WHY IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE A WHILE

On Sunday, Stephanie's 25^th birthday, we went to two Fulani camps we hadn't visited before. Some of our schoolchildren live there, and the camps are two or three miles away. In addition to giving out children's clothes and bags of beans and playing bubbles, we just introduced ourselves and asked how everyone's health is. We were blessed with two eggs and a bucket of cream/milk/yogurt stuff called no-no in Hausa! How humbling to say "Yes, your little girl is eating dirt because she is clearly anemic – feed her eggs and milk… thank you" and then carry some away with us! But, we appreciated the gift. I am pretty sure I was sick because of sharing it in their presence Monday, but hey, I'll do it again! Some of the kids and even teenage girls ran from us – something I haven't had happen in a while, as the close by camps have seen us enough to where some babies may cry, but they don't run anymore J

Anyway, several people had ailments, so I agreed to come Monday morning at 9 and bring them to the clinic. Just to give you a picture of how it goes around here… I was ready to go around 9, but decided to take nurse Lucy to the camp instead, along with Mr. Haruna as translator. As we waited, two of the men we had met the day before came to the school to receive gifts for their sponsored children. I thought, hey, I can give them a ride home. It's a long walk. What should have been a short time stretched out as I sat sweating in the cab of Big Jim and talking about Sunday service with nurse Lucy, who attends a different church in the village. We finally went, 7 in the truck, about 10. Lucy was great, giving a few people malaria meds, talking nutrition, taking blood pressures and temperatures… We brought back 8 or so women and children who needed things Lucy didn't carry along to the camps. It makes me so proud to be a part of this.

But it was highly inconvenient.

When I arrived back I was trying to fight the guilt of not homeschooling the boys. My morning went from driving a few miles to taking a few hours. When I went to their room, Ben had vomited and had a garbage can by his bed. I patted him quickly (and thanked him for making it to the toilet!), but then had to immediately type and print a letter for Phyllis, who needed it to carry to a meeting right away. Then two or three other things kept me from checking on them. Then it was after 1:00 and time for a late lunch. The (sick) women and children I had carried back here to the clinic started to walk home, so I offered to drive them. Long story short, we cancelled homeschool.

As I was driving back around 1:30, I was thanking God for the opportunity. I was asking for the Holy Spirit's help in getting my heart aligned the whole time – not just AFTER. I'm not saying we saved a life, but I'm not saying we didn't, either. And still, it's so hard sometimes to balance family and ministry.

The next part of the story happened the next day. A group of seven more women and children walked in to the clinic. I was very happy to see them, as I knew a few of the faces were ones I couldn't find the day before, but had seen Sunday. They smiled and we greeted each other with thank yous, and I felt great about this new relationship. Long story short, they left the clinic (walking) in a huff. They didn't want to pay for medicines, and they didn't really want a check-up, just drugs for the road. I think it was a communication breakdown, because (thanks to the support of YOU), we can give medicines to those who can't pay. We were just giving a bill, and tragically, the total amount which had them so offended was 500 naira – just over three bucks. They left without the medicines, and angry! I didn't hear about it until they had walked out of sight.

So, we'll take the medicines and hunt them down and explain the clinic! It's a training issue for them. We didn't start off very well, but we have more chances. For this I am thankful.

The bummer of it all is that once again I saw the prejudice that exists against this people group. My friends, people who are Christian and working hard for this mission, all loudly agreed "Ah! These Fulani…!" as if they are the only folks around here who want to receive something for nothing and according to their own terms. They really are marginalized as a people group. How can we inspire hope and Christ's love? Prayer and thanksgiving are our best tools, I suppose.

What is happening in this school, Fulani children playing together with many different tribes, becoming friends, is something we couldn't stay long enough to see all the effects of. Those effects will continue after my lifetime, I am sure.

Medicine and education are SUCH a small piece of what is happening here! Thanks for your support!