Thursday, May 21, 2009

Evil for Good

God used a stolen Ipod to change someone's destiny forever.  Let me explain...


Two weeks ago was my first time to spend the night with the kids at our orphanage in Gyero (20 mins outside of Jos).  Right before going to bed I realized my Ipod had gone missing.  After looking for it a great deal of time, we concluded that it was stolen.  With no way to search 60 kids at 10 o'clock at night, and thinking the culprit would sell it first thing the next day at the market, I was content on being Ipodless.


So, you can image how surprised I was to got a call from one of the house parents the following day informing me they found the Ipod on one of the kids.  Unfortunately, the kid who took it was Simon, one the boys I went hiking with the previous day.


Simon is a 12 year old boy who I'd formed a quick bond with in the small amount of time we'd gotten to spend together.  He was brought to the orphanage after both of his parents were killed in June of last year and his uncle didn't have the resources to take care of him.


After talking with his house parent I knew he'd be apologizing the next time we met.  Knowing that he'd already receive punishment, I really sought out what I'd say to him at this time.  I felt that God was telling me that above all, just tell him that He loves him no matter what.


The following week I went back out to Gyero to spend the night. During worship that evening Simon came up to me and said he like to talk with me.  After everyone left, I pulled a chair up beside him and ask what did he want to talk to me about.  Too ashamed to look at me, he stared at the floor and said he was sorry for taking my Ipod.  I told him that I'd already forgiven him and that no matter what, I'd always love him but more importantly God loves him and there was nothing he's done or will do to escape that love.  Informing him of that brought about a sigh of relief on his face.  It continues to amaze me how His ways are not my own--but always so much better!


After talking for about 10 to 15 minutes, I asked Simon if he'd ever accepted Christ into his life and if he knew what that meant.  He informed me that he'd thought about it a few months ago, but never did.  I briefly explained to him once again what it meant to accept the free gift of eternal salvation given to everyone, and told him that I'd love to pray with him if he ever wanted to give his life to Christ.  To my surprise, he was ready then and there!  So that night, I had the amazing opportunity to pray with Simon as he admitted that his sins separated him from God, he believed that Christ died in his place to pay for those sins, and he invited Christ to come into his life.

Simon and I

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Only In Africa

After being here for 3 weeks now, I've started to observe many things that I find to be unique to Africa.  So, in an attempt to share these with you, I've decide to start a monthly picture series entitled "Only In Africa".  I hope you enjoy it.


This makes me smile every time I drive by.  For those of you who've heard my business idea on funeral services, I think the business may have just gotten a new name.


Sunrise at Gyero orphanage


Maybe they have these is NY, but I've never seen one in Austin


It tasted just as bad as you'd imagine

Friday, May 8, 2009

Kaduna Medical Trip

Earlier this week I joined one of our nurses on a visit to the care center we have in Kaduna.  Kaduna is about 4 hours NW of Jos and is the 3rd largest city in Nigerian.  The purpose of the trip was to give the kids their 2nd round of immunizations for hepatitis and polio.  

When these kids enter the orphanage, 99% have not received any of the basic immunization that we take for granted in the US.  It's very disheartening to think that much of the sickness and disease here is curable and even preventable.  

Take polio for example.  Polio is a viral disease that invade the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis.  Although the polio vaccines was developed in the 1950, the disease cripples thousands of people every year.  Sadly, you see the effects of this terrible disease daily as kids, paralyzed from the waste down, with skateboards for wheelchairs uses theirs hands to propel themselves from car to car begging for spare change at crowded intersections.  To think that this condition could have been prevented for about $10 breaks your heart.

Knowing this, you can know image the joy I had giving the kids their polio vaccine.  With two drops on the tongue, they're 2/3 of the way to never having to worry about contracting this horrific disease.    




















Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Sheri Hills

Last Friday was a national holiday for all of Nigeria. To make the most of the day, the westerns and nigerian house parents from one of the three centers in Jos, planned a get together for some fellowship.  We had a potluck lunch followed by a hiking adventure to the top of Sherri Hills.  Other than having to sneak off to discard one of the nigerian dishes I mistakenly thought looked tasty and got way too much of, the day went great.  I should have gotten the hint went none of the nigerian were touching the dish.




Amos and Jimmy squeezing there way through the cracks in the rock to make it to the top.
The view of a small section of Jos from the top.



Monday, May 4, 2009

First Tears

I cried last night, not because of being homesick or because of a physical injury; but simple because for the first time, living in a third world country really hit home.  

What would you do?

Poverty and oppression is something Nigeria is not lacking.  As you navigate through the day you're approached numerous times by kids, women, and those suffering from physical deformities begging for money to simply eat.  Last night, as I was reflecting on the day, I felt the presence of the Lord in a way I haven't felt in a long time.  Tears began forming as a particular beggar came to mind that I had seen the past few days. He sits outside on a mat of a store where I shop because he's paralyzed from the waste down.  Feelings of conviction came about as I started to realized that I was already becoming numb to the oppression that you are surrounded by here.  What was it about this guy?  Why did I feel so much compassion for him?  Was it his genuine smile, his physical condition, or his sheer hopelessness. 

Today I made it my mission to show him Christ's love. After spending the morning visiting the one of our care centers I intentionally stopped by the market to find him after lunch.  Sure enough there he was leaning up against the same trash can as the previous days with a piece of cardboard wedged between the can and the lid to to protect him from the afternoon rains. I sat down next to him and introduced myself.  I pointed at my chest and said "Dustin".  He then pointed at his chest and said "Adam".  Quickly realizing that his English didn't go past hello I offered him my leftover lunch, a bottle of water, and some crackers that I intentionally bought for him. As I left I just said to him "Yesu Allah"  which simply means "Jesus God".

It's difficult....it really is.  You want to share everything.  Why are some so blessed and others not?  We truly live in a fallen and broken world...thank God it's only temporary!