Fulani Camp

"Aku, wali jam, no shore," I say as we enter the village of these Fulani people. I wave my hands up in the air with joy and speak the little words I know in Fulfulde. Fulfude is one of the 450 languages spoken in Nigeria and is much more difficult than Hausa. Today we went to a village for a medical outreach; this is by far one of my favorite things to do here. It is always a blessing to bring much needed medicine to those who do not have health care. One of the pictures below is of my fellow missionary with the chief of the village in the middle who is over 100 years old. I shared the reason we came to bring them medicine was because of Jesus' love for them. We pray the power of the gospel spreads like wildfire in this village of people who have yet to be transformed by the power of Redeeming LOVE!

Evangel Hospital

This is the new container where they do prep work and enrollment for clients starting on ARV therapy. The sheer numbers of people on ARV's are more than 1,000 since last year. This program has gotten so big we are finding it hard to keep up. People are coming in masses. They had to build this recently to fit more people since the out-patient area where HIV clinic is held was bursting with people.





The theatre or surgery area where they do many hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, surgeries for burn patients and such



The male ward where men stay for broken bones, burns, Malaria, Typhoid, infections of all kinds and HIV related sicknesses.

The lab where they do all kinds of blood tests. After clients come to Spring of Life for an HIV test they need to get a confirmatory test here before they can start the ARV drugs.

Precious friends

One of my little babies Isa with his mom and sister Hauwa. He continues to improve every day. His mom teaches me Hausa when she comes to visit. I pray she may know the love of Jesus in a real way.

Climbing

A bunch of us went hiking a few weeks ago. It was a fun time. Below are two new missionaries Joel and Tim who have both come with in the last month or so. You can guess Tim (right) is the funny guy who makes us all laugh quite a bit!!!

Children's Club

These are our precious kids who came for Kids club two weeks ago. The first thursday of every month our HIV positive kids gather for games, snacks and a bible story or craft. We really want to show them the love of Christ and pour into their lives. Many of the kids are orphans. Each of them are taking ARV drugs and living healthy lives and going to school. The children always look forward to coming to Spring of Life for this event. It brings hope and encouragement to their lives. These faces are the next generation of NIGERIA. We want them to know their Maker, the God of all creation. We pray that they may know their value in God's eyes, and of His unfailing love for them.

The Greatest Love of all

O Love, that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in Thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in Thine ocean depths it's flow

May richer, fuller be.

George Matheson

As I think today of Valentine's Day and the concept of love my heart is filled with joy. When I consider the unfailing God has for me and for the world I can't help but be grateful and unbelievably humbled. This LOVE which will not let me go is found in the person of Jesus Christ who died on a cruel cross to save sinners. His death has given us new life.

A hausa song very simply put says: "Allah mun Gode Hallelujia, domin kaunarka zuwa garemu hallelujia!" Lord how we thank you for your love unto us, how you love us!"

We can never repay HIM for the gift of His sacrifice of love. But may His love for us be a motivation for us to love others. When we have experienced the richness and kindess of God's love deep in out hearts all we want to do is give it away. I pray you give back all the love that you have for the one who gave His life for you.

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life!"

John 3:16

Treasures

"One by one He took them from me, all the things I treasured most,

Until I was empty-handed; every glittering toy was lost.

So I walked Earth's highways grieving in my rags and poverty,

Til I heard His voice inviting, "Lift your empty hands to me."

So I held my hands toward Heaven and He filled them with a store,

Of His own transecendent riches til they could contain no more.

And at last I comprehended with my stupid mind and soul,

That God could not pour His riches into hands already full."

