A Send Forth

About a week before a bride is married, there is a send forth. Today, Naomi and I went to our precious friend Nitni's send forth. The invitation said it would start at 1 PM (prompt). We got there at 2:30 and hadn't missed a thing. Some highlights of the send forth:

-Seeing how beautiful Nitni looked and the love expressed today by so many.

-Listening to the music by the Women's Fellowship.

-Watching Naomi join the women in the dances-where money is given to the bride by placing it on her forehead.

-Seeing Sarah (Nitni's aunt) in her beautiful yellow dress...knowing we will be celebrating her wedding in April!

-Talking with so many of my Nigerian friends that I don't get to see too often.

The wedding is on Saturday...we are so excited for Nitni. She will be a beautiful bride...on the inside and out.

Ladi

Meet my dear friend Ladi. I talk with Ladi five days a week. Ladi cooks potatoes in a small hut on our campus. Pounds and pounds potatoes are hand peeled every day with a knife and fried. Ladi also makes puff-puffs (kinda like a hushpuppy, but sweeter) and fried plantain (my all time favorite!!) She is such an encouragement! She knows almost every student's name. In her broken English, she greets them so patiently and with such love. Ladi has an incredible testimony. One day I will sit down and transcribe it and share with you. Needless to say, I love Ladi!

PARTY TIME and Dr. Pepper

All four hostels got together on our compound last night for a big party. And a party it was! The night started off with lots of food...hot dogs, suya, and rice (of course!) A cake walk provided the winners (everyone eventually won) lots of sweets-cookies, cakes, cupcakes. This was the only cake walk I've seen that had a soccer game go through it every 5 minutes or so. Lots of the kids played soccer or basketball throughout the night. After the successful cake walk, prizes were handed out. Over 70 gifts allowed almost everyone to get something! About 10:30, a movie was set up outside for all to watch.

Meeting the request of some of you, I have included a photo of myself! (See, Anna, Samantha and Edie, I really am here in Nigeria with my family!) OK, so it is blurry and far away...but you can see me advertising my favorite drink...one I miss terribly here! I heard one time that a shop in town had Dr. Pepper, so I rushed down to buy it all up! However, when I got there, I found out that the shop owner didn't actually have any for sale, but he said that he did have the recipe! I asked him about this mysterious recipe and he told me to put some pepe (red pepper) in my coca-a-cola and it will taste just like Dr. Pepper. Hummm...now there's an idea!

Happy Birthday, Nigeria

Happy Birthday, Nigeria!

At school today, we celebrated Nigeria's independence birthday-47 years! Most all dressed in tradition Nigerian clothes today. (Naomi chose her fabric and designed her own outfit-in case you wondered... I'll have to add a photo of Mattie later.) Monday is the official holiday-and we are out of school that day!

What a joy it is to be teaching here!

Meet You at the Pole

7:45 AM Wednesday-Meet you at the pole.
Hillcrest School
Jos, Nigeria

A time to pray with students and staff.

-Thanks, Rachel, for the photo!

Can You Hear Our Discipleship Group?

"Julie, the decibel level was really high over at your house today. What was going on?"

Yes, that was asked of me tonight. My answer:

It was our discipleship group!!

Every Thursday afternoon for about an hour and half Jon and I lead discipleship groups....eighth grade! Today I brought 20 girls over to the house for our meeting (and eating!) On the bus over, there was non-stop chattering, singing, talking, yelling, squeeling.....typical girl noises. By the time we reached our compound, I am sure our neighbors heard us coming. Brownies, cookies, popcorn and 9 gallons of koolaid were consumed. The girls can talk and listen at the same time...all of them! Sometimes I have a hard time keeping up, but today I seemed to have caught most of what was said. About 75% of our time seems to be goofing off, having fun, and belly-laughing at each other. However that 75% allows the other 25% to be quality time of sharing and lifting each other up.

These girls are growing into Godly women....and it is such a priviledge to be walking beside them....even when they do blow kool-aid out their nose!

Naomi and Sarah

Sarah cooks for our family. We have grown to love and depend upon her so very much.

