tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147486942011-12-24T07:40:28.979-08:00Nathaniel and Teri Watt's Missionary eNewsletter from Jos, Nigeria.Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-33144130693520378842008-08-18T13:42:00.001-07:002008-08-18T13:42:22.991-07:00<p>17 August 2008 (Sunday) <p>The 6:00 alarm came early it had been a lousy night I woke up at least a dozen times.&nbsp; I did not figure out why until much later in the day.&nbsp; It started raining in the night and rained all night long it did not let up until about 6:30.&nbsp; We dragged out bags out to the taxi area to load an aboard the Peugeot.&nbsp; There was no Peugeot there only one of the vans.&nbsp; The taxi people said that the Peugeot had gone into the shop and would not be driving today but they had reserved the front seat for us.&nbsp; Seats on the van are cheaper so Ivan had to argue for a refund of that amount.&nbsp; There were not quite enough passengers for the van to leave yet. They loaded our bags and we crawled into the van to wait.&nbsp; While we were waiting and listening to the other passengers talk Ivan asked how many more passengers we were waiting for.&nbsp; The vans capacity is 18 passengers and the driver.&nbsp; There are 4 benches in the back each will have 4 passengers, that leaves only 2 passenger eats in the front.&nbsp; We had paid for three seats.&nbsp; Ivan again had to go into the transportation office and argue for a refund of that third passenger seat which we were not using.&nbsp; They are a bit rascally&nbsp; <p>The trip started at 8:30 only 1-½ hours later that scheduled.&nbsp; We arrived at Jendema about 4:10.&nbsp; The trip took about 7 ½ hours, 88 miles that is a whopping 12 mph average speed.&nbsp; Which is about the same as last trip.&nbsp; It was a grueling but numbing ride.&nbsp; Actually there were many times that I wished my butt would go numb so that it would stop being so uncomfortable.&nbsp; The front seat of the van was a bit more comfortable than the Peugeot.&nbsp; I had a much better view of the countryside and fresher air.&nbsp; One of the time delayers of the trip is all of the police stops.&nbsp; The taxi had to stop at each police stop and give them money in order to continue the journey.&nbsp; W asked the driver how much he had to give the police each time.&nbsp; He said 10,000 Leones.&nbsp; I wish I had counted the police checks but I know there were well more than 10 of them in the 80-mile trek.&nbsp; Tickets for the bus cost 40,000 Leones per passenger; times 18 passengers is 720,000 Leones.&nbsp; More that 100,000 of that amount is taken by the police.&nbsp; The boarder crossing took about 1-½ hours.&nbsp; On the other side we decided to team up with two Liberian ladies to share a taxi.&nbsp; We would charter the taxi and they would reimburse us a fair amount for their seats.&nbsp; A chartered taxi is a taxi that does not pick up other passengers on the way.&nbsp; That way we could travel a bit more comfortably but still not have to bear the full cost of a chartered taxi.&nbsp; The taxi in Liberia from the boarder to Monrovia a trip of about 80 miles should cost around $60 US.&nbsp; When we began negotiating with the taxi union guy he said that we could not charter a taxi for 4 people.&nbsp; We could with one 2 or 3 people but not 4 people.&nbsp; Ivan argued, “That means that if I have my family of 4 I would not be able to charter a taxi”.&nbsp; The taxi union representative said that was different.&nbsp; What it probably was, was that the union rep probably did not like us getting together as a group to save money.&nbsp; He wanted us to charter a taxi ourselves, and the women to ride in their own taxi.&nbsp; After much arguing a price was agreed upon (we paid 3500 Liberian dollars), a bit less than $60 US.&nbsp; The distance from the boarder to Monrovia is about 80 miles it is a paved road with a few bad spots but mostly decent road.&nbsp; The trip should take us about 1-½ hours.&nbsp; Unfortunately the Liberian police enjoy corruption just like the Sierra Leone police.&nbsp; We had to stop at every police stop, it is a good thing that there not as many than in Sierra Leone.&nbsp; The taxi was terrible uncomfortable and the back hatch did not close properly so exhaust was sucked into the car while we drove.&nbsp; The trip took us over 2 ½ hours because we had to stop at every police stop, the driver had to exit the car go into the police shack; pay his extortion money and probably some extra because of the expatriates in his car.&nbsp; We had to present our passports almost every time, which they took into their shack also.&nbsp; Each stop seemed to take forever.&nbsp; I began to feel like some kind of criminal.&nbsp; By the last stop I was quite grumpy, the headache from the exhaust fumes did not help.&nbsp; We did arrive safely to the Lutheran guesthouse about 8:30.&nbsp; After a few minutes of resting at the guesthouse I began to itch.&nbsp; Most everyone is familiar with the phrase “good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.”&nbsp; The hotel had bedbugs.&nbsp; I had large angry red welts from my head to my toes.&nbsp; Ivan said that he had not slept well either because the bugs had been biting him as well.&nbsp; We walked down to the Monalisa and had a chicken shawarma sandwich for dinner.&nbsp; We both had showers when we returned.&nbsp; The water was running!&nbsp; I went to sleep quite easily and slept fairly well.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-3314413069352037884?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-48952169659690105462008-08-18T13:41:00.001-07:002008-08-18T13:41:21.467-07:00<p>16 August 2008 (Saturday) <p>we started class at 8 this morning so that we could be finished by 1 packed and ready to go by 2.&nbsp; we did some excel, added finishing touches to word and did the evaluations.&nbsp; I will miss this peaceful quiet place.&nbsp; I know I said the before but what a beautiful place to come and learn about God.&nbsp; We packed and walked into Jembe (Jembeh) to wait for a taxi.&nbsp; It was raining just lightly so we had to put our luggage under umbrellas to wait. All of the pastors helped us to carry our luggage and they all stayed with us until we boarded the taxi.&nbsp; After a bout 20 – 30 minutes a taxi willing to carry us to Kenema came.&nbsp; In Kenema we fond a hotel, and purchased tickets for the taxi to Jendema the Sierra Leone/Liberia boarder town.&nbsp; The taxi is scheduled to start loading at 6:30 and leave for Jendema at 7.&nbsp; Again Ivan purchased three tickets on the understanding that we would have the back seat of the Peugeot. The ride from Jembe to Kenema took about 1 hour and was uneventful.&nbsp; Tomorrow will be the grueling trip of 88 miles in 7 hours then another hour+ from the boarder to Monrovia.&nbsp; We walked to a local restaurant and ate; the sandwiches were so good that we ordered second helpings.&nbsp; It was a welcome change from rice and stew. It was quite a splurge $14 for 4 meals&nbsp; (we each had 2 sandwiches).&nbsp; Ivan is in the “shower” right now.&nbsp; I am looking forward to one myself.&nbsp; It is not really a shower just a spigot at waist level but running water instead of bucket bath will be nice.&nbsp; I forgot my umbrella on the taxi, a real boneheaded ting to do.&nbsp; I would not be able to take it with me on the plane so I pray that I will not have need of it for the few days we have left before flying back to Nigeria.&nbsp; <p>Here is an aside note about earning power in Liberia and Sierra Leone.&nbsp; On the day in Monrovia that we did the spreadsheet we found out a working person can expect to earn about 100 Liberian dollars per day.&nbsp; They work six days a week.&nbsp; Doing the math that comes out to about $400 US per year!&nbsp; That puts a much better light and more appreciation for my tiny little paycheck.&nbsp; We asked around and Sierra Leone is a bit better at a bit more that twice that.&nbsp; I think that the numbers we got for Sierra Leone were professional salary as apposed to the Liberia workers salary.&nbsp; I suspect that they are a bit closer to each other if we were to compare pay for like jobs.&nbsp; <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-4895216965969010546?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-30724399185346643582008-08-18T13:40:00.001-07:002008-08-18T13:40:23.907-07:00<p>15 August 2008 <p>Today we rose leisurely again, it is nice.&nbsp; The security guard Stephen has some little boys that run around campus, this morning they were pulling this neat little car that had been made out of flattened cans.&nbsp; I asked Sare Paul it he could find who made the car.&nbsp; Apparently the boy who makes them had traveled to Monrovia.&nbsp; Sar Paul brought me some of the cars that the local boys had purchased.&nbsp; I purchased one of them.&nbsp; I felt a little guilty at buying a young boys toy, especially from one who has so little.&nbsp; He said that he paid 1000 Leones for it so I gave him 3000 so that he would have enough money to purchase a new one and plenty left over for something else or to share with his family.&nbsp; The car is pretty neat.&nbsp; We traveled to Bo again today so that Ivan could do some business over the Internet and I could send some e-mails.&nbsp; I forgot my thumb drive so I could not send updates for this log.&nbsp; I will have to send updates on Sunday or Monday when we return to Monrovia.&nbsp; The trip to Bo is about 40 miles and takes about an hour or so with all of the stops at various towns on the way to pick passengers.&nbsp; The road is nice paved with few bad spots.&nbsp; We rode a bus today.&nbsp; It was comfortable (relatively).&nbsp; The bus looked to be straight from England including all of the English advertisements still pasted to the windows and bulkheads.&nbsp; They were amusing to read some of them being so out of context.&nbsp; The bus dropped us at the motor pool down town it was only a few blocks from the police station and library.&nbsp; It was nice to not have to walk those miles in the humidity.&nbsp; On the way to the library I took a picture of some disturbing artwork about aids painted on a wall.&nbsp; We returned to the motor pool area after the library Internet session.&nbsp; You have got to have a proper picture of this place in your mind.&nbsp; A street with narrow ends and a wide spot in the middle the sides lined with small shops built like shanties and people.&nbsp; Filled with people, people with pans on their heads selling their wares (cookies, crackers, fruit, boiled peanuts, small bags of unknown liquids, dried fish, roasted ears of corn (field corn), soap, toilet bowl fresheners, cloth, towels, etc), people just milling around, taxi drivers yelling for passengers.&nbsp; We found a taxi willing to carry us for the going rate and got in the car.&nbsp; The driver then disappeared for a time while we waited.&nbsp; The driver returned, started his car pulled out of the place where he had parked and started to back up down the street the way we had come.&nbsp; There was a line of parked taxies on the left side of this street; I assumed that that was the line of taxies waiting to find passengers.&nbsp; The taxi that we boarded was not in this line but parked else ware.&nbsp; The taxi backed through this throng of milling humanity until almost where we had entered the street where he stopped beside another taxi in the line of taxis and he began to yell and honk.&nbsp; Apparently he had wanted the space at the end oft the line and another car pulled in there while he was backing up.&nbsp; A yelling match soon started.&nbsp; Goods were loaded into the back of the taxi, and then unloaded with much yelling, then reloaded and a passenger got in to the front seat.&nbsp; After a bit more yelling the driver got in the car and drove forward out the other side of the street into and we were on our way back to campus.&nbsp; We were not late today; in fact we arrived just in time for lunch.&nbsp; Class went well.&nbsp; The students here were a bit easier to teach than those in Monrovia, probably because of their higher education level.&nbsp; I see two main hindrances to their learning.&nbsp; The first is language English is of course a second language.&nbsp; It is a struggle that they just have to deal with and we have to have patience with.&nbsp; English lessons are a part of the curriculum here because it is the language used to communicate across tribal/language barriers it is the “trade” language.&nbsp; They have to be able to use it well to preach outside of their language.&nbsp; The second is unfamiliarity or lack of personal interaction with the technology; they know what a computer is and its uses but have no personal experience with one.&nbsp;&nbsp; Their hands are not used to resting lightly on a keyboard or manipulating a mouse and it seems that it is strange and difficult for them.&nbsp; I think that they feel like some ham fisted boxer trying to thread a needle.&nbsp; It is something that only time and practice will fix.&nbsp; This is just the beginning.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-3072439918534664358?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-76116969482023940292008-08-18T13:39:00.001-07:002008-08-18T13:43:02.251-07:00<p>14 August 2008 <p>up in the morning about 8.&nbsp; The plan this morning was to go look at the diamond mine on the other side of the town.&nbsp; About half way there we met large groups of miners going back towards the town.&nbsp; Apparently there had been a fight and the mine was closed for mining for the day.&nbsp; We continued anyway.&nbsp; The mine consisted of a cleared area in which there were large shallow holes dug into the ground.&nbsp; It reminded me of the movie Holes.&nbsp; What environmental devastation.&nbsp; They do not back fill the holes, they leave piles of small stones that they dug from the holes and the dirt from the holes is washed into the river.&nbsp; Many of the holes had standing water in them, a death trap for children.&nbsp; It is too bad the mine was closed I would have liked to see the activity.&nbsp; Apparently there are two other sites in the vicinity. This one has around 1000 workers and the others have around 2000 each every day.&nbsp; What a madhouse that must be.&nbsp; Class went well today as expected. During class I took a few minutes break and walked to the edge of the wooded area to watch Stuart the security guard who lives on campus.&nbsp; He was building a large woodpile so that he could make some charcoal to sell.&nbsp; An interesting process It will be interesting to see more tomorrow when he will light the pile.&nbsp; I will not get to see the resulting charcoal as it burns for several days, but I hope to see him light is tomorrow.&nbsp; They forgot to come and get us for supper this evening it was late when we realized that we were not getting supper so we walked into town to see what we could get.&nbsp; We each has a loaf of bread and bottle of maltina.&nbsp; It did not quite hit the whole spot, but helped.&nbsp; I am beginning to crave meat.&nbsp; Rice and stew is good but rice is not very satisfying.&nbsp; We do get bits of meat in the stew but only very little mostly fish along with it little bones.&nbsp; We had some stew that was made with chicken necks along with those little bones.&nbsp; I hate to complain but I would just love a Wisconsin brat right about now.&nbsp; Even a hot dog would do or a hamburger.&nbsp; </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-7611696948202394029?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-83852050563483797192008-08-18T13:38:00.003-07:002008-08-18T13:38:51.790-07:00<p>13 August 2008 <p>This morning was the opposite of yesterday.&nbsp; Quiet.&nbsp; We slept in until 8:30 or so and arose leisurely.&nbsp; There was no place to be no pressing things to do.&nbsp; I needed it.&nbsp; I spent most of the morning and even until 2 when class started reading a book.&nbsp; This place is beautiful restful and peaceful.&nbsp; I did have some time to wander a bit into the small wooded area that is in the corner of the campus.&nbsp; There was also plenty of rain today, but it was also gentle and peaceful like the rest of the day.&nbsp; We had our clothing washed but the rain is making it a bit difficult for it to get dry.&nbsp; Class went well today, I think that there is a bit more of a language barrier with this group than the Liberia group.&nbsp; It is slowing things down a bit.&nbsp; We are making good progress I expect we will reach our teaching goal when Saturday comes.&nbsp; By the way a bit on the student I mentioned yesterday he worked with a partner today and they were able to keep up with a bit of extra help and prodding.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here is one of the things that adds to the monastic feel of this place.&nbsp; Each one of the dorm rooms had three beds one bunk and one single.&nbsp; The beds are wood framed jobs with a board instead of springs.&nbsp; The mattress is a 1” piece of foam.&nbsp; Now I am told that they saved the thick ones for us most of the others are half that thick.&nbsp; The foam compresses quite quickly so to is only slightly better than laying on a board.&nbsp; I found after a few nights if I folded the mattress in half it reduced my tossing and turning and I slept better.&nbsp; </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-8385205056348379719?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-21202189370279572892008-08-18T13:38:00.001-07:002008-08-18T13:38:05.720-07:00<p>12 August 2008 <p>I would say that we got up early this morning to go into Bo to so a bit of small shopping and to get on the internet at the local library where they have an internet café.&nbsp; But that is not true, we were woke up much earlier than we intended.&nbsp; The students schedule is to arise in the morning about 4:00.&nbsp; they are not quiet people in the morning, there is much loud discussion, loud radio playing and other wahala.