Teresa, Marina, & Gin Gin with women after the support group.
Teresa speaking during the support group.
Faith Alive Hospital soccer team.
From Ed King of the Faith Alive Hospital Team in Jos:
Sunday in Jos started at an easier pace and we all needed it. Gin Gin, Marina, and Rob went for an early run. Rob was able to get in a long run to help him keep on his training schedule. Ed, Greg, and Teresa slept in a bit on Dr Gin Gin's orders and Ed had three wonderful cups of coffee after breakfast. Goddy, our driver here at Faith Alive, gathered us up at 10 am for the short ride to Mass at Saint Louis Catholic Church. This was a very traditional Catholic service but lacked the colorful post communion offertory celebrations that some of us experienced in Nigeria last year, but this was more than made up for by the beautiful clothing and headdresses worn by most of the parishioners. Father Gotan, a very soft spoken priest celebrated the Mass with attendance approximating an Easter celebration at Nativity with a large overflow of parishioners outside the main church. We were all very happy to attend Mass to compliment the spiritual replenishment we are experiencing every day at Faith Alive. We are now eager to see if we can even get to a morning Mass during the week, made difficult because of a nightly curfew in Jos until 6 am each day.
Following another of Babba's great lunches, which included lots of cooked vegetables, we briefly attended a soccer match to cheer for the home Faith Alive team and headed to the two hour HIV+ support group meeting held every Sunday afternoon at Faith Alive. This was the most inspirational service yet and featured our entire team sharing our individual life experiences with those living daily with HIV. Pastor Esther led the service with song and words of praise for the Lord. Led by Teresa, the only FA returnee from last year and recognized by many of the attendees, we each spoke and were interpreted in Hausa by Pastor Esther who would inject some laughter during a very emotional session. We also heard the stories of four patients and each touched our hearts. Ed was asked to close the support group service with a prayer. It was perhaps the most natural and spiritually uplifting experience of the trip as if God had brought us there for no other purpose. We walked "home" to the guest house with a bit more bounce in our step and joy in our hearts. God is everywhere here.
1 comment:
Mom,
It is so cool to follow what you guys are doing. The communication is so much better this year. It looks and sounds like both teams are making big differences in the lives of the Nigerian people. Much of the church is following your progress. We even have Poppy looking at the blog on his new computer. He is very impressed and proud of you Mom. We miss you and continue to pray for you. Just one more week and we will all be together again.
XOXOXOX
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