We have had a busy second term at the school but we are looking forward to a little break after exams. The first term started slowly with 7 full time students, but by Jan. 2013 we had 19 fulltime students and 10 dry season students (a three month literacy class). We also started an introductory computer course that is mandatory along with carpentry for the men and sewing/knitting for the women. All the wives go to classes everyday as well. With the increase of students the kids on the compound also increased. As a result we started a nursery/primary school. Along with students from the surrounding compounds we average about 40 students. We praise the Lord.
With all the changes the campus has become a very busy place. Classes are offered in Hausa and English and with the added computer course significantly increasing our work load. Gremar is serving as the school nurse; she has trained four first responder’s two men and two women who treat the students under her supervision. The surrounding community is also coming for treatment making her busier than she wants to be but it is hard to turn people down. It is also a great witness to the community for the school.
This term I have one day a week set aside for TLT courses, we are using the Sustainable Development manual. I will also teach that at the school. TLT is limited to Pastors and Evangelists of the CRCN (Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria). They are to teach their elders and others who are interested in their places of service. The manual is translated into Hausa so it contains both English and Hausa. I produced 160 manuals and have about 20 left, I trust that they will be put to good use. We ask you to pray for the school, for the students, for the staff. Pray for the people of Nigeria, for peace and harmony. We thank God for your partnership in training indigenous leaders for the emerging church in Niger State. To God is the Glory!
The English Class hard at work.The dry season class, three months, some will continue full time.The new computer class hard at work.The TLT class in the new chapel building, a nice airy place during this very hot season.The TLT class for the wives of pastors and evangelist.
The Primary/nursery school at WBS, held in the chapel a multipurpose building.
I need to tell this story! It is about God’s faithfulness and about the faith of the people involved in the past and those who are still involved today. Education in this area comes at a premium. There are few primary schools and little teaching in the ones that do operate. Schools are weak because traditionally people are not interested in educating their children in this way. They are well trained in herding and farming for boys, food processing and cooking for the girls but not a lot of interest in western education. We hope that is changing!
We have had Christian Primary Schools for a long time in Niger State. They are CRCN Schools now but started by former missionaries working here, Dave and Jan Dykgraaf, Larry and Rose Van Zee and Bill and Ali Hart building them. They were instrumental in starting these schools with the help of Christian Schools International. When the schools were handed over to the church the staff took a cut in pay but to their credit many are still teaching.
CRWM still supports these schools with monetary grants to the church. There are three Christian Primary Schools and one Jr. Secondary School. The mission is looking to discontinue this support. Is this premature?
More recently the Warari Bible School has started a Primary School for the student’s children and for children from surrounding compounds. There were 40 children there today and the teacher still needs to sort out who is capable of what and she is looking for a helper.
Water Wins also has a Primary school with 40 children. I heard recently that a Christian Primary School has been started in A’vadi, one of the areas that have an Evangelist and a church building for the Christians living there.
What seems to be happening is an increased interest in education not only by Christians but by the traditional people as well. There is nothing more effective for the development of this area and the church than Christian Education! It is time to keep supporting our schools!
Please Continue to pray for The Warari Bible School, the Primary Schools, for the church and for the people of Classis Niger. God is Good all of the time.
Kids are kids everywhere, there are 155 pupils attending this school.
Idaci School class roomsTeacher's housing, there are nine teachers working at the school.
Psalm one introduces and gives us insight into the five books of the Psalms. Wisdom is depicted as two ways: the way of the world and the way of God’s law.
Verse one: tells us what not to do. Sin is progressive if you walk in it you will stand in it and in the end sit (dwell) in it. Blessed is the man/woman who does not walk, stand, or sit in the way of the world.
Verse two: “But he/she delights in God’s law”. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes” (Ps. 19: 7,8). The law gets a bad rap at times but here we have the true picture depicting what is important in our lives: the law restores the searching soul, restores the broken heart with joy, restores the dull mind with wisdom, restores the unseeing eyes with spiritual light and insight. “He/she is blessed who meditates on Gods law day and night”.
Verse three is the result of God’s way: We will be like a tree by a stream, always green, producing fruit, and never losing leaves. That metaphor takes on a whole new meaning when one lives in the Sahel, where water is hard to come by, shade is at a premium, and fruit is scarce.
What way are you walking on parishioners? Pastor are you the shade where sinners find rest and forgiveness in Jesus? Do our churches provide cooling water for the soul, spiritual light for the blind, fruit for the spiritually hungry, and “leaves for the healing of the nations”? (Rev. 22:2). Missions, evangelism, outreach, and church plants come to mind here. Further, “everything we do will prosper” that is God’s promise to us. Praise the Lord!
Verses four and five: Are the results of walking the way of the world. Not a positive picture. “But the Lord watches over the way of the righteous”.
