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