Friday, December 19, 2008

A Year of Patients

We have just received some updates as well as recent statistics from Dr. Chris at Faith Alive Hospital in Jos. Also, it appears that Dr. Chris, Mercy, his family, and the Faith Alive Hospital staff are all safe following the violence in Jos over the past few weeks. Below are the updated monthly patient visits to Faith Alive Hospital:

2007
January: 10,481
February: 12,378
March: 11,963
April: 13,978
May: 17,440 (state wide strike)
June: 10,749
July: 14,173
August: 11,998
September: 13,106
October: 11,287
November: 11,796
December: 11,769

2008
January: 14,365
February: 10,729
March: 11,233

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Fruits of Advent

This past weekend marked the conclusion of the Giving Tree program at Nativity as well as the Whobilation event with Santa for the children of the community. Some remarks on both:

WHOBILATION: This annual event for the children of the Timonium community added a service component this year. It was geared primarily towards the children of the Jos and Abuja, Nigeria. At one of the stations, the hundreds of children participating in Whobilation made a craft ornament item for themselves as well as one for a child in Nigeria. In the past we have also done this at Nativity's Summer Spectacular program during the summer (these are the green bears which can be seen in many photos). The items made by these children will be taken to the children of Nigeria during our upcoming work next summer. These two programs have served as a great way to bring together the children of Nativity with the children of the communities in Jos and Abuja.

GIVING TREE PROGRAM: Through the Giving Tree Program at Nativity leading into Advent this December, Nativity : Nigeria has been blessed with a great outpouring of community support. Over 150 ornaments were taken by members of the community who provided monetary sponsorship for dozens of bags of food, vegetables, surgical supplies, school books and uniforms, antiretroviral medication, baby formula, and many other items. The program brought in over $4,000 which will be disbursed for these items. Also, two donors have come forward to both match the donations made by the community. This will help to fulfill tremendous needs in those communities of Nigeria. A listing is forthcoming of all of the items which we will be able to provide through this program. Also, we have taken care to provide presents for the children of the orphanage, Anawim Home, in Abuja for this Christmas.

Thank you all for your support and we look forward to seeing you this Christmastide.