Vacation...Yea baby!

So last week I got to go on my first true vacation since arrive 6 months ago.  About 7 hours drive south of where I live is a hidden getaway called Obadu. Tucked away in one of the highest points in Nigeria (5,000 ft) Obadu can give the illusion that your not actually in Africa, but rather somewhere in the rockies.  

Unrealized until I arrived, it was some much needed time off.  I spent four days relaxing at a pool which sat at the base of 360 degrees of mountain viewing, hiking to and swimming at some of the many waterfalls, and eating my first "true" steak since arriving.  While it was tough to leave I'm glad to be recharged and back in swing of things here in Jos.  

Here some pictures from the trip:

That's right...there was diving board

And a slide

This would be the village I'd want to live in

This was an hour hike at like a 40 degree slope...not for the babies

The hike was worth it when you made it to the falls

Stuck in a Rut

Last week I went on a 3 day Church planting/film outreach to remote villages here in Nigeria.  After an hour and a half of following a motorcycle only path and crossing a bridge I was nervous to even walk on, we managed to hit a patch of soft mud that buried the left side of the car to the fame.  We were so deep that I had to exit the vehicle through the passenger side.  

Aware from a previous trip that the 4X4 wasn't working properly I had the mechanic fix it before I left for this trip.  Well...come to find out --the hard way-- he only fixed the 4X4 indicator light on the dash board...which comes in very handy when your stuck in mud.

Thankfully before we left I purchased a shovel and tow rope.  While the tow rope couldn't be of much use with not other vehicle in sight, the shovel was a life saver.  Two hours and 10 Nigerian villagers later we managed to get free!  

Unfortunately, due to the lost time and fear that we may get stuck again and not make our destination by night fall we had to turn back.  Needless to say, it was an experience. 

Orphanage Football Match

A few weeks ago some others and I arranged for a football match between the boy at our two care centers in Jos. The match served as a good social stepping stone for the boys at Gidan Bege as they will soon be leaving to go to Gyero full time (much like moving from elementary to middle school). Gyero walked away with the victory 3-0.

Here's a few pictures:

Team Gyero Team Gidan Bege

A New Man (Simon Update)

A few months ago I shared a testimony of how God used a stolen Ipod to change a boy name Simon's destiny forever.  In just a short time it's be amazing to see how God has worked in this young mans life.  Below is a verbatim copy of a hand written letter he gave me this past week.  It doesn't get much better than this... 

Dear Uncle Dustin,
Thanks you for the things that have be doing for me.  God will bless you and thank you for the bible I will more about God in that bible so that I will teach other people too.  God will give you things so that you will give those who dont have.  God will give you a good wife and he will bless your child.  I dont have anything to give you only to say thank you.  

Good bye 
Love Simon Daweng Davow

A Taste of Home

In coming to Africa for an extended period of time you know your sacrificing things often taken for granted.  Family, friends, constant electricity, the lake, and mexican food are just a short list of the comforts left back home.  But just the other day I managed to get one of these comforts back....Golf!  

About 15 minutes from my house in a more remote area of Jos I discovered Flamingo Golf Course.  Like many things here it quite different than the norm back home.  For instance, greens are called browns (you'll see why in the pic below) and large rocks in the middle of the fairway make for a much different hazard than sand.  One positive quality of Nigerian golf is price, 18 holes cost about $5 plus another $2 for the caddy (no golf carts).  While it's not exactly the same as back home I'm just ecstatic to stumble across an activity that I thought wouldn't be played until I returned.   

Ruth & Sarah Update

(Ruth is the girl smiling on my lap)

I want to thank everyone for the continue prayer and concern for the two girls (Ruth and Sarah) who were rescued from a demonic colt less than a month ago.  I happy to report that the girls seem to be making a smooth transition.  

Ruth (age 6) has wasted no time making new friends and adapting to her new environment.  She has quickly become one of my favorite girls at Gyero.  As you can see in the attached photos she has an amazing smile.  Sarah (age 11) on the other hand hasn't quite adjusted as quickly as her younger sister but is coming along very well considering what she's been through the last month.

One really cool things to witness this past month was how the girls living with Ruth and Sarah rallied around them in their struggles.  When the sisters were awaken with nightmares in the night, other girls in the compound - some who have been through similar situations - would wake up to pray and worship with the girls and their Auntie to help get them back to sleep...an unselfish act not commonly found in kids.

Please continue to pray for these girls and others alike as this seem to be one of the fast growing need in our ministry. 

Ruth

Sarah

Nigeria vs. Kenya

Last month a group of us here is Jos made the 4 hour drive to Abuja to watch Nigeria take on Kenya to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.  Having never been to a professional soccer/football match my expectations were formed from the wild highlights I'd seen on TV.  So, not wanting to look like a first time spectator I went all out by wearing a Nigerian jersey, waving a Nigeria flag, and painted my face green and white (colors of the Nigerian flag) with homemade face paint. 

In a stadium designed for 60,000 people, they managed to squeeze 70,000 in to the game by not leaving a stair or aisle unoccupied.   As no good sport match is without, a small fight in the stands broke out a few rows in front of use.  Spectator activity such as this and chanting helped to keep my attention in between goals. 

Nigeria ended up walking away with a 3-0 victory and a spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.  Although a little more mundane than American football, I have to admit I'm really starting to enjoy the "real" football.