A new home.

I have finally been able to move in!  Praise God for that.  Here are a few pictures to give you a little peak.

I got the keys for the house!

Front View

A peak inside!

Back "yard"

Merry Christmas from my house to yours!

Schools I visit...

I am sure it is difficult for many of you to picture where I go and what I do each day.  And I imagine many of you have some specific pictures in your minds of what schools in "Africa" look like.  The truth is, each one is very different from the other!  Some are very basic, and some similar to ones we see in Canada.  But each one has something in common - a desire that their student know and grow in Jesus Christ!  Praise God for that.  Below I am sharing with you a "sampling" of schools I have visited over the years.

Special Visits Part 2

Here are a few more pictures of some special visits over the duration of my home service.  

A boat ride with Bethel CRC members on the St. Lawrence River.

Women's ministry meeting in Barrhaven...everyone dressed up upon arrival!

Mother - Daughter beauties

Kids coming to check out the display table at Living Hope.

GEMS in Kemptville

What will it take to bring about transformation in Nigeria?

Last night our newest colleagues, George and Sara Ahiome, arrived in Nigeria.  We are excited to have them around!

We had a "Daniel Center" family dinner of pounded yam and vegetable soup.

Over dinner we had some lively conversation about corruption in Nigeria.  As we exchanged stories of bribery and how the system doesn't function here as it could, our dialogue shifted to reflect on the question, "What will it take to bring about transformation in Nigeria?"

This is a topic about which everyone seems to have an opinion.  Does it need to happen from the top down?  The bottom up?  What role can the church play?  What about education?

I was touched by their passion.  Kaka shared about how he believes our leaders need to lead aright and the rest will follow.  But he also said that he has his part to play.  One example he mentioned is how important it is for him to invest in his "younger ones" - his family - cousins, nephews and nieces by making sure they get a good education and have good examples in their lives.  I thank God for people like Kaka and the example he is!

Kaka is the man in the middle in the white kaftan.

Nigerian Feasts.

I love food.  I enjoy cooking it, and I enjoy eating it.  I also enjoy sharing it with friends.  During my time here in Canada I experimented with some Nigerian cuisine.  Menu items included pounded yam and egusi soup, jollof rice, suya, moi moi, zobo and much more.  It was great blending Nigeria, the place I love, with food and people too.

Leaving.

  It is difficult to live in two worlds.  But wonderful too.  I have been thinking about how to articulate the experience of leaving and arriving.  I recently read this blog post that I think does a pretty good job at saying it.

http://www.djiboutijones.com/2014/08/on-leaving/

Rachel Pieh Jones ends her post with the following:

A tug-of-war reigns and it is both exhausting and life-affirming. It intensifies color and taste and laughter and sadness.
This is what leaving feels like.
This is what arriving feels like.

Wow.  I can resonate with that.  Here are few moments I captured on camera from the last few months where colour, taste, and beauty stirred somewhere deep inside of me.  I am so grateful for the amazingly creative God I serve!

Special Visits Part 1

As I go around to churches, I have the opportunity to share about what is happening with Christian Education in West Africa.  I get to do this by speaking in churches during a Sunday service, but I also have opportunities to engage on more personal levels.  Two highlights of the last few months include:

 I had the privilege of joining this prayer group which prays regularly for their church - and that includes their missionaries.  It was a delight and encouragement to know I am supported in this way.








I also had the privilege to join this youth group.  We engaged in dialogue about different challenges encountered in daily life in Nigeria, but also had a fun "village life" relay - complete with carrying water and backing babies!