Christmas Bonus

Neither of us had ever had a Christmas bonus before we came to Nigeria. I still haven't but Fraser got two today. Once the library had closed for the break he came home carrying a black plastic bag. Inside was his share of the staff Christmas cow. It had been donated and arrived at the college a couple of days ago and I think the plan had been to fatten it up before distribution but it was refusing to eat. Farm cows are trained not to eat grass so they don't destroy crops but that was all that was on offer at TCNN. This one had learned the lesson so well that even when there was nothing else it would rather starve than disobey. I took our bagful round to the chaplain who has many refugee mouths to feed.

Fraser's other bonus is pictured below.

Refugees

I often hear about people being displaced by Boko Haram's violent activities in the north of Nigeria.  For the past week Yakubu has been helping in our garden to earn money whilst he's staying at TCNN.  He should be at school in Adamawa State but was driven out by the terrorists and is staying here with relatives.  Some people have opened their homes and are packed full of friends and relations who've had to flee.  Becky who helps me in the house has her sister living with her at the moment.  Their father refuses to leave his home in Adamawa despite it being close to towns Boko Haram have taken; their mother is staying with their father.
It's bad enough to hear about such things but it was yesterday that it really hit home.  The grade 10 boys discipleship group was painting the walls of a classroom at a refugee centre in an unused secondary school five minutes from our house.  I went to collect James, was impressed that the boys had got far more paint on the walls than on themselves but was more struck by the number of families crammed into the school courtyard and classrooms.  Some were washing clothes (though the well is on its way to drying up after which water will have to be bought and delivered), some were cooking, some just sitting.  There are 19 different languages spoken amongst the refugees, most of whom come from Adamawa State and people of all ages from the not yet born to the elderly.  Two boys were pointed out to me.  They had been at college.  The first time Boko Haram attacked they fled into the bush.  The second time they did the same.  The third time they had to go to Cameroon and from there find their way out and to the relative safety of Plateau State. 
This centre was opened at the beginning of November with four families.  Yesterday there were nearly five hundred people living there.  These people have nothing.  They won't be able to return to their homes for years so one of the long term hopes is to get them settled into communities where they will at least be able to grow some of their own food and perhaps the children will be able to get some schooling.  It does not bode at all well for the future of Nigeria that there'll be a whole generation of young people whose education has been disrupted or non-existent and whose lives have been so torn apart by violence.

Your sins will find you out

InReach at Ecwa Gospel 2 church on Thursday afternoons is always fun, especially as the church building is being constructed around us (health and safety would have to lie down in a darkened room). A couple of weeks ago it was Ecwa's women's week with lots of extra activities and services arranged.  Last week one of the stories found its way to InReach.

A special guest preacher had been invited to take one of the final services and he brought his "baba" (father or respected father-figure) with him.  The preacher preached, giving it his all and finished with an altar call.  The choir were singing hallelujah as the old man (who followed traditional practices) proceeded down the church towards the front.  He was handed the microphone and began to speak.

I would be interested in learning more about this Jesus if you (pointing at the preacher) would return the bananas you stole from me years ago.

There was silence.

How can anyone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus expect others to believe and trust what they say if they don't show the difference he makes in their lives?  That's one of the things we talk about in InReach - how we can live and love like Jesus and never feel worried at the mention of bananas.

Happiness

We have a new addition to the family - Ruth's kitten.  Any tips on feeding when there's no supermarket stocking easy catfood would be appreciated.

I could never produce sunflowers like these in Scotland.

Police Encounter

For the past few weeks there's often been a police vehicle waiting at a quiet spot on the road from TCNN to Jos.  The armed Nigerian police do not have a good reputation amongst their countrymen.  The conversation I had with the officer who stopped me this afternoon could give you a clue why, although I've never before encountered one as blatant.

Me: Good afternoon.
Policeman: I'm going to chop your money.
Me: Are you?
P: Give me lots of money.
Me: No.
(Incredulous look from policeman)
P: I'm going to chop your money.
Me: No you're not. That's not your job.
(Second incredulous look)
P: What's my job?
Me: To protect and serve.

At this point I think he gave up as he smiled and asked after my family before waving me on to black looks from his comrades who, with guns slung over their shoulders, were busy requesting money from the other vehicles they'd stopped.

"Do your job well," was my parting shot. "Honour God."

I await my next encounter with interest.

BRICC Retreat

Some people called it a retreat, others a day away, to some it was a picnic but whatever you want to call it, yesterday we took BRICC (Building Relationships In City Centre: www.briccjos.com) teachers and co-ordinators off to a beautiful spot some miles from Jos for a time of fun and re-visioning.  It didn't start too auspiciously for me as I sat outside the BRICC office wondering why the place was deserted and muttering about how people who live miles away in Bukuru could arrive on time whilst those who live in Jos were late.  It was only when one of the teachers knocked on my car window and said he thought we were meeting in the Plaza building (where the ladies' skills programme and most classes take place) that I realised that I hadn't actually paid much attention to the letter of instructions.  Together we drove off to the right meeting place (yet another argument in favour of a single building for the BRIC family) where there were at least a few others waiting. 
By 10am we'd packed (literally) everyone into cars and set off.
The aims of the day were to have fun, get to know one another better and consider our identity in BRICC.  All three aims were achieved with games, a very amusing time of 60 second speeches on random topics (if you want to know how doughnuts are connected to peace just ask), good food and time together.  We are a family in BRICC and that's what makes a difference in so many lives.

Take away food Nigerian style - it arrives in large insulated containers on women's heads and then is served out in situ.  Here it's jollof  (spicy fried with vegetables) rice, two large lumps of beef and coleslaw.

Toby explaining how to play "Corn Holes"

 There was a lot of fun.  Veronica declared she enjoyed herself so much that she forgot she was a wife and mother and was just herself.  Alhaji displayed grace and accuracy, unhampered by his flowing white outfit.

InReach

One of my favourite times of the week is Thursday at 4pm when I go to the InReach group at ECWA Bishara 2 church.  Joshua, the junior pastor, attended the first InReach sessions for ECWA pastors and since then has been a great supporter.  He lets us use his church and has put together lively and thoughtful groups for subsequent Inreach meetings.  These meetings have added excitement as the church where we meet is still very much under construction.
Previously we've given thanks that even in the rainy season we've never got wet.  Yesterday we were thankful that we didn't have huge metal roof supports dropping on our heads.  In the UK no one would be allowed near the building, all the workers would have hard hats and the scaffolding wouldn't be made of wood. In Nigeria it's perfectly acceptable to hold meetings on the first floor whilst large pieces of metal are being manoeuvred above (there was another floor in between). The whole breezeblock-built building did shake a few times but only one girder can crashing down near us.
It was an eventful session. Not only was there the excitement of the roof but the Boys Brigade were having a marching practice on the football pitch by the church.  You can't march alone so soon they (and we) were accompanied by a marching band - those trumpets and drums that I appriciate so much some Saturday mornings between 5am and 6am at TCNN but in far greater numbers.
Despite all these distractions we had a great discussion though we might have to show the dvd again next week when people can hear it.