Clean Water in Hwol Yarje

NATIVITY:NIGERIA has made the final arrangements to begin the drilling of a new borehole for clean water at Hwol Yarje, a village where Faith Alive Hospital directs a school just outside of Jos. The community, some 500 people and growing, is in dire need of a clean source of water. The only source is a shared stream that runs through the farmland. It is a kilometer walk to and from the stream for the villagers. Everyone carries as much as they need for the day from this stream that is also used for water for the livestock as well as all other daily living needs.

NATIVITY:NIGERIA will also be providing a series of latrines at this site for use by the men, women and children. Working with the school teachers, sanitation has been incorporated into the daily curriculum of all students. This includes the necessities of hand washing, using potable water, and personal hygiene. Faith Alive Hospital will also be providing adult education for members of the community.

This borehole and latrine are part of NATIVITY:NIGERIA'S ongoing commitment to provide clean water to Faith Alive Hospital in Jos and Anawim Home in Abuja. This will be the sixth borehole completed by the team this summer.

Find more information on these projects on the Water page. Thank you for your continued support!

For more information on Hwol Yarje, please take some time to view the links below:

A short video shot by NATIVITY:NIGERIA teams, which shows the stream currently serving the Hwol Yarje community as well as the children who live there, is available here.

Some more details regarding, including more pictures and how Faith Alive Hospital got involved in the community, are available here.

A reflection entitled "Love Story" about the children of Hwol Yarje, written by Dr. Gin Gin Diokno upon her return from Faith Alive Hospital in August of 2009, is available here.

Journal entries and pictures from Rob Douglas, Greg Strouse, and Teresa Pompa about their day at Hwol Yarje during the summer of 2009 are available here and here.

Visiting with Dr. Chris

In the past few days, Dr. Chris Isichei, Director of Faith Alive Hospital, has been visiting with different organizations in the States. Dr. Chris was gracious enough to spend some time visiting with past NATIVITY:NIGERIA team members as well as our planning committees. Last night, Dr. Chris came to Nativity to work on some filming with Church of the Nativity's Creative Director, meet with the Pastor, and discuss the water projects we are currently partnering on. Dr. Chris informed us that the borehole drilling has begun at Bakin Kogi and will begin shortly at Faith Alive Hospital. NATIVITY:NIGERIA is providing a borehole for Faith Alive Hospital's satellite clinic in Bakin Kogi as well as a backup borehole to the current one at Faith Alive Hospital. Working with Dr. Chris, the team also finalized plans for a borehole and sanitation facilities at Hwol Yarje. This site is home to a village and a school which is directed by Faith Alive Hospital. Through an integrated education program, school teachers will incorporate sanitation, hand washing, and the importance of using potable water into their daily curriculum. The hospital will also be providing adult education in conjunction with the village leadership. The team is also working with Dr. Chris to identify other projects to partner on in the future.

The Anawim Around Us

"The mission group is named the Anawim Team because we stayed with Sr. Oresoa at their Gwagwalada location, called the Anawim Home. While we were in Nigeria, Sr. Oresoa told us the meaning of "Anawim." It's a Hebrew word that is found throughout Scriptures meaning poor or afflicted, the outcasts and rejected. More specifically "anawim" characterizes those who, due to their circumstances, cannot not rely upon their own strength but have to rely upon God to provide for them. "

Above is an excerpt of a new blog post from Anawim Team Member and Church of the Nativity Director of Missions, Brian Crook. You can find the rest of this post and more reflections on his blog. You can also find the link to this blog on the left side under "Partners."

Wins

"I am writing to acknowledge the generous donation of $... to the Hope for West Africa Foundation, Inc. in support of the Faith Alive Water Projects. The donation will be used to drill two boreholes, one at Faith Alive Hospital and the other at the Bakin Kogi Clinic. Currently, this clinic has been closed due to lack of water. The borehole will benefit a large number of patients ending long hours traveling to Faith Alive Hospital for care."

Above is an excerpt of a new blog post from Anawim Team Member and Church of the Nativity Director of Missions, Brian Crook. You can find the rest of this post and more reflections on his blog. You can also find the link to this blog on the left side under "Partners."

Retelling Stories

"The team visited a few of these sites one morning. I don't know what kind of picture forms in your mind when you think about the five of us going into these rooms to give out rice and soap, but try to picture fear and anxiety, ghastly smells and dingy, dark places. As we pulled up to the third location to give out the last of the rice, Sr. Oresoa turned to Francis and said, 'Do you remember this place?' A chill ran down my spine. "Here is where I found you," she said. "Here is where I saved your life."

Above is an excerpt of a new blog post from Anawim Team Member and Church of the Nativity Director of Missions, Brian Crook. You can find the rest of this post and more reflections on his blog. You can also find the link to this blog on the left side under "Partners."