&nbsp; It is not like we got woke up and 4 by the garbage truck and were able to go back to sleep.&nbsp; There is no going back to sleep, the alarm clock will not stop ringing.&nbsp; The taxi trip into Bo took about an hour.&nbsp; We rode in a subcompact hatchback, I think that it was a Nissan Sony.&nbsp; There were 4 in the front seat, these were bucket seats so 2 in the passenger seat and 2 in the drivers seat, 4 in the back seat, and one hanging out the hatch in the back.&nbsp; The cost for the taxi ride was 3000 leones per person that is about $1 each.&nbsp; The taxi dropped us on the edge of town and we decided to walk the rest of the way.&nbsp; There were several motorcycle taxies that offered to carry us but valuing our lives we said no thanks.&nbsp; The trek was more than a mile, I was soon sweating profusely in the still humidity, and cursing myself for forgetting my hat and sweat rag.&nbsp; We found a moneychanger and exchanged some us dollars to Leone’s at not quite the rate we wanted but not terribly lower.&nbsp; Ivan bargained for some shirts for us, the kind the locals wear.&nbsp; They were nice shirts, but a bit expensive at $12 each.&nbsp; Ivan bargains very hard and every time I see it he leaves with the Africans respect not only the one that he has bargained with but also all those that are around watching, and he has made a new friend.&nbsp; Every deal every bargain is accompanied by a bunch of hangers on people just there to watch.&nbsp; When we got to the library they said that the Internet was not on but it would be in an hour.&nbsp; We returned to the market to check on purchasing a power strip to use.&nbsp; Since we have a larger generator we will be able to plug in more laptops and keep Ivan’s phones charged but we need some more plugins for that.&nbsp; We relaxed in the shade and the electricians shop for about 45 minutes.&nbsp; During that time I saw a peddler with some washcloths and purchased one for 500 leons a bit more than $.15.&nbsp; That will help make the trek back a bit better.&nbsp; The cyber café was open when we returned, the cost was 4000 leones per half hour.&nbsp; After we left the library we walked to the shopping area to buy some soap, shampoo, papyrus of life (TP).&nbsp; I need to mention this because it is in stark contrast to a later incident.&nbsp; While we were walking a lady greeted us from behind.&nbsp; She walked and talked with us until our paths parted nearly a block.&nbsp; She was very friendly and eager to be welcoming to us obvious strangers to her country.&nbsp; It was a long trek back to the junction to meet the taxi.&nbsp; On the way back I stopped to take a picture of some toilets made with fancy tiles.&nbsp; A short ways down the block a police officer stopped us and asked why we were taking pictures and if we asked permission to take pictures and was generally harassing us.&nbsp;&nbsp; I felt like saying yes I asked the toilets for permission and they said flush I mean yes.&nbsp; He must have held us up for ½ an hour, he thoroughly looked over every page of our passports (I am not sure he could read very well).&nbsp; I also felt like asking him, “everyone is so friendly but the police are jerks don’t you want people to visit your country?”&nbsp; What a contrast from the friendly woman we met only a short time ago.&nbsp; Probably he just wanted to see if he could get some money out of us.&nbsp; We were a disappointment as usual.&nbsp; We hurried the rest of the way to the taxi stopping only just long enough the take the picture of an amusing sign we had seen on the way in.&nbsp; We were sure to ask permission of course.&nbsp; The taxi this time was a mini van I thought it was full when we boarded but apparently we were 14 and 15 and they were not leaving until they had at least 20. That took another 15 to 20 minutes.&nbsp; Needless to say we were late returning to the campus, about ½ hour.&nbsp; We set up quickly and started class.&nbsp; We did only word today it went well as expected.&nbsp; The students here are quite adept probably a bit more so than the Liberia bunch.&nbsp; Except for one individual, he just can not seem to get his hands to work the mouse right or find things on the keyboard or have much understanding of what is going on.&nbsp; I do not think that he is slow, just one of those people that just do not get technology very well.&nbsp; Ivan says that he really wants to learn but he was the same last time.&nbsp; We will probably have to move on and leave him for the sake of the other students, a shame.&nbsp; Maybe I will try to teach him more at his pace while Ivan goes on with the others or something.&nbsp; Not sure what we will do we will just have to see how things go the rest of the week.&nbsp; The local congregation provided supper to the two of us; it was good rice and stew. </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-2120218937027957289?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-10511716974226289762008-08-12T05:49:00.001-07:002008-08-12T05:49:55.774-07:00<p>11 August 2008 <p>The campus here is beautiful.&nbsp; It reminds me of a monetary.&nbsp; It is peaceful, there are chickens with chicks, and ducks with ducklings, the dog even looks healthy and has good color.&nbsp; There is countryside all around, savanna with tall African trees, palm trees, shrubs and grass.&nbsp; In the distance are green hills covered with the same savanna vegetation.&nbsp; What a difference from hectic, noisy, dirty Monrovia.&nbsp; What a wonderful place to come and meditate on the word of God.&nbsp; In the morning we walked into the little town nearby to see if we could get some towels (I forgot to bring one) and some blankets (it was surprisingly chilly last night).&nbsp; We paid a visit to the local police station, the chief was a friendly guy and liked that he and I had the same name.&nbsp; He asked if we could give some computer training to some of the police while we were here.&nbsp; An interesting prospect, we said that we would see what we could do.&nbsp; We found when we got here that there were classes in session.&nbsp; The class schedules were re-arranged to accommodate the computer training.&nbsp; It was decided that we would start computer class at 2 and end at 6:30.&nbsp; We found that the little generator that they had for use on campus was not adequate to handle more than 1 computer at safe voltages.&nbsp; Several of the students went into the town and bargained for a larger generator.&nbsp; It was adequate to handle the computers but was not a self regulating one like we had hoped.&nbsp; It is kind of a pain to have to start the generator, and slowly all load while adjusting the voltage that the generator is putting out.&nbsp; To not do it this way risks all of the computers.&nbsp; The first training session went well.&nbsp; We only had two of the four hours due to messing around with the generator stuff.&nbsp; Once again the students were eager and excited to be learning this stuff and absorbed it like sponges.&nbsp; We used all of the gas on the larger generator so there is no light this evening.&nbsp; We plan to watch a movie and then probably go to bed; the peace and quiet is wonderful.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-1051171697422628976?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-81017392041937076372008-08-12T05:48:00.001-07:002008-08-12T05:48:31.772-07:00<p>10 August 2008 <p>It was an early morning up before 7.&nbsp; There was running water!&nbsp; I took as shower, it was a bit cool but felt good.&nbsp; I thought that I would appreciate the memory of the cold water while riding in the taxi latter in the day.&nbsp; The day started out great for traveling the sky was overcast with cracks of blue, the temperature was cool.&nbsp; It took us about two hours to get to the boarder.&nbsp; This part of the trip would have been much shorter except for all the checkpoints.&nbsp; The boarder crossing took us about an hour.&nbsp; We unloaded the taxi into a room where they would check our bags.&nbsp; We had to see three different people who fastidiously filled out logbooks with basically the same information from our passports and asked us the same questions.&nbsp; We hired a man with a wheelbarrow to haul our stuff across the boarder; the cost was settled on 7000 leones (less than $3).&nbsp; Crossing the boarder consisted of walking across a bridge across the river that separates Liberia and Sierra Leone.&nbsp; Once across the boarder we had to undergo the exact same treatment as before.&nbsp; We visited two sets of people who asked us basically the same questions and filled out basically the same information in large logbooks.&nbsp; The points were basically immigration, health, and customs.&nbsp; We had to go through a police check that decided they would check our luggage.&nbsp; The probable reason for them checking our luggage was to see if we would give them so money to save us from the hassle.&nbsp; No hassle, we let them look all they wanted.&nbsp; They seemed disappointed.&nbsp; Customs did not want us to enter Sierra Leone with 6 laptops; he wondered how we could prove to him that we would return with all 6 laptops.&nbsp; Ivan just explained to him why we has 6 laptops and that we would be returning with all 6 in one week until he was tired of hearing and just let us go.&nbsp; Getting a taxi was very interesting.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ivan did a lot of haggling over the price.&nbsp; This is where I would absolutely fail, I like trying to haggle sometimes but I am not that good at it.&nbsp; There was a large group around all enjoying the entertainment of Ivan haggling with taxi driver.&nbsp; Everyone was amused and Ivan made a new friend, (who may prove useful on our return and Ivan’s future trips).&nbsp; We were to ride in a Peugeot wagon.&nbsp; A Peugeot wagon taxi caries 4 people in the front, 4 people in the middle seat and 3 people in the rear seat.&nbsp; We could have taken the jeep which caries 14 people. Ivan purchased 3 tickets so that we could have the rear seat to ourselves.&nbsp; It was a bit more comfortable that way and we did not have to worry about someone picking our pockets or surreptitiously going through our stuff, during the ride.&nbsp;&nbsp; The back seat of a Peugeot is right over the wheels, and of course this old beat up car lost its shocks many bumps ago.&nbsp; The ride was kind of like being on the barrel on the back of one of those parade clown cars that is made to bounce you up and down.&nbsp; The ride was bouncy trouncy fun, fun fun, fun, fun! (as Tigger would say).&nbsp; The distance between the roof of the car and the seat we were on was slightly less than the distance between the top of my head and the bones in my butt.&nbsp; I had to sit slouched, or with my head bent forward which got old really fast.&nbsp; My legs were also a bit too long I had to sit sideways or with them splayed.&nbsp; It was impossible to sleep; the life of a ping-pong ball is not a restful one.&nbsp; As we drove our noses noticed several things other that the usual smells of BO, sweat, etc.&nbsp; There was an exhaust leak it was a good thing that the windows were down for fresh air.&nbsp; We also thought that there was a gas leak for the longest time, but one of the times that we stopped I saw them pull a gas container out of the back to add to the car.&nbsp; Between bouncing, exhaust, gasoline, humidity I spent quite a bit of time with slight nausea and an insistent headache.&nbsp; Like I said the ride was fun, fun, fun, fun, fun.&nbsp; Someone said that I wanted to come to Africa for an adventurous African safari, well this was it, or as close as you can come in West Africa.&nbsp; I came here to work and this was part of my work.&nbsp; Packing the luggage onto the car was an adventure.&nbsp; By the time they were finished the luggage was piled upon the top of the car to a height equal that of the car itself.&nbsp; Oh I must not forget that there were 3 additional people who also rode clinging onto the top and sides of the car.&nbsp; One of these people was the all-important mechanic, don’t leave home without him.&nbsp; Now I decided to call these guys&nbsp; Klingons (Klingons off the starboard bow, scrape them off Jim) like these were not allowed in Sierra Leone so they had to get off before every checkpoint walk across and then re-board after the checkpoint.&nbsp; It seemed to me to be a very silly game, everyone knew that they were riding but as long as they dismounted and walked across the police line no one said anything.&nbsp; Most of the time he stopped only a few yards after the police line for the Klingons to board.&nbsp; I have not even talked about the road yet, the track we were driving on only qualified as a road because of the fact that is was the only place that there was not vegetation.&nbsp; I must admit we did cross the occasional bridge all narrow one-lane things.&nbsp; This may help we traveled from the boarder to a town called Kenema was about 88 miles, we started a bit after 1PM and arrived in Kenema a bit before 9PM.&nbsp; It took us eight hours to travel 88 miles that is an average of about 11 miles per hour.&nbsp; There were times where we had to exit the vehicle and walk because the Peugeot could not make it fully loaded.&nbsp; We drove through a number of lakes; I mean puddles that I was sure that we would need to stick the ores out of the windows and row to make it across.&nbsp; It was after one of these puddles that the car began to run quite rough.&nbsp; We stopped at a small village and the mechanic started to work in the car.&nbsp; I was quite interested in checking out what this car had under the hood that it could go so over loaded.&nbsp; This little Peugeot only had a 4-cylinder engine, the carburetor had no air filter and almost every wire and jig on it had been replaced with obviously jury-rigged parts.&nbsp; The mechanic said that the carburetor had picked up some water from one of the puddles.&nbsp; He fixed this problem by opening the carburetor, undoing one of the jets, sucking gas out of it into his mouth and spitting in down the barrel of the carburetor.&nbsp; He must have known what he was doing because it worked; the engine ran much smoother afterwards.&nbsp; I was amazed at how easily this engine started every time that the driver started the engine.&nbsp; The engine needed only to be turned a tiny bit and off it went.&nbsp; The starter was another thing.&nbsp; It had a dead spot in it, the driver generally had to try to start the engine two or three times before the starter turned the engine over.&nbsp; The first few tries generally resulted in that awful starter grinding noise.&nbsp; The breaks were another interesting thing on this car.&nbsp; They must stick periodically.&nbsp; There was a time when we could smell the over heated breaks and hear the sizzling when we entered a puddle.&nbsp; This only happed the one time, generally the driver knew before we did that the breaks were sticking.&nbsp; When this happened we would stop and the mechanic would crawl under the front wheel with a short bar bang something around and off we would go.&nbsp; There was a time when we had stopped at a checkpoint, this was after the sun had set, and the mechanic had crawled under the car to work on the breaks again.&nbsp; The driver entered the car the caused it to roll backwards a bit.&nbsp; A police officer that was standing by started to scold the driver for being careless with his mechanic under the car.&nbsp; The mechanic crawled out from under the car and told the police officer that they knew whet they were doing, there was no problem.&nbsp; That was when the officer grew really angry at being corrected.&nbsp; He yelled at them until eh mechanic boarded with the other Klingons and we drove off.&nbsp; The distance from Kenema to the little village where the seminary is is about 45 miles.&nbsp; At the previous rate we should not have arrived until early morning.&nbsp; The trip only took us a bit less than an hour.&nbsp; The road was paved the whole way and it only had a few bad spots with potholes.&nbsp; What a change that was.&nbsp; While they unloaded our bags onto the side of the street Ivan went into the campus to tell them we had arrived. He returned with a number of pastors and pastor wannabes bees they grabbed our luggage and lead us off to our room.&nbsp; We are staying in the student dormitory.&nbsp; It has a common area and 4 bedrooms off of it. each bedroom looks like it is designed to sleep 3-4 people.&nbsp; We had not eaten any meals along the trip, just some ground nuts (peanuts) that I had packed in my backpack with the water.&nbsp; I was quite hungry.&nbsp; We walked into the town to see if we could get anything to eat and purchased some bread and fried sweet potatoes.&nbsp; I was hungry but could only eat a little before I crawled into my bed and drifted off to sleep. <p>Here is an interesting little aside that happened while we were waiting for the taxi to get ready.&nbsp; Ivan and I decided we should go to the bathroom before we left (our mothers taught us well).&nbsp; Me #1 Ivan both.&nbsp; The driver that Ivan had befriended helped us find some restrooms.&nbsp; When we reached there he pointed to a small plastic teapot for water and asked if Ivan wanted to use the water or paper.&nbsp; Ivan said that his family prefers to use paper.&nbsp; The driver said that if her were to use paper he would end up using it all and he would press hard, hard to get clean.&nbsp; I contemplated pulling out my wet wipes and saying that I had the best of both worlds, but decided against it.&nbsp; We had a good chuckle about that situation later on.&nbsp; </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-8101739204193707637?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-11296308248090447222008-08-11T06:23:00.001-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.828-07:00<p>9 August 2008 <p>When we returned to the guesthouse there was no power again.&nbsp; We expected that it would not be on as the generator is supposed to turn on at 7 and we left at 7:30.