First sterilise your veggies....

Although I have seen some turkeys wandering around Jos we relied on Danjuma the pork man to supply our Christmas dinner.  He came round to the house with his plastic bags and pulled out a huge haunch of free-range pork which presumably had been running around the day before.  It looked great but it wasn't until Christmas Eve that I discovered it was too big to fit into the pressure cooker.  (I prefer to pressure cook meat as hygiene standards are not great and it makes me feel that any nasties should've been killed off).  Suddenly a 4kg joint didn't seem such a good idea but 7 hours of long, slow cooking did the trick.

That was one problem solved.  Next I wandered round the garden collecting whatever green things I could find.  We're in the middle of the dry season so most things are now brown but I managed to gather enough of the surviving cabbage, leeks and beetroot.  In the UK all I'd have to do next would be wash off the soil and put them away until it was time to cook.  In Nigeria I wash off the soil, soak them in Milton sterilising solution for 15 minutes to kill off any typhoid or other bugs that might be lurking and then rise again in filtered water.  Extra hassle but I'm not confident we've built up enough immunity to cut it out yet.

We had friends from TCNN joining us for lunch and I was praying that the power would last.  Part of the (sticky toffee) pudding plan involved our newly purchased microwave and I didn't want to have to go to plan B.  It's always a good morning when we wake up to electricity.  Our Christmas Day in that respect was better than for some people in Britain.  We had power until 6pm when it went off until Boxing Day afternoon but at least we always have our candles ready.

I hope you all had a good Christmas.  It's so amazing to remember that the almighty, all-creating, all-knowing God sent his Son to be born as a human as part of the great plan to set humanity free from slavery and destruction.  Good food and time with family and friends are great but that God's love for us is so overwhelming is more wonderful still.

Christmas

It takes a while to get used to the fact that it's nearly Christmas.  The days are sunny and get warm by the afternoon although we have been shivering in strong winds and temperatures as low as 12 degrees in the mornings and evenings.  I didn't think I'd be looking around for jumpers in Nigeria.  The roadside sellers have started wearing Santa hats, shops and restaurants are decorated with artificial trees and tinsel and the school had a service of nine lessons and carols last Sunday so slowly it's beginning to sink in that it'll be Christmas day next week.

Here's something that our Scottish church put on its newsletter last week.  You may have seen it before but it's worth thinking about.

Santa lives at the North Pole,

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh,

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year,

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies,

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited,

JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa,

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap,

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hello little boy/girl, what's your name?"

JESUS knew your name before you did. Not only does He know your name, He knows your address too. He knows your history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on your head.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly,

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is the laughter of: HO HO HO,

JESUS offers present help, hope for the future and the certainty of His kingdom.

Santa says "You better not cry!"

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys,

JESUS makes new lives, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but,

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree,

JESUS became the greatest gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison. Jesus the Son of God entering this world, born into time to be both Saviour and Lord is WHO and what Christmas is all about.

Acts 4:12, Matthew 1:21

Cosmetology Graduation

One of the customs at special events in Nigeria is for the main party to have clothes made up in the same material.  At weddings you can tell those who are closely related or good friends with the main participants as they're all dressed in the "wedding cloth".   This doesn't mean they all look alike as the styles vary enormously but they're showing their connection with each other in a very clear way.  At the BRICC ladies graduation yesterday it was heartwarming to see all the students and some of their friends dressed in the special cloth they'd bought for the occasion. 

As usual the ladies' graduation was something to behold: each time it gets better.  They'd decorated the courtyard as if for a wedding and the excitement in the air was palpable.  Veronica the co-ordinator gave another inspiring speech to her students.  "Nelson Mandela was a great man not because he spent 27 years in prison but because he forgave his enemies.  Teach

Veronica & Naomi

[others] the love, the unity.  Go out and multiply" what you've learned in BRICC.  She was followed by Naomi her deputy and then most of the students got up and spoke about how much they've learned (and not just about how to make creams, body scrubs and handwash).  The most important lessons they'll take from their 12 week course are those of love and friendship with women they'd not even have spoken to before.
For most of these women the BRICC graduation is the only one they've had.  Another custom at special events here is to have souvenir bags or notebooks printed with the names and photos of the main people.  It was touching to see the plastic bags that Aishat's mother had provided for her daughter's graduation.  Aishat's husband Hussein is the man who was enabled to walk again by a BRICC physiotherapist after he'd given up hope of being healed after a motor accident.  They were having trouble earning money so instead of giving handouts (which BRICC doesn't and can't do anyway) we enrolled Aishat into the ladies' skills programme so she can make a living and still be available to care for her husband.  In the skills programme and the women's literacy classes she's been one of the most diligent, capable and motiated students.  See the video of his story at www.briccjos.com (click on "Film").

