Blessings

washing the feet of a young girl and hearing her giggle because it tickles, always thinking of friends in other parts of the world and constantly transposing time, Emmee and Wasaka, the power of positive thought, reading to understand and not to simply enjoy, being in one place longer than a few days, being around passionate people, alone time, bright smiles and contagious laughter, my wonderful housemates, the hope of Spring, blue skies and green grass,  having friends and family to miss, ability to question and wonder, choice, knowledge that maybe what I want and what God wants for me could very well be one and the same...

A Baby Dedication and a Special Preacher

On our last Sunday in Nigeria we worshiped at the EYN Utako church in Abuja. There were several very special things about worship that morning. Firstly there was a baby dedication that took place. It was very special to see this child presented to the congregation and dedicated to God. Throughout the trip it was sometimes hard to see the similarities between EYN and the Church of the Brethren here in the states. While the roots of EYN are in fact Brethren, it isn’t always apparent. Here was a time when it was apparent. To see this small child dedicated and to be part of the group that accepted the child into the church was a very special moment for me. We rose up as one people, as Nigerians and Americans and Europeans, and to accept our part in this child’s life. In my case, through prayer. It gave me chills. God was moving in that moment. Secondly that morning the sermon was delivered by one of our leaders, Reverend Anthony Ndamsai. I grew to love this man and his family during my short time in the country. To have had the opportunity to hear him preach is priceless. And for me especially because the text he used was from Esther 4. A few days before I knew he was going to be preaching he showed me something he had written based on this text from Esther. In fact he had written it with me in mind. It was very humbling to read and to realize that God was speaking to me through Anthony. In many ways I feel as though I am being called to go back to Nigeria and this message from Anthony is part of that calling.

Two Host Family Experiences

I was able to stay two nights in the homes of families of the congregations we visited on the weekends. The first night was in the small village of Lassa. We arrived for a fellowship meal with the EYN #1 Lassa congregation and afterwards we were told to wait outside and someone would come and take us to their home for the night. I was the first person to leave the church. I guess you could say that I was snatched up immediately! I went with a woman named Hajara and the first thing she asked me was, “can you trek?” and I said, “yes!” So we trekked (walked) for about 20 minutes to get to her one room home that was on the outskirts of town. Everything she needed was in this single room. There were two beds, a television (although there was no electricity to use it), cooking items in the corner (the kitchen itself was on the front porch). We went in (after leaving our shoes outside the door) and started getting ready for bed. Hajara offered me a wrapper (a piece of cloth to wrap around myself) to wear to take my bath that I accepted and I put on. Then she walked me out to the ‘toilet/shower’ which is a small space with cinderblock walls, no roof with a hole in the middle. I was able to wash up under the stars that night and I loved it. I felt free. We then spent some time talking with one another about our families and our lives. Hajara is a mother of four and her husband lives in Lagos with the children while she is working in Lassa, many hours away. She hasn’t seen her family in two years but is hoping to spend two months with them soon. We then looked at her photos that she has of her family and friends and colleagues. I could tell that those people were very important to her. In the morning, Hajara heated up some water so that I could take a warm tub bath, which consisted of me dumping water on myself and it felt so wonderful to do just that! We then trekked back to the church greeting many people as we went because I’m sure they were somewhat surprised to see a young white woman walking down the street!

My next experience of staying with a family was extremely different but at the same time similar. It was different in that I stayed with the family of John and Esther and their daughter Awa who is my age. We left the EYN Polo church in Maidugari in a Mercedes and drove across the city to their home. We drove through the gate at their home and inside I saw a large, ranch style house. We sat outside and enjoyed the last of the day light before the generator was turned on for the evening. I was immediately ushered to Awa’s room, where the TV had already been turned on. If people had televisions, they were always on to show us as a way to show wealth to those who visit. I waited there while Awa heated up some water so that I could take a tub bath before going to bed. After cleaning up I went out to the living room and we sat down together for a late meal before sitting down to watch CNN. John and Esther both had the opportunity to study in the states in Kansas. John attended McPherson College and Esther went to a nearby university. They have six children, five boys and a girl. They were incredibly warm and welcoming to me. Now I can say that I have a home in Maidugari.

Naming Ceremony

We were able to spend one afternoon attending a baby naming ceremony in the nearby village of Uba. When a child is born in Nigeria, a naming ceremony takes place a week later. This child’s name is Jacob. The difference between Jacob and the other children is that both of his parents are HIV positive. While Jacob is not infected himself, he is very much so affected by this disease. His mother (whose name unfortunately I forget), had lost all sense of hope before she began attending a HIV support group that the EYN HIV/AIDS Program sponsors. She was then able to receive medical help as well as find a supportive group to share with. It was through the HIV/AIDS Program that she was introduced to her husband, who is also HIV positive. We were able to take some time immediately following the ceremony to talk with the couple as well as several women from the support group. They seem to be a happy, healthy couple and have been incredibly blessed by their newborn Jacob. (Note:EYN has decided to take a stand and do what they can to help the fight against HID/AIDS.)

The Small Things

So here are some of the small things that made me happy today:

dark rain clouds mixed with the bright blue sky, a mid-afternoon cold pizza snack, the joy that comes with picking out small gifts to send to friends far away, rainbows, watching Beth play with her new stuffed monkey, eating good cookies from Jewel, having all the housemates home for the first time in months, receiving an encouraging and delightful e-mail from my NYC small group leader

Dear Strong Girl

Dear Strong Girl,
There is a saying that goes, “he who loves your child, loves you.” We thank you for taking your time to humbly play with the kids which showed that you really felt free around. Thanks for spending your energy working like a man. My family decided to give you just a little groundnuts. God bless you. Yours in Christ, Reverend Bitrus. EYN General Evangelism
Coordinator.
This is a note that I received my last night at the EYN headquarters in Kwarhi while participating in a four week workcamp to Nigeria. It was not until this night that I met Reverend Bitrus. He sat close to me at the special thank you dinner that EYN held for the workcamp group. While he did not know me by name, he did know me as the young and strong girl. After I accepted the gift and read the note I realized that I was not ready for all of this to end.
Not ready to leave the children of the primary school that I played with every day. Not ready to leave the young girls who came up to me at church and shyly asked if we could be friends. Not ready to leave the in depth conversations on faith and the church, life and the world. Not ready to leave the people whom I had come to know and love.
My short time in Nigeria has left me questioning and wondering about many things and at the same time has left me wanting more. Wanting to listen carefully to what God is calling me to do. What God is calling us as a church to be. I have been back in the states for almost three weeks and not a second goes by that am not thinking about my friends, my brothers and sisters, in Nigeria. God brought us together for a reason. To work together, fellowship together, learn together and grow together. Relationships were created that know no boundaries. This is what I believe God calls us to do each and every day.

The Welcoming

So this morning as I was trying not to wake up I was dreaming that I was back in Nigeria at a church service. It was the part of worship where the ZME Women's Fellowship begins singing a welcoming/greeting song and the rest of the congregation joins in. Everyone is on their feel dancing and singing and moving around greeting one another with a handshake.

This was my favorite part of the worship service. When everyone is singing and smiling and laughing and shaking hands and praising God for one another. Words cannot explain the wonderful feelings and emotions that come with this simple act of greeting one another.

So I dreamed of that this morning and then later in the day I was able to attend chapel at Bridgewater College. There was a time to greet one another. Again it was a time where I was able to greet and hug and smile at my college friends and family. This was also a special time. Only different. Different is good.