No Greater Joy

So many of you have emailed, asking about an update on the girls. As I was praying for them this morning, this verse came to mind. They are doing well: active in discipleship, learning to play the trumpet, busy with homework every day, learning Hausa, and very excited about their grandmother's upcoming visit. Thank you for your many prayers. We are seeing the answers as they are crying less, laughing more, and making a life here.

NASB: I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

GWT: Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.

KJV: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

ASV: Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4

No matter how it is said, there really is NO greater joy than to see your own children living according to His truth-filled with compassion, obedience, and faith. These last three months could not have been much more difficult for our children. We sold the house that we all loved and moved across the world-so far from their friends and family. They came to this unknown place, only with two boxes of personal items and the security of their family and God.

Over the last few months, they have developed new friendships, adjusted to a new school, learned to communicate in a different language, depended on email for news from 'home', learned to be content with much less and grabbed opportunities to share the hope that is within them. Each of our girls had a very difficult time with this transition. It didn't come miraculously or with little effort. They have struggled to make the transition-and each has gone through very unique trials that we can label spiritual warfare, without a doubt! However, with much prayer from close friends and family (both in the states and on the field), counseling, and perseverence, they are seeing the fruits of obeying the Lord and striving to be right where He wants them to be. Please continue to pray for our daughters: Lauren, Mattie Grace, and Naomi. May the Lord be glorified as they continually surrender their lives to Him.



Mattie with the prayer group she leads each afternoon

I love my kids....

A few of my seventh grade girls.


Some of my eighth grade boys...along with Naomi... up in a tree.

....all 82 of them! My primary ministry in Africa is to teach at Hillcrest School. About 40% of our school's population are missionary children. We have children from the States, Nigerian, Korea, New Zealand, Canada, Lebanon, South Africa, UK, etc. When I first arrived, I wondered if I would ever memorize names and put them with faces....but it didn't take too long at all. I have enjoyed getting to know each kid's personality, likes, dislikes, struggles and joys. We pray together, laugh together, and (hopefully) learn together. Each day is full of surprises (performing security drills, discussing politics, putting out a desk that had been lit on fire, hunting creative discipline methods, finding braids left in my classroom, etc) ...and I have never once thought, "I am bored" -what middle school teacher has?! I am usually ready for a weekend by Friday and am looking forward to a new week on Sunday nights. What a joy it is to be able to talk to my students about Jesus Christ. Some of my kids are Christians, some are Muslim, others claim a tribal religion. Please pray for the hearts of my unbelieving students to be softened and drawn to the Lord. Each child carries such heavy burdens as many are far from home, have relatives in unsafe conditions, are living in hostels, living in an uncertain time and place, struggling with being a 'tween' and finding out what they personally believe and needs so much prayer. Thank you for lifting up these that I have quickly grown to love. We only have two weeks until our Christmas break.....may we finish this semester well.

Braces

Today, Friday, Lauren, Naomi and Jon are making the 8 hour round trip to Abuja to visit the orthodontist. Lauren will get her braces on! Naomi will get hers on in January. We hope Lauren will be out of braces and in a retainer by the time we come to the states in 2008. Each month, the girls will make the 8 hour trip for adjustments. However, there is a place to get ice cream in Abuja, so I feel sure Daddy will treat them!

Thanksgiving 2006

These photos were from Thanksgiving Day 2006.

It Is Well With My Soul-the song that rang out of the open windows of a fellow missionary's home as our mission community gathered together to celebrate Thanksgiving and worship the Living God. We were all missing family. However, we have become a family. Children call adults "Auntie and Uncle" and we weep when others weep and rejoice when they rejoice. One lady in our mission has taken one of our daughters under her wing to disciple, love and teach on a regular basis. Another missionary's high school daughter as become her "big sister"! We truly missed our families in the states, but we can truly say, "it is well with our souls"-and we are thankful for the family the Lord has provided here!

Exams are just 2 weeks away! Each student at Hillcrest memorizes Psalm 139, word for word, as part of their Bible exams at the semester. How beautiful and comforting are the words and we have been filled with joy as we hear the words flow from the tongues of our own children.

PSALM 139

1 You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, [a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Nigeria

Many of you have asked, "Where is Jos?" Here is the best way we know to answer you-with a map. It takes about four hours to go from Abuja to Jos. Abuja is the capital of Nigeria, Jos is the capital of Plateau State. Abuja is where we fly in and out of and where Jon and Lauren go once a month for her orthodontist appts. Nigeria has about 140 million inhabitants and is the most populated country in Africa. It is a little more than half the size of California. Life expectancy rate is about 47 years old. Muslims make up 50%, Christians 40%, with indigenous beliefs filling in the other 10% of the population.

Football (soccer) is Nigeria's official sport. We see it played everywhere we go, on the side of street, at school, in the backyard, everywhere...with soccer balls, wads of paper wrapped in tape, anything anywhere. Jon, of course, LOVES to join in any game he sees going on.

