Then they will lay a 4 inch thick layer of concrete throughout the entire floor and that will be buffed so it will be kind of shiny looking. All the sand you see in the picture to the right will be for the flooring. John is still hoping that the couples will be in their apartments by the middle of November.

Crist and I leave in a few minutes to head to the village and visit with the doctor and his patients as well as Pastor Dauda and Simon from the Catholic church. We're forming some good friendships with these individuals and we try each week to pay a visit. Pastor Dauda's wife, Ladi, is still on crutches from her achaba accident of three months ago. The wound on the bottom of her foot is healing and we figure by the end of the month she might be able to walk upright without crutches. But she always has a HUGE smile when you're around her.

Hope you are all doing well. The days here are getting warmer, dryer and clearer - most days are really lovely.

Chat with you soon.

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist

A Great Week!

Hi Everyone,
I can't help it - I have to show you these rocks - cute picture, huh?
Last week a group from the Next Chapter Church were here and this blog shows just a little bit of what happened while they were here. They were a GREAT TEAM, worked hard and were a lot of fun.
Some of the things that they did was work at the Education Center doing digging, painting and playing with the kids. At the RCH they did some electrical work on this childrens' home that is in the process of being built. At OLA we had a party with the kids and played with them one afternoon.

Another afternoon we went to the village and had an outreach for the widows from the two churches (our ECWA church and the Catholic Church). Twenty-Nine widows arrived (with a whole village of children) and they each had their picture taken, had individual prayer with someone from the staff or the team and they received a bag with food items in it. While ministry was being done inside the church with the widows, ministry was also taking place outside the church with the children that had shown up.

One of the day's lunches was Suya (picture to the right) which is a shish-ka-bob stick with pieces of beef on it that have been seasoned and fried over a fire. Served with that are raw onions, "chips" - deep fried potatoe wedges (Crist's personal favorite - of course - you know how he loves his potatoes), and "puff puffs", which are donut holes without icing or sugar coating. They're slightly sweet and I really like them. This is a favorite Nigerian meal - but pretty much for those not in the village - meat is very expensive here - so not many Nigerians eat it.

Remember when in the U.S. they used to try to see how many people they could get in a VW Beetle? Well, in Nigeria it's "how many people can you get on one achoba? It's not at all uncommon to see people riding on these small motorcycles carrying goats, mattresses, sofas, panes of glass and many many children. Amazing!

There were times for personal devotions on the boulders (another "rock" picture - yea!!!), times of souvenir shopping, lots of ministry, good food and an occasional good night's sleep. It was a GREAT WEEK and we give God all the glory, honor and praise!!

Chat with you soon.

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist

The Body of Christ - His Church - Next Chapter Group

Hi Everyone,
Crist and I took the team to Abuja on Friday afternoon for them to get their plane for the U.S. What a great week it had been with this group of believers from Next Chapter Church in Covington, Kentucky. They worked hard, served humbly, loved the children greatly and became as brothers and sisters to all on the B2B staff. We will miss them.
The picture up above is of the team taken when we did an outreach to the widows at the village. What a great day that was, taking the picture of each widow, getting prayer requests from each and having prayer stations where we prayed for their needs. Then we had a plastic bag filled with rice, sugar, Maggi cubes (bouillon cubes), raman noodles and oil that was given to each widow. We're trying to establish relationships with the widows so we can better address their needs and the needs of their families. Many of their prayer requests were dire - food to live on, HIV challenges, salvation for their families and many many requests for healing of the physical ailments they are living with. And, of course, whenever any group goes into the village, the children follow and within minutes there were twenty to thirty children wanting love and attention (which they received).

There were several opportunities for the team to experience the "Rocks" - for doing their devotions on as well as for climbing. Everyone feels drawn by these boulders.

Work projects were done at the Education Center and some of it was sticky and smelly (see last picture below). But all the work was "done as unto the Lord" so there was much laughter and joy as everyone worked together. As soon as we get more pictures downloaded, we'll be doing one more blog on some of the things this team experienced.

Hopefully, you'll get a more complete picture of what this ministry is about and maybe it will even encourage you to think about coming here for yourself.
The man to the far left in this picture and the man in the far right in this picture are the two pastors at Next Chapter Church, Rob and Aaron. Well, that's all for now but stay tuned for lots of pictures on the next blog. A joyous Sunday to each of you!!