&nbsp; I read a chapter by the nite light and then went to sleep.&nbsp; It has been raining mostly for several days now; at least it is a gentle rain and not the elephants and rhinos type. I am writing this part in the morning the students are just starting to arrive, a bit later than their usual time, probably the rain. They will either finish their paragraphs or practice typing skills until we start class.&nbsp; Today will be mostly word and ending with assessment of the workshop.&nbsp; I need to let the students use this computer, I will write more later. <p>The last day went real well, we taught a bit more in word but the rest was spent in assessment.&nbsp; They finished their paragraphs, actually most looked like letters; all should be interesting and informative to read.&nbsp; Then they filled out a questionnaire that Ivan wrote in word.&nbsp; The assessment took quite a bit longer that I figured it would take, they are just not as used to using computers as most folks in the states.&nbsp; Lunch was a fancy affair, we had bananas, cucumbers, rice with stew and everyone had a whole fish about the size of your hand with the stew.&nbsp; Now when I say whole fish I mean whole fish.&nbsp; I asked Paul which part of the fish that he thought was the best he very quickly said it was the head.&nbsp; I left my fish head for him.&nbsp; Ivan gave away his whole fish; he is not much of a fish eater.&nbsp; I though that the fish was actually not bad and the stew sauce went good with it.&nbsp; After all was finished in the seminar and we were packing away the computers they had a very mini chapel service and thank you session for us.&nbsp; It was nice.&nbsp; <p>We returned to the hostel and relaxed a bit with Paul and Rev. Navoh.&nbsp; After they left we went to the UN store to purchase some bottled water and juice for breakfast to take to Sierra Leone.&nbsp; We packed for the trip until nearly nine then went to eat.&nbsp; Supper was at the MonaLiza, a restaurant that is not a “posh” as the Heartbreak, the menu is a bit cheaper also.&nbsp; During our supper I was shocked by a cockroach that boldly crawled our of our napkin holder.&nbsp; My appetite was momentarily affected, but I figured that I’d eaten termites in Nigeria and the roach was not even near my food.&nbsp; I did take my napkins out of the other side of the bin though.&nbsp; <p>We are now in the Heartbreak were they have Internet access.&nbsp; When we leave to Sierra Leone we will probably only have access to the Internet once or maybe twice the week we are there, depending upon how many times we can travel to a nearby town.&nbsp; Expect Internet silence for about a week.&nbsp; I will do my best to keep up the journal, but that really depends upon if I can keep my laptop battery charged.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-1129630824809044722?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-69525015934370750552008-08-11T06:22:00.001-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.828-07:00<p>8 August 2008 <p>After leaving the heartbreak restaurant we ate supper at the Indian restaurant next door to the guesthouse.&nbsp; When we returned to the guesthouse there was no power so all we could do was go to bed, the earliest we have gone to bed since we arrived I think it was around 10:30.&nbsp; I awoke this morning feeling refreshed better that I have since arriving.&nbsp; Thanks to God, prayer really works!&nbsp; Somehow my body defeated what I think was an unwelcome visitor in my intestines with out any medication and in the space of less than 2 days.&nbsp; No power last night meant we could not charge the laptop batteries as we had planned so we had to start the generator right away this morning.&nbsp; The fuel in the generator lasted until almost time to quit.&nbsp; The sessions are to start at 10 but most of the students were they’re waiting by 9:30 so we started the generator and gave them typing practice time with Mavis Beacon.&nbsp; We then had them resume the hands on practice that they had started yesterday, which took the rest of the morning.&nbsp; The afternoon was more Word and Hands on practice the last half hour was spent in an assessment assignment.&nbsp; They were to write a small paragraph about who they are, what their job, which of the churches they are associated with and how they will use the skills that we re teaching them to help their church and community.&nbsp; It should be interesting to read.&nbsp; We returned to the guesthouse about 5:30. The trip was much longer than usual because there was a stop and go traffic jam for a large section of the journey.&nbsp; We rested until about 7:30 and then went to the heartbreak Restaurant for supper.&nbsp; <p>Please help me, it is karaoke night at the Heartbreak and they are currently doing the karaoke version of Iron Man by Ozzie Osborn.&nbsp; Out of tune Ozzie with a Liberian accent is just wrong.&nbsp; I would rather swim across a pool full of double-edged razor blades, would be less painful.&nbsp; Most of Ozzie’s songs are not karaoke material and Iron man is one of them.&nbsp; <p>As I mentioned earlier the generator ran out of gas a few minutes before we were going to quit today.&nbsp; Two of the students lost their paragraphs that they had been writing because both of those laptops have battery problems.&nbsp; This was a poignant demonstration of the point we had been making to save, save, save often.&nbsp; We heard the generator changed pitch before it ran out of gas, and said save your documents but they were too slow.&nbsp; It is mean of me to say but it is an excellent lesson, better that any one that I could have devised.&nbsp; I think point taken.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-6952501593437075055?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-15897373036990995642008-08-11T06:21:00.003-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.829-07:00<p>7 Aug 2008 <p>My fever was gone in the morning and I was feeling a bit better.&nbsp; The taxi driver was on time, even a bit late.&nbsp; We had to scramble a bit because Ivan had let me sleep in some.&nbsp; Shortly after we arrived at UHP it began to rain.&nbsp; This is not the gentle, singing-in-the-rain kind of rain, this is African rain.&nbsp; This is you are soaked to the bone the second you step out in it kind of rain, the it feels hard to breathe because there is so much water in the air rain, the cats and dogs have fallen and here come the elephants rain.&nbsp; I miss this kind of rain.&nbsp; The roof of the building we are training in is tin.&nbsp; The rain made it basically impossible to teach due to the noise for most of the morning.&nbsp; We had all of them start Mavis Beacon and practice typing.&nbsp; The rain slowed down enough for us to teach between 11 and 11:30.&nbsp; We taught some basic battery and hardware maintenance stuff then some windows stuff and had lunch.&nbsp; I was feeling hungry by then which was a good thing, I am on the mend.&nbsp; Prayer works.&nbsp; The afternoon was a continuation of Microsoft Word.&nbsp; <p>They are building a small building in the UHP compound.&nbsp; I found it quite amusing when they scooped sand out of the driveway at the entrance of the compound to mix in their cement.&nbsp; They made a large shallow depression across the whole driveway, the water table is so high here that it immediately filled with water.&nbsp; I thought; they made this place like my grandmothers driveway where they drive tractors in and out all the time, making deep mud puddles that never dry up.&nbsp; Today I realized that they were not as foolish as I thought, they knew something that I did not know.&nbsp; The torrential rain filled this hole to over full with clean fine sand and it was almost as if the old sand had never been removed.&nbsp; West African culture is much different than our own.&nbsp; I find many things to complain about, but mostly it is because I do not understand the culture, not that they do things wrong.&nbsp; West African culture is very chaotic while Western culture is very ordered and lawful.&nbsp; We drive between the lines on the road; we get in orderly lines at the bank, supermarket, airport, etc.&nbsp; When we go to do business with someone like the post office, we measure a successful transaction by speed and efficiency.&nbsp; We do things step by step in a planned ordered manner.&nbsp; West Africans are not like that.&nbsp; They measure a successful business transaction by the kind of relationships you have developed, exchange of goods is secondary.&nbsp;&nbsp; Things are not done step-by-step and orderly because there must be social interaction between all involved.&nbsp; No wonder the two cultures frustrate each other.&nbsp; It is not a matter of one being right and the other being wrong they are simply different points of view.&nbsp; Both could learn from each other, and improve by learning from one other.&nbsp; </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-1589737303699099564?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-15164128836602389862008-08-11T06:21:00.001-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.829-07:00<p>6 Aug 2008 <p>Last night before we fell asleep Philip called and wanted to know when to pick us up in the morning.&nbsp; Ivan told him to get us by 8 so that we would have plenty of time.&nbsp; He grumbled about picking us at that time in the morning but he was here on time.&nbsp; He had already chartered a taxi for us to use so no waiting!&nbsp; We arrived at UHP in plenty of time.&nbsp; The training started with 6 laptops useable.&nbsp; We had seven ready but one of them could not take the power that was provided by the generator.&nbsp; The generator was able to handle only 4 laptops at one time, so we decided to run 3 laptops on battery and 3 on the generator then switch when the batteries got low.&nbsp; Class went very well.&nbsp; It was great to have students so eager to learn something.&nbsp; One student (I have forgotten his name I will give it later) had that grin of&nbsp; AHA! , the whole time.&nbsp; He was eating up everything that we showed him how to do, and he had the sharp mind for it.&nbsp; By the way, let me fall back on a bit of yesterday.&nbsp; We ate at the Indian restaurant for lunch as you recall.&nbsp; We were given a plate of vegetables (onions, cucumbers, lime, and some little green peppers).&nbsp; Me being the boneheaded stud wanna-be that I am decided that I had to eat one of the little green peppers.&nbsp; Now I like spicy stiff and have no problem eating jalapenos.&nbsp; That little pepper was HOT, Ivan had a great time watching me try to deal with this pepper.&nbsp; The cucumbers, some rice and chapatti went a long ways to cooling my tongue.&nbsp; Now, just to demonstrate how much I truly fit the passage in Proverbs 30:2 I decided that it was the seeds of this pepper that were hot and I might be good If I scrape out the seeds and just eat the outside.&nbsp; I was wrong!&nbsp; And now I had pepper oil on my fingers that I transferred to my eyelids when I tried to wipe away my tears.&nbsp; Ivan had a great time.&nbsp; The pepper was good though.&nbsp; The reason that I share this story is that before we finished setting up the training lab I had the opportunity to enjoy these peppers again.&nbsp; Please remind me to share with you a picture of the wonderful, primitive, cold concrete facilities that they had for us.&nbsp; We are so blessed to live in the US, so very blessed.&nbsp; Today’s training session went from 10:00 to 3:00 with an hour for lunch.&nbsp; We taught introduction to windows XP in the morning and introduction to Word in the afternoon.&nbsp; We plan to continue in a like manner with two more days of Windows in the morning and the last two mornings with introduction to Excel and with Word every afternoon.&nbsp; With a little arithmetic I am sure that you have figured out that the training will take 6 days Monday to Saturday.&nbsp; The plan is then to leave for Sierra Leone on Sunday; it will be about a 15 hour trip.&nbsp; We will then do the same workshop Monday through Friday and return to Monrovia.&nbsp; The original plan was to do another workshop, but that had to be scraped along with another change in plans that denied us some needed equipment and extended our trip time.&nbsp; The training session went very well, everyone left looking forward to tomorrow.&nbsp; No one will leave at the end of the week an expert but all should leave empowered to pursue additional learning.&nbsp; Enough equipment and training materials will be left behind so that all can maintain and improve and be ready for the next training session that Ivan is able to schedule.&nbsp; When we returned to the Hostel they moved us to a new room, I’m not sure why.&nbsp; The room has a few benefits; it is in the corner with 2 windows for cross breeze.&nbsp; It also has a kitchen sink like area with cabinets, which would be really nice if there were running water.&nbsp; Perhaps the running water will return tomorrow.&nbsp; IT is good training for when we go to Sierra Leone as there will not be any running water there only a bucket bath under the stars.&nbsp; We arranged for the taxi that Philip hired for us in the morning, to return and get us in the afternoon.&nbsp; In fact we will take us back and forth every day.&nbsp; He will also take us to the boarder of Liberia and Sierra Leone.&nbsp; This is quite a relief as that was a worry because the pastor that was going to help us get there is very sick in the hospital.&nbsp; We had been tossing around many ideas on how to get there, God solved it for us as usual.&nbsp; Supper was at a nearby Liberian restaurant we has roast chicken with rice and cabbage salad and a local beer of course (its called Club).&nbsp; It was very good, the sauce on the chicken reminded me a bit of the jerk chicken that I have had in Jamaica, but not quite as spicy.&nbsp; I ate the salad it was good, I hope that I will not regret it.&nbsp; Often the local vegetables are washed in the regular non-bottled water, which may contain nasty microorganisms.&nbsp; The power was back on when we returned to the hostel; the Internet there still did not work though.&nbsp; Ivan had obtained the number of the technician that is responsible for it.&nbsp; Ivan called him but he unfortunately does not seem very skilled or knowledgeable in networking (man that sounds arrogant on my part, but there are some basic things that he seemed quite ignorant of perhaps that is why the network is not working?).&nbsp; No internet to we returned to The Royal Hotel, by the way the restaurant here is called heartbreak Hotel and has a standing reservation for Elvis.&nbsp; We will return to the hostel from here and hopefully go to bed. </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-1516412883660238986?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-42188705947578125852008-08-11T06:19:00.001-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.829-07:00<p>6 Aug 2008 <p>A significant portion of last night was spent in the bathroom with cramps and diarrhea.&nbsp; Welcome to the tropics!&nbsp; I prayed very hard for healing so that I do not become a burden to Ivan.&nbsp; It made today’s training session a bit difficult.&nbsp; I also developed a low-grade fever sometime during the day.&nbsp; We changed plans a bit and taught word in the morning and introduced excel in the afternoon.&nbsp; In word we had them do some self-paced activities to help us evaluate their learning.&nbsp; It went very well, there were many questions, they were mostly good questions, and they very well demonstrated the knowledge taught to them.&nbsp; This activity went far towards cementing learning.&nbsp; We need to do similar stuff again before the end of the week to really drive home concepts.&nbsp; I was nervous about teaching Excel, I was not sure if they had the math background to do much with it.&nbsp; Ivan taught it at a very basic level, to my surprise it went well.&nbsp; By the end of the day they had a good appreciation of some of the basic things that Excel can help them do.&nbsp;&nbsp; And they were interested in learning more.&nbsp; Time to tell a story about the church that we attended on Sunday, told to me by Phillip.&nbsp; Liberians traditionally consider churches a holy place.&nbsp; During the civil war there were some 1000 people using the church as a refuge.&nbsp; The ruling regime at the time entered that church and shot about 600 of them.&nbsp; Philip was not sure the reason but suspected that with 1000 people there the regime was afraid that they were gathering militants against them.&nbsp; Our taxi driver did not come today, after some time waiting and the third or fourth call from Ivan he said that his car was being fixed and would not be done today.&nbsp; Philip went out the road and chartered a taxi for us.&nbsp; We did not get back to he guesthouse until 6.&nbsp; I immediately took a nap until about 7:30.&nbsp; It felt good, looking forward to going to bed a bit earlier tonight.&nbsp; Before we left for supper the taxi driver called and apologized for not being there.&nbsp; He said that his car was fixed and he would like to be there for us in the morning.&nbsp; I was glad to hear that the driver today was very fast and reckless, he made me quite nervous.&nbsp; We have three more days of training here in Liberia then we travel to Sierra Leone.&nbsp; From what Ivan tells me things will be much more primitive there.&nbsp; We will only have power when the little generator is running which will be during the workshop.&nbsp; I believe that I mentioned earlier that it would be a romantic bucket bath in the bush under the stars.&nbsp; I am looking forward to meeting the folks in Sierra Leone.&nbsp; The Liberians taking the seminar are pretty interesting folks.&nbsp; What tough happy people.&nbsp; They have practically nothing and are happy while Americans have much and are not very happy.