Spotlight: Brian Crook

The fourth installment in our series to help you get to know our team members is with Brian Crook. Team members were asked to share what they are most excited about as well as what they are most nervous about:

NATIVITY:NIGERIA groupies! I'm Brian Crook, native Baltimoron, 25 years old, and currently employed by Church of the Nativity as Missions Director. I've grown up at Nativity and seen a lot of amazing things through the years - one of which was to see my friends travel to Nigeria four years ago and meet Dr. Chris and Sister Oresoa.

I am thrilled now to have an opportunity to serve there myself. Meeting Sister Oresoa, the boys at Anawim, and seeing the newly repaired well at the orphanage top the list of things I'm excited to see. I've also really enjoyed getting to know my teammates over the past few months, and I'm genuinely excited to see how we learn and grow together on the trip.

The team and past participants have done a great job at preparing us all, but still, there are some things that make me nervous. The long flights won't be my favorite, nor will the early mornings (especially without Starbucks). I also know that I need some time alone to decompress - I'm hoping there will be some chances to do this in Abuja. All in all, just letter go of the idea that, as is the case at home, I can't just get in car and do whatever I want will be challenging. I'll have to be flexible, humble, and courteous (a real task for me!).

M own life has led me through a number of twists and turns. I've been praying that this experience can provide a sort of jumping off point for me, one where I can allow myself to be open and vulnerable to God's voice and then follow up on it with action. Thanks again for all of your support - I can't wait to share it all with you!

Football and Working with Young Mothers

The team is pretty wiped after a long day at Anawim. As in the past few days, they taught in the school for the morning and early afternoon. Also, they worked with the young mothers in the newly built hostel. This is designed to help the young mothers with their newborns as well as teach them skills so that they may re-enter the community. The boys spent hours of the afternoon playing football (soccer) with the children and the girls spent some more time helping out the young mothers. Sister has been an inspiration to the team as they continue in their second week of work at Anawim. Tomorrow the team is headed into Abuja to work with some other outreach services of the Sisters of the Poorest of the Poor.

- Compiled from information provided by Rob Devereux, Anawim Home Team Leader.

Join in Prayer

Please join us at 6PM tonight, August 10th, at Church of the Nativity to pray for our team in Nigeria. The prayer service will be led by Gregg DeHoff. All are welcome. If you cannot join us at Church of the Nativity tonight, wherever you are in the world, we encourage you pray on your own during that time.

Just What I Needed

Today the team took on some more responsibilities since most of the Sisters have left for retreat. After teaching in the school during the morning, Rob, Brian, and Nick played with the boys in the afternoon, while Lisa and Christy worked with the young mothers. After a meal of fish stew, okra soup, and pounded yams, Sister Oresoa offered to take everyone to the market. She wanted to find some food that was a little more normal for the team and they succeeded in finding the equivalent of Ramen noodles. Needless to say, they stocked up for the next week. In the early afternoon, Sister Oresoa and the team called and spoke to the staff at Nativity. She exclaimed "let them stay two more weeks!"

After dinner, the team received letters that friends and family had written them in the weeks leading up to their trip. The team was overwhelmed by the letters of support and Christy described it as "just what I needed." They wanted to express how much it meant to them and how much energy it is giving them heading into the second week. Rob said that "to know everyone is behind us is amazing and it gives us all the more strength we need right now." The relationships that are building are incredible and God continues to unfold his plan for this trip. The team has great chemistry, and we all have each others backs. There have been some great laughs and with these letters - now some tears. The second week is off to a strong start and the journey continues tomorrow. "God bless everyone at home."

- Compiled from information provided by Rob Devereux, Anawim Home Leader & Brian Crook, Anawim Team Member and Church of the Nativity Director of Missions.

Spotlight: Lisa Hobbs

The third installment in our series to help you get to know our team members is with Lisa Hobbs. Team members were asked to share what they are most excited about as well as what they are most nervous about:

I am so thrilled to be part of the mission trip to Nigeria! I am excited for the experience and all that I will learn from everything I do and each person I meet. I am equally excited to share my experience with my family, my friends and Nativity. I am so thankful that I have such an incredible support system from the NATIVITY:NIGERIA Home Team, my family and amazing husband, and my co-workers - everyone is doing my job while I am away so that I can take on a new role for these 2 weeks.

As a mother of 3 small children, I am nervous that I will miss enjoying our summer vacation trip and all of the memories they will create. But I know that all of my love and energy will be put to use as I help I any way I can to be present in the lives of those I meet in Nigeria. I am most excited not to have to juggle my sales job with my home job and always trying to find a perfect balance - which is a struggle especially during the summertime. Everyday in Abuja I am completely committed 100% to the task at hand and whatever Sister Oresoa needs us to do. I know that through the power of God all things are possible!