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist

First and Second Day with the Team

Hi Everyone,

Well, our team from Kentucky arrived this past weekend and we've been busy doing ministry with OLA and work projects at the Education Center (see the picture above for the progress on the building so far). I thought you'd enjoy another picture of "my" (grin) rocks that the team is climbing on. Everyone is beginning to see how special they are. Let me tell you a little about this team. There are six men and four women and they are really remarkable; humble, hard working and just a lot of fun to be around. Their love for the children has been immediate and heartfelt and every chance they can get, they're playing with the children.

Sunday was an extremely busy day, as we first went to worship at our village church. Watching the team's response to the joyous way the Nigerians worship, was such fun to watch and was such a big encouragement. From church, we went out to eat at Elysar (one of the three restaurants that we feel comfortable bringing teams to eat). Elysar is owned by Lebanese but they serve Chinese food - so we had several dishes served to the table and everyone could sample the different foods. Yummy! From eating we went directly to OLA where we had planned an afternoon of playing with the children and doing a craft with them. The very first picture up above is part of the team holding the babies and just being a part of the activities planned. It was noisy and crazy but hopefully fun too. Hope, the little girl in pink in the below picture, is one of the children at OLA and the other two girls were children of one of the caregivers. The team had brought some "butterfly wings" for the girls and they LOVED THEM!

Chad, a team member, spent alot of his time praying for and holding Claire from OLA. Claire, we think was born with Cerebral Palsy and her body is usually in a fetal position and we're pretty sure she can't see but Chad is convinced that she can hear (we thought perhaps she couldn't hear also). He massaged her legs and hands and by the time we had to leave, her body had begun to relax some and she was able to stretch out her legs. It was a beautiful sight to see the two of them. It was hard for the group to leave at 5:30 but it had been a long and full day and it was time to return to the Ministry Center. Crist and I were privileged to have been the staff with the team throughout the entire day.

Yesterday was another exciting day and I'll save pictures of that for our next blog. Suffice it to say that all of us are being stretched and molded this week and it's a wonderful thing to happen! Chat with you soon!

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist

"Rejoice in the Lord, Again I Say Rejoice!"

Hi Everyone,

"And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my Spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour."

Luke 1:46-47

I'm having trouble with the blog for some reason today - sorry - I can't seem to get the writing above the pictures. Oh well. Today is my wonderful husband's 64th birthday and the pictures above are part of his celebration. There is much to rejoice over as God shows up and things are accomplished that only He can do. We are so thankful to be His heirs!!!

Our daughter, Corrie, and family invited us over last night for delicious French Onion soup as we celebrated Crist's birthday. The grandkids each made their own birthday card to give to him (they were delightful and showed off each one of their personalities so well) and then we put the wrapping paper on Crist's head (doesn't everyone do that? - grin) and took our picture with him holding the very much coveted gift of dark chocolate chocolate chips. For those who know me well - notice the Mickey Mouse plastic glass in the picture. Crist's parents visited Disney World 35 years ago and brought that back as a gift for me and I still have it and brought it to Nigeria with me. It's MY drinking glass and I love it!!

The next picture is of a catfish. Our Nigerian neighbor, Bayo, (and landlord) from next door brought this live catfish (in a bucket with about four or five inches of water in it) as a birthday gift for Crist and he left it outside our apartment. When we arrived home about an hour or so later (from meeting our new team that just arrived) we saw the fish lying outside the bucket about 10 feet away. Poor thing! We gave the fish to our guards and they will skin, fillet and cook the catfish the proper Nigerian way and Crist hopes to sample some cooked catfish later on this evening. Giving a catfish for a birthday or for a special occasion is very customary here!!

These last two pictures show how much progress has been made on the two apartments being built on the ministry center property. The one shown will be the apartment of the B2B Director and his wife and daughter. It will have two bedrooms. The inside room will be their living area and kitchen area (it will be kind of open). John is hoping it will be completed by the end of the month. I know Jason and Emilee and Will and Theresa are eager to get settled into their new homes as soon as possible - a reason to rejoice!

And a BIG rejoicing moment happened last Saturday as Crist and I sat with Alphonsus (our B2B driver and friend) and his wife Esther in a noisy restaurant and shared the Gospel message with Esther. Alphonsus is a believer but his wife was not and we have been sharing some Christian discipleship materials with the two of them and they have been reading them together. The Holy Spirit then began to really "woo" Esther and she was soooo ready to commit her life to the Lord. I was able to lead her in the sinner's prayer and she would repeat after me what I said. It was a moving experience for us all and Alphonsus's smile is as big as the sun these days. He is so excited at what the Lord is doing. Now in the evenings, the two of them are reading their Bibles together. Pretty cool, huh?

We hope and pray each of you will see something in your life that you can praise the Lord for and rejoice!!

In-joy,

Eileen and Crist