Dec 09 Music Recital

Jordan and Cypress have been taking music lessons from high school students for the past few months. On December 9th, there was a recital after school by many of the kids who take lessons from various music teachers in the community.  Jordan’s piano teacher (Jordan!) is accompanying Cypress for her violin piece at the recital, and Cypress’ teacher is one of his younger sisters.

done

done

30 Nov 2009

Do you ever wonder if you are making a difference in God’s kingdom?  I have pondered that many times, and then God reminds me I am doing what He called me to and not to always be looking for end results.

Teaching high school is very tough.  Have I mentioned that a few times already?   There is such an interesting blend of students here.  The different cultures interacting with each other (English, Arab, Korean), the missionary kids, and then some wealthy (and sometimes spoiled) Nigerian kids.  They are the hardest to understand, having been served and having every need met throughout their lives.  Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier and more rewarding to serve the poor who may be more appreciative.

I have had some good interactions and discussions with kids, sometimes as a group, and a few one on one.

In Health class we were discussing mental illnesses.  After a discussion on suicide and a story with questions,  they answered the question  “If you commit suicide you will not go to heaven…agree or disagree.”  Many of the Nigerian teens answered ‘agree’ which surprised me.  After I consulted with our Bible teachers, we had a great discussion on sin, forgiveness, grace, and specifically why Jesus died for us.  It was animated and interesting.  I learned later, the topic moved into their Bible class and continued with their Bible teacher.    It is refreshing to have these kinds of discussions in a school setting.

Another time I was asked by a student  if we are ‘pushing Christianity’ on unwilling people by making all the kids take Bible class, since there are other religions at Hillcrest.  We had a good discussion on evangelism versus education.

Finally, one of my Nigerian students wrote me a note asking me to pray for her since she had been having a rough year and wanted a ‘fresh start’.  It touched me that she asked!

We are now into the topics that Health class is known for…reproduction, pregnancy, STD’s, & HIV/Aids.   I am truly being stretched and challenged!

They just finished their ‘Egg Baby Project’ where they took care of hard boiled eggs for 5 days and had to do various activities with them.  One activity was bringing their egg to the library for story time to listen to “The Emperor’s Egg” (about an emperor penguin) read by the  friendly school librarian, Mr. Payne.

Pix 30 Nov 2009

Big Green Bug

Chibundo & Daniel @ Egg Storytime

Hannah & Heather w/ their “Egg Babies”

Josiah & Matthew @ Storytime w/ their “Egg Babies”

Yum Yum…Toasted Locust

Friends Sharing Toasted Locusts

 

Tiv Dancers

done

21 Nov 2009

Delays are a normal part of Nigerian life and culture…”go slows” (traffic jams getting around in the city, driving in monsoon-like rain (all but impossible!), wading through government processes of any sort at all levels (I am still waiting for my permanent Nigerian driver license, a process started in May!)…the list is ongoing and seemingly endless.

For the past 4+ months the teachers at primary and secondary schools in Plateau State and the lecturers at universities in all of Nigeria have been on strike. The universities are now finally back in session, but the primary and secondary schools are still not all in session. Private Nigerian schools (primary, secondary, and trade/academic colleges) are an option, but even though the cost for those schools are much less than tuition expenses for private schools in the United States, is it still more than many Nigerians can afford. As I have been reading the news, and listened to the growing frustration of parents of younger children in primary and secondary schools, and university students wanting to begin, continue and/or finish their college education, I am also struck by the impact these strikes have had on Nigerian society. Immediate impacts have been felt through the large number of young people without jobs, stuck in the midst of their education, waiting around, and losing hope in their future.

The past few weeks have been filled with all sorts of school-related activities, along with adjusting to life (and less sleep) with our new puppy (Echo), and the change to dry season, and the sneezing, coughing, and runny noses caused by harmattan (the dust that blows in from the Sahara desert 500+ miles away)!

1 Nov 2009

Grade 2 Multicultural Day

It’s been awhile since we have posted a blog…it’s been a bit busy for all of us keeping up with school days and activities!

The end of this week was filled with several social and cultural events, along with adjusting to life (and getting less sleep) with our new German Shepherd (we think!) puppy, Echo.

The Elementary school had their yearly Multicultural Day where the kids dressed up in traditional clothing or anything representing their home country.  Cypress dressed as Junie B Jones and Isabell as Dorothy from ‘The Wizard of Oz’. The kids had a “parade of nations” through the chapel, then performed songs and skits for each other. Following the chapel time, there was a performance by Nigerian Tiv dancers accompanied by drums and flute out on the basketball courts. There was also huge potluck lunch for all the kids and parents with foods from all the different represented countries.

Pix 26 Oct

Southern Fiesta Dinner

Our New Puppy

Basic Nigerian House

New Nigerian House

Isabell & Echo

Carrying Laundry Nigerian-Style

Mary & New Baby

Mikey’s Latte

Nigerian Hairstyle

Pix 13 Oct 09

Last weekend we had the opportunity to spend a few days @ Miango Rest Home (MRH) with other missionary families to start off the Fall Break. On Saturday while the girls enjoyed activities with the other kids based on the “Wild West” theme, Kimberly and I enjoyed hiking out along the NESCO aquaduct again. It was a restful, relaxing, fun weekend, filled with delicious food (including apple pie & ice cream…yum!), games of all sorts, square dancing, line dancing and en evening of western music, “Hee Haw Style!”

Down the Drain

Easter Egg Flower

Hiking Along the Edge

Kids @ Play

Lower Pipe

Nigerian Children

One Way Across the Gorge

Overflow Bridge

Overflow Channels

Riverside Village

Wild Grasshopper

Yellow Flower

22 Sep 09

We have had  a couple of extra days off from school this week due to a public holiday declared for Sallah (the end of Ramadan). We are thankful for the extra rest and that the past few days have remained calm here in Jos.

We have had several  requests to hear from the girls about their thoughts and experiences in Nigeria, so with some prompting we got the following input from them…

Hiking @ Miango

Since there have been a few comments/questions about the hiking pictures, here are some more details (and a few more pix) about our adventures. While we were on the Hillcrest Staff Retreat (28-30 August), we went for a hike in an area that is owned by NESCO, one of the main power companies here in Nigeria.  Along the river there is a canal constructed by NESCO  to reroute water from the river across the hillside for several kilometers where it then is dropped back through a large pipe into a turbine to generate electricity for the area. We started (and ended) the hike through tall elephant grass (4+ feet high), which is sharp and abrasive even just brushing up against it, and can cause deep cuts if you inadvertently grab onto and/or run your hand along the blades. Fortunately, as we continued along the canal we passed several Nigerians busy cutting back the tall grass  so when  it dries out during dry season it will not fall into the canal and clog up the gates and turbine pipe, but even though we didn’t have to trek through elephant  grass the entire hike our arms were irritated and itchy from the areas of tall grass we did have to pass through.