The cake made by one of the students summed it up: they are stars.

This is life in Nigeria note: as I was finishing this post there was a commotion at the gate.  Sunday who works in the library had arrived on his bicycle with a chicken in a black carrier bag that Fraser had ordered.  The dogs were naturally very interested so I had to go out and intercept it.  Thankfully Sunday had already dressed it but by the temperature it had still been running around earlier this morning.  Now it's safely put away and I can get this finished.

Safety net

Living in Nigeria is certainly helping me to appreciate many of the things I take for granted in the UK.  Things we regard as basics are by no means reliable here.  Electricity comes and goes (at the time of writing it's been off for over 12 hours and I've no idea when/if it'll come back today).  Mains water is turned on and off to no pattern I've been able to discern and door to door rubbish collections just don't exist.  There's no AA or RAC and if you have a medical emergency you can't call for an ambulance but have to find your own way in to the hospital.  In some ways this is good as it's teaching us to rely on God for ordinary things far more than we ever had to in the UK and seeing the results of prayer is exciting and reassuring.

I was praying hard on Friday driving back from Jos as the temperature gauge in the car rose off the scale, hoping that it was merely a faulty connection (there are a few).  It was when I stopped at a junction and saw copious amounts of steam/smoke rising from the bonnet that I realised that perhaps the gauge was accurate and I ought to do something about it.  Thankfully there was a fuel station right beside me so I pulled in and got out of the car quickly.  A few days before I'd said to James and Ruth that we should check if the fire extinguisher was working.  Here was my chance.

If you ever want to see a group of workmen move quickly try driving up with steam pouring out of the bonnet.  They all leapt up, gesticulating wildly, pointing out the obvious (as if I hadn't noticed) and to my relief taking charge, wielding the extinguisher (which did work) and opening the bonnet.  Thankfully there was neither smoke nor flames only steam shooting out of holes in a pipe but there was no way I'd be able to take the car the rest of the way home that night.
My rescuers pushed the car to a place where it would be safe under the floodlights for the night and found me a public transport vehicle (7-seater van that takes about 14) which would take me to where I could get a keke back to TCNN.  In some ways I was glad there was only just room to squeeze me and another passenger into the van as it meant we were wedged in too tightly to roll around as we swung round corners.  It's not a method of transport I would recommend for long journeys as any padding on the seats had disappeared a long time ago.  My first journey on a keke was more fun although there were times I thought we'd tip over as we negotiated large holes in the road.  Going across the railway was a bit hairy too but I got home safely.  Be thankful that public transport in Britain doesn't feel quite so much like taking your life in your hands.
The next day Fraser went back to collect the car and nursed it gently home where it's now sitting waiting for a mechanic.

Every week we put safety in travel on our prayer requests and there have been many incidents which could have been far far worse than they were.  I am thankful there was a safe place to stop and people to help, that James and Ruth weren't with me in the car, that nothing happened to it overnight and that the mechanic has promised to come out to assess the damage this morning.  We're praying that it can be fixed today as life will be very difficult without a car to take me into BRICC in Jos and bring James and Ruth back from school.  Perhaps I should have sent them in with sleeping bags and pillows so they could sleep in a classroom until it's fixed.

UPDATE: The machanic came, took away the radiator, bought a new piece, returned and put it all back together.  By 6pm all was fixed.

Keke

Kekes are ubiquitous around Jos. The little three-wheeler vehicles swarm through the streets like green and yellow wasps, enveloping traffic from all sides, considering (like many drivers here) the rules of the road to be optional.

Kekes near BRICC office

  They all have the same paintwork, obligatory for any taxi-like vehicle, but the opportunities for interior design seem endless.  I've seen seats covered in leopard skin material, insides painted bright pink and richly decorated cloth hanging like tapestries.  One day I followed a keke with the happy face of Alex Ferguson stuck to the small rear window, flanked by two more photos of (to me unknown but presumably Manchester United) footballers.
Another method of individualising your keke is to paint slogans on the back.  Some are profound, some unintentionally amusing, some rather obscure.  Here are a few I've collected.