This was my message for the send off for Rev. Benjamin Likita where I was asked to be the guest speaker. Along with the message was a call to pray for Pastor Ben to be that fruitful tree in his new work as he was in Idaci and a call to prayer for the new pastor Rev. Marcus to be that fruitful tree as well. Along with the Church here please pray for Rev. Ben and Rev. Marcus as they take up their new ministries. After the service we all gathered in the shade of two large trees and the program went on with singing, dancing, and donating money to help with the move. Pastor Ben has been reassigned to serve as the principal of the Serti Bible School. Serti, Taraba State is about a thousand miles south east of Niger State.
Everyone wants to go to the send offJust a little tight down to the river.In the rainy season this becomes a raging torrentSome of the crowd at the send off.
Case and Gremar Van Wyk, CRWM. You may support us at crwm@crcna.org
We do not often experience joy and grief together but this time we grieve Samuel’s death and we rejoice that he is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We were busy with Christmas preparations and thinking about New Year. We heard that Samuel was ill but were not terribly concerned about him. When Gremar went to see him his liver appeared to be affected by the traditional medicine he had been drinking, now his only option was the hospital. He was there for a day and returned somewhat improved. How and with what they treated him is not clear. Two days after Christmas he died. Before he died he called his wife and one of his fellow Christians and prayed to Jesus for healing but also confirmed his faith. He passed away peacefully, quiet and content. The others around him were amazed at how peacefully he passed on.
When we arrived that morning no preparation was made. Traditionally special people are appointed and paid to dig the grave. Sacrifices are made so that Samuel ‘s spirit would be received by his ancestors and not be turned away to go back to bother (haunt) his former compound. Samuel’s father wanted to consult with the Christians before anything was done. We had a lot of explaining to do because Samuel and his wife who were converted one year ago are the only Christians in this compound.
The Christians dug the grave but even then only a few actually got into the grave to dig. After, several hours of preparing the grave we had a traditional Christian funeral service. The only disruption was when his wife tried to get in the grave with him. She was restrained and literally carried away. Traditionally, that is not an unusual action on her part.
The next morning when we went to greet we had our hands full with questions. Wasn’t there something more they had to do? Did they not have to make a lot of food for us? Did they not have to buy a cow to sacrifice? We told them that the sacrifice was taken care of through Jesus Christ. There was nothing more or anything else necessary because Jesus is the sacrifice that God accepts. The next morning, Sunday we held a service there and again explained how God’s people in the past sacrificed but now we are set free in Jesus if we but believe. Sam’s wife will grieve for 30 days, after that she is free from mourning. This week we saw her at the chapel service. Traditionally, there is a levirate marriage system but as a Christian we are asking that she will be allowed to choose an unmarried Christian man. traditionally widows have very few rights not even over her children. Please pray for Ester and her two children and for us as we work with Christians and Traditional Africans. May Jesus be glorified!
We had a Christmas Eve service; I preached on Isaiah 7:9;9:1,2,6,7; Matt. 4: 12-17; John 1:1-5. The themes were: How strong is your faith? And we have received the Light of our Savior Jesus Christ. That was King Ahaz’s problem. He refused to ask for a sign from God so that his fear and dread would be relieved if he but believed God. God says through his prophet: “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Further, God says if you refuse to ask me for I sign I will give you a sign myself: “The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” God with us! The prophecy goes on Isa. 9: 1-2; We lived in darkness and in the shadow of death but we have seen a great light! verse 6,7: “for to us a child is born and to us a son is given … Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end…” A prophecy of much needed comfort and hope made seven hundred years before Christ’s birth. Matt. 4:12-17 understands Jesus’ ministry as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s 9:1-2 prophecy. We indeed have been given a great Light. John’s gospel 1: 1-5 tells us just how great that Light is: “In Him is life and that life was (and is ) the light of men” if we might only have faith and believe. Appropriately we were blessed to have a bright electric light in the chapel for the first time that night.
The next day was Christmas Day and the Bible School students spent a lot of time preparing the two goats and the rice and beans for the Christmas evening meal. We did not know what to expect but it turned out that the Chief and his elders came and about one hundred and fifty people from around the area. After the dancing and before the meal the principal gave an appropriate Christmas message. After the meal we showed the Jesus film in Hausa. All in all we had a great Christmas.
Some of the people at the Christmas celebrationEveryone is having a good time.
World Missions will be sending prayer cards, a thank you, and a prayer letter to all those who have contributed to our stay at the Warari Bible School. Our financial report is always a month behind so we are not able to thank people in a timely manner but we are very thankful for your generous gifts. We have been at work here for about a month and are extremely blessed to be teaching at the Bible School.
The bougainvillea are stunning this year.
We have chapel first thing in the morning because this week is final exam week for this term and we will have a month break before classes begin again. There will be plenty of work at the school some of it electrical and some construction.
Gremar returning from class with the help of one of the kids.No more laundry by hand, Gremar using her slightly used Speed Queen, what a difference it makes.Time to service the swamp cooler, we will be using it soon.
We plan to stay here for Christmas and New Year. Already two goats are purchased for a Christmas meal and we plan to get a pig for New Years. I will be starting a TLT class after the New Year as continuing ed. for pastors and evangelists and their wives that will last for about four months if we set aside one day a week. The students are busy gathering their crops. the rice is harvested, the guinea corn is being gathered.
