Greetings from Anawim

Today we received pictures and a warm greeting from our partners at Anawim Home. Sister Oresoa and the residents of Anawim send their love to the entire NATIVITY:NIGERIA community. We continue to keep our partners in prayer, seeking God's peaceful protection and blessing during this difficult time.

The Children of Anawim Home's Infant Jesus Hostel

Children of Anawim Home - baking pastries

Children of Anawim Home - feed fish at the Anawim fish pond

Mary & Martha - the two newest members of the Anawim community

Fast With Us

As you may remember, members of the Nativity:Nigeria family participated in a water-only fast in support of our Nigerian partners this past August, leading up to an exciting event: "Shagali: Partners in Prayer". And now, this prayerful and enthusiastic expression of solidarity will continue on...

The first Thursday of each month, the Church of Nativity community will participate in a water-only fast. (Water only means you still eat whatever you would, but must 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 also be fasting during these Thursdays.  We continue to pray for our partners throughout the region during this difficult time of conflict and turmoil.

To read more about our prior fasting efforts, check out other blog posts here.
A reminder of this on-going fast will be posted here to the blog each month, and on our Facebook page.

Our Online Community

Want to connect with other Nativity missionaries, hear more about ongoing local and international mission projects, or share pictures and stories from past projects - be sure to check out Nativity Mission's facebook page to join the conversation, and be part of our online community.

Reflection from Shagali

Although a month has passed since our exciting "Shagali" event, our thoughts and prayers are still with our strategic partners in Nigeria. We continue to prayerfully lift up our Nigerian brothers and sisters as they resiliently persevere through the trying times their country now faces. In this memory, today's reflection comes from Gin Gin Diokno, a member of both the 2010 Faith Alive mission team and the 2012 Anawim Home mission team. She shares some insights on her experiences in Jos, where our parish has invested in several local communities, providing boreholes and wells there to offer fresh clean water to hundreds of Nigerian people.

"I've fallen in love with a special place called Jos, and a farm called Hwol Yarje. People in this farming community do not have access to clean potable water. Yes, that is still the grim reality even in the outskirts of the city of Jos. Children did not have access to schools. Dr. Chris [founder of Faith Alive Hospital] and Naomi, later joined by Amos, the architect, told us about the history of how the temporary school structure came about. We entered the three classrooms adorned with simple posters of alphabets, letters, and drawings hanging on the aluminum walls. We walked a few paces further, and there it was: an empty lot full of promises.

In front of us was a football field of grassy, untended land, surrounded by a low hollow brick fence, waiting to be dug and built upon. This is where 200 plus kids can comfortably site on their desks, learning not just about science, math, reading, social studies, English, but also their Christian faith.  This is where girls and boys will gather to sing to their visitors at the top of their lungs in unison: You are welcome to Faith Alive Community School. You are welcome to Faith Alive Community School. You are welcome to Faith Alive Community School. You are welcome."

Dr. Chris Isichei, Gin Gin Diokno, & Father Michael White (Pastor, Church of the Nativity)

Shagali: Partners in Prayer event, August 2012

To Our Partners [Video]

To our Nativity:Nigeria Partners... from Church of the Nativity on Vimeo.

Here is a video of encouragement and support that we are sending our Nativity:Nigeria partners. As a result of our "Shagali" event and water fast this August, Church of the Nativity and past Nigeria missionaries send their love and prayers to all those at Anawim Home and Faith Alive Hospital.

"Take heart, I have overcome the world" - John 16.33

Sister Oresoa Visits Nativity:Nigeria

This summer, we have been blessed to welcome our Nigerian partners to the States, as they have each shared time with the Nativity:Nigeria family. Dr. Chris Isichei (founder of Faith Alive Hospital) visited Nativity earlier this month, joining us for both mass and the Shagali celebration. This week, Sister Oresoa (founder of Anawim Home and the Missionary Sisters of the Poorest of the Poor) is visiting from Abuja. Sister Oresoa attended mass at Nativity this weekend, and last night enjoyed a night of food, fellowship, and prayer with past Nativity:Nigeria missionaries. Sister shared stories of the progress and challenges the Anawim community has faced in recent months, shared pictures and videos of the children and residents of Anawim, and offered her inspiring vision for the future. Sister Oresoa vowed that she will not stop in her mission to provide a home for forgotten children, abandoned mentally ill and sick, commercial sex workers, and young mothers in need. It was a fantastic night of encouragement and fellowship, and N:N team members were humbled and inspired by Sister Oresoa's amazing stories of hope and God's faithful work in Nigeria.

