Intermittent power, intermittent internet, mosquito bites all over, someone sleeping outside my bedroom door and vomiting in our toilet; those things are uniquely Emi-woro. It was the best and worst of times!
First the worst of it. We arrived at our hotel 29 hours after leaving home. Ben and I only slept an hour or two that whole time! I went to pull the cold pack of his insulin out of the pack and put it in the frig when I learned that IT WASN’T THERE. Unbelievably, the cold pack with our 3 month supply was lost on the plane. I can’t begin to tell you how it came out of the backpack after we added ice to it and put it in, but, it obviously must have. And we didn’t see it when we did a hands-on-the-floor search. We weren’t looking for it – I thought it was in the backpack – but we have learned to go the extra mile looking for things like DS games. Perhaps it had gone up in front of the feet of the people in front of us who stayed on the plane and continued to Kano.
So, it was LATE and we were tired and I started calling all around the world. For several hours, with Stephanie’s phone and a big handful of credit (mine had no charge and who knew where my charger was), I pleaded urgently for this medicine. Expensive and unavailable locally – I was distraught! Of course no internet, so I called Pastor Mike and they gave me a bunch of numbers to try. People were very helpful and somehow I think God helped me keep sounding nice and not desperate, but serious! Tough to go to sleep that first night, even though it had been such a day. A few hours later, at 6 local time, Clement called and we got the new day started. We drove back to the airport and had them make more calls, again with no luck. Then we drove home to Emi-woro, arriving during bible study. More than 5 ½ hours for that normally 3 hour drive felt like a hundred years, making it 49 hours door to door.
But the good news is our pharmacy friend ordered some product shipped in – it’s not identical to what we are using and it isn’t conveniently packaged, but it will get us by if we need to use it and it is in our hands. Of course it was about $45 for what we paid over $275 for in Washington. And, Children’s Hospital is filling the convenient prescription at no charge (she said she saw we didn’t have insurance for it so they would absorb the cost!). Auntie Jen, my sister-in-law’s sister, who happens to be working at Children’s, will pick it up and ship it to us. I do have to trust DHL to keep it cool, so join us in prayer, but in the end it’s covered! It is so much easier all the time to work hard but in the end just trust God. He keeps on proving He is for us. Even when it’s my fault.
Whew.
And then the best of it was just being here! Of course we were met with children running up. Some of us even like it when we hug them – they are used to us! We had 50 guests stop by before bedtime last night. At least 50. It felt good that they couldn’t wait until the next morning. It was a constant stream of visitors today, and everyone is celebrating Ben’s health with us. Devin rode his motorcycle north to Lokoja (for a phone - his died- and parts and food) and then south to Ajaokuta (to the bank), enjoying the cool (95 or so) weather. It was busy paying salaries (Steph helped me count out about 375,000 naira, with 1000 being the biggest bills), settling accounts from when Clement managed the money the last few weeks and talking to many international connections trying to get some insulin for Ben, all the while receiving guests. And making a huge mess on the floor of my room with “to do” piles (I’m really back!). I spent an hour or so talking with the new Headmistress, who is bringing in many of the changes we have been suggesting for our term here! She seems like a great, involved, encouraging leader and really commands respect. She is from the capital city of Abuja, a very modern place, and has moved here to take the position. She realizes the school is still developing and is putting her own children in school in Lokoja. She has implemented many of the things we have cried out for LONG because we see it done at other schools. As a result the school looks different and we are really celebrating! I spent another hour interrupting all the nursery and primary 1 classed to shake hands with each of the children and teachers. I LOVE those smiles! We had a visit from Bature and from Pastor Jacob and his wife Janet, and went over to visit Bature’s mother and house full of wives and children. We had a great long laugh with Mr. Chukwuma and his wife Grace this evening. The boys played with George. It took Ben pestering him most of the day, but I think he is “in” again. George is not “for” Jack or us yet, but he’s not against us either.
Stephanie is just so stinkin’ happy and fun to be around. She is certainly loving with the love of Christ and these children will never forget her! She just sat and talked mostly, but also brought out some of the newly donated materials. Of course, she is nested into her room and her life is orderly (how does she DO that), but she needs to catch a few more zzzzzs.
And to top it off, we already get a 3 day weekend! Monday is Independence Day. Perhaps we’ll have a chance to unpack our things before it gets too crazy around here again.
Thanks for praying us into the country. We SO appreciate you and this opportunity!
Love,
The Myers
