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.)

Spiritual Theme: Interest of Others

Faith Alive’s Spiritual Theme for April, “Interest of Others,” is from Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (NIV)

Easter reminds us that Jesus laid down his life--literally--for the interests of others. Pastor Ben challenges us to consider how we might step out of the comfort and safety of our lifestyles to help others. He says, “We are proud of our colour, race, country, family, social status, natural endowment, financial statues, etc., so that the call to serve the lower classes has yielded little or no response.” Their stories and photos, he asserts, reach the ends of the earth to create good messages and sometimes to raise funds, but the poor are left largely untouched. “Oh God," prays Pastor Ben. "Bring back to us the lost love, zeal and commitment that will help us to serve better."

I can close my eyes and hear Dr. Ben's loud, powerful voice conclude by saying, "In the miiiightyyyy name of Jeeeesuuuuuss, Amen."

Election & Violence Update

For those of you following the news (or not), Christians are happy that Goodluck Jonathan, incumbent President of Nigeria, won the Presidential election this month. While good for Nigeria's future, angry and extremist Muslims are torching homes, cars, churches, businesses and even people. Most of the damage and carnage has been in the northern states; at this time Jos seems to be spared much of the violence. As of today, I have only heard of one Faith Alive person (a woman who works closely with FANOL paste) whose family home and car were burnt in a northern state--Dr. Chris has not reported any loss of lives from the Faith Alive family. Please continue to pray, as there is still a gubernatorial election to be held in Jos.

You're Invited

AN AFRICAN EVENING
FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN

Topic: EDUCATING ORPHANS,VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND GIRLS IN NIGERIA

Speaker: KATE CLEMENT, Founder & Headmistress of Elim Elementary School in Jos, Nigeria

Friday, April 29, 6:30-8:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church
531 S. College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524

Free Admission, Nursery available for infants and toddlers

Light refreshments will be served

Contact Erika Nossokoff for more information or to reserve a spot for your child in the nursery, 970-229-0936 or erikan@firstpresfc.org

(Photo courtesy of Cathy McDermott)

Cinderella Wedding

Well, actually it was a Christy wedding...but the photos I chose seem more like Cinderella's story. I first met Christy in 2008 when she cheerfully cooked for us at the Faith Alive guest house. As of last month, she has her own kitchen (I assume) where she prepares meals for her new husband, Lawrence. While I don't know her life story, I imagine that she's had her share of struggles. It's a joy to see her wrap transformed into a beautiful gown and her life into a world of possibilities.

On another note, Dr. Prince left a few days ago after a week of fun and education. Kate and I are headed today to visit Sally in Albuquerque--please pray for safe travel. I'll definitely post more about our visit, but want to get their permission first (and we're rushing to get on the road right now).

If you're in the northern Colorado area, we invite you to hear Kate's presentation on Friday, April 29 from 6:30-8 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 531 S. College in Fort Collins: Educating Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Girls in Nigeria.

Oh, I don't want to forget to mention that prayers for a safe election in Nigeria are being answered--keep 'em coming! It'll take some time to know the results in a country with about 150 million people and a paper ballot system.

Headmistress Kate and Dr. Prince are Here

The next best thing to being in Nigeria is to have a bit of Nigeria in our home. Mark and I are so happy to host both Kate (Elim Elementary School's Headmistress) and Dr. Prince (formerly with Faith Alive Clinic), whose visits just happened to overlap. We have been praying for some time now that Kate will be granted a U.S. visa (very difficult for Nigerians to get), and God has answered our prayers. She hopes to meet all of the wonderful people who donate to or sponsor orphans and vulnerable students at Elim. If you're in the northern Colorado area, please plan to hear her presentation about Educating Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Girls in Africa (April 29 at 6:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 531 S. College Avenue). Dr. Prince is here to advance his career by attending an American conference about treating HIV. Both Kate and Dr. Prince started volunteering at Faith Alive in its early years, and have nothing but praise to God for His faithfulness.

The snap is from church this morning, although my favorite part of the day was the early morning singing, praying, and devotion that we shared around our kitchen table. Hearing their Nigerian accents and feeling their strong faith, I closed my eyes and imagined being at Faith Alive...until I realized that it is more than a place. It is an international family.