• Lazy man not eat
• All power to Jesus
• Hard to find (not particularly sensible for a taxi!)
• What do you say?
• The rich also cry
• Man pass man God pass all
• Nothing good come easy
• Behold I have told you before
• Cash them young
• No condition is.....
• Love thy nevor
• School fees
• Don't trust girls
• Thank God man no be God
• Money nobe everything

BRICC has its own keke the rent from which is proving invaluable in supporting our weekly expenses.  I may find them extremely annoying as I'm under and overtaken at the same time but at least they're far easier to avoid than the motorcycle taxis they've replaced.

InReach

The heart of God is love.

Because he loves mankind he sent his only Son to die for us so that all who believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).  Unfortunately the words and actions of many who call themselves followers of Jesus do not reflect this love and often send out a message of exclusion and intolerance instead.  InReach is an attempt to get Christians to start examining Jesus' call upon their lives, attitudes and actions.  How can the love of God be shown in the community, especially communities around Jos which have been torn apart by violence and where hatred and fear are more apparent than love and trust?  How would these neighbourhoods be changed if all who called themselves followers of Christ displayed his love actively and indiscriminately?

We are taking lessons learned from BRICC (Building Relationships In City Centre: www.briccjos.com) to develop a six week programme aimed at getting Christians to start asking questions and considering what they can do; what God wants them to do.  Our pioneers are a group of five students at JETS Bible college but we hope the message will spread and the face of Nigeria will be changed.


 

Snake

I know there are plenty of snakes in Nigeria.  There's been the corpse of one hanging in the cashew tree from before we moved into TCNN; James and Ruth often see them at school before the groundsmen take care of them; a friend found a decent sized cobra in his veranda, but I haven't seen a live one myself before yesterday when I moved a large bin on our porch and there it was. 

I rather like snakes and usually wouldn't harm one but unfortunately ignorance breeds fear.  I didn't know enough to allow this one to slither off.  It was small but those can be the most deadly so I picked up a handy piece of wood and bashed it before finishing it off with a trowel.  Thankfully both dogs were otherwise occupied and didn't come along to help.  I couldn't allow the prospect of it getting into the house, being surprised by human or dog and biting.
If anyone can identify what it is and whether it is indeed dangerous I would be grateful.  It has stripes going around its head but lengthways on its tail.  In between there are leopardlike spots and its belly is pale yellow.  If it's harmless the next one will live.  If I'm still ignorant the trowel's coming out again.

A walk round the garden

I love sitting out in the garden and still haven't got used to the fact that the weather is pretty predictable here, unlike in the UK, but there are some hazards.  Recently we've had an army of black hairy caterpillars descend upon us, or rather they're ascending every surface, inside and out.  I leaned against the house wall before realising I should've checked for beasties and now have an itchy caterpillar shaped mark on my arm and a black smear on the outside wall.  I'm hoping they'll all turn into beautiful butterflies, not boring white ones so they are being allowed a lot of leeway.

Last Sunday I opened the curtains to discover one of our bathroom soakaways had collapsed in the night. Thankfully it's not the one that drains the toilet.

Then I turned over an empty upside down jug to discover that it wasn't empty after all.

Finally, does anyone have any tips for getting rid of a barking dog?  Our neighbours' dog, a nice enough animal, has decided that right outside our gate is the place to be throughout the night.  He's done it several times now and my patience is wearing a little thin as last night he started at 1:20am, went on for a long time, had a rest as he seemed to be losing his voice (hooray!), then started up again at 5am.  I went out to let him know he wasn't appreciated and he glared at me in a most aggrieved manner as he slunk off.  I need to put him off before Luach decides that barking though the night is what big boys do and joins in himself.

What they wrote

Here are some of the testimonies from Tuesday's BRICC lunch.  I've left the unmistakable Nigerian voices to speak as they were written.  The overwhelming theme is love.

I am very happy that BRICC is in my life because in BRICC I learn many things like education, peace and also I learn how to speak English.  I teach people about loving each other.  BRICC is doing a good job, also bringing peace and happiness to my family and community.  Many people have learned peace education, maths and English who in our community have not done anything in the community.

Thanks very much.

Alhaji Jakubu Ibrahim

I first of all am enjoying the visit to my sister’s home.

I wish BRICC long life and progress throughout Nigeria and I wish BRICC would extend its programme through the Unity Fitness Centre.  Thank you.