&nbsp; One of the funny incongruous things is that these people, who have only a few sets of cloths only a hovel to live in, and next to nothing else, all have cell phones.&nbsp; Africans love their cell phones.&nbsp; They do not have contracts here it is only pay as you go.&nbsp; As long as you have a phone and a sim card you can just buy minutes on the street.&nbsp; They are everywhere in the form in the form of little boys hustling scratch cards.&nbsp; Reception is not so great, reliability is not so great, but they work most of the time.&nbsp; I am even able to send the occasional text to Teri at home using Ivan’s phone.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-4218870594757812585?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-25681109435668151762008-08-11T06:18:00.003-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.830-07:00<p>5 Aug 2008 (Sunday) <p>I woke up around 8 today.&nbsp; Still no water, so I took a bucket bath and went back to bed to finish my book.&nbsp; I fell asleep when&nbsp; I finished my book and did not wake up until 10:00.&nbsp; W forgot to make arrangements with Philip or Rev. Navoh for church today.&nbsp; We decided to attend the Nearby ELCA church.&nbsp; The choir sang beautifully when there was not a soloist singing into the sound system.&nbsp; When there was a soloist it was literally painful from volume and distortion.&nbsp; The preacher was a woman with an agenda, but she has some good points in her sermon.&nbsp; I was glad to hear in her refer to the passage do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing when giving.&nbsp; I have seen much “giving” in west Africa in order to make the giver look good, rather than a benefit to the receiver.&nbsp; After church we returned to our rooms and retrieved some laptops so that we could go to The Royal Hotel where they have free Internet access.&nbsp; The plan was to eat lunch there while we worked on the laptops. Their internet access does not turn on until 3 on&nbsp; Sunday.&nbsp; The food there is very expensive so we worked on the laptops a bit but did not eat lunch there.&nbsp; We ate lunch at the Indian restaurant next to the guest house.&nbsp; I had the ocean fish curry, it was good.&nbsp; Instead of rice I ordered chapatti which a an Indian flat bread (it had lots of layers) that you dipped into the curry.&nbsp; It was a bit more filling than the rice and quite good.&nbsp; The young man that served us said to eat it while it is hot, it is no good after it cools.&nbsp; Pastor Navoh had arrived just before we were finished with lunch (this was at 3:00).&nbsp; We had arranged with him to come and escort us to the UHP (Universal house of prayer our host congregation) where we would be doing the training.&nbsp; We gathered our stuff to take to UHP and walked the 3 blocks or so to the main road to get a taxi.&nbsp; It was more than a half hour wait for a taxi that could carry 3 people.&nbsp; It was an interesting and very friendly ride.&nbsp; We boarded the taxi all three of us in the back, already in the back was a couple with a very newborn baby.&nbsp; There were 5 of us in the back plus the baby, luggage was in the boot.&nbsp; This was a compact hatchback car, quite small.&nbsp; UHP is a church and school.&nbsp; It will serve us well as long as we can get our laptops working and have adequate power.&nbsp; We returned to the Hostel about 8:30, packed up the laptops again and headed to The royal Hotel to have supper and work on them.&nbsp; We worked until 10:30 (probably a bit later than we should have).&nbsp; WE returned to the Hostel planning to finish a bit of work, no power, the generator radiator had sprung a leak and had been sent downtown to be welded.&nbsp; We just went to bed.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-2568110943566815176?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-82058730700803466932008-08-11T06:18:00.001-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.830-07:00<p>5 Aug 2008 <p>Today I realized that my dates for this journal were off by several days, OOPS!&nbsp; I have fixed them, my watch is off for some reason it must be suffering jet lag.&nbsp; <p>We had power and water when we went to bed.&nbsp; I plugged in the hot water heater with the anticipation of a shower in the morning.&nbsp; There was no water and the hot water heater was hissing miserably in the morning, I felt the same.&nbsp; I took a more though bucket bath this morning and felt a bit better.&nbsp; Philip was right on time with the taxi.&nbsp; Ivan had received permission to rent a larger generator last night.&nbsp; It was nice to charge all the laptops at once.&nbsp; We ran the generator in the morning and used the laptops on battery in the afternoon until the first battery failed, then we turned the generator back on.&nbsp; That way we can save on gas.&nbsp; There was a bit of confusion over gas this morning.&nbsp; The four church groups were to supply us with gas, but they did not have any this morning.&nbsp; They had used the gas to refresh the students who had taken the previous training before we arrived.&nbsp; There was just enough gas left for us to use on the first day.&nbsp; We now need to purchase gas.&nbsp; It may sound stingy of us to hesitate on this but here is the reasoning.&nbsp; We do not want to develop dependency on us by the churches here; they need to be ale to support themselves and projects that they want to do.&nbsp; We will eventually leave and this particular project is only to take a specific number of sessions.&nbsp; If they are dependant upon us when we leave things will fall apart.&nbsp; It is difficult not to give when I have so much but it is not good for me to do so in the end, what I give is only for the short term.&nbsp; If they can develop the ability to support themselves and I can help them through teaching, they will be much better in the end. <p>The ride to the UHP was an interesting one this morning.&nbsp; The radio was playing a talk show with a Dr. answering callers’ medical questions as the guest.&nbsp; The subject was broken bones and how to care for them.&nbsp; The guest speaker kept talking about problems with Catholics in your joints, and what to do with problems with Catholics in your joints.&nbsp; Ivan and I were both confused and amused it took about 15 minutes and finally Ivan figured out that he was saying cartilage not Catholics!&nbsp; Just another example of it being necessary to have humor with communication with other cultures, if not insult is not far behind.&nbsp; <p>The students are progressing quite well.&nbsp; I am anxious to evaluate them with some of the on-your-own projects and see how they do and how well that drives home the concepts.&nbsp; All are so eager to learn, it makes me want to stay and not return to teaching high school in the US where getting the students to learn is like pulling teeth much of the time.&nbsp; We shared our taxi with some of the students that were going our way today.&nbsp; It will help them save some money; we do not have enough room to carry all of them that need a ride.&nbsp; They will get together and which of them gets to ride with us for the rest of the workshop.&nbsp; They will probably set up some sort of rotation, it is best to let them determine who gets to ride we will just say how many seats we have at the end of the day.&nbsp; They will also decide who gets to come and get a ride in the morning.&nbsp; After we returned to the hostel we immediately went to the Royal Hotel to work on laptops.&nbsp; We need the Internet to do some updating.&nbsp; We have been here since a bit after 4 and it is ¼ to ten now I have gotten very little accomplished because the Internet connection is very flaky and the laptop that I am working on is just as flaky.&nbsp; I am frustrated.&nbsp; We probably will not get out of here until they kick us out when they close.&nbsp; </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-8205873070080346693?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-90007700002270802442008-08-11T06:16:00.001-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.830-07:00<p>4 Aug 2008 <p>Today we rose at 8:00 to get ready for the funeral of a Lutheran pastor that had died of some sickness (apparently he got sick and 8 days later he was dead, scary).&nbsp; No water this morning so it was a short bucket bath from the 1/3 filled barrel of water in the bathroom.&nbsp; Philip was to arrive at 9:00 to escort us to the church.&nbsp; He arrived about 9:10 we walked the few blocks to the main street and boarded a taxi for the funeral.&nbsp; The funeral was scheduled to start at 10 but as per West Africa culture it did not start until about 12:00.&nbsp; The funeral was interesting and a relatively short 2 hours.&nbsp; It rained the whole time.&nbsp; It did give me a chance to try to adjust my hearing to their English accent, it is different from the Nigerian accent.&nbsp; Liberians put very small emphasis on or do not pronounce consonants.&nbsp; I could follow only 1/3 – ½ of the sermon and other proceedings.&nbsp; The music was as usual beautiful African harmony.&nbsp; Mostly acapella, rhythm was kept with a drum and gourds with beads.&nbsp; After the funeral we took a taxi back to the street where the hostel was and walked the rest of the way.&nbsp; The taxi was a bit crowded; we had up to 5 people in the back seat at one time.&nbsp; W then walked to a local restaurant that has Internet access so that I could e-mail my family and Ivan could communicate with his family and answer other important e-mails.&nbsp;&nbsp; The power would not turn on until 8:00 so we worked on the laptops until the batteries failed then we fiddled around and relaxed a bit until the power came on.&nbsp; Just before 8 Philip and Rev. Navoh showed up and we talked.&nbsp; Ivan showed them both some things on their laptops while I not very successfully fiddled around with one of the laptops.&nbsp; The Indian restaurant was still open at 8:30 after Philip and Rev. Navoh left, they make a good curry.&nbsp; We returned back to our room fiddled a bit more with the laptops then to bed.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-9000770000227080244?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-10882727104274904412008-08-11T06:15:00.001-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.831-07:00<p>4 Aug 2008, First day in Liberia <p>We got up at 4:30 in order to get to the airport in Lagos Shortly after 5:00.&nbsp; The drive to the airport was peaceful with almost no traffic.&nbsp; The drop-off at the airport was almost uneventful.&nbsp; The driver however wanted to charge N4500 in stead of the agreed upon N3000.&nbsp; Ivan argued with the driver and finally the driver relented and gave Ivan his receipt.&nbsp; That driver will probably not want to drive for Us again, nor do we want to use his service either.&nbsp; The check in at the airport was utter chaos, people crowding, butting in line.&nbsp; At the curb we had a “bell boy” help us to load our big check in bags onto a cart.&nbsp; He was helpful in getting us through the chaos and getting our bags checked and onto the conveyor.&nbsp; We stopped in a peaceful part of the airport and filled out our emigration paperwork and proceeded into the airport proper.&nbsp; We did have a small bit of trouble going through security.&nbsp; One of the bag checkers did not want Ivan to have his roll of clear tape for sealing or check in boxes.&nbsp; He said that Ivan could use it to strangle someone.&nbsp; Ivan talked him into letting him keep the tape by saying that it would be much easier to strangle someone with his bare hands than use the tape.&nbsp; The man probably just wanted the tape because is was quality 3m tape from the US instead of the rather cheap stuff that you can buy in Nigeria.&nbsp; The plane was scheduled to take off at 7:00, we did not take off until 9:05 by my watch, some of the reason for this was rather amusing and a bit frustrating to watch.&nbsp; I wish that I had taped the scene.&nbsp; They hauled the baggage out to the plane at about 6:30.&nbsp; There were around 14 people milling around with the baggage.&nbsp; Only 2 entered the cargo hold in the plane, one man in the front and one man in the back door.&nbsp; Each cargo door had a conveyor belt for sending the baggage from the carts to the door.&nbsp; Most of the rest of the men simple stood around and talked and joked and laughed.&nbsp; Occasionally they would yank one or two of the bags off of one of the carts and toss them onto the conveyor belts.&nbsp; They ran these belts at an extremely slow speed because the one man in the door could not keep up otherwise.&nbsp; They would send packages up the belt and some he would hand back out, they would drop them on the ground and eventually return them to a cart or they would carry them over to the other door and they would send them up that belt.&nbsp; That was the treatment one of our packages received.&nbsp; Of the 8 carts that they drove out to the plane they only loaded 5 onto the plane.&nbsp; The rest of the carts evidently did not even belong on this plane because they just drug them off somewhere off.&nbsp; This whole loading process took a painful hour and a half, I am not exadurating, we timed them.&nbsp; The baggage was finally loaded at 8:00, this is when the fuel truck came to fuel the plane.&nbsp; A plane that was to have flown at 7:00.&nbsp; After all this was done a lady came out with a broom and dustpan and swept the tarmac of little pieces of paper and stones and stuff.&nbsp; It reminded me of that little bristly mustached guy that you would see at the end of the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons.&nbsp; <p>The flight was uneventful arrival time at Monrovia was a bit after 12:00.&nbsp; We proceeded through the usual paperwork parade with no problems.&nbsp; At the baggage area we waited and waited and waited for that last bag that we saw enter and exit and reenter the plane.&nbsp; We knew both of our bags had been loaded on the plane.&nbsp; Where had it gone?&nbsp; This was the bag that contained 4 of the 5 laptops that we brought for the class.&nbsp; We asked around for the package, finally the belt turned back on and here comes our box, it had gone somewhere else and had finally been returned to the luggage area.&nbsp; Customers is always a nervous time because you never know what they will do or decide to confiscate or whatever.&nbsp; Today they just asked what was in our bags and waved us through without even checking them.&nbsp; We hired a taxi after the usual dickering over price&nbsp; (it was settled at $20 US) and had a peaceful 30-40 minute ride to the Lutheran guest house.&nbsp; The rest of the day was spent relaxing, shopping for a few essentials like bottled water and meeting a few of the local church leaders.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-1088272710427490441?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-60991518293881770242008-08-11T06:14:00.001-07:002008-08-11T06:24:14.831-07:00<p>29 July to 2 Aug 2008, travel to Abuja then to Jos and prep time for trip to Monrovia <p>The trip from Green Bay to Abuja was fairly uneventful.&nbsp; The layover in Chicago was about 3 hours.&nbsp; I purchased a sandwich because I was hungry and a bottle of water thinking that I will like it when I reach Africa where I can not drink the water.&nbsp; This bottle of water cost $3 and was purchased after I passed through security in both green bay and Chicago airports.&nbsp; When I reached Frankfurt they confiscated my water due to security reasons.&nbsp; What could I have done with that water, I had passed through 2 airports security and only been on a plane?&nbsp; I was thirsty, I had walked what seemed like miles to the departure gate, a new bottle of water was $7.&nbsp; The tickets that they gave me in Green Bay said that the plane was to depart from gate 44.&nbsp; I waited at gate 44 for 4 of the 5 hours of the layover.&nbsp; I knew that I was to meet Ivan and family and Ruth and her children because we were to be on the same plane.&nbsp; They had not shown up yet.&nbsp; I gathered by belongings so that I could check the departure gate, the plane was to leave from gate 54 not 44 like my ticket said.&nbsp; This was a completely different part of the airport.&nbsp; Good thing that I checked.&nbsp; I reached gate 54 there were the Rasches and Carlsons.&nbsp; The rest of the trip was easy no problems.&nbsp; It was wonderful to land in Abuja.&nbsp; Customs did not even check our bags (always a worry).&nbsp; Bala met us at the airport we loaded our luggage onto the coaster (some 30 or so bags, boxes and etc) and Bala took us to where we would stay overnight.&nbsp; It was night by this time and it is too dangerous to travel from Abuja to Jos at night.&nbsp; We traveled to Jos.&nbsp; The rest of that day was spent greeting old friends and preparing for the journey to Monrovia in Liberia.&nbsp; There was much work to do the prepare the laptops for the trip.&nbsp; One laptop needed to have some components soldered onto its mother board, many of the others needed to have OS or other software to install.&nbsp; </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-6099151829388177024?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-87108292964840372322008-02-04T13:39:00.001-08:002008-02-04T13:39:38.961-08:00<table width=600 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td colspan=3 width=600> <img src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/msg/7/inv/inv_logo_en_4.gif" width=600 height=60 border=0 alt="You have been invited to join Yahoo! 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Messenger and start connecting how you want, when you want.