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.