Classroom Displays

I have visited ALOT of classrooms over the years.  Here are a few great displays I have encountered.  Teachers are a creative bunch!

Nigeria the Beautiful

While Nigeria may be known for its lack of electricity, corruption, and poor education system, it is also known for having some of the happiest people in the world.  But it is also physically beautiful!

Each place has both positive and negative things about it.  While we might experience the brokenness of this country, we also get to experience its beauty.  Here are a few examples:

Summer School

We had the privilege of helping our friend Funmi with two different summer schools she was organizing in the Abuja area in August.  We had alot of fun!

10 Years of Ministry

It was 10 years ago this year that I began my work with Resonate Global Mission (previously Christian Reformed World Missions).  This year has been a year of reflecting.  What has all happened in the last 10 years?  Where has God been at work?  What changes and impact can we see among those we have been walking with?

These questions really came to my attention earlier this year as I attended the ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) West Africa Anglophone Summit - hosted by ACSI Nigeria.

Three people to attend this program were Spencer, Stella, and Ann.  I met Spencer, Stella, and Ann 9 years ago.  It was the very first training I participated in while on the field.  Mrs. Ko Spyksma led on the topic of "For the Love of Children" and "God's Creation in the Classroom" (see earlier blog post from April 2009).  This training was transformative for Spencer, Stella, and Ann.  They will testify it was the first time they really began to understood what Christian Education was all about, and sensed more deeply God's call on each of them to be in this profession of teaching.  Here are a few pictures from that training.

Stella on the right.

I am holding Ann's baby as I chat with her.

Spencer, left

Fast forward to 2018.  Spencer, Stella, and Ann have come a long way!  Each of them has grown and developed in their understanding of Christian Education.  Spencer, as a school principal, is involved in the leadership and training of Christian educators in Abuja and beyond.  Ann, who was a teacher at the time, moved on to become a school head, and has now started her own Christian School. She also is asked to lead trainings in other other schools.  Stella who was also a teacher at the time, has moved on to being a head of school.  Her and Ann have are both trainers with Mark Wiersma in Educational Care modules.

The four of us found ourselves together in April and took the opportunity to reminisce about how God has walked with each of us in our Christian Education journeys.  And we took a picture to commemorate the occasion!

Stella, Sheila, Ann, Spencer

And the journey continues...

This summer Ann and I taught together at a teacher's summit in Makurdi, Benue State.

Ann and Martha

This summer Stella and I facilitated together in Cotonou, Benin.

Sheila and Stella

God is good!  We thank God for the privilege of walking together in this journey.

Meeting Little Sheila

So, one of the interesting aspects of Nigerian culture and customs is the significance around names.  Many children are given multiple names at birth by different people who are significant in the lives of the parents.  Many names are reflect the events and circumstances surrounding the pregnancy or birth of the child.

Meet little Sheila.

Left to Right:  Big Sheila, Little Sheila, Patience

Little Sheila was growing in her mother's tummy during the launching of the Teacher's Transforming Nigeria Program in May of 2016.  Her mother, Patience, was one of the participants in this program.  She and her husband have started a school called "Bethel Livingstone Academy" and she found the one month training very useful in equipping her with tools she needed to lead the staff of her school.  Since this event was significant in Patience's life and the life of her family and school, they decided that one of the names they would give her daughter was...Sheila!  What an honour.

Making Banga Soup

We have a beautiful yard which has lots of wonderful trees in it.  One has oranges, another bananas.  The one pictured below is a species of palm tree.

Along the trunk are bunches of palm kernels that look like this:

One Nigerian delicacy that is made from this is "Banga Soup".  It is quite the process to make, and its preparation becomes a group affair.  Here are some snapshots of the process below.

Palm kernels being cooked down.

At the same time the cocoyam is also cooked until soft.

Next, the palm kernels are pounded down using a mortar and pestle.

Greens are washed

Cocoyam is also pounded

Palm kernels have been cooked down.

Parts all come together...

And then....I forgot to take a picture of the final product and all of us enjoying it too!!  Oops.

But there is a wonderful website called All Nigerian Recipes that also shares the process.  P.S.  It is a great website if you want to try making your own Nigerian food!

Here is the link for Banga Soup:  http://www.allnigerianrecipes.com/soups/banga-soup.html