Easter Wishes

Holy Week is a time when, as a Christian community, we get to joyously remember and give thanks for our Father's remarkable gift. During this celebration of Christ's resurrection, we specifically pray for God's provision and grace as He continues to support the needs of our partners at both Faith Alive Hospital and Anawim Home. We send love and prayers to our family in Jos and Abuja during this Easter season.

Word of the Week: Hope

Anawim Home is a place where marginalized youth, mothers, elderly, disabled, and sick of Nigeria are given a second chance at life.  By providing physical and spiritual support, Sister Oresoa and the Sisters of Anawim have given their residents hope for the future.  Anawim Home's strong faith in God provides strength and optimism to improve their lifestyle and move forward, one day at a time.
- Jess Brown, Anawim Home Team '11

Summer Trips Update

It is with a heavy heart that Church of the Nativity will not be sending teams of missionaries to Abuja or Jos this summer. Unfortunately, the targeted violence of Boko Haram and the inability of the government or police to effectively control the situation has led us to this decision. It is important to Church of the Nativity that this relationship remain strong and vibrant, even in the wake of a team not traveling to Jos or Abuja this summer. Church of the Nativity ministers have been gathering regularly to pray for peace in the region as well as for the work of Faith Alive Hospital and the Missionary Sisters of the Poorest of the Poor. This summer, our parish will be fasting and joining in prayer for the continued success of both missions. Church of the Nativity will continue supporting Faith Alive Hospital and Missionary Sisters of the Poorest of the  Poor through joint projects with Hope for West Africa Foundation as well. We look forward to sending teams to serve in again in Abuja and Jos once the region has stabilized. Please continue to lift these communities up through prayers of peace.

Word of the Week: Giving

Giving is defined as "presenting voluntarily and without expecting compensation; to bestow upon." Sister Oresoa and the other Sisters at Anawim engage in unconditional giving each hour of their lives. We can all learn from them, and attempt to bestow our own kindness upon someone in need without expecting compensation. We all win when we give.
- Kathi Rogers, Anawim Home Team '11

Sister Oresoa & Dr. Chris

This video was the first in a series of showcases about some of the amazing people our teams met and worked with in Nigeria. It features Sister Oresoa Selo Ojeme and Dr. Chris Isichei, founders of Anawim Home and Faith Alive Hospital respectively. You can read more about the inspiring work they are doing in Nigeria by visiting their individual showcases on the right side of the blog.

Word of the Week: Power

Sometimes when I'm feeling overwhelmed, when I have too much to do, and so little time, I think back to my time in Nigeria. I think of Sr. Oresoa and the others, her constant determination and strength as she deals day in and day out with the concerns of running Anawim Home, the small communities she serves, and her goals, for example, building a new school. All of my concerns of getting a paper done or passing a test seem more achievable when I think of all these women have done for the community of Gwagwalada and everything they have given, with the limited resources they have and the daily struggles they continuously overcome. -Adrienne Brooks, Anawim Home '11

Praying for Partners

This week, members of the Nativity:Nigeria mission teams joined together in unified prayer for our partners in Jos and Abuja. We draw from their spirit and strength, and pray for God's protection and provision over their community. We Are One Body.

Bill Baird (Faith Alive Hospital, '11)

Kathi Rogers, Jess Brown, Gin Gin Diokno (Anawim Home, '11)
Lisa Hobbs (Anawim Home, '10), Kathi Rogers & Joey Barczak (Anawim Home, '11)

Anawim Home (Team '11) - Join in Prayer for Partners

Anawim Greeting

Today we received a joyous greeting and picture from our partners at Anawim Home in Abuja. The children and sisters of Anawim Home are lovingly in our prayers this lenten season.

Word of the Week: Connection

It's amazing how strong connections can become on short-term trips. What I remember most about my trip to Nigeria last year is the people we connected with. They impacted me by being light in their own communities, modeling what it's really like to be generous givers and servants of God. - Brian Crook, Faith Alive Team Leader

Faith Alive Hospital - Video Profile

Founded in 1996, by Dr. Chris Isichei, the Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria regularly serves more than 10,000 patients each month. The clinic offers a holistic approach to health care and offers all of it's services completely free of charge. The majority of the patients served are HIV positive, and the clinic currently provides anti-retroviral medications (ARV's) for over 3,000 patients, but there are an additional 10,000 on the waiting list.

Want to learn more about Nativity:Nigeria's strategic partners at Faith Alive Hospital? Check out the video below for a great profile on this amazing organization.