Sister Oresoa (Founder - Anawim Home) sharing her vision with Nativity:Nigeria 

Sister Oresoa and Past Nativity:Nigeria Missionaries

 Sister Oresoa showing video updates of Anawim

Sister Oresoa with Bob Barczak & Brian Crook of Nativity:Nigeria

Reflection from Shagali

Today's reflection comes from our partners at Faith Alive Hospital. We share Faith Alive Hospital's Dedication Declaration as an affirmation of our commitment to faithfully serve the Lord, united globally for the purpose of building His kingdom. The declaration was read at Shagali as a prayer to end the violence in Nigeria and seek God's protection of our partners there. 

"I am confident in God's promises. My past has been forgiven. My future is secure and God has a purpose for my life. I am committed to God's purposes with God's power for God's glory. I will value character over comfort, service over status and power over possessions. I am committed to God's people. We declare that unity in Christ bridges all differences. We are one in Christ. Standing side by side with my brothers and sisters, I commit myself to grow spiritually, love unconditionally and serve faithfully. To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, Whenever, Wherever and Whatever You ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes. I want to be used by You in such a way that on that final day I will hear You say, Well done, my good and faithful servant." -Faith Alive Hospital Dedication Declaration

Bill Baird (Faith Alive Mission Team '11) leading prayer at Shagali

Reflection from Shagali

As mentioned, we will be sharing some reflections from past missionaries given at this month's Shagali event. This reflection comes from Jess Brown, who spent time with Sister Oresoa and the community of Anawim Home last summer.

"There is humbling evidence throughout Nigeria that God's love and compassion shines through the simplicity of life. The daily works of Sr. Oresoa and the Sisters of the Poorest of the Poor are predictably modest and self-sacrificing. Without fear or compliant, the sisters live a meager existence, rising early each day for Mass, serving as best they can the needs of so many, and giving of themselves in every awe-inspiring way.

But it was in the eyes of the children, that God's grace was so evident. In some ways, their lives were so very different from mine. These children lived without the distractions of technology, without the comfort of regular electricity and running water, without the guarantee of a next meal. And yet, they smiled with dignity in the simplest of pleasures - receiving pencil sharpeners and erasers from our team, reading ethnically rich novels, playing soccer on the front lawn, performing daily chores, and merely sharing a conversation with someone who really cared about them in the moment." - Jess Brown, Anawim Home Mission Team 2011

 

Dr. Chris Isichei (Founder - Faith Alive Hospital), Kathi Rogers &, Jess Brown (Missionaries) at Shagali

Shagali: A Night of Praise

Thank you to all those who joined in the water fast last week. The feedback has been overwhelming positive, with countless stories of people who were encouraged, challenged, and enlivened from their participation in the week-long water fast for peace. Additionally, our partners have felt the love and prayerful support, as we have joined them in seeking God's provision and blessing over Nigeria.  

A special thank you to  everyone who attended the "Shagali: Partners in Prayer" event last week! It was so exciting to see over one-hundred and twenty five people come together in worship, prayer, reflection, celebration, and feasting. Dr. Chris Isichei, the founder of Faith Alive Hospital, was with us for the event and was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for our fellowship and longstanding relationship - which was so present that night. You made a difference that night. Through our strategic partners, our church is moving all around the world. We are rescuing children from the streets of Abuja, rehabilitating AIDS patients in Jos, and bringing water to school children at Hwol Yarje. And by praying and fasting for peace in Nigeria, you are making a difference, you are participating in a kingdom movement, you are making church matter.

And if you missed the event, you can still be part of the movement - Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing some reflections, stories, pictures, and videos from the event here on the blog. Also, check out our Nativity:Missions Facebook page for more pictures and information about Shagali.

See You At Shagali!

We are now 5 days into our water-only fast! Thank you to all those who have been fasting and praying with us for peace in Nigeria. Our week of fasting will end at 6pm, on Wednesday. Don't forget to join us at Church of the Nativity for a night of worship, prayer, and celebration!

Join the conversation and share encouragement during the fast on our brand new Nativity Missions Facebook page.

May the Lord give might to his people;
May the Lord bless his people with peace
    Psalm 30:11