Helping students to take home their rice.The grain is cut, put in rows and the end is propped up to allow air flow to speed up drying time. After drying in the row the heads are cut and stacked on top for a few more days they are then tied into bundles and taken home. Often camel owners are employed to carry the crop.
Although hot during most of the day it cools off at night, this morning it was 65 degrees on the porch. Gremar put on a sweat shirt, cool is relative here. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year with family and friends. Thank you for joining us on our journey and for supporting the work of training leaders for the evolving church in Niger State, Nigeria. God Bless
when you are having a good time and are busy at the same time. I have had the opportunity to preach three times and tomorrow I am asked to pray for the graduating students at the Lutheran Bible school graduation. Last Sunday we worshiped at Worro a small village where Evangelist Obediah is placed. They were having a send off for him since he has taken a position in a village near Abuja (Nigeria’s Capital). Obediah has served in Niger State among the Av’adi people for 15 years. He will be missed for his positive attitude and his energetic work. I include pictures and video from the send off.
The United Missionary Church Pastor preached at the send off
He preached from I Timothy 3 and parts of chapter 4 commending Obediah on his deligence in his work and the good example he set for the CRCN. Most people would agree that Obediah built up the church and Christians in Classis Niger.
Some of the crowd. People came from all over.
Everyone was having a good time singing during the service.
Everyone would rather that Obediah and family would stay!
At his new place Obediah will be only four hours from his home on the Plateau (near Jos) compared to 11 or 12 from here.
Obediah, Briskilla and family dressed for the occasion.Everyone is having a good time dancing.
We all enjoyed the worship, fellowship, and the food. I left home at 9:30 AM and arrived back at 4:00 PM, it was a full day! We were blessed and thankful to send this faithful evangelist on his way to his new position. Praise God!
PRAY for the school and the students. Since the change in the class schedule from beginning classes in Jan. to beginning in Sep. many students have not been able to start the new school year since they are harvesting their crops. Pray that they will be able to start in Jan. PRAY for the students’ children, many have a low grade malaria. PRAY for the church and for the pastors and leaders in Niger State, Nigeria. PRAY for the Christians in Nigeria and for the people of Nigeria. PRAY for safety and for peace. We praise God for his care and for the work he has given to us to do. God is Good!
Helping her dad.
Students participate in chapel everyday and it has been a blessing to worship with them.
Make a Joyfull Noise!
Right now I am teaching Old Test. Intro. and Bible Study Methods. Gremar is teaching Personal Hygiene. It all has been a lot of work to teach in English and Hausa. In Methods the final exam will be for the students to write an Inductive Bible Study on Joshua. Part of that is “what is God’s message to Joshua and the Israelites?” Chap. 1. “Be strong and courageous”. “On my law meditate day and night…”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will go with you where ever you go.” An excellent message for us in Nigeria and for Christians facing secular culture in the States.
It is a tradition with our family at this time of the year to say to each other the things we are thankful to God for. I am sure that giving thanks is the practice in many families, certainly I hope that it is. This year is a little different; for the first time in a long time we are not together with our family. Yet Gremar and I have so much to be thankful for. We are thankful for our children and grand children. We look forward to a new grand child in the spring. What a privilege it was to participate in the baptism of Jude our latest grand child and we are thankful for the faithfulness of his parents.
We thank God for the faithfulness of all of our children and their spouses. What are we thankful for here at the Warari Bible School? We are so blessed to have a nice little house with solar power and a good fridge a blessing from God through the Lansers. We are thankful for the students, they work so hard to get an education and still provide for their families. We are thankful we are able to help them in that endeavor. This week Gremar treated 13 patients, three of them being little kids from the Bible School with malaria and upper respiratory infections. We are thankful to be able to help people get their crops out of the field, and supply diesel for the school generator this month for a couple of hours of electricity a day in return for them cleaning up our house and the overgrown yard before we came. We thank God for the internet making it so easy to communicate with family, friends, and supporters in the US.
We did not have a special meal because it’s just another day here but Gremar actually had a can of wild Alaskan Salmon for me. It doesn’t get any better than that. Praise the Lord!
Click to enlarge picture
A nice restaurant in JosA pre Thanksgiving meal in JosGuinea corn in a field by the school, 12 ft high and standing thick.Red peppers in the field, guinea corn, and bananas by the well at MahulaWe bought supplies from the same people in the Warari market. It was nice to be remembered.The evangelist's house we started but did not finish last time.Evangelists Bulus and his wife Tabitha by their now finished house. Praise the Lord, we prayed for God's blessing on their home and on their work. Gov. workers came with polio vaccine for the Bible School kids.Gremar treating her kids at the School
We are thankful to be here, so much to be thankful for, so much to do, so much support from so many people our cup runs over. Please continue to pray for us for the school and for Nigeria. To God be the glory
Heavenhigh 