Anonymous

As I ponder the truth in this poem I am humbled yet again. With fists held so tightly I am only allowing God into certain areas of my life. I am holding on for dear life to that plan which I have made for myself. Yet have I stopped to consider God's plan for my life? I like to have certain control over things, fearing that if I surrender to HIM I might not like what He will do with it. How foolish and stubborn am I? God is slowly taking every area of my life and transforming me into His image. It's like a tug of war. I am still grasping with all that I am and yet God is asking me to give it up, give it over to HIM. Like the potter forming the clay He wants to mold me into something beautiful that can be used to Glorify himself and to be a marvelous display of His splendor. Without the work of Christ in my life, I am empty. May I continue to completely surrender my will and allow God to fill me with more of HIM. So that I will overflow and be a fragrant aroma of Christ to a dying and lost world. God is asking me to empty myself of all that I am to be all that HE is. With each passing day I am coming to realize He is all I need, that I am complete in HIM. I am experiencing His peace, joy and hope like never before. May I continue to let go of my earthly treasures so I may taste of His Heavenly treaures.

"And to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure with all the fullness of God!"

Ephesians 3:19

Trading the comforts of this life

Yesterday the electricity was out almost 24 hours. The heat is increasing here. The phone lines haven't been working for weeks now and all I want to do is call my mom. Fuel is scare and very expensive. My feet are always dirty. My best friend is about to have a baby girl and I am not there with her. Sometimes I wish I could just close my eyes and wake up back home. But I realize that I have traded the comforts of life in America for the work of the harvest here in Nigeria. I am realizing more and more what it means to "take up your cross daily and follow me!" All I have to do is think of my patients here or those amazing VVF women that need to hear about Jesus and I am content. I am so satisifed in Jesus Christ and with the work that He has called me to. When I think about the ministry God has given me here I stand amazed day after day.

This morning in my quiet time I was reading from Isaiah 58, how appropriate for my time with the VVF women today.

"Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter------"

Isaiah 58: 6-7

Today I shared the story about how Jesus fed the five thousand. As each wide eyed woman listened intently, something resonated deep in their hearts. There were at least 35 women there, many who are living in bondage, in oppression. I shared about Jesus' call for anyone to come unto him and to find rest. As I think about these precious women my heart aches, because they have not experienced the love of our Savior! Each week when I stand there talking with them I want to cry because I see the emptiness, the pain and suffering that they have gone through. Today I told them that I loved them because God loves them. I don't know the pain and sorrow they are experiencing, but God does and He cares for them more than I ever could. He is the Redeemer, the Holy one of Israel and is the God who sees them! Praise God for His lifesaving power. That reminds me of a Hausa song which goes something like this: "Ya yi ya yi, Allah ya yi, abin da mutum bayiba Allah ya yi, ya yi ya! God he has done what no man can do! AMEN and AMEN.

I wouldn't trade the joy of knowing Jesus for anything this life has to offer-- for nothing can satisfy me like He does. What about you? Where do you find your satisfaction?

New Creation in Christ

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day!"

2 Corinthians 4:16

Today is the first anniversary of my precious Ladi's death. She was one of my first patients here and made such an impact on my life. I had the privilige of walking Ladi through the most difficult time in her life. On January 3rd 2006 I stood beside Ladi at her mothers' graveside. As she wept bitterly with grief at the loss of her mother, she too was fighting this deadly disease. From that day on her condition worsened and I saw her body deteriorate and waste away. Yet I saw the most amazing thing; her spirit was being renewed day by day. Ladi confessed Christ just weeks before her death. She was truly redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and her testimony was evident through the joy she had. I will never forget the last hours we spent together in the hospital. We sang songs about the love of God and her beautiful smile is something that will stick with me always. As her badly burned body grew weaker by the moment, their was a light in her eyes. As if she knew what was ahead, as if she could see it. Despite the fear of her own death, she knew she would be with Jesus. One month later to the day of her mother's death, I stood at that same graveside but this time was comforting Ladi's two young children Kyauta and Jerry, who are now orphans. As I held them close to my side they both cried tears of sorrow and fear of the future. Who will take care of me, I heard their tears say, is mommy coming back? My heart was filled with deep sadness for these precious children. When I think about Ladi I am thankful for she has no more tears or pain or suffering. Praise God she is now dancing with Jesus. I can't wait to see her again, what a day of rejoicing that will be. Oh, Lord hasten the day!