</font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width=3><spacer type=block width=3 height=2></td> <td width=1 bgcolor="#dedef3"><spacer type=block width=1 height=2></td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan=2 colspan=2 width=4 height=4><img src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/msg/6/el/rnd/indc_bl.gif" width=4 height=4 border=0></td> <td width=388 height=3><spacer type=block width=388 height=3></td> <td rowspan=2 colspan=2><img src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/msg/6/el/rnd/indc_br.gif" width=4 height=4 border=0></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=388 height=1 bgcolor="#dedef3"><spacer type=block width=388 height=1></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=3 width=600 height=16><spacer type=block width=600 height=16></td> </tr> </table> <table width=600 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=1 color="#666666">If the link above doesn't work, please go to:<br><span style="word-wrap:break-word;">http://invite.msg.yahoo.com/invite?op=accept&intl=us&sig=2TNu9Rwtp4hnUX.jxJottgUCt9BF_m7dNYvyK5lHZTMJ5_KuT7jQ1SlAZMoNSpSOAuRbZfEKQeKB.2mJCYLgfshfl488t4d4H6_zxBZJzqg168akMsI.CG85J5ti4Wt4oejhYvVz7xBs89scaQjE</span></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=1 color="#666666">* * Emergency 911 calling services not available on Yahoo! Messenger. Please inform others who use your <br> Yahoo! Messenger they must dial 911 through traditional phone lines or cell carriers. <br> By using Yahoo! Messenger you agree to not use PC-to-PC calling in countries where prohibited.<br> The above features apply to the Windows version of Yahoo! Messenger.</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height=16><spacer type=block width=600 height=16></td> </tr> </table> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-8710829296484037232?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-59735061286669439012007-03-13T13:23:00.000-07:002007-03-13T13:26:00.212-07:00<p class="msoaccenttext7" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt;" lang="EN">January 2007<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="msotitle3" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: windowtext;" lang="EN">Nate and Teri</span><span style="color: windowtext;" lang="EN"> Watt<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="msoorganizationname" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span style="color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN">Jos</span></st1:City><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN">, <st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region><span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on">West Africa</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;" lang="EN">“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;" lang="EN">Hebrews 12:2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN">What’s What with the <st1:place st="on">Watts</st1:place> </span><span style="color: windowtext;" lang="EN">? ...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p>This month we had a <b>great</b> <b>opportunity to worship with Lutherans from all over <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>!<span style=""> </span></b>The Annual Lutheran Church of Nigeria Convention is held every January in Obot Idim.<span style=""> </span>(That’s in the southern part of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>, not far from the coast.)<span style=""> </span>It is a long 2-day trip down there, and that’s if you <i>don’t</i> have car trouble.<span style=""> </span>The convention started on Friday evening and ended Sunday afternoon after a 7 or 8-hour church service.<span style=""> </span>The Sunday worship service started around 9 am and communion wasn’t even scheduled until 4 pm.<span style=""> </span>We were there from 9 until noon, and the kids were really pretty good.<span style=""> </span>Deborah drew a nice picture of a woman with a very beautiful head-tie on.<span style=""> </span>It wasn’t as hot as last year, which really helped.<span style=""> </span>However, it was still much hotter than we’re used to in Jos.<span style=""> </span>The <b>choirs sang beautiful songs and the LCN President gave the sermon</b>.<span style=""> </span>As he preached in English, there was an interpreter translating his sermon into Ibo, the common language in the South.<span style=""> </span><b>He was very passionate </b>and even walked up and down the aisles.<span style=""> </span>Outside the church, vendors sold books, snacks, and little fans.<span style=""> </span>There were also Bible studies going on under several different canopies and even a children’s message.<span style=""> </span>We saw the evangelist whom we had given some school fee money to using some of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Everett</st1:place></st1:City>’s memorial fund designated to African missions.<span style=""> </span>He was working at a booth selling books for the LCN President.<span style=""> </span>It was good to see him and have a chance to talk to him again.<span style=""> </span>His wife and children, the two who Lois and I gave literacy lessons to this summer, are living in his village while he is going to school.<span style=""> </span>It is just too expensive for them all to live in Obot Idim.<span style=""> </span>Nate spent a lot of time with Ivan in the seminary’s computer lab trying to get it going again.<span style=""> </span>Apparently it was down because a nasty virus had spread through the network.<span style=""> </span>They worked very hard and finally got it going again.<span style=""> </span></span><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;" lang="EN">Praise to God for the time fellowshipping together.<span style=""> </span>Pray that we will all keep Him in our hearts, in our minds and in everything we do. </span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;" lang="EN"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:group id="_x0000_s1026" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:684pt;margin-top:225pt;width:198pt;" coordorigin="114985800,108299250" coordsize="2514600,2628900"> <v:rect id="_x0000_s1027" style="'position:absolute;left:114985800;top:108299250;" preferrelative="t" filled="f" strokecolor="#360" strokeweight="1pt" insetpen="t" cliptowrap="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Pastor\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image002.jpg" title="convention - Luther cathedral"> <v:shadow color="#ccc"> <v:path extrusionok="f"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:rect><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" filled="f" strokecolor="#360" strokeweight="1pt" insetpen="t" cliptowrap="t"> <v:shadow color="#ccc"> <v:textbox style="'mso-column-margin:5.76pt'" inset="2.88pt,2.88pt,2.88pt,2.88pt"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="'text-align:center;mso-pagination:"><span lang="EN" style="'mso-ansi-language:EN'">Luther Cathedral Sunday morning before worship.<span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span>The choirs ( the people in the white shirts ) are gathering outside the entrance to be part of the processional.<span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape></v:group><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: 1; margin-left: 911px; margin-top: 299px; width: 270px; height: 280px;"></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:179.25pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Pastor\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image002.jpg" title="convention - Luther cathedral"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span> <h2 style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="" lang="EN">Luther Cathedral Sunday morning before worship.<span style=""> </span>The choirs ( the people in the white shirts ) are gathering outside the entrance to be part of the processional.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2> <h2 style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN">It’s in His hands...<o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style=""><span style="" lang="EN">I had a hard time writing this segment.<span style=""> </span>There is a lot of background that just won’t fit here.<span style=""> </span>Not only that, it happened recently and even now it’s not finished playing out.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN">Not long ago, we heard that a Nigerian friend of ours, “Patience”, was sick.<span style=""> </span>It’s the custom here to go and “greet” (visit) people when they are ill.<span style=""> </span>(That seems a little backwards to us because we like to be left a lone when we’re sick, but it helps so much in the recovery process here.)<span style=""> </span>Two Sundays ago some friends and I went to greet “Patience,” and immediately we saw how serious her condition was.<span style=""> </span><b>She had developed Shingles</b> on her forehead and over one eyelid.<span style=""> </span>We talked a while and offered to take her to the doctor the very next day and she agreed.<span style=""> </span>Before we left we prayed with her that the Lord would help to heal her and <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style=""><span style="" lang="EN">ease her pain.<span style=""> </span>And <b>we prayed that God would be with her </b>as He promised to all who believe.<span style=""> </span>The next day when I went to pick her up, she was in the bedroom and only her husband greeted me.<span style=""> </span>That is very unusual, if someone comes to see you, no matter how sick the hostess is, she will come out and greet her guest.<span style=""> </span>Her husband, who is not a very reputable man, told me that she would not be going to the doctor with me.<span style=""> </span>He told me that <b>they had been seeing an herbalist. </b><span style=""> </span>Their parents had been to visit the night before and they all agreed that she should just continue with the herbalist’s recommendations.<span style=""> </span>I offered to just take Patience to the eye doctor, at least, just for some eye drops.<span style=""> </span><b>If her eye was not treated, she would have permanent vision damage.</b><span style=""> </span>He thanked me again for coming, and said maybe in a week or so we could take her to the doctor.<span style=""> </span>Besides, he said, the herbalist assured him that since the Shingles had not spread down to her lower eye lid, that her eyesight would be just fine.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style=""><span style="" lang="EN">By taking her to the herbalist, or “native medicine man,” means that <b>“they” suspected she had been cursed by someone</b>.<span style=""> </span>The herbalist prescribes herbs which are supposed to “bring it out.”<span style=""> </span>Even Christians are pressured to seek “cures” from these herbalists.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, by delaying proper treatment irreversible damage was being done.<span style=""> </span>I worried for her, but I would never get her to the doctor by upsetting or insulting her husband.<span style=""> </span>My friends and I prayed for her all week, waiting to hear something.<span style=""> </span>The husband finally came to my friends and said that we could take Patience to the eye doctor.<span style=""> </span>At the doctor’s office, Patience asked if I would go into the consultation room with her and she asked her husband to wait until they called him in.<span style=""> </span>When the doctor examined her eye it was very painful.<span style=""> </span>The doctor pulled the lid up and showed me the eye.<span style=""> </span>It was cloudy, swollen, and it looked like there was a small hole in the cornea.<span style=""> </span><b>The doctor told me that there was little hope in returning back her sight, but reminded me that anything is possible with God. </b><span style=""> </span>The eye doctor we took her to is also a general practitioner and was not only able to prescribe eye drops, but a topical ointment for the rash.<span style=""> </span>She has another appointment next week.<span style=""> </span>All we can do now is pray.<span style=""> </span><b>But prayer is so powerful </b>and God can do anything.<span style=""> </span></span><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;" lang="EN">Please help me in praying for Patience and others like her.<span style=""> </span>There are too many people being pressured into relying on these herbalists, rather than going to trained physicians.<span style=""> </span>As a result, many people continue to suffer and get worse.<span style=""> </span>Not only their physical health is being damaged, but their spiritual health as well.<span style=""> </span>When people are encouraged to believe in witchcraft and curses, instead of letting the Lord be a light unto their path, they stumble and fall.<span style=""> </span>Pray that in this country and others that people would hold each other up, not bring them down.<span style=""> </span>Pray for Patience, pray for her health, and for her husband.<span style=""> </span>He says he’s a Christian, but his actions cause me to wonder.<span style=""> </span>Pray that he really would come to understand the role our Savior has in his life. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style=""><span style="" lang="EN">I said this was a hard segment for me to write.<span style=""> </span>In part, it’s because I can’t help but feel responsible.<span style=""> </span>I knew better, but could do nothing.<span style=""> </span>I couldn’t think of a way to intervene on Patience’s behalf without making her situation worse.<span style=""> </span>She wanted to go to the doctor and not rely on an herbalist.<span style=""> </span>I knew, but could do nothing.<span style=""> </span>There’s more about culture and customs and her personal situation than I can tell in this venue.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="msobodytext5" style=""><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 118%;" lang="EN">“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self-control.<span style=""> </span>Against such things there is no law.”<span style=""> </span>-Galatians 5:22<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:171.75pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Pastor\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image005.jpg" title="sunday literacy class"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2> <h2 style=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN">In a Class of their own...<o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="" lang="EN">Finally the teacher, oh that’s me, remembered to bring her camera one Sunday!<span style=""> </span>Here they are folks, my Sunday “literacy” class.<span style=""> </span>And this is our classroom, we have our lessons inside the hut.<span style=""> </span>( I’m in the picture too.<span style=""> </span>See me?<span style=""> </span>I’m the tall one with glasses standing in the back. )<span style=""> </span>Actually, only 15 of these kids are mine.<span style=""> </span>The other kids are the younger siblings of my students.<span style=""> </span>They come and hang around while I’m teaching.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes it’s hard to keep my students focused on their lessons because the younger kids distract them by fighting or they might fall down and need someone to pick them up and tell them they’re okay.<span style=""> </span>For being so young, they’re quite grown up.<span style=""> </span>In the business of ending the class for the day, I sometimes forget that we haven’t prayed yet.<span style=""> </span>One of the older boys always keeps me on track though.<span style=""> </span>He says, <b>“Teacher, mu addu’a.”<span style=""> </span>( We need to pray. )</b><span style=""> </span>He’s new to our class.<span style=""> </span>Being new, I was afraid he might be too far behind, but he has caught up very quickly.<span style=""> </span>As best as I can figure it, <b>God sent him to my class to be my little reminder. </b><span style=""> </span></span><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;" lang="EN">Please keep them in your prayers.<span style=""> </span>Pray for strong faith and safety.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:127.5pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Pastor\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image007.jpg" title="close up"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN">For Christmas Deborah got an Easy Bake Oven.<span style=""> </span>( We found it a missionary’s garage sale, and it worked! )<span style=""> </span>She baked for all of us, and then she wanted to bake some little cakes for all the guards on our compound, as a gift to them.<span style=""> </span>The guards loved the cakes and laughed when they saw Deborah and her cousin, Heather, all dressed up for delivery<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN">A<span style=""> </span>few reasons why we ask for your prayers for safe travel…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><span style=""> </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:179.25pt;height:125.25pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Pastor\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image009.jpg" title="guy hanging onto van 1"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:179.25pt;height:128.25pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Pastor\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image011.jpg" title="guy hanging onto van 3"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN">We often see people riding precariously on top of vehicles, hanging out the back doors, or standing on bumpers.<span style=""> </span>Notice this guy is barely sitting in an open window of this van.<span style=""> </span>In picture two here, no, he’s not falling out, he’s waving vigorously at Ivan and his family in the green van.<span style=""> </span>At first I thought, “Well, at least he has one leg in the van, that would help for balance.”<span style=""> </span>But look at the second picture again.<span style=""> </span>He has </span><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;" lang="EN">both legs out of the van!