Where has the time gone?  Teaching last week was great...but I can tell I’m not used to a busy schedule anymore! Last week I substitute taught for my friend Sheila while she attended a conference in Accra, Ghana.  It was so much fun teaching!  The first day of school Sheila had 12 students, each coming from a different country.  She now has 20 students.  I’m not sure how many countries are represented at this point...needless to say, it was very multi-cultural!  Thursday and Friday were declared holidays (marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting) so I got by only teaching a three-day week.  

 

On Thursday, the Strydhorst family came from Jos to spend the weekend in Abuja.  Albert Strydhorst used to be the field leader for Nigeria.  It was so wonderful spending time with them again.  They are some of the most generous people I have ever met!  Amira and Nico loved playing with their three daughters, all older than our kids but were willing and eager to play with them despite the age difference.  Together we grilled, went to NuMetro (a South African bookstore), went to the zoo, and did lots and lots of swimming!  Amira has gone swimming with a friend one time since we’ve arrived in Abuja, but this was the first time we have gone swimming as a family.  It was hot and felt so wonderful.  

 

We were fearing the approach of Sunday...saying good-bye to our friends as they went back to Jos but also because Sunday just seems to be the most difficult day for us.  We tried another new church, a house church started by an “accompany spouse” (that’s what I’m considered too!).  The man who started the church graduated from seminary and then accompanied his wife to Nigeria.   She does medical stuff for the US Embassy.  He felt called to start this church when he got here.  It was so wonderful!  Great preaching.  Great fellowship.  It was so welcoming and genuine.  Amira came home saying “Can we please, please go back there again?!”  We still want to visit and worship in Nigerian churches, but for now, this is what we need in order to serve others around us.  

 

We came home feeling refreshed and encouraged.  As we drove up to our gate, Mike answered his phone and heard Nick Lantinga on the other end.  Nick lives in Sioux Center, Iowa, Mike’s hometown.  You can imagine the perplexity I saw in Mike’s face when Nick told him he was in Nigeria talking to our friend Sheila, the friend I had been substitute teaching for the past week.  He had met Sheila at the baggage claim in the Lagos airport.  We’ve heard population estimates for Lagos ranging from about 22 million people...maybe that gives you a bit of perspective for how crazy it was that these two met!  Briefly, here’s the story:  Nick threw the comment out to another AISA teacher that he was going to Jos...the teacher pointed to Sheila explaining she used to live in Jos...Nick threw out the name Dordt College...Sheila, in excitement, asked if Nick knew Cella Ribbens (a combo of my mom’s first name and my married name)...and Nick immediately knew she must know Mike and me.  She dialed up our number and next thing you know it, Mike is picking up Nick and his friend Rev. Isaac from the airport to stay at our place for the night.  What a small, small world.  It really boggles my mind to think of all the ways God is orchestrating the events, people and places of the world to bring glory to His name.  Amazing...and humbling to think that we get to serve THAT kind of God!  

 

We sent our NW Iowan and Kenyan friends off to Jos early on Monday...and woke up not feeling so well!  All week Nico, Amira and I have been fighting serious head cold stuff.  The kind of head colds you are supposed to get during the dead of winter...not 100 degree weather!  With that said, we are all thankful it has been a slow week.  We’ve had time to rest and take it easy.  Mike, on the other hand, has been running to meetings, visiting pastors, trying to get yearly budget stuff in place, writing quarterly reports...the man has been busy.  

 

I’m hoping to volunteer at the Fulani Medical Clinic tomorrow if I’m feeling up to it and this weekend marks the start of another visitor streak.  Sat, Mon, and Tues we will be hosting three different couples.  We love visitors and are excited to welcome them to our home and city.  It’s a wonderful thing being able to share our home with others.  Speaking of visitors and sharing our home...anyone planning any trips to Nigeria yet?!?  We are ready whenever you are!  

 

photo:  Sheila’s 3rd Grade Class at AISA.  Her teaching assistant Nkiru was awesome help!  

 

p.s.  Big, big thanks to those of you who have prayed for us and sent encouraging emails in response to my last entry...we remain strengthened by your prayers and encouraged by your communication.  We love hearing from home!