SEW

Every year at Hillcrest, one week is set aside as SEW-Spiritual Emphasis Week. Weekly chapel becomes daily chapel and a special speaker brings encouragement and challenges to students and staff. This week has been SEW.... and so very great! Steve Strickland from North Carolina has been a wonderful speaker, encourager and super fun guy. The kids have been excited about going to chapel and they are holding on to his every word. Quite a few kids are part of a special praise band/choir, complete with drums, violin, flute, guitar, piano and more. Today I thought of the verse that says, "there is no greater joy than to know my children walk in the Truth." Please join us in praying for our students who are not walking in the Truth. This realization brings me to my knees and to tears so very often.

Jona (9th grader in photo with stripped shirt) shared his testimony with the school. What a joy it is to see the fire of the Lord burning in a 15 year old!

If I could use the words of the kids, Uncle Steve (as the students called him) ROCKED! His passion for the Word was evident as he shared every day. During class on Friday, we reviewed each lesson Uncle Steve had shared and my middle schoolers could recall them each with no trouble. That, my friends, is incredible. Uncle Steve also provided SO much more. As he hung out with the kids, they fell in love with him...and he fell in love with them. (Not hard to do!)





Photos: Jona and friends
Uncle Steve hugging on a middle schooler
Some middle school kids with Steve
Praise team leading worship

Beautiful Faces

A few of the beautiful faces I get to see every day.

It's a What??

We see goats in the middle of the street. We've followed sheep through the market. Cows munch grass wherever they can find it. However Friday was the first time I saw a bat hanging from the ceiling of the middle school hallway.

My 7th Period Lifesavers

On Friday I was feeling so bad (and had lost my voice), some of my former students (9th graders now) came by and helped me with my sixth grade class! How sweet is that?? Love them so much. They are all such an encouragement and joy in my life. And they proved they really do still remember a few things about poetry!

Rainy Season

We hadn't had rain for a few days...the rainy season is coming to an end. However, last night it poured all night. As we were coming to school, Jon and I were discussing whether or not it would rain all day. We thought it might not. We were wrong. As much as I love the dry season (definitely my favorite!), I will miss the coolness the rains bring. I will miss the green all around. But I'm sure the kids won't miss getting soaked as they go from class to class.

Bodily Fluids, English Grades, and a Lock In

Me: Students, if I pass out, please don't step on me when you leave the classroom.
Student #1: Mrs. Parker, I would move your body out of the way.
Me: Thank you! I will raise your grade in English for that sensitive comment.
Student #2: I would help you too, but I am afraid you'd leak bodily fluid and get me yucky. I'll just go around you.
Me: You don't even want to see your grade, buddy!

After coughing and wheezing all week, today I felt as if I might just not make it through another class. I tried to warn my students in my hoarse, man-like voice. You can see the range of compassion I received! You have to love middle school kids. They don't beat around the bush, do they?

One more day this week and I can rest for a few uninterrupted hours on Friday night. Jon is chaperoning a lock-in at school from 6 PM til 6 AM. I'm sending 100 cinnamon rolls. I think I got the better end of this commitment!

Because

Invited the 9th grade class over Friday night...

...because we had extra popcorn and kool-aid to share.

...because 18 freshmen can spice up a weekend.

...because when you laugh together, you strengthen bonds.

...because they need a place to hang out.

...because it is nice to share a different relationship with them now that I am no longer their teacher.

...because I couldn't say "no" when one of them asked if they could all come over.

...because they are lots of fun!

...because I miss them like crazy!


...just because.

Bigger Here

Last night Naomi and I were outside lying on our backs, looking up at the stars. We were talking about how the sky looks so much lower in Africa than in the States. Most of the time (at least half!) this would be because the rain clouds are low and heavy. But tonight Naomi noticed how much larger the stars look here. She's right......so much larger. Maybe it is because we spend much more time looking at the stars now...maybe it is because when power is out at night, stars and the moon are our only source of light.

Tonight, however, Na is suffering with a fever and odd rash. She rarely gets sick, but when she does, she does it big...

txtin-da new lang4me

learnin how 2 txt. its da new language 4 me. txt msgs cheaper dan callin, takes me 4eva but im tryn. i cud b fast soon w/prct...dat wil take time. id luv 4 u all 2b here....missin u. luv2all- j/mama p/or just me!

Plaited Hair