Mangoes

In 2010 when Fraser and I first realised God was calling us to Africa I said I didn't mind where he sent us although I'd rather it wasn't Nigeria and I did ask that he'd give me mango trees in the garden.  Now we've been in Nigeria for almost a year and despite there being quite a few challenges to living here I wouldn't live anywhere else (who says God doesn't have a sense of humour?).  Not only have I found that Nigeria isn't half as scary as most people in the UK think but we have been abundantly blessed with mango trees in our garden at TCNN. 



Last week I made about a dozen jars of mango chutney and the same of jam.  I've frozen mangoes, made mango cakes and desserts and given bags of them away but there are still dozens left on the tree and this is only the first that's ripening - there are three more trees with fruit that's not so advanced.  When God answers a prayer he's never stingy.

We're having a bit of building work done and the builders needed a ladder to replace a leaky roof.  It wasn't a problem that we didn't have one, they simply took leftover wood and made their own so now we can get at even more of our mangoes.
The work at BRICC continues although I haven't managed to go into the office much recently.  Ruth managed to pick up protozoa and had a bad case of fever and dysentry.  As her brother helpfully pointed out, lots of people throughout history have died of dysentry and I was very grateful to have the resources to get the right treatment for Ruth when so many people out here can't do the same for their children.  I'm not surprised at the spread of such diseases as every day I see children from the police barracks behind our house going to the field, crouching down and doing their business.  The field is now being cultivated, perhaps with food for the police horses but perhaps for people.  Either way, the spread of parasites and viruses is made all too easy.

 The blossom didn't last long but now the tree's full of miniature oranges.