Barb and Deb's Reflections

Monday, October 25

We started the day with breakfast at the Pope’s and then was joined by Bishop Benjamin, Pastor Jamieson and Vicar Jediton from St. Paul Cathedral (Nyanya LCCN) and their heavy duty vehicles for our excursion to Pai LCCN, an outreach congregation located approximately 2 hours from the Nyanya LCCN in Abuja (30 kilometers off the main road).

Our journey began with an exciting drive on a Nigerian freeway. We shared the road with pedestrians, motorcycles, quickly moving cars and slowly moving cars, vans, buses, trucks, all in an energetic yet chaotic traffic dance. Once we got out of Abuja there was no speed limit!! Our obliging drivers were peppered with questions about the LCCN, the country and culture of Nigeria and sights seen along the way.

Then we began our off-road adventure to Pai, Gyebri and other outreach areas. The recent rains made a barely dryable road even more difficult to traverse and yet our drivers handled it famously and with great patience. There was only one challenge of getting stuck in the mud. Along the road we saw people carrying firewood, making home-made charcoal, fields of vegetation including maize, guinea corn and sesame, goats, chickens, Brahma cattle and one lone dog (similar to a dingo).

As we arrived in Pai, the preschool aged children and adults greeted us with curiosity and smiles. We proceeded to meet with the evangelists and bible school teachers, all men who are married with families. The bible school was started in 1987 with 3 students and now has 14 students, all adults both men and women. Prior to attending bible school these adults had no education. The evangelists are volunteers and receive a small allowance for their living expenses. Evangelists and teachers introduced themselves and gave a short background on their experience in the Pai LCCN outreach areas. Carolyn Hirsch, Light of Christ Lutheran, Delano, MN presented a medical kit and monetary gift for the students in the Pai LCCN. We exchanged questions and had a discussion to clarify propaganda in the media focused on Muslim influence on Christianity in the United States. Afterwards we visited the bible school students and then enjoyed lunch consisting of egg and bologna sandwiches, beef and onion sandwiches (very tasty), and of course, rice and chicken prepared by the women.

The second half of our journey took us on more challenging roads past the government primary and secondary schools, through numerous small villages and a marketplace. The many students returning home from school bestowed on us smiling faces and waving hands. We arrived at the banks of a river across from the outreach area, Gyebri, accessible only by a large wooden canoe. The canoe is used as their “school bus” to ferry children across the river to attend school, transport supplies and villagers.

Our return trip to Abuja was equally exciting with an added “bonus” of vehicle breakdown along the freeway. The Vicar kept his cool, called the mechanic and ensured a safe arrival of his passengers to the guest house. Mun gode Allah (Thank you God!). To wrap up our day, Bishop Benjamin whisked us away to a fabulous Chinese restaurant! Pastors Judy and Drew led devotions (Psalm 121), we enjoyed many delicious dishes and wonderful dialogue about the day. (Ask John about the Squirrel-shaped fish in OK sauce)

Alleluia and amen!