Updates from Jos & Abuja

Updates from Jos & Abuja (updated 8/8/11 5:15PM EST)

Faith Alive Hospital Team:
This morning, Bill led a very powerful and moving prayer service for the Faith Alive Hospital community. After the prayer service Emma and Jonathan were able to sit in the operating room and observe an appendectomy. They were both interested in the differences between the procedures executing in Nigeria versus those in the United States.

Brian and Bill traveled to Hwol Yarje to witness the first ever graduation at Faith Alive Hwol Yarje school. The school was started 5 years ago and provides education for 250 children. The kids who graduated today will go on to secondary school.

Hwol Yarje is also the location of an ongoing, joint water project between Church of the Nativity and Faith Alive Hospital. Today, with our team present, a new borehole and 3 station latrine was dedicated by the community in a ceremony filled with presentations and dancing. Pastor Ben told the team that it is the biggest event and most exciting day the community had ever experienced!

You can learn more about our water projects here.

A short video shot by NATIVITY:NIGERIA teams in 2009 shows the stream, which previously provided water for Hwol Yarje community as well as the children who live there, and is available here.

More details regarding how Faith Alive Hospital got involved at Hwol Yarje are available here.

This evening, the team was also presented with letters written by friends, family, and supporters from home. These were a surprise for the team and provided the kind words and encouragement they needed just as their second week started.

Anawim Home Team:
The team traveled today and arrived safely back in Abuja after their weekend in Benin City. Just like Faith Alive Team, Anawim Home Team received their letters from home today as well. They explained how uplifting and important the letters were after an intense, long weekend visiting and serving the elderly and destitute in Benin City. Tomorrow, the team will be teaching in the Anawim Home School and preparing for graduation this weekend.

Photos:
1. Faith Alive Hwol Yarje School gradution
2. Emma & Jonathan prepare to enter the Faith Alive Hospital Operating Theatre