Merry Christmas From Anawim

Dear NATIVITY:NIGERIA and Friends of Anawim Home,

With so much love and gratitude, we the Missionary Sisters for the Poorest of the Poor and the entire Anawim Family wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.  You have brought tremendous joy to our hearts over the last year, and shared in our sorrows.  We strongly believe that the good Lord will continue to strengthen our love for each other in 2013.

From all the children and the entire Anawim family, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Love,
Sister Oresoa, the Missionary Sisters, & the Anawim Family

The True Meaning of Christmas

Members of the NATIVITY:NIGERIA mission team joined together in prayer tonight. The team gathered to pray for peace in Nigeria, and ask for God blessing over our partners there. He has faithfully guided our partnership with Faith Alive and Anawim, and especially protected and shepherded our partners during this difficult time of political and religious turmoil. As a church community, we are so grateful for God's continued provision through this partnership.

NATIVITY:NIGERIA Gathering In Prayer

In remembering our partners during this Christmas season, our team prayed through a passage of scripture which is particularly relevant to our partnerships in Nigeria.
And there were, in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager.' And suddenly there was with the angle, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.' - Luke 2:8-14

As Linus reminds Charlie Brown after reading this scripture passage in the 1965 classic holiday movie, "This, Charlie Brown, is the true meaning of Christmas." The passage serves as a reminder that we live in a world not governed by our wealth, possessions, or lavish gifts under the tree, but instead, defined by and globally united through the Savior's unwavering love for each of us. 

We pray in anticipation of a miracle this Christmas season, and in praise and gratitude for continued peace in Nigeria. May God shepherd our brothers and sisters at Faith Alive Hospital and Anawim Home, and bless their communities this Christmas.

Anawim Quadruplets

Yesterday, members of the NATIVITY:NIGERIA team had the opportunity to Skype with Sister Oresoa and several Anawim community members. We are pleased to introduce you to the newest members of Anawim Home, the Anawim Quadruplets. On the same day, two were born at Anawim and two were found on the street in Kaduna. We continue to pray for our partners at Anawim Home and Faith Alive Hospital. Sister Oresoa and the entire Anawim Home community wish Nativity a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Sister Oresoa and other Missionary Sisters of Anawim, with babies Emmanual, Emmanuella, Cathrine, & Anna

Prayer Night

NATIVITY:NIGERIA will be hosting a brief prayer gathering next Wednesday, December 19th, from 6:00pm - 6:30pm in the Nativity Sanctuary. Please join us as we pray for peace in Jos and Abuja, and celebrate all that God has done through our ongoing partnership with Faith Alive Hospital and Anawim Home. All are welcome!

Fast With Us: December

As we mentioned a few weeks ago, the first Thursday of each month will mark a day of water-only fasting for the Nativity:Nigeria community. (Water only means you still eat whatever you would like, but refrain from drinking any beverages other than water for the day.) The exciting news is that our partners at the communities of Faith Alive Hospital and Anawim Home will be fasting during these Thursdays too.

Please join us this Thursday in a water-only fast, as we prayerfully seek peace for our partners in Nigeria.

To read more about our prior fasting efforts, check out other blog posts here.