Many worship services/prayer meetings both in the Christian church and at the mosque are broadcast on loud speakers, very loud speakers! Having both a mosque and large Christian church near our house, we often hear the competition of how loud each speaker can get.

Education isn't free. Parents must pay school fees before their children can attend. Most children wear uniforms to school. Each school has its own colors and patterns for the uniforms.

There are two seasons here. Rainy (May-Sept) and Dry (Oct-April). You can figure out the weather by the name! During Nov-Jan, we also experience Harmattan-the desert winds blow in dry air combined with fine sand/dust. It appears to be foggy outside and will become quite cool since the dust cloud blocks out the sun's rays. We are now in Harmattan season. We use vaseline for lotion and lots of visine. EVERYTHING is dusty. At night, when we wash our faces, it looks like we are taking of make up! It is kinda like getting a spray on tan!

For food, we are blessed with fresh vegetables and fruits. Meat is more expensive, so we try to eat "close to the earth" -better for us! The market where we buy most of our food now is quite interesting. The little girls and I love it, but Jon and Lauren avoid it if possible. The smells are not pleasant, to say the least. It is very crowded and bartering is necessary for anything purchased. It does take a long time to shop, but it is fun to get out and meet others. We have made friendships with some Igbo (tribe) and enjoy talking with them each time we go.

Hope this answers some of your questions about Nigeria-specifically Jos.

5:30 PM, Changes, Daddy's Coming Back

One day while we were out playing with some of the kids in the neighborhood, one of the older boys asked if I would tell him Bible stories! "Of course," I said So, each afternoon at 5:30, we have a time of games, songs, Bible stories and sometimes crafts and snacks. The local Nigerian children come from all over. We had eight the first time, now we have 40+ kids. Their excitement is contagious and usually pulls me out of the fatigue I feel from teaching all day. This is also a wonderful opportunity for Mattie and Naomi to practice teaching some basic Bible stories.

Yesterday, Mattie, Naomi, and I walked to the market. Lauren stayed home and worked on a big history project with a friend. We tried a "shorter route" which ended up taking about 2 hours! We had such fun leisurely walking through the market. We were looking for crayons for the kids to use in the afternoons, but didn't find any. (An excuse to go shopping again!) When we got home, I thought the girls would be wiped out, but they weren't! As I was washing dishes, I looked out the window and saw them outside with their friends (all Nigerian) playing and singing. Mattie took one group and was having them all read parts of the Bible and pray together-with a few side lessons on sharing and not hitting each other) Naomi was teaching another group the Lord's Prayer with an Indian dance to go along with it (she learned in school)

We are seeing our girls become very comfortable around their Nigerian friends, comfortable sharing scripture and defending their faith, and finally settling in a bit.

Please be in prayer for this next month as we will be going through a few more changes. We will celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will be moving to a new part of town, a new house, a new compound (positives and negatives in this move). We will lose our househelp. We have exams in three weeks. Julie's started driving. Julie's mom is coming out Dec 13-30!!! Yippee Yi Yah! Our yearly conference is coming up soon. Mattie's 12th birthday is just around the corner. Lots of changes, celebrations, hellos and goodbyes.

Heading out to pick up Jon from a men's retreat. He's been gone all weekend and we're driving out to Miango (hour drive) for church service, a meal and to bring him back! The "girls weekend alone" has been fun, but we're ready to have him back!

For the last month, a short term missionary doctor, Brad, has lived on our compound as he worked at Evangel Hospital . We have enjoyed so many moments with Uncle Brad. Some of our memories include
Settler's
tuna
Click Net
Alias
the market
Uno Attack
the longest road
$5 rice
M&Ms
dinners at the Fretheims
cheese pie
sharing eggs
driving a stick shift
giardia
worshiping together
ice cream
taking out a guard (almost)
Elysar's
basketball



Come back, Uncle Brad, and bring your family, so we can add more memories to this list!!!
We really miss you!

It's Coming....It's Coming

A new blog post is coming!

Once our progress report grades are in today, we'll post an update, we promise!

Photos around Jos

Just a few photos.

Houses seen near our house.
Naomi at Independence Day at Hiilcrest School.
Photo of the top of a mosque in Jos as seen from our compound. During Ramadan, prayers were chanted through loud speakers every day from this mosque....some chanting began as early as 3 AM....some as late as midnight. All day, every day, for a month. Tuesday marked the end of Ramadan.

May we continually be in prayer for the salvation of our dear neighbors and friends. In class the other day, my students brought up the topic of "what happens after you die." Although the discussion was lively and I was bombarded with more questions than I had answers for, I was very thankful for the open door. Please pray for doors to continue to open and many eyes to be opened.

Sweet, Sweet Faces

Just a few more photos of our neighbors. Aren't they just the sweetest faces?