The Road To Miango

Sanu! Greetings from Jos, Nigeria.

On August 20 (Naomi’s 10th birthday), friends and family from around the state joined our church family for a time of worship, lunch, and lots of hugging. A caravan of loved ones took us to the Nashville airport with our 20 pieces of luggage. We shared a few hours together at the airport until we had to say “goodbye”. After traveling on three planes, landing on three continents and traveling numerous time zones, we safely arrived in Nigeria two days later.

On the first day in Nigeria, we traveled another four hours to arrive “home”. Immediately we were told that we were expected to be at Hillcrest School’s staff retreat a few days later. The retreat would be at Miango Rest Home. This rest home’s primary purpose is to serve as a retreat place for missionaries to find refreshment and rest from the everydayness of life in the tropics. By the time we arrived in Nigeria, we were as worn out as we had ever been. Teamed with the emotional and physical demands of selling our home, packing belongings, and saying some hard goodbyes, the two day trip proved to be more demanding than we thought. After spending the first three days learning to live with no electricity, cold showers, strange food, and complete isolation from anyone we had ever known, we looked forward to going to Miango.

Friday afternoon we met up with fellow missionaries and journeyed an hour to Miango. We drove off road more than we drove on it. We dodged goats, cattle, other cars, and people while trying to avoid the crater sized potholes. The roads were so bad we arrived with a bad case of carsickness and a variety of bumps and bruises.

One thing that we don’t remember being covered in all of our training is the paralysis of the culture shock fog. For the first four weeks, we lived in a fog, unable to process even simple survival tasks. As this fog is now lifting, we can begin to clearly see how our journey to Miango resembles our calling to Nigeria, but more importantly, our life’s journey. Some of the potholes of this life journey are created by our own sinfulness while others by the Enemy’s flaming darts. As believers, we are promised that we will have these rough roads. However, we are also promised that our precious Savior will walk with us and will use the bumps for His glory.

We truly thought that as we worked on the field of Jos, our work would be that of merely support. We would support the missionaries who were doing the “real work” as we helped with logistics in the office, taught their children in school or just encouraged fellow believers. Boy, were we underestimating the Lord’s plan for us here! Jon has a real passion for making sure ministries are managed well, encouraged and functioning in unity. He comes home after visiting ministries telling us about boys of Gideon Bege (“House of Hope”), Geyro Care Center, and Transition House. These ministries help homeless boys, providing them with shelter, food, Bible studies, and hope. Jon will also begin teaching Junior Bible classes in October at Hillcrest.

My (Julie’s) ministry at Hillcrest school seems to be growing by the day. The Enemy is alive and on the prowl, seeking to destroy these children at such a young age, and as a result, hindering their parents’ ministry if He succeeds. I find myself on my knees pleading for the protection of missionary kids, begging for the souls of Muslim students who can only see what they have to lose (families, finances, or even life) in professing the name of Jesus, and thanking the Lord for children who seem to have so little yet are joyful beyond measure. We are so thankful that the Lord has placed us here.

Now, back to the road to Miango….full of potholes, most of which we cannot avoid. We just hang on for the ride. However, once we get over the shock of the being bounced to the ceiling and back, we look up and see some of the most beautiful scenery. We must not focus on the potholes or we’d never take the journey. Instead, we cherish the opportunities we find along the road and remember that there is rest in Him and our Final Destination is worth it all! To God be the Glory alone!

Rejoice with us for:
*Sale of our house
*Safe arrival into Nigeria
*Many opportunities we have to share the Hope in us

Please pray specifically for:
*Students at Hillcrest school
*Protection for Lauren, Mattie Grace and Naomi
We are amazed how creatively the Enemy attacks our children!
*Peace in the Jos area (especially as the city prepares for elections early next year)
*Energy for us as our workload is heavy and we are still adjusting to the culture
*Adequate funding for our ministry here in Nigeria. We are still a bit under supported
and desperately need to be able to get a vehicle.

*And that we may each be the type of person Jim Elliot longed to be (and was) when he said, “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”

We thank the Lord for your ministry with us in Nigeria. We’d love for you to be here with us, but until you can get that arranged, follow our journey on our family’s blog site. You will find regular updates (when electricity is available!) and photos. We would love to hear from you (please put our missionary number #76589 on all correspondence) and please let us know how we can pray for you.

In Christ,

Jon and Julie Parker
Lauren, Mattie Grace and Naomi
Jon.parker@sim.org
Missionary Number 76589

Field Address:
The Parker Family
ECWA/SIM Headquarters
P.M.B. 2009
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, AFRICA

All donations to the ministry can be sent to:
SIM USA
P. O. Box 7900
Charlotte, NC 28241
www.sim.org