Baba Saidu Abdullah

BRICC is a wonderful organisation.  BRICC forward ever and backward never.

Please try to market our programme, especially the skills for women’s empowerment.

Coach Musa

I really don’t know how to say this but first of all I thank God for BRICC.  I like what they are doing in Jos and for us.  May God give them the strength to do more than this.  I am very happy working for BRICC and my family are happy for me.  God bless BRICC and everybody in BRICC.  Peace to Jos.  Peace to Plateau State.  Peace to BRICC.

 Naomi Zang

BRICC has done a lot in my life. 

BRICC has made me know who I am.

BRICC has brought out of me what I didn’t know I had inside.

BRICC has brought happiness into my life and family.

BRICC has made me know what I didn’t know.

BRICC has made me meet different people.

I don’t know what to say but one thing I always say is, God bless BRICC and I thank God for bringing me to BRICC and the people of BRICC.  God bless you all.

 Veronica

BRICC is a one in a million organisation, NGO built on genuine love for human cohabitation.  It embodies people from all races and countries across the globe.  I am most appreciative of being part and parcel of the organisation in that it brings to mind the limitations of human differences.  BRICC has given me reasons to look beyond myself, my disturbances, to look beyond “me” and transplant these values to my neighbour to bring peace to Jos as a whole.

I love the people in BRICC.  I love BRICC.

 Thompson Onazi 

BRICC has taught me love in action, not just a verbal proclamation of it.  Through BRICC I have eschewed the mutual suspicion I formerly had.  BRICC has taught me that people deserve to be loved regardless of their religion, ethnic and racial background.  I don’t need anybody’s permission to love them.

Ponsah

 

BRICC has really touched lives, especially those at the grass roots.  Some of the young participants in the sports academy programme said they never thought they could come together to shake hands, play, laugh and even do activities together but through BRICC they have achieved all that.  Sometimes the kids call and ask why the sports department is not functioning which I have to answer that it’s due to the lack of funds.  You won’t believe what they say.  They wish the eyes of the Nigerian and Plateau State government would open to support the sports programme.

 Monday

  

Coming in contact with BRICC has made so much difference in me.  It has given me a platform to explore my talents further and express myself.

I’ve also met wonderful people: Vero, Ponsah, Yilgi, Coach, Monday, Alhaji, Thompson, Joseph, Dawn, Ruth, Saddiq, everybody including Toby!  I am a happy person!

 Iliyasu

If anyone feels inspired to support the work of BRICC, perhaps sponsoring the women's or education programmes or supplying funds to restart the sports academy please do get in touch.  We'd also love to hear from anyone feeling particularly generous who'd like to help us buy our own building so all the programmes could be housed together.  "BRICC forward ever, backwards never!"

BRICC trip

Yesterday we invited the BRICC co-ordinators and stalwarts to come over to TCNN for lunch and just to "hang out" together away from the office.  Sadly bereavement and illness meant that three couldn't come but despite these gaps in our family we had a good time.  I was encouraged from the start that our convoy of three cars from Jos to Bukuru went through two Christian compounds without any trouble.  Some security men would be very wary of allowing Muslims beyond the gates without subjecting their car to a thorough search but as I explained they were my guests we were waved on.

I made my debut welcome speech in Hausa, admittedly written down first and then read but received well.   However, people are so kind and encouraging that I'm sure they'd have received it well however badly written and pronounced so I said it all over again in English just to make sure it was understood.

We took the opportunity of having everyone captive to encourage them to write down thoughts about what BRICC's done and how we can develop in the future.  These will appear at a later date on the BRICC website (www.briccjos.com) but the overwhelming theme is how BRICC has touched people, showing love in action, removing fear and suspicion and helping in practical ways to improve and rebuild lives.
It wasn't all BRICC business.  We wandered round the garden before lunch arrived courtesy of the TCNN cafe - an easy way of entertaining and very tasty too.  After that the conversation got really useful.  We're now aware of a certain tree in Africa that'll kill you if you sleep under it although no one could tell us what it was called in English or what it looked like but they did assure me that we didn't have any in the garden.  Then we got onto survival methods in the desert which is encroaching on northern Nigeria.  You can't outrun a sandstorm so what you need to do is lie down and roll, you'll move faster.  Remember this.  With global warming you never know when desert survival tips might come in handy.

Coach Musa, "I'll be back."

Light in dark places

As an open follower of Jesus I know that I'm always on display.  Every time I lose my temper, act ungraciously or give in to the temptation to make sarcastic comments it reflects badly on him and can put an obstacle in the way of people who don't know him.  This was brought home to me very clearly last week when a young man I'd never met before came up to me and said "I want to become a Christian."  He had been watching me and some Christian friends for three months and had decided to take the plunge.  I don't think he truly understood that becoming a Christian didn't involve me immediately adopting him and taking him home but God is stirring something within him, especially as his decision means that he feels he can no longer go back to his family.  I introduced him to a Nigerian pastor who has experience in such situations and the young man has now gone to a safe place where he'll be taught what giving his life to Jesus really entails with all its possible difficulties and overwhelming joys.  He'll be with others from a similar background, some further along in their journey to faith but all of whom are interested in finding out more about Jesus whatever the cost.

BRICC Ladies Graduation

Yesterday the latest group of women graduated from the BRICC (Building Relationships In City Centre; www.briccjos.com) women's skills programme.  If any event celebrates what BRICC is all about it's a ladies graduation.  The students, their relatives and friends, all in their best clothes, gathered in the courtyard of the Plaza building where most of the women's classes are held.  The BRICC male stalwarts came along to support (and not only for the food, glad as he always was to eat it, Monday assured everyone).  The sun shone and person after person got up to testify about what BRICC meant to them.

Veronica, amazing co-ordinator

Veronica who took over as co-ordinator about six months ago told us "Now I know what the meaning of my life is." She defined BRICC as "giving joy to those who are crying, hope to the hopeless and bringing the future back to those who thought it was lost.
"Go out there and share the love," she instructed her students.

Some of the students are already doing that.  Even before they'd completed the course some Muslim women had started going to the Christians' homes to bake and sell together.  Since the crisis in Jos these areas had been more or less no-go for Muslims; not only are the BRICC friends now visiting each other but they've invited the Muslim water sellers and shoe-menders to return to those streets as well.
One speaker said, "Plant what you've learned in others.  If you put it in your pocket it'll die."
Another exhorted the women to take what they've learned to all people.  In fact there have been requests from other areas for a team from BRICC to visit and train their people in how to start a women's skills programme.  We might well be spreading before long as the women are just as enthusiastic as the men to pass on all that they've learned about cake and peace making.

The two students who spoke, one Christian, one Muslim, ended the session happily.  "BRICC has put a smile on my face," said one.  "BRICC is a very special place," said the other.  "I'm very proud and thankful to be here."

We gave out the certificates and finally got to sample the doughnuts and bottles of fizzy drinks that had been tantalisingly waiting at the side.  We thought that was it but then women appeared with plates of jollof rice, coleslaw and meat for everyone.  They'd already been making money by selling their baking and wanted to make their graduation extra special for everyone.  It was: a proper party and great advert for BRICC in the neighbourhood .

A sadness

I'm sure many of you already know that peanuts can contain a fungus which produces toxins which can cause cancer.  Somehow I'd got through life without becoming aware of this fact and have been consuming my regular breakfasts of plantain and peanut butter in blissful ignorance. Last week a friend broke my happy state with the information that she no longer buys the delicious locally made peanut butter because of the risks.  A few years ago one of the high school biology classes tested peanut products from all around Jos and discovered that just about all of them were contaminated with the fungus so, after dutifully doing my research online, out goes my newly bought jar of peanut butter as I rack my brains for to what to replace it with.  I made soybean butter today but it just desn't taste the same. Once the electricity comes back on and I can use the blender I might try sesame seed butter but I'm not at all convinced I'll find a suitable substitute.  Of course peanut butter made in factories in the UK is tested for this fungus so should be fine.  Guess what's going on my list of things to bring back next time.

On a happier note I have two baby rhubarb plants in the garden.  I didn't realise rhubarb could be grown from seed and out of a whole packet only these two have survived but I'm as excited about them as any of the more exotic things growing in my garden.  The day they're big enough to be turned into rhubarb crumble will be a day of celebration indeed.

Back to school

The first week back at school is over.  James is settling in to high school but his involvement in football three times a week means that we have eleven hours between leaving the house in the morning and getting back at night (me too when I go to Hausa lessons and BRICC in between dropping the children and picking them back up).  Ruth is enjoying being back with those of her friends who are still in Nigeria (many have returned to the USA) but she's picked up a bad cold already. I blame the travellers who bring bugs from the planes.  I'm enjoying my one-to-one tuition in Hausa although it'll take a lot of practice before I'm speaking naturally.  We're all in some kind of education except Fraser but he's busy helping students in the library, sorting out the cataloguing and working out how to get reliable and affordable internet access for the college.

Our new terms (or semesters as I'm supposed to get used to calling them) have just started but the current BRICC women's skills class is coming to an end.  Their examinations are taking place this week so on Monday, Wednesday and Friday a third of the women are doing their practical baking test.  BRICC is a family: everyone wants to be involved and support other departments so Madam Vero's call for volunteers to taste and grade the women's efforts unsurprisingly didn't go unanswered.  I missed Monday's test but yesterday I was there along with a good number of the BRICC regulars to help assess the cakes, doughnuts and bread.  It's great to see the enthusiasm and comfortable mingling which goes on and which I'm sure will be repeated on Saturday when people turn out to support the education department's graduation event.  There's still one group of women due to be tested on Friday with cookies and cakes the rumoured subjects so I'll have to do my best to go along and lend a hand.  It's a hard job...

BRICC Sallah

Ramadan ended on Thursday and today there was a sallah (holiday) meal of rice and chicken in the meeting room for the BRICC family.  It was lovely that Fraser, James and Ruth had received a special invitation as none of them had been to the meeting room

at all and many people in BRICC were sceptical that James even existed.  The four of us turned up in our Nigerian clothes to bask in the love that always emanates from such BRICC gatherings: Christians and Muslims eating together, talking together and building the relationships that are the only way to secure peace for the future.  Fraser, as a special guest, was prepared to be asked to give a short speech.  I, although I shouldn't have been, was completely taken aback when Siddiq called on me.  My few words were highly commended as being very short, not always a quality evident in speech-making but one that I value.  Just about everyone there, including neighbours and representatives from the neighbourhood watch, had something to say about the value of the work BRICC is doing.  Fraser's illustration of the two communities being like hands went down especially well.  Hands can clash as two fists; they can move together as in clapping - touching but not really involved with each other; or, as is the case with BRICC, the fingers can intertwine as the hands clasp, each fully connected with the other.  Long may our hands clasp and multiply!
Alhaji is always very pleased when Ruth comes along to BRICC and makes sure she gets in the photographs.

On a completely different subject: our puppy, Luach, has had a tough couple of weeks.  He got the second of his puppy vaccinations and reacted badly, hardly eating and spending most of his time sleeping or curled up (preferably on someone's knee) looking thoroughly miserable.  Now he looks on all Nigerian men as the vet coming to do something nasty to him and barks his little head off at any who approach.  Yesterday was the first day he improved and started to show more of an interest in life.  Unfortunately yesterday was also the day of the very strong wind coming from an unusual direction.  Luach has a pastic crate to sleep in on the back porch which we put inside the huge box from the washing machine for extra protection.  Yesterday afternoon Fraser heard him whining and went to investigate.  Poor Luach was sitting where his house should have been, staring forlornly as his entire dwelling place sailed off across the garden.  So we don't have to change his name to Toto it's now weighed down with a very heavy rock.

Harvest

Many years in Scotland I planted pumpkin seeds more in hope than expectation.  Every year they'd start to grow, somtimes they even produced a few flowers, but then the Scottish climate would swing into action and my poor plants would shrivel in the frost and damp before they ever had a chance to fruit.  The Nigerian climate is somewhat different.  I planted seeds and pumpkins tried to take over my garden.  It's so exciting (OK, I lead a quiet life) to go out and play "spot the pumpkin" among the leaves.  Perhaps next year the novelty will have worn off but at the weekend I was so proud to harvest my first proper pumpkin ever and as Fraser pointed out, it was as heavy as a set of twins.

Recently I've often been praying this prayer from the Nothumbria Community morning liturgy (www.northumbriacommunity.org).  Since we arrived in Nigeria a year ago God has been walking closely with us and this prayer encapsulates that.

Christ, as a light

illumine and guide me.

 Christ, as a shield

overshadow me.

Christ under me;

Christ over me;

Christ beside me

on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me,

lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;

in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.

This day be within and without me,

lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light;

Christ as a shield;

Christ beside me

on my left and my right.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with us,

wherever He may send us.

May He guide us through the wilderness,

protect us through the storm.

May He bring us home rejoicing

at the wonders He has shown us.

May He bring us home rejoicing

once again into our doors.