Hard decisions

It's so very hard to choose between two valuable activities when there are only enough resources for one.  That's the sort of decision we had to make at BRICC (Building Relationships In City Centre) last week.

The Unity Fitness Centre (UFC) is in a Muslim part of town: all the Christians left the area after the crisis of January 2010.  It had been running for a few months when BRICC got involved, helping to provide a few pieces of equipment and spreading the much needed message of peace and co-operation between Muslims and Christians.  Last February physiotherapist Fiona started going once a week for BRICC and built up strong ties with the community in that area.  The effect she had on the lives of so many who attended UFC having lost hope that anyone could help them has been amazing.  She truly brought hope to the hopeless.  One of her patients, left unable to walk after a car accident, agreed to film his story.  This can be seen on the BRICC website (www.briccjos.com)  She had to return to the UK last month and the gap she's left is huge.  We don't want to lose the relationships formed in this area, especially with Baba, a lovely Muslim gentleman who runs the centre (and has actually changed its name to BRICC Unity Fitness Centre he's so committed to pursuing peace), but the landlord is knocking at the door and the money is tight.  N70,000 is needed to pay the rent for the next twelve months. 

Often God has a way of nudging you towards a solution.  The sports programme costs N83,000 for a ten-week clinic.  We heard last week that Monday who runs it may be leaving in April when the present clinic ends which would leave us with the task of finding a replacement.  Is it justifiable to spend N83,000 on a ten-week programme to improve the football skills of a group of young men (and teach them something about peace) rather than use N70,000 to keep open a centre that changes people's lives and shows them love in action?

We decided the relationship with UFC and the openings in an area of Jos where few Christians venture was more important so, once this clinic has finished and until more funds are available, the sports programme has had to be put on hold, hopefully to be resurrected at a future date.  It is important that the young men have an outlet and experience training (in football and peace) with members of different communities but the impact of UFC on lives can be so much more profound.  In a perfect world BRICC would be able to support both projects but then in a perfect world there would be no need for BRICC to exist.  I'm rather excited about it as Ruth Beattie and I hope to go to the centre regularly to lead some informal health/fitness classes for the women.  It also gives me the incentive I need to prioritise learning Hausa as that's the language most people use in that community.



We now have a lovely high water tower and another storage tank.  The problem is the water board have sent no water to TCNN for a very long time and we are the proud owners of empty tanks.  Bucket washes, trips to the TCNN pump and taking empty bottles to fill up at Hillcrest can become somewhat wearing after a while.  We have friends from Jos coming for tea tonight so I've asked them to bring some water if they have plenty.  It puts a whole new spin on a "bring a bottle party"!