Sunday at Anawim

Today the team had Mass at Anawim in the morning with a visiting priest and then had a feast of the food prepared yesterday. This included goat and the bread that Christy and Lisa prepared, which is "delicious." They played soccer with the young boys and distributed all of the toys and games which the team brought for the kids. This included soccer balls, jump ropes, and frisbees. Also, the team distributed the blankets and cups decorated by the kids at this years Whobilation and Vacation Bible School. Christy and Lisa are giving pedicures to all of the young mothers, one at a time. Most of the Sisters left for retreat this afternoon so lunch (the goat feast) was shared as a large group, which was great. Sister Oresoa loved the Blessed Mother statue which the team brought for the Chapel and even did an impromptu song and dance. The team is in high spirits and getting ready to teach and serve in place of the the absent Sisters this week. "To God be the Glory."

- Compiled from information provided by Rob Devereux, Anawim Home Team Leader.

Photos:
1 & 2: Children at Church of the Nativity's Whobilation during Advent 2010 decorating cups.

Cooking with the Sisters

Today the team attended the ordination of 11 new priests for the local Archdiocese which consisted of a 5 hour Mass and reception. Then they headed back to Anawim to help out the Sisters with the daily activities around the compound. Most of the Sisters are preparing to depart for their annual week-long retreat so more of the responsibilities around Anawim Home will fall on the team members. Lisa and Christy helped the Sisters bake bread and prepare other foods for dinners this weekend. The Sisters will also cook food which will then be delivered to poor of Gwagwalada as well as a leper community. Rob, Brian and Nick helped capture and prepare a goat, which will be part of tomorrow night's dinner. Everybody is feeling well and is finally feeling completely adjusted and settled in.

- Compiled from information provided by Rob Devereux, Anawim Home Team Leader.

Back from Kaduna

This morning the team slept in just a little bit (7:30 AM) in Kaduna and then went to Adoration and Mass with the Sisters. Some of the vitamins and medicine was left with the Sisters in Kaduna for the young children there. They took some time and went through the markets of the town and met with the Bishop of Kaduna. He was the first to sponsor Sister Oresoa and her work 15 years ago. This afternoon the team heads back to Gwagwalada as some of the Sisters will be leaving for retreat this evening. Along the way, Sister Oresoa pointed out some sites on which she is building as well as potential future sites for other arms of her ministry.

- Compiled from information provided by Brian Crook, Anawim Team Member and Church of the Nativity Director of Missions.

Spotlight: Christy Oberst

The second installment in our series to help you get to know our team members is with Christy Oberst. Team members were asked to share what they are most excited about as well as what they are most nervous about:

One of the things that makes me most excited about this trip to Nigeria is the culture and community we will be immersed in. I know the culture shock could make some nervous, but I want to feel all of those emotions associated with it. I have neither been out of the country nor experienced anything remotely close to what I am about to in these two weeks. The people I will meet, and the connections that will be made are some of the most thrilling prospects of the trip for me. I would be lying if I said I was not excited for all of the cool fabrics and other presents I will be bringing home for my family and friends. I recently also got a really nice camera so hopefully I will have a ton of beautiful pictures to bring back.

My parents have been very supportive but they are also nervous about a lot of things, especially the crime. For some reason, that is not what I am most nervous about. I am concerned about the food and getting sick. I am taking a ton of medicine with me so hopefully that will be kept to a minimum. My girly side comes out when I say I am scared about the bugs, but hopefully it will be a type of systematic desensitization experience if there are a lot. When I tell people that we may be going to a facility for the mentally ill, they tend to get scared for me. I am very anxious, both the good and the uneasy definition of the word, to go there. Maybe it is the Psych major in me that wants to actually experience another culture's take on mental illness. I cannot believe the trip is less than a week away. I am truly blessed to even be able to go on such a journey and be staying with such wonderful people.

Kids in Kaduna

We had a wonderful morning at Mass and then with the children at school. Today we traveled north to Kaduna to visit the mentally ill and we were amazed to see the protective wall and borehole completed. The wall was built by Nativity this spring and now the location is completely safe and secure. It provides freedom and protection for all of those at the Anawim satellite site. We arrived at the Anawim site in Kaduna and were greeted by all of the small children. After dinner we had all of the little children (there are 6 kids under 4 years old) on our laps and in our arms laughing and smiling. What a GREAT way to end the day!

- Compiled from information provided by Lisa Hobbs, Anawim Team Member.