Every day at Mahula: The following pictures is a cross cut of the activities that go on around us most days. This area is rolling savanna scattered with large and small trees. It appears that trees are a prime resource fast diminishing with deforestation. This area is about 100 kl from where the Sahara Desert sand begins. It is dry right now but I am told that by the end of march the rains will begin with an annual rain fall of about forty inches. We hope to experience at least one rain before we have to leave.
Gremar only gives advice to our neighborsWatering his camelCarrying water from the pumpGirls coming to the wellcuting leaves for the cattleStocking up firewood for the rainy seasonA compound near us, neighborsMany people keep cattle, supplement bean husks during the dry seasonDomesticated Guinea fowl
Yesterday we went to worship at the Bible School since they had me on the preaching schedule. I preached on Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:15-23). When coming to a Bible school as a student or a teacher you ask your self why? Gremar and I also ask ourselves why come to the Rural Church Council area of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria in Niger State? Indeed it is a question all of us must ask ourselves about the many things we do. We answer that question tapping into God’s purpose for the people of this area; encouragement for Christians, converts are under extreme pressure from unconverted relatives to leave the way of Jesus. We also want to exemplify the way of Jesus in our lives; we want to have the opportunity to speak about God’s love in Jesus and God’s care for the church, his people by the power of his Spirit. God’s purpose is what Paul writes about and prays about in this passage. Paul gives thanks for the Ephesians because he is impressed by their faith and their love for all the saints.
Paul keeps praying for a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may know God better. That is a prayer we also must pray as we work with Pastors and Evangelists and we pray that for all Christians everywhere. Paul goes on to pray for the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened so that they know the hope to which they are called. That is our prayer as well that Christians here would know God’s will for their lives; understand God’s purpose for calling them and saving them from the bondage of Traditional African Religion, a practice that enslaves them to the worship of ancestors, to the drinking and pouring of out of beer for them, and an extreme fear of death that is, according to them never caused by natural process. We pray along with Paul that we all may know God’s incomparable great power, God’s mighty strength working through Jesus’ resurrection and working in us, the church because Christ is her head and we are the body of Christ. We are encouraged and revived to continue to preach and teach the Word even in difficult situations and to hard hearts because God calls us, Jesus equips us, and the Spirit empowers us. Praise the Lord!
I was scheduled to preachGremar with the women after the serviceSamuila, one of the students led the serviceMatt, Laura, and David after the serviceMusic for the service, drums
The women leading the singingAvadi kids getting water at the school wellCarrying water the Avadi way
Last week Friday (03/05/10) the three volunteers from Water Wins started a new bore hole. They had worked on the rig all week and now started digging. Doug, Steve and Jamie (James) from the GR area and from Caledonia have been staying with us for the week along with the Nigerian director Jeremiah. It has been a fun week. Gremar and I took the Yamaha trail bike available to us out to the site. That was quite a trip since we did not really know the way but only the general direction. I think we did fairly well, maybe an extra wash out or two to cross but all in all we made it by asking direction, not always a good idea; straight ahead, just go straight, they will tell you. When drilling begins at a new site it attracts quite a crowd. The villagers have to form a committee, come up with a certain amount of money, pay for maintenance of the pump and bring clean water for drilling. The project to get clean water to people; often cracks open the door for the gospel where there is otherwise strong traditional African religious practices. Evangelists are there to follow up on these new places. As it is at this site, Uva’di does now have a church and an evangelist is placed there (see map). They are thankful to be getting a bore hole.
The following photos are at the site and getting there.
Not your everyday bike pathOne miscalculation and there is a washout big enough to swallow you and the machine. Steve one of the volunteersKids at well siteAvadi kids at siteChild careThe guys at workbailing the holeTypical Avadi adornments and tatoosSome of the young guys at the siteKids at the drill siteThe rig keeps pounding
I taught at the Bible School today, the lesson was how to prepare to do visitation with church members in need. To highlight the importance of preparation we read Mathew 25:1-13. “At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like…” Jesus says. At the end of time and we are in the end times; yet no one knows only the Father when that time will be. The point is: Be prepared! That is what this parable is about. The ten virgins represent the universal church. We are all waiting for the coming of the Jesus, for the wedding feast to begin. Five virgins were wise, they had extra oil for their lamps since the groom could come at any time, especially when they least expected it. Five virgins were foolish; they had filled their lamps but did not have extra oil. Today as well, it seems to be a long time that Jesus has been on the way back, is he ever going to come we ask? The virgins grew drowsy and fell asleep; take note they all fell asleep. Like the ten virgins the church has fallen asleep; we worry about legalities, about fine points of theology and spend our time in endless discussion about things that have nothing to do with salvation itself and we worry very little about those not ready to meet Christ. Today it is hard to know who is ready (has extra oil) and who is not ready. The oil is the thinking of Jesus, the Way of Jesus, the Words of Jesus, and the actions of Jesus. That is the oil we need but our lamps are barely on, turned down for the long nap we are in. If we are to be ready we must have extra oil (all of the characteristics of Jesus) if the church is going to shine brightly up to the time of Jesus’ return. Those who have taken on the difficulty and the suffering of being like Jesus in all that they say and do will be ready to meet the King (bridegroom). But those who have taken the easy way out and not made the sacrifices that go along with real Christianity will be left behind. Jesus does not know them, verse 12. “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
The housing is good at Mahula
The house is around 3000 sq. ft. with a large enclosed porchGreat air flow, short on privacyA lot of room for meetingsThe porch is a great meeting place, and has other usesTrying to cool down the bedroom, it drops about 20 deg.The 12volt Evaperator cooler taxes the solar sy. runs only 4 hr. a day
Yesterday we went with a car load of people from Mahula to Momo for an all classis church service. It was a great experience. Three different congregations comprising of three different areas with a total of twenty one preaching centers met at Momo. Not everyone could come but the 200 or more people comprised about one fifth of the total Christians in the area. The new pastor from Idaci (Likita Benjamin) preached, others did different parts of the service. I brought greetings from North America and gave the closing benediction.
The chairman wanted to reduce the classical fees that was owed to the CRCN church and he was not disappointed, right around 105,000 Naira was collected which is about $700.00, a significant amount for this area. What impressed us was the number of young people that were present; there is a lot of potential in the Niger RCC (Classis). The church building was too small to hold us so we worshiped at the Pastor’s house. This house was the first mission house built here in 1985 for William and Heni Barends. The house is on a low hill with massive trees (planted at the time) giving a lot of shade and there was a constant breeze; William had picked a good site. The new pastor for this congregation living at Kamfani did the congregational prayer. We picked him up on the way because he was on foot. Without some sort of transportation he will have a hard time visiting any of his preaching centers. I wondered why he would be placed here without a motorcycle. He is living in the former mission house at Kamfani previously occupied by Albert and Carolyn Strydhorst and later by Jim Trisenberg. Pastor James and his wife came back with us. I thought I might have to use four wheel drive through one of the mud holes which is a stream in the rainy season but we made it barely (da kyar) as they say in Hausa. We got back to Mahula at four in the afternoon.
The youth singing one of the song during the serviceArriving at the Momo service
Some of the many children at the serviceSome of the youth of the churchPart of the women's group at the Momo serviceKids will be kids
Today I taught at the Bible school, Lesson three, they are doing well with their visitation asignments. I also preached at the Bible School chapel, I picked Matthew 5:13-16 as the passage. Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth but if salt loses its flavor it is not good for anything. Jesus also says we are the light of the world but if we put that light under a bushel it has no use. I picked these verses because of the discussions that I have been having with the Pastors and the Evangelist in my course. What is needed in this area according to these men is that Christians should be more like Jesus. That sounds familiar; if anything is needed in the States is that Christians should be more like Jesus. This discussion that I have been having with these men highlights for me, for them, and for leaders everywhere the importance of leaders to be like Jesus. To be like Jesus is to be the salt of the earth. Salt brings out the flavor, that which is hidden in God’s Word discerned only by the Spirit of God. Salt has healing properties; an encouraging word is life for the discouraged. Salt has preservation qualities; the cares of this world are lighter by God’s grace. But if we as Christians have lost our saltiness there is no benefit for anyone.
We are the light of the world. Light shows us the path to walk on, the path of Jesus as we find it in Scripture. Light shows us the right way of living and leads us to what is right in God’s eyes. Light allows us fellowship with God and with each other, nothing is hidden, all our actions are in daylight. We are a light to each other but also to the world around us. A city on a hill lit up cannot be hidden. What does all this have to do with Jesus? Jesus is life and that life is the light of men ( John1:4). Where can people see Jesus, where can they meet Jesus, where can they get to know Jesus today? One place is the Scriptures and the only other place is you and me, the people of God, the church, His body. You and I may be the only Bible some people will ever read. It is therefore of utmost importance that we are like Jesus, take on His attitude, and His actions, and His way of giving Himself for others. Are we ready
Getting to the Bible school, 3 Kl., is a difficult short drive with places that will be impassable during the rainy season.
Gremar with some of her students that are in the health class
There is a good sized dry stream bed near the Mahuls houseThe road to MahulaWe cross the main road to get to the Bible school, see mapThis would be a fun spot to get through in the rainy seasonGremar advising on a sick child at the Bible school
Yesterday Gremar and I, and Matt and Laura did the first Pastoral Care class at Mahula. We had good discussions about pressure on the youth to stay away from Christianity if they expect to ever get married. Traditional Africans will not give their daughters to a Christian man. They talked about a certain man that left the church because of it but now his wife wants to become a Christian. (“Ikon Allah”) God reigns, as they say in Hausa.
Mahula women's courseThe men's course at Mahula
Today all of us went to Momo (see Map) for the second chapter on Pastoral Care, seven of the eight came, six with their wives. Definitely worth the hour on the bush road and a half an hour on broken pavement. About a quarter of a mile from Acre I started to smell cooling fluid but the vehicle was not running hot, but just before we turned into Acre we staled and the vehicle was hot, we added what water we had and made it to Matt and Laura’s place. Upon looking over the vehicle it appears a rock flew up under the vehicle and was caught between the fan and radiator causing a deep gouge that was leaking profusely. We thank God we made it home in well over 100 degree heat and we pray that a radiator can be found. For now that vehicle is out of business. We still have the vehicle I am using so we are not without transportation.
Two of the eight men at the Momo course.
Gremar's course at Momo
Matt, Laura and David, The people we are working with
Today, Sunday we visited one of the smaller churches in the area. This place does not have an evangelist or pastor living on site so a person from this village attending the Bible school is assigned there. If you take note of the map you will be able to find the places that we visit and their relationship to each other. The place we visited was Tungun Basalla which is on the main road. A couple of things about the map: The Church has become the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN). The only places where missionaries live currently are at the Bible School and periodically at Mahula. These two places are about three kilometers apart. The former mission housing at Idaci, Momo, Maretu, and Komfani are occupied by Nigerian CRCN staff. This is a young church and needs much prayer. Pray for the Evangelists and the Pastors, for the church leaders and the church members. There is much opposition to the gospel by those following traditional African worship. Pray for the people digging bore holes and installing hand pumps, often that activity cracks open the door for the gospel. Last but not least pray for the missionaries assigned here and to the different areas of the country; especially for the missionaries here; at Acre (The Bible School) and at Mahula. They contend with oppressive heat, (today 106 in the shade 130 in direct sun) very difficult travel conditions, years of language learning and isolation from other missionaries. The one good thing we now have in Nigeria is good cell phone service and accessibility to the internet which makes it much easier to communicate with each other here, with you and our loved ones at home. I do think that the ease of communication with loved ones, while a blessing, slows down our interpersonal relationships with the people around us. Please pray for the work in Niger State!
Yesterday I had the second class with the students, lesson two “The Person Who Cares”. Of the many passages we looked at I liked the parable of the lost sheep Luke 15:1-7. Jesus spoke in parables so that only those with the Spirit would understand the spiritual meaning. In this case, Jesus tells this parable in reaction to the comments of the Pharisees. Because Jesus was speaking with tax collectors and sinners the Pharisees and the teachers of the law criticized him by saying: “this man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them”.
There are many people to care aboutThere are plenty of kids to teach
In the book I am reading “The year of living like Jesus”, the author takes note of the fact that Christians spend a lot of time trying to figure out who is in and who is out of the fold and thinks it very unlike Jesus. Often the person that is different; dress, looks, lifestyle, different than we, are out. That pretty well leaves out every young Christian girl in Mahula since they mostly go topless at home and at the well but cover up when they go out to market, church or school. That is way off the chart for proper behavior by western standards but perfectly acceptable here.
The point Jesus is making is that a good shepherd, a person who cares for his fellow human being will leave those who think they are so righteous and go look for the lost; while the Pharisees and teachers were only interested in condemning Jesus along with the tax collectors and other perceived sinners. The true shepherd, Jesus, the real church worker, the real church member, goes out to find those who are lost and when found and brought into the fold, rejoice greatly. Jesus tells us that the very angels in heaven rejoice more over the one lost and found than over the ninety nine not lost.
Jesus’ approach was so different from organized religion of his day, the religious leaders did not understand. Jesus’ approach is also much different from organized religion today because the ninety nine instead of the one lost are the center of attention in our churches. The person who really cares is more like Jesus than he or she is like the critical church member. Praise the Lord for the true shepherds of the people of God.
Heavenhigh 