pictures of the local zoo

Pappa lion protecting his young.

Gus feeding the wandering camel.

crazy zoo man hanging out with a python while he is beginning his process of a rabbit dinner.

pictures of nigeria

I love seeing beauty in the midst of stone.

I love seeing beauty in the evening after a long day of ministry and work.

In the midst of this graveyard, there is beauty surrounding the sadness of the memories as majority of these gravestones are of little children.

I love the beauty of a waterfall to know that all things are washed away except that of eternal value.

These are my children's science fair projects. It was yesterday, and here, every single elementary year you do a science fair project. (Yes, I know, tell me about it, ughhhhh.....)

I was able to get out of it growing up because we lived somewhere where they did it in 6th grade and then we moved and where we moved, they did it in 5th grade. But, alas, my payback is all three of my children having to do it for multiple years.

Sami's is on the top and she did hers on different environments which might cause bread to mold.

Gus did an underwater volcano, showing that hot water is lighter than cold water. Sarah did hers on the "pure water" here (after we clean it up) and the tap water (we call it dirty water) and put a leaf in it to see which environment would decompose it quicker. Needless to say the "Pure water" was the best and cleanest and the healthiest....
They all received a certificate stating they had done well and congratulating them. If you ask me, they need something better than a certificate to motivate me for next year's projects.... However, next year, I have one child less in the science fair ordeal and that alone, motivates me.
Honestly, I was really proud of all of them. Sarah did hers with a partner. This is one of her good friends from Canada, who is also in her class. Again, I found myself feeling very proud of them and all their hard work. I think I was more nervous than them when it came to presenting their work before others.

I love them. They were naturals; however, I think Gus is the one who really, really enjoys science more than the rest..... For the record, I did have a picture with Sami in it, but it accidentally got deleted. Sorry Sami, you looked great though!

a new beginning

These are the guys who have infiltrated our lives over the last two weeks. You know, when a group shows up and serves alongside of you and works with you through the ups and downs of Africa living, you start to become familiar with their faces and energies that you can almost not remember how life was before they came.

Today is their last day. They will be missed on many levels. It has been a huge jumpstart for John and Jason, to just get going and moving forward on some projects and to hear their input on how things could be done.

They are going on a "hike" or a climb would maybe be the better word for today. It mostly is a last moment to reflect on what has been going on while they have been here. We know that physically things were started, moved forward and some things were completed. We are also very aware that spiritually some things were moved forward in us and some things were started and some spiritual truths were brought to completion in us (at least for the moment). It is these thoughts and ideas that we don't want to miss, in any of us. I am praying for their time of reflection and their time as men to enjoy a day in Africa that will not happen again for them, not in this way, with these specifics.

Tomorrow when they leave, it will be a new beginning. A new one for them as I am sure they are leaving different than when they arrived. And a new one for us as we have been impacted by each and every one of them. We thank all the wives who allowed their husbands to be on loan to the staff in Africa. Their sacrifice was felt and we were encouraged by it.

This family is a part of the Falani tribe here in Africa. The men daily as they would drive to the Oasis house would drive by this hut and these people would be doing different acts of service and life. One could become so familiar with them that you forget they are there, but they are there and we love being able to slowly build a relationship with them. Jason shared last night that for the first time, one of the boys came up to here and initiated a conversation, then said goodbye and went his way. Maybe another new beginning. We will see.

My thought for the day

At the end of the day, not everything has gone the way I want, but at least I have given everything I can.

A sabbath's day of rest

This is the road right outside of our gate. Someone has donated some funds to help us with our road. It is extremely hard to drive on, especially after rainy season. I wanted you to see the "Before" picture so you can then see the "After" picture and realize how hard the men worked.The picture below is in the same spot, and look no mounds. They worked hard and in the middle of the heat of the day as well. Thank you men for your extra mile. It was an encouragment.
The picture below is the mid way point, we even had our children out there for a bit..... They were able to have the luxury of being able to go inside and play whenever they wanted though

Oh, bummer, I had so much more here, but our power went off and I lost literally 3/4 of it and I want to cry. Just know, it had lots in there of ministry, the men and their sabbath and how they chose to encourage and serve us, and how God ends each day, no matter how it went and then we get the blessing of a new day......

Amen!

richly blessed

***ANIMAL ACTIVIST WARNING***

This blog entry will not be for the faint of heart or for the lover of animals as this material is published.

Today was such a fun day! It began with a trip to the local zoo with some children from OLA (Our Ladies of Apostles), one of the children’s homes we minister alongside, and the team of men who are here and the staff families. I had never been to this zoo before and it didn’t disappoint. I am learning, that only in America, can you not walk right up to the lion’s cage and see a mama and a papa lion protect its young (it truly was a ferocious thing to behold) from the zoo man who they saw as a threat. And only in America will a camel not walk right up to you and ask for food and then proceed to follow you around. And, last but not least, perhaps maybe only in Africa can you pay a super small amount to watch two live bunny rabbits being dropped into a Python pit and then screech loudly to their death as the Python squeezes the life out of them. All within an hour…..

After the fieldtrip was complete we took these precious children back to the group compound, where the men are staying and had a great Celebration dinner. There were dancers, a lamb grillout and some other traditional Nigerian food. As you can see by the picture of the lamb skin, it was freshly killed that morning. But, I think the most fun thing was seeing the dancing that was taking place. I tell you what, even the men got out there (it might have taken a bit of urging from the dancers themselves) and grabbed some kids hands and we all had a ball. I love the idea that these children were able to for one day have a “normal” child day. Not only were their hands held and a snack given, but the focus was them and how the Lord loves these little ones. He absolutely adores these children. His son died on the cross for these children. He has promises to be filled for these children. And I had an opportunity to be a part and am so grateful I did.

The day showed itself to have laughter and fun and exhaustion and conversation and family and friends and the realization that most of the time the Joy we receive in Christ comes from giving to others what we have been so richly given.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!

I know this is a marketing holiday, but I still like the idea that it is an obvious excuse/reason to remind those that you care about that you love them and you want them to know it. We could not do much this year for our kids, but they will wake up in the next hour to some HUGE red, heart-shaped balloons in their room, and they will know that even in the midst of ministry and schedules, we love them and cannot wait to spend the day with them.