Good News for Goodluck

The long-awaited day came and went yesterday with no news of violence in Jos (although I heard reports of two deadly bomb blasts--one outside Abuja and one in Bauchi). The situation in Jos is good news not only for Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration, but also for the people he leads in this most populous African country.

I haven't heard yet from Dr. Chris yet if we have the "okay" to send visitors to Faith Alive Hospital this summer. Due to security issues, I probably won't post the information here but will contact this summer's planned trip leaders directly once I know. Safety first, or the good ole' physicians' oath, "First, do no harm."

New Email

I'm not sure when it'll be up on the official www.faithalivenigeria.org website, but my new email for all-things-Nigeria is erika.faithalivenigeria@hotmail.com. Please use this account if you need to reach me about Save-A-Life specifically, Faith Alive generally or to talk about travel or donations. You're still free (and encouraged) to leave comments on this blog. I've heard from some of you that it takes too many clicks. Sorry. Some day (that proverbial someday), I hope to switch over to wordpress.com. Do any of you have advice about Wordpress?

Travel to Nigeria?

Many people are asking when they can travel to Faith Alive and the answer is...we still don't know. Dr. Chris Isichei, the hospital's founder and coordinator, has said all along that we need to wait until after the election and then swearing in (or is it a re-swearing in?) of the country's president on May 29. We apologize that this makes it difficult to plan your travel, especially if you want to visit soon. Your safety is our biggest concern. When Dr. Chris gives the "okay," I'll let you know. Until then, you can bridge the ocean with your thoughts and prayers.

"I Do"

"Do you, Erika Nossokoff, accept this position to be the one for you, inspired by God, until death do you part?"

"I do...wait! I don't know about the death part..."

So, my husband Mark is pleased to announce that his wife will be the new U.S. Coordinator for Faith Alive-Nigeria. You may now...well...clap for her. And pray for her, too, as she'll need God's strength and power to do the role well, a role that Sally Barlow has done wonderfully for about a decade.

Enough of the formality. Let's eat some cake and share a toast!

Mother's Day

While it's not Mother's Day in Nigeria, I want to honor a special mother there. Here's to Rahila, little Chris's beautiful mommy. She's experienced both the extreme high of his successful (and very risky!) heart surgery, and the depths of grief after losing yet another daughter at childbirth. This time, she was near her due date when she slipped and fell. She went to the hospital to monitor the baby's heartbeat. After two days of "all's well," she returned home. The next day, the baby's heart stopped.

We mourn with her and also rejoice that her precious son, her firstborn, is alive and well. Happy Mother's Day, Rahila.

(I cropped this photo from one taken last summer.)

Kate's Presentation

Praise to God, Elim Elementary School Founder and Headmistress Kate blessed everyone who came to her presentation last Friday in Fort Collins about educating orphans, vulnerable children and girls in Africa. Actually, she blessed each person she met during her trip. Her biggest gift to us wasn't something that she bought or wrapped, but came from her deep faith in and daily walk with Jesus Christ. That gift was her prayers for us--for God to meet our deepest needs. She saw so many of us giving to others that she was concerned that we need to take good care of ourselves.

Thanks to all of you who welcomed her enthusiastically and started or continued to generously support God working through her to love and educate the next generation of Nigerians!

(Photos of her presentation, with the evening's helpers, and with two of our church's Pastors.)