<span style=""> </span></span></i><span style="" lang="EN">I’m not really sure how he stayed...<i>attached </i>to that van! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:179.25pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Pastor\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image013.jpg" title="truck hanging off bridge"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="" lang="EN">This is a picture that is all too common to see.<span style=""> </span>This is a big truck ( lorry ) that crashed and is now <i>hanging off the side of a bridge</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:179.25pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Pastor\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image015.jpg" title="IN a pot hole"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="" lang="EN">This is a picture from inside the car, inside a huge pothole.<span style=""> </span>It might be hard to see here, but our dashboard is level with the rest of the road.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="color: windowtext;" lang="EN">Addendum to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place> Notes of August:<span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="color: windowtext;" lang="EN">I had said I figured that no one else wanted to die on the roads.<span style=""> </span>Well, after talking to some missionaries who’ve been here a lot longer, it turns out that’s not really what they’re thinking.<span style=""> </span>What they’re thinking goes more like this, “If today is my day to die, then there’s nothing I can do about it.”<span style=""> </span>That kinda made my heart sink a little bit.<span style=""> </span>And it made me a little more scared to get out there on the roads.<span style=""> </span>Please keep road safety in your prayers.</span><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;;" lang="EN">Prayer Requests</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;;" lang="EN">…<span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN">Thank you for helping us to pray.<span style=""> </span>Prayer is one of our most valuable tools that God has given us.<span style=""> </span>Knowing that others are helping pray for us means so much.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 2pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Symbol; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><span style=""><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Pastor/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" alt="*" height="11" width="15" /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN">Please pray that the conventioneers continue to grow in their faith and have an opportunity to display it daily.</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 2pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Symbol; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><span style=""><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Pastor/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" alt="*" height="11" width="15" /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN">Please pray for “Patience” and her situation.<span style=""> </span>Pray that her health would be restored and that she would stay strong in her faith.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 2pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Symbol; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><span style=""><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Pastor/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" alt="*" height="11" width="15" /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN">Please pray for wisdom when we are confronted with people and situations where we are unsure how to act.</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;;" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 2pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Symbol; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><span style=""><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Pastor/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" alt="*" height="11" width="15" /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN">Help us thank God for the safe arrival of our new nephew, Jan 31<b>!</b></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;;" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 2pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Symbol; color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><span style=""><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Pastor/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" alt="*" height="11" width="15" /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN">While we thank God for peace in our area, we pray the rest of the nation would also know peace before and during the elections. </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;;" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: rgb(51, 102, 0);" lang="EN">Thank</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: olive;" lang="EN"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: rgb(51, 102, 0);" lang="EN">you!</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: olive;" lang="EN"><span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN">We’d like to thank everyone who helped us and encouraged us to come to Jos.<span style=""> </span>We feel that we are here to do God’s work and to help spread the Good News of Jesus, and that wouldn’t be possible without your support.<span style=""> </span>We appreciate all your gifts and, especially, your prayers.<span style=""> </span>Thank you so much!<span style=""> </span>If you would like to help support missions in <st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region>, you can send your gifts to: LCMS Mission Senders; <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.</st1:address></st1:Street>; <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">St. Louis</st1:City>, <st1:state st="on">MO</st1:State> <st1:postalcode st="on">63122</st1:PostalCode></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>In the memo line: Watt/Nigeria.<span style=""> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: rgb(51, 102, 0);" lang="EN">Thank you!<span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN">If you would like to stop getting this newsletter please email us at </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: olive;" lang="EN"><a href="mailto:jpersec@hotmail.com">jpersec@hotmail.com</a></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: rgb(214, 224, 214);" lang="EN"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN">or </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: olive;" lang="EN"><a href="mailto:mrsjpersec@yahoo.com">mrsjpersec@yahoo.com</a>.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN"><span style=""> </span>If you get it through the mail, please send a short note to the return address on the envelope.</span><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: rgb(51, 102, 0);" lang="EN">We’d like to hear from you!<span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN">Please let us know how you are, too.<span style=""> </span>If you can, write to us at Nathaniel and Theresa Watt; c/o <st1:placename st="on">Hillcrest</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">School</st1:PlaceType>; Box 652; <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">13 Old Bukuru Road</st1:address></st1:Street>; <st1:city st="on">Jos</st1:City>, <st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region>, <st1:place st="on">West Africa</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>Our email addresses are: for Nate: <u>jpersec@hotmail.com </u>and for Teri: </span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; color: rgb(214, 224, 214);" lang="EN"><a href="mailto:mrsjpersec@yahoo.com">mrsjpersec@yahoo.com</a></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN"> .<span style=""> </span>We love to hear from you!<span style=""> </span>Or if you’d like to add another email address to our list,</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN"> </span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 110%; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN">please let us know</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;" lang="EN">.</span><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-5973506128666943901?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-83135607521361115082007-02-19T04:42:00.000-08:002007-02-19T04:47:10.829-08:00Nate and Teri's newsletter for January is available online in PDF format.<br> <a href="http://www.stjohnshoward.org/NateandTeriNews/January%20Newsletter.pdf">http://www.stjohnshoward.org/NateandTeriNews/January Newsletter.pdf</a> More to come.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-8313560752136111508?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-11428236923884443402007-01-25T03:06:00.001-08:002007-01-25T03:06:15.050-08:00<DIV>Did I get your attention?&nbsp; Okay, okay, maybe "Hostel Takeover" is a little misleading. &nbsp;I didn't really play any part&nbsp;in a&nbsp;political coup, or anything so James Bond-ish.&nbsp; I "merely" helped&nbsp;a set&nbsp;hostel parents have a night off.&nbsp; Once a week the hostel parents are entitled to a night off, and since the kids are, well,&nbsp;<EM>kids</EM>&nbsp;they need some supervision.&nbsp; So, other missionaries are roped into "volunteering" to babysit.&nbsp; </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Nate and I had always managed to somehow avoid the job until this year.&nbsp; Hillcrest now runs two hostels, and so they are going through "babysitters" faster.&nbsp;&nbsp;They needed new recruits and&nbsp;our name finally came up.&nbsp; Nate really has too much going on in the evenings during the rest of the week to be able to help.&nbsp; I told them he couldn't help, but&nbsp;I could if they found another person to help me.&nbsp; (They prefer a tag-team approach, and so do I.&nbsp; Ask any kid I ever babysat, and they'll tell you what a pushover I am.&nbsp; I tend to believe that other parents are much more lenient than me, and will believe just about anything the sweet little children tell me.&nbsp; "My mom always lets me eat candy before dinner",&nbsp;or "I never go to bed before midnight."&nbsp; So a second,&nbsp;less naive, adult is a good idea.)&nbsp; </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>When I found out the 11 kids&nbsp;we would be&nbsp;watching were all in middle and high school, I thought perhaps my role in "Teri's Part in a Hostel Takeover" might be that of the&nbsp;terrible ruler being tossed out by the angry rebellion. &nbsp;I got a little nervous, but felt that I couldn't back out.&nbsp; I kept telling myself that <EM>it was only for the night</EM>.&nbsp; The hostels are right here on campus so I was able to just walk over there.&nbsp; My shift started right after school and was to end at 9 o'clock.&nbsp; The hostel parents are very organized and had a routine all typed up for me.&nbsp; I was to be on my own until 4:30ish.&nbsp;&nbsp;Everything started out pretty good, with only two middle school boys wanting to stay in and "work" on their homework.&nbsp; I kind of knew them because they are friends of the boy next door.&nbsp; The other kids were outside playing after school sports.&nbsp; My "take over" partner was my next door neighbor, who's&nbsp;one of the high school teachers.&nbsp; She arrived some time before dinner and I was glad to see her show up.&nbsp; She's done this before and knows the ropes.&nbsp; When it was dinner time, the cooks rang the bell and we all gathered in the dinning hall.&nbsp; Both hostels eat together and the other hostel parents ( they have altering nights off ) said&nbsp;a prayer thanking God&nbsp;before we ate.&nbsp; ( By the way, the food was&nbsp;not your ordinary cafeteria food!&nbsp;) &nbsp;After dinner, the kids are on a rotating roster to do different clean-up jobs.&nbsp; Once their names were called out they got to work without a peep.&nbsp; No, "Awww, do we have to?"&nbsp; Or, "Mom, I did it last night, it's Deborah's turn!"&nbsp; Then, the schedule said it was back to&nbsp;our hostel and time for devotions.&nbsp; I didn't have time to prepare and neither did my partner.&nbsp; Thankfully,&nbsp;our organized hostel parents had something they were working on and let us use that.&nbsp; The topic was "great people of the Bible"&nbsp;and what made them great.&nbsp; Then we took prayer requests and&nbsp;asked one of the kids to&nbsp;pray.&nbsp; I am always amazed at how well these kids pray out loud and ad lib.&nbsp; That is one thing that, as a kid, we didn't do too much.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prayers were always said&nbsp;by the adult and us kids were&nbsp;just passive participants.&nbsp; These kids&nbsp;pray just like they knew He was listening.&nbsp; It's great and&nbsp;makes&nbsp;me smile, I bet&nbsp;He does too. &nbsp; </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Next on the schedule was study time and bath time.&nbsp; Kids came in and out of the study&nbsp;hall, apparently taking showers as their turns&nbsp;came up.&nbsp; Again, there was no fussing about who's turn it was, or who used all the hot water, or "Ahhhh!&nbsp; I got soap in my eyes!"&nbsp; As for the studying, they were a bit chatty for the first hour and had to be quieted a few times.&nbsp;&nbsp;My partner&nbsp;went into the study hall and told them they were louder than the market&nbsp; downtown on&nbsp;a Friday afternoon!&nbsp; They finally buckled down about&nbsp;45 mins. before bed,&nbsp;then it was pretty quiet.&nbsp; The only exception was when they asked each other for help on&nbsp;what they were working on.&nbsp; Once bed time came they went to bed pretty easily.&nbsp; </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The thing that really impressed me was how mature these kids were.&nbsp;&nbsp;I remember way back when I was in&nbsp;middle and high school.&nbsp;&nbsp;My friends and I were not that mature.&nbsp;&nbsp;And it's not just that they didn't start a food fight in the dinning hall and they didn't write nasty things in the bathrooms, they really know their place with God.&nbsp;&nbsp;A couple of middle school girls got into a debate and before I joined them, I had to pray for wisdom.&nbsp; They were arguing about God's role in disasters, particularly the Titanic, since someone&nbsp;was doing a report on it.&nbsp; We ended up&nbsp;discussing it for&nbsp;a while.&nbsp; God surely helped because all sides got some questions&nbsp;answered.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;God has given these kids have a self confidence that will really take them places<EM>.&nbsp; I thank God for my time with these kids and for the rest that the hostel parents were able to enjoy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pray that they will continue to&nbsp;guide and nourish these&nbsp;kids in the ways of the Lord.&nbsp; &nbsp;</EM></DIV><p>&#32; <hr size=1>Cheap Talk? <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman8/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=39663/*http://voice.yahoo.com">Check out</a> Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-1142823692388444340?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-83848528218034267082007-01-22T05:49:00.001-08:002007-01-22T05:49:57.198-08:00<div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Saturday morning Nate and I went downtown to pick up a few things…<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>Maybe I should explain a little about downtown.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>It's busy and crowded and traffic is nerve-racking.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>But more than that, sometimes going downtown promotes a moral challenge for us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>You see, one of the pillars of Islam is giving to charity, and the mosques want to help their followers fulfill this duty, so they send out beggars.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>They usually send out small boys who are well… pretty determined.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>They will follow you around for at least a block, if you look like a big enough target.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>And I have seen people give them their "pocket change."<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The thing is, the money collected is supposed to go back to the mosques.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The boys don't even get any, as far as we understand it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Well, we're not Muslim, we're Christian.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Buuut, as Christians, aren't we supposed to give when people ask?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Aren't we supposed to give more than what we've been asked of?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The beggars <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">look</I> desperate enough; their clothes are torn and dirty.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>Are they hungry, or are they just doing a job?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>So, what do you do?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>This bothered us for a long time until Nate came up with a good answer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>He buys food from someone in the market and gives the beggars food, instead of money.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>At least we know they're getting something to eat.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>So, back to Saturday morning.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Nate had someone at his door before he even got out of the car.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>It was early enough ( 9:30am ) that only about half of the usual vendors were around.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The beggar was an elderly woman.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>All we could do was hope she would wait in the area as we went to do our shopping.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>We could pick up something a little further away and bring it back as we came back to our car.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Just then, an apple vendor walked by.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>All apples are imported and a little pricey for most Nigerians, so they are always a big hit with the boys.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>He paid for the apple and gave it to the elderly woman with a big smile.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>She wasn't smiling.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>She shook her head, then opened her mouth wide.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>And since Nate didn't quite get her point, she said, "No teeth!"<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>She opened her mouth again to reveal her only four teeth.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Opps.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Everyone around us had a little chuckle.</FONT></div><p>&#32; <hr size=1><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=49935/*http://games.yahoo.com">Bored stiff?</a> Loosen up...<br><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=49935/*http://games.yahoo.com">Download and play hundreds of games for free</a> on Yahoo! Games.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-8384852821803426708?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-87692478572018349462007-01-15T06:59:00.000-08:002007-01-15T07:10:28.196-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_xa7NtirTVww/RauW85JghDI/AAAAAAAAAAk/vvb0LCx6_RY/s1600-h/dancing+around+the+couple.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_xa7NtirTVww/RauW85JghDI/AAAAAAAAAAk/vvb0LCx6_RY/s200/dancing+around+the+couple.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020272182511567922" /></a>dancing around the couple: the dancers brought out the bride and groom and danced around them. This was to bring blessings on their marriage.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_xa7NtirTVww/RauXEpJghEI/AAAAAAAAAAs/htc3f79GeR8/s1600-h/little+boy+with+the+cake.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_xa7NtirTVww/RauXEpJghEI/AAAAAAAAAAs/htc3f79GeR8/s200/little+boy+with+the+cake.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020272315655554114" /></a>little boy with the cake: They moved the cake table around about three times trying to decide on the best spot for everyone to see them cutting it. And this little boy followed them closely, always keeping his eye on that tower of cake.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_xa7NtirTVww/RauXPJJghFI/AAAAAAAAAA0/UUQomwddIPU/s1600-h/the+couple.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_xa7NtirTVww/RauXPJJghFI/AAAAAAAAAA0/UUQomwddIPU/s200/the+couple.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020272496044180562" /></a>the couple: The couple had their own little awning, and were even on a little platform. While we were all waiting for the reception to get underway, they recieved guests as they came up to them to congratulate them.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-8769247857201834946?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-27706520069100468772007-01-15T05:23:00.001-08:002007-01-15T05:23:46.364-08:00<div align=center><STRONG><EM><FONT size=3>More News from November 2006</FONT></EM></STRONG></div> <div align=center><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG>&nbsp;</div> <div align=left>We had a scare in the literacy class that I teach on Sunday afternoons.&nbsp; There was a report that one of my students, "Penny,"&nbsp;was killed in a car accident.&nbsp; She was walking home from school and was hit by a car.&nbsp; I found out right before my class started, and I was devastated.&nbsp; "Penny" was one of my better students.&nbsp; She was also a tough nut to crack; she regarded me differently than the other girls did.&nbsp; The other girls always rush over to sit next to me after class.&nbsp; They want to talk to me, and hear me talk.&nbsp; They want to touch my hair and play games with me, but "Penny" was always more reserved.&nbsp; She wouldn't burst into smiles when I looked her way, or called on her to answer a question.&nbsp; She was always trying her best and seemed to want to <EM>earn</EM> my respect, as if having my attention wasn't enough.&nbsp; She didn't want to act like the other "little" girls.&nbsp; We had started to come to understand each other and were getting along great.&nbsp; All this was going through my mind as I was getting out of the car and walking to our classroom.&nbsp; All the kids were gathered around and following along as I walked.&nbsp; And then I saw her!&nbsp; She was right in among the kids, laughing and playing with the others!&nbsp;&nbsp;Halleluia!&nbsp; It wasn't her after all!&nbsp;&nbsp;I was so happy all through class, I couldn't quit smiling.&nbsp; ( They all&nbsp;probably thought I was nuts. )&nbsp; After class, I talked to "Kay" who recruited me and she said she had just found out that it wasn't our "Penny."&nbsp; It was another little girl with the same name.&nbsp;&nbsp;And she was the second in&nbsp;a week to have been hit and killed by a car.&nbsp; The Fulani village next to the classes lost&nbsp;a young 19-year-old boy.&nbsp; He was one of the chiefs sons.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Kay" had gone to offer&nbsp;them condolensces during the week.&nbsp; They were very appreciative of her concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;That kind of thing happens too often here.&nbsp;&nbsp;Too many people killed or hurt in car accidents<EM>.&nbsp; Please pray for the safety of the children of Nigeria.&nbsp; </EM></div><p>&#32; <hr size=1>Need a quick answer? Get one in minutes from people who know. Ask your question on <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTFvbGNhMGE3BF9TAzM5NjU0NTEwOARfcwMzOTY1NDUxMDMEc2VjA21haWxfdGFnbGluZQRzbGsDbWFpbF90YWcx">Yahoo! Answers</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-2770652006910046877?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-59641337572979173742007-01-14T09:44:00.001-08:002007-01-14T13:59:29.172-08:00<DIV align=center><STRONG>Some November 2006 Highlights and Pictures....</STRONG></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Opps!&nbsp; I forgot to update the blog site with November news! I said I would when I sent out the December Newsletter and then forgot!&nbsp; Sorry!&nbsp; </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Well, one thing that happened in November was the United Nations Day at Hillcrest.&nbsp; (It was recently renamed "Mutlticultural Day" due to the fact that not all of the nations represented here at Hillcrest are actually apart of the United Nations. :)&nbsp; )&nbsp; Anyway, Deborah went as Betsy Ross and Zachariah went as his cousin, Luke.&nbsp; Luke is serving in the US Army, something Zachariah is very proud of.&nbsp; ( Although, he said he would have second thoughts about joining the Army if they wanted to send him someplace hot.&nbsp; Luke recently returned from Iraq, which he reported was very hot.&nbsp;)&nbsp; The Elementary School&nbsp;held an assembly and&nbsp;prayed&nbsp;that the whole&nbsp;world to accept Christ as their Savior.&nbsp; </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The Nigerian man who started the wheelchairs for the handicapped ministry got married!&nbsp; This was the first Nigerian wedding that I attended and it was really something!&nbsp; First of all,&nbsp;we (Lois and I) were late.&nbsp; We left at about the time the wedding was supposed to start, but weren't worried because everything ( especially big events, like a wedding ) start about an hour or so late.&nbsp; Unfortunately, I was not too familiar with the area where we were going.&nbsp; I understood it to be about 30 minutes away, it turned out to be 2 hours away!&nbsp; If I had realized just how far it was, I probably would not have gone without Nate.&nbsp; Well, we were only an hour late for the start of the ceremony because it started (an hour) late.&nbsp; So we missed the bride dancing down the aisle, which I <EM>really</EM> wanted to see.&nbsp; Traditionally, the bride,&nbsp;followed by&nbsp;her attendants, slowly dance up the aisle to the beat of drums and the ladies of the congregation singing.&nbsp; By the time we arrived, the church was PACKED!&nbsp; We went up to one of the side doors and wanted to peek in,&nbsp;just to&nbsp;get a look.&nbsp; We knew we wouldn't be able to find a seat, but after two hours&nbsp;just trying to get there we really wanted to&nbsp;at least get a peek!&nbsp;&nbsp;When an usher saw our&nbsp;pale little&nbsp;faces peering in, he quickly ushered us in and found us a seat...<EM>up front by the foot of the</EM> <EM>chancel!</EM>&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only&nbsp;that, but we were facing the congregation... and the bride and groom!&nbsp; We turned about 3 different shades of red!&nbsp; At least we weren't the last ones to arrive late,&nbsp;they were seated up&nbsp;by the altar!&nbsp; We did make it in time for the sermon which was really good.&nbsp; A former missionary had come to Nigeria especially to perform the wedding for them.&nbsp; He has been a friend of the groom's for many years.&nbsp; He&nbsp;tries to come every couple years to help with&nbsp;the wheelchair mission and&nbsp;many other missions.&nbsp; The sermon was&nbsp;based on Ephesians 5:22-33.&nbsp;&nbsp;In many Nigerian&nbsp;weddings, I understand, the part&nbsp;about wives submitting is about all that is introduced from this passage.&nbsp; The part&nbsp;about how the husbands are to treat their wives is either understated or ignored altogether.&nbsp; The pastor even challenged the congregation to think about this passage&nbsp;in&nbsp;their own&nbsp;marriages.&nbsp;&nbsp;After another&nbsp;hour and a half, the wedding&nbsp;ceremony was over and&nbsp;it was time for the reception.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was held outside in a grassy&nbsp;field with some awings and chairs.&nbsp; It took quite a while for the reception to get going, but we were able to stay to see a couple groups that came to dance for them, and for the cutting of the cake.&nbsp; Someone guesstimated that there&nbsp;were approximately 1200 people&nbsp;in attendance!&nbsp; Unfortunately, it's very unsafe to drive at night so we couldn't stay long.&nbsp; Many cars drive without headlights, and&nbsp;since we had two hours of driving ahead of us, we needed to&nbsp;leave before dinner was served.&nbsp; That's a bummer because I'm sure&nbsp;the joliff rice&nbsp;was good<EM>!&nbsp;&nbsp;Please pray for this couple.&nbsp; Pray that the head of their household will always be God, the Father and that they will be a blessing to each other in their&nbsp;work for the Lord</EM>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>...that's all for now,&nbsp; I'll put some more updates in tomorrow!&nbsp; In His Grip,&nbsp; Teri :)</DIV><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_xa7NtirTVww/RaqnpZJghCI/AAAAAAAAAAY/D580nqIhm-c/s1600-h/zach+and+debri+multicultural+day.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_xa7NtirTVww/RaqnpZJghCI/AAAAAAAAAAY/D580nqIhm-c/s200/zach+and+debri+multicultural+day.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020009064225080354" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-5964133757297917374?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1164893847414183112006-11-30T05:37:00.000-08:002006-11-30T05:37:30.350-08:00<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Thursday,&nbsp;&nbsp;30 November 2006</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp; </DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New &#10;Roman">I teach a literacy class on Sunday afternoons ( I think I’ve <BR>mentioned it before ).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>I teach the younger kids, about 8 to 11 years old.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Well, being young their attention spans tend to run out after about an hour.&nbsp; Some of them stay after class to wait for their older brothers or sisters that are in the other class still going on.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>So, we are left staring at each other, or at least <BR>that was how it was the first day for about 2 minutes. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>I certainly didn’t want to do <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">that,</I> so we started talking, or attempting to communicate, remember English is their second, third or fourth language.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>They teach me some Hausa, which I wish would stick in my brain better.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>I’m sure they are trying to teach me some of the same things, but I can’t hear how I’m saying it wrong.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Hausa is pretty tonal and I can’t pick up my mistakes, which I guess I’m making because they keeping saying the same things, and laughing after I repeat them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>And I’ve been teaching them some things in English, “howdy” is their favorite.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>That really gets them laughing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>I’ve also taught them some little games&nbsp; to do with your hands.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>Like the one where one person puts one hand down and the next person puts one of their’s on top, and you keep stacking hands.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Then, when you run out of hands, you bring up the bottom one up to the top.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>They giggle and get all mixed up.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Then a couple of Sundays ago, I was watching one girl use a stick to draw in the dirt.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>A lightbulb went off!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; <BR></SPAN>I found a suitable stick, too, and started drawing the letters of the alphabet in the dirt and quizzing them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>It was a big hit!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; They wanted&nbsp;to do it&nbsp;too, so we started&nbsp;taking turns.&nbsp;&nbsp;</SPAN>And it just so happens that the kids who stay after are<BR>the ones who need the most help.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Suddenly it wasn’t a lesson anymore, but a game.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;</SPAN>I need to come up with more game-type things to do with them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>&nbsp; <BR> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;<FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">It was the neatest things to see those kids smiling and cooperating.&nbsp;One of the girls acts as though she doesn't like me a whole lot.&nbsp; She just doesn't seem to smile very much and sometimes she rolls her eyes when I give an assignment.&nbsp;&nbsp;And when we play&nbsp;our hand <BR>games, she doesn't&nbsp;join in when the other girls ask her&nbsp; to.&nbsp; But while we were drawing in the dust, she was really having a good time.&nbsp; She would be one of the first to guess and she wanted to take her turn drawing, too.&nbsp; I was so happy to see her enjoying herself without holding back.&nbsp; God is so good to us.&nbsp; I was so very thankful to Him for allowing me to see these girls that way.&nbsp; The warm sun was starting to go down&nbsp;shining on our backs comfortably, the dust was on all over our hands, and smiles were on all over our faces.&nbsp; We were very happy together.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</SPAN></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>&nbsp; <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">God bless you all,&nbsp;&nbsp; Teri&nbsp; :)</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><p>&#32; <hr size=1>Everyone is raving about <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42297/*http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta">the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-116489384741418311?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1164761142776202612006-11-28T16:41:00.000-08:002006-11-28T16:47:31.013-08:00<span style="font-weight:bold;">Nate and Teri Watt<br />Jos, Nigeria, South Africa<br />October 2006<br />In association with www.lcmsworldmission.org</span><br /><a href="http://www.stjohnshoward.org/NateandTeriNews/October%20newsletter.pdf">get the newsletter in pdf format here</a>.<br /><p>This month we has been an exciting one! During the month of October, the school had about a week and a half break. So, Ivan led us all down to Cross Rivers State to his childhood village. ( If you remember from past newsletters, Ivan is Nate’s cousin. Nate’s mother and Ivan s mother are sisters. So Lois was very excited about seeing where her sister, Betty, had raised her family for so many years! ) Thanks be to God for safe travel! We didn t even have car troubles! :) </p><br /><p>We also had the pleasure of escorting the Indiana District President, Dan May, and his wife, Judy, down to the village, too. They were here in Nigeria to lead a retreat for the LCMSers in West Africa. The retreat was to be held here in Jos, but was cancelled due to security issues. There had been some political unrest in Jos, so it was decided to err on the side of caution. Everything is fine, of course. And after the decision was made to cancel, everything was back to normal. We were disappointed not to be able to meet everyone and listen to the guest speakers, but are thankful that everyone was safe. Pray for continued peaceful political resolutions, and thanks to our Great Protector for safety.</p><br /><p>Back to our trip; we had all planned on taking the Mays to Ivan s village before the retreat was cancelled, so we continued with our original plan. His village is in the Southern part of Nigeria; away from Jos and the unrest. It s a long hot, drive down there, but always worth it. Since we had three distinguished guests with us ( the Mays and Lois ), the villages in the area pulled out all the stops! God really blessed us with a wonderful break from all the hustle and bustle of our work. The village is such a peaceful part of God s world, it always puts our perspective back in order. You can easily get consumed by the business of work, wherever you are, and isn t great to have such a Gracious God who can provide peace in the middle of it all? We were invited here and there, and met these chiefs and those, and got the most excellent food to be found in all the world! It really is good to visit the village, the elders always want advice from Ivan about one thing or another. ( He s such a blessing to Nigeria! ) We were also invited to witness The Queen Dance. That is a very high honor, and rarely done. I was glad we were along for the ride! I think the Mays were very happy with their experience in the village, except for the absence of indoor plumbing. The people there are so accommodating and cheerful. We were only sorry that we were unable to be there on a Sunday. We really enjoy worshiping with them, they really know how to praise God! Thank God for such joyous people!</p><br /><p>Planning ahead ...</p><br /><p>It s hard to believe Christmas is coming up so quickly! Only seven weeks until Christmas break for us. It s not time to get the decorations out or anything, but when you re talking about kids and school, you really need to plan ahead. Nate is one of the Junior class sponsors and every year the juniors are responsible for putting on the Craft Fair. So, every Monday night for the past couple of months, we ve been going down to the school to help them make their crafts. The other sponsors are great at the organizing and planning, while Nate and I kind of go where we re told and offer our ideas as best we can. I thank God for the different gifts He has given us, and I pray that we will use them best to bring glory to His Name. </p><br /><p>Nate and I are also involved in helping to plan the annual PRTV Christmas special again. PRTV is the radio and television station here in Plateau State. Every year on the 1st of December they have a Christmas special. They read the accounts of Jesus birth, and they invite schools and choir groups to come and perform dances and sing songs to celebrate the coming of Christmas. We are honored to have been asked to help with this project. It s a wonderful opportunity to bring the message of Christ s birth to so many people!</p><br /><p>They are having it at a new location this year, so we are trying to help them plan out here everything should be set up. Im so excited! Pray this will be a wonderful celebration, putting in our hearts and minds the real reason for the season. And pray the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of those watching and listening!</p><br /><p>On the 26th, I celebrated another wonderful birthday here in Nigeria! Im so blessed to have family and friends here to celebrate with. God really has a wonderful way of bringing people together and knitting amazing relationships. And thank you for your prayers!</p><br /><p>To read more about the Queen s dance please visit our blog site at: nateandteri.blogspot.com</p><br /><p>Kids project</p><br /><p>Every year the Hillcrest kids raise money for a project at Christmas. It helps them to put into action the idea of being good stewards and servants of Christ. This year the elementary school has decided to help out the Mashiah Academy ( a school set up by the Mashiah Foundation ). Grade One is raising money for school supplies, Grade Two ( Deborah s class ) playground equipment, Grade Three student desks, Grade Four TV/ VCR, and Grade Five ( Zachariah s class ) Bibles and Teaching Supplies. The school was started this Spring after the director of the Quilting Ladies discovered that some of the children, whose school fees they were paying for, couldn t read! Mashiah Foundation pays the school fees for the children of the ladies enrolled in their program. She determined it was not worth paying school fees if the kids weren t even learning to read. The kids didn t have any learning disabilities, they had just slipped through the cracks. So, she pulled them out and set up a school for them. They started with three students and now they are up to 10. They are looking forward to a volunteer coming from the States whose going to be their new teacher. </p><br /><p>The Hillcrest Elementary Principal wrote in her letter home to the parents, that she believe they can raise enough to meet these goals plus pay for blackboards, classroom materials, and uniforms ( almost all schools here have uniforms, except Hillcrest ).Please pray that the Hillcrest kids can raise enough to really make a difference for the kids at Mashiah Academy. </p><br /><p>( Deborah s class has already started with their project, the children are getting sponsors to donate money for the number of books they read. Im in trouble because she loves to read, and guess who she came to first! :D ) </p><br />$$$$$$$<br /><p>The Decision</p><br /><p>We did it! We finally made the decision that we had been putting off. We had been going back and forth about whether or not to commit to another two years. The school had officially asked us to sign up again, but we weren t sure that it was what would be best for the all of us. Nate and I were ( on most days ) excited about staying longer, but knew that our son was a little less than enthusiastic. We wanted to make the decision as a family, so that all of us would feel comfortable with the choice. Zachariah took longer than the rest of us to warm up to our new home, but he s come around. We ve been making a list of things we wish we had brought with us. We ve been working on this list since we first arrived here a year and a half ago! We talked to Zachariah about what he would like bring back with him, and we found that his list of demands, err wishes, were well within our means. Sooo we re signing up for another term! We ll be home for furlough this summer where I hope we ll be able to attend family reunions, the LWML convention, and many churches. Oh, and shop! Give thanks to God that we were all able to come to a mutual agreement and that everyone is happy!<p><br /><p>Prayer Requests</p><br /><ul><br /><li>Thanks to God for helping us to make the decsion to stay on another two years! Pray that God would use us to glorify His name.</li><br /><li>Pray for the people who come to us for help. Pray that God would give us the wisdom in what is the best way to help them.</li><br /><li>Pray that the PRTV Christmas special would be a success in the fact that God would use His Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of those involved and those watching. That more people would come to know Him better.</li><br /><li>Give thanks that all things political seem to be going peacefully now. And pray that peace will continue.</li></ul><br /><p>Thank you! Wed like to thank everyone who helped us and encouraged us to come to Jos. We f eel that we are here to do Gods work and to help spread the Good News of J esus, and that wouldn’t be possible without your support. We appreciate all your gif ts and, especially, your prayers. Thank you so much! I f you would like to help support missions in Nigeria, you can send your gif ts to: LCMS Mission Senders; 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63122. In the memo line: Watt/Nigeria. Thank you! I f you would like to stop getting this newsletter please email us at jpersec@hotmail.com or mrsjpersec@yahoo.com. I f you get it through the mail, please send a short note to the return address on the envelope.</p><br /><p>We d like to hear from you! Please let us know how you are, too. I f you can, write to us at Nathaniel and Theresa Watt; c/o Hillcrest School; Box 652; 13 Old Bukuru Road; Jos, Nigeria, West Africa. Our email addresses are: f or Nate: jpersec@hotmail.com and for Teri: mrsjpersec@yahoo.com . We love to hear from you! Or if youd like to add another email address to our list, please let us know.</p><br /><p>A little Sidebar...</p><br /><p>...and Jesus, she not say aaanyting.</p><br /><p>I was reading with Katie yesterday from Mark 15:16-32, the account of Jesus being mocked by the soldiers and His crucifixion. After she reads a section in Hausa, I ask her to translate it into English. This way I know that she comprehends what she s read, and it helps her work on her English, especially vocabulary. She has a tendency to make everything and everyone female. So it shouldn t have surprised me when she was declaring Jesus as Queen of all the people, but it did. I was a little confused as to who she was talking about. Then I realized she was talking about Jesus, the King of all people. I smiled and corrected her. One of the ways she describes Jesus silence in the midst of being accused, beaten, and mocked is to say, ...and Jesus, she not say aaanyting! When she says this, she has a huge smile across her face, as if to ask, Isn t it amazing? How could He do that? We talk about how great His love is for us, and what an incredible thing He did for us. We pray together that we would be able to learn from His Word.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-116476114277620261?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1164637198650464292006-11-27T06:19:00.000-08:002006-11-27T06:19:58.720-08:00<div>The Queen's Dance is not performed often, and it's a great honor to have been able to witness it.&nbsp; The way it works is this:&nbsp; There are several villages in the same language group, and at about 2 years old a girl is chosen from among the language group to become the new Queen.&nbsp; ( More about "retiring the old Queen in a minute. )&nbsp; This two year old is given to a guardian, her new father.&nbsp; ( Remember this is an honor, and in Nigeria everyone in the village&nbsp;is like family, so it's not as&nbsp;strange as we would&nbsp;think.&nbsp; Besides, the "old" mom and dad are still as much apart of this child's life as anyone.&nbsp;Didn't Hilary Clinton use the African phrase, "it takes a village to raise a child," often? )</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Okay, now the new Queen is trained by the&nbsp;former Queens in how to perform the many dances.&nbsp; The Queen they have now is probably only about 8-10 years old, and so she's not fully trained yet.&nbsp; Before she came out they gave us a "pre-show" where former Queens danced and came around to shake our hands.&nbsp; They gave us kola nuts to eat.&nbsp; These extremely bitter nuts are almost soley composed of caffine.&nbsp; So they can give you a tummy-ache and a&nbsp;good little buzz, but&nbsp;they hard to get past the tongue.&nbsp; However, they are <EM>the </EM>thing to give guests, they are a sign of friendship.&nbsp; They also offered us palm wine, which has an aquired taste.&nbsp; ( I can't understand why these things are so favored by so many, when the rest of their food is so fantastic! )&nbsp;We were told that it&nbsp;would be just a little bit because the Queen was still being designed.&nbsp; We&nbsp;thought that their&nbsp;English wasn't quite right, that they&nbsp;really meant&nbsp;she was getting dressed...&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>When&nbsp;the Queen came out she was standing on the shoulders of one of her&nbsp;guardians.&nbsp; While he walked around a little bit with her&nbsp;up there, she moved to the beat of the drum with her&nbsp;arms and shoulders.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We could see that she wore a colorfully beaded head dress that looked like many strands of beads flowing around her head.&nbsp;&nbsp;We figured it was&nbsp;somehow woven in with her real hair because it was quite securely fastened on her head.&nbsp; Her face was painted with white dots and stripes, as was her arms, torso, and legs. ( Turns out she <EM>really&nbsp;was</EM> <EM>being designed.</EM> )&nbsp; She wore pink and blue striped&nbsp;knitted shorts with bells around her waist and ankles.&nbsp; She was truely beautiful!&nbsp; I was filming it so I couldn't ask questions, but Lois&nbsp;was told that each of the dances&nbsp;were representative of different animals.&nbsp; She was a lion, a duck,&nbsp;etc.&nbsp; She danced to&nbsp;a drummer&nbsp;and&nbsp;about 15-20 ladies sang and clapped.&nbsp; Everyone was quite excited, there were probably only about 150-200 villagers present.&nbsp; Ivan said that since it was&nbsp;mid-day the others&nbsp;needed to be out at the&nbsp;farms.&nbsp; She&nbsp;performed for about 20 minutes.&nbsp; And during the dance people periodically go up to her and "spray" her with Naira, the currency here.&nbsp; Retirement:&nbsp; A Queen "retires" when she gets married or becomes pregnant, which ever comes first.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I hope to figure out how to post a short clip of the dance, please be paitient with me.&nbsp; I'm technilogically challenged.&nbsp; </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In His Grip,&nbsp; Teri&nbsp; <IMG src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/04.gif"></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp; </div><p>&#32; <hr size=1>Want to start your own business? Learn how on <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=41244/*http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-index">Yahoo! Small Business.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-116463719865046429?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1162330534211193432006-10-31T13:35:00.000-08:002006-10-31T13:35:34.290-08:00<DIV>Hello!</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Just wanted to say "Happy Recreation Day" everyone!&nbsp; Deborah came home from school today and said, "Oh, by the way, we learned about Recreation Day today."&nbsp; I must have looked a little puzzled because she clarified her statement by saying, "You know, with Martin Luther and all that?"&nbsp; "Oooh," says I, a little light bulb going off, "you mean, Reformation Day?"&nbsp; My daughter, quick little girl that she is replies, "yeah, that's what I said."&nbsp; She then proceeded to tell me all about what happened on the first "Recreation Day."&nbsp; :)&nbsp; </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So... "Happy Recreation Day!"</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>In His Grip,&nbsp; Teri and company<IMG src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/04.gif"><IMG src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/24.gif"><IMG src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/47.gif"><IMG src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/21.gif"></DIV><p>&#32; <hr size=1>Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42973/*http://www.yahoo.com/preview"> new Yahoo.com</a> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-116233053421119343?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1160313627622079192006-10-08T06:20:00.000-07:002006-11-28T16:45:51.150-08:00<center><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;">August 2006</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em>When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?... O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:3-4,9<br /></em></strong><br /><strong><em>Jos, Nigeria West Africa</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Nate and Teri Watt</em></strong><br /><strong><em>In association with LCMS World Mission</em></strong><br /><a href="http://www.stjohnshoward.org/NateandTeriNews/September newsletter.pdf">Download the Newsletter in PDF Format</a></center><br /><p>September News…</p><br />September was a busy month for us, as I m sure it was for all of you too. I miss going to the Nebraska State Fair and riding the rides on the midway. Eating cotton candy and funnel cakes. Hope some of you enjoyed that for us this year. <br />Well, we’ve had our own set of new experiences here, not quite up to the midway and cot ton candy standard, but ones that we’ll enjoy looking back on. We’ve had some interesting highway experiences that gave us that thrill of near death, but without the predictable quick and safe end to the ride you find on the midway. And some of the food here is good, but seriously lacking in the sugar content of my beloved cot ton candy. Of course, the Fair only lasts a short time and all the joy and excitement that goes with it fades. But the relationship we all have with Jesus is eternal, and that s why we’ve come so far away from our familiar settings. We want to see everyone get the chance to benefit from the joy and excitement of t hat experience, too.<br />Nate’s been a busy guy<br />...at least we don t see much of him, so I m guessing that means school is keeping him busy. Uncle Ivan had given Zachariah a Bible last year and he really enjoyed it. It is a youth version of ESV with very interesting maps and such. Well, I was getting worried. I hadn’t seen it around for some time and Zachariah didn’t seem to remember where it had gone to either. I finally, nervously, asked Nate if he had seen it anywhere. He said, yeah, that it was in his backpack. Apparently, he had swiped it and was using it in devotions in his first period Calculus class. He said it was a nice small size for him to carry around instead of his bigger one. Please pray for the students to hear the Word and follow the Truth.<br />As for t he rest of us<br />Lois s ladies finally got a very difficