Thursday, March 13, 2014

First words from the Team

03/12/14 7:25 p.m. Nigeria Time
      
“Hot. Africa hot.” That’s how one team member described the day today. Today we held clinic at a high school 


03/12/14 12:16 a.m. Nigeria Time

       Today we saw over 230 people at clinic in Eziama, about a 45 minute drive from where we’re staying. The clinic was held at a hospital facility founded by missionaries in 2007.
     When we arrived about 100 people were already sitting and waiting for us under the trees (African Air Conditioning!) outside the clinic. The day began as every day of clinic with songs of praise followed by a few minutes in The Word and prayer. We had two extra doctors and a dentist join our ranks which meant we could see more people than the first day. It also meant more work for the pharmacy which kept us at the clinic site much later than we had anticipated. We finally made it home in nighttime Nigerian traffic, which is an experience to say the least. Tonight everyone went to bed almost immediately after we finished supper around 9:00. This was a very long and fulfilling day. Tomorrow we go to the secondary school to hold clinic.


 

03/10/14 8:50p.m. Nigeria time

         One hundred eighty seven patients treated today at our first clinic which was held in the clinic being built by Doctor Okere and Horizon International Medical Mission to serve the people of Ihiagwa. The day got off to a slow and slightly rough start as we had both local and regional politicians and dignitaries make proclamations welcoming us and then posing for photo ops. Leslie Okere has one of the toughest jobs on the planet, steering the patients into a semblance of order before they move on to see the nurses, Dixie and Caroline. Doctors Felix and Uchenna worked tirelessly to make sure everyone who came was treated. As the last patient of the day left his room doctor Uchenna walked to the door and was heard saying, “Thank you sir. May I have another?” Humor is a great stress reliever!

      Teresa and Melanie ministered to the spiritual needs of the people praying for deliverance and healing. On woman who had not been able to stand up straight for over eight years left the clinic not only standing straight, but dancing and singing praises to the Lord! The power of prayer!!
Terri and Maia quickly became “Auntie” to all the children; telling stories, playing with whirly birds, blowing bubbles and the kids trying to teach Maia how to speak Igbo.
Jonathan made sure each patient got from the nurse to the doctor and then to the pharmacy without a hitch.

     Because of the opening remarks and photo ops with government officials we kept the clinic open until after 5:30 in order to see everyone.
After a much needed supper of black-eyed peas, rice, vegetables, stew and pineapple back at our hotel around 7:15, everyone has begun setting in for a good night’s rest.
We love and miss everyone back in the States and appreciate your prayers more than you know. We are seeing God work here in Nigeria in both the people we have come to minister to, as well as each team member.
Keep praying!


03/09/14 8:p.m. Nigeria time

        It’s raining in Ihiagwa sending cool breezes through the night sky; and if it weren’t for the sound of the generator beneath my window I could hear the gentle rain and thunder as this evening storm passes over us.
Tomorrow we will have our first day of clinic.






03/09/14
       Air conditioning. Yes, air conditioning. I feel like a “first class” missionary. It doesn’t always work, but when it does it is a blessing.
      We arrived in Ihiagwa tired and ready to go to work last Friday. The hotel we are staying in is very nice by Nigerian standards. Honestly, it’s a lot nicer than some hotels I’ve had the “pleasure” of staying in back in the United States.
We are the first guests to ever occupy the second floor of our hotel. As a matter of fact, they were still working on it when we arrived. A few of us could not even move into our permanent rooms until late last night.

     We are being well cared for. Rice, chicken, plantains, fruit and cold Fayrouz (A carbonated beverage that is beyond compare) for lunch and supper. Scrambled or boiled eggs and toast for breakfast. We even have sausage for breakfast! Think, “Vienna”!
Yesterday we were taken on a tour of a local market by our most gracious host, CY. Dried fish, yams, cassava, rice, beans, instant coffee; anything you could ask for was there. We made a loop through the market and were trailed by a group of onlookers that grew larger the longer we were there.

      One lady shouted out the Igbo words for “white man” and then got excited as the rest of rounded the corner. “There’s more!” she shouted and ran to each of us hugging and telling us we were welcome.
We then went on a short tour of Owerri which we ended with a stop at a Sunic (that’s Sunic, not Sonic) restaurant to get ice cream and cold drinks.
We worshiped today with Uncle Clement at the Community Baptist Church. During the part of the service where the members could come shake our hands and welcome us I saw team members fighting back tears. Who are we that we should be welcomed with such open arms? Who are we that we should be held to any degree of esteem? What makes us worthy of such heartfelt familial hospitality? The Body of Christ does. We were recognized to be as much a part of Community Baptist Church as any native Nigerian who walks to service every Sunday morning.

     We dress differently, speak differently and live thousands of miles apart, but we are all part of the Body of Jesus….The Church!
Terri danced before The Lord with all her might bringing smiles to the faces of the people and, I’m sure to The Lord Himself.

    Maia, Terri, Caroline, Melanie and Dixie joined me as we lead in worship with our brothers and sisters. (Two baritone ukuleles can make quite a sound in a small block church building in Nigeria!) Jonathan and Teresa were a blessing in music and word at Victory Baptist Church in Akwakuma. The Holy Spirit poured Himself out liberally on the team this morning. Filled to overflowing! After church we all went to Uncle Clement’s home for a lunch of rice, chicken, fish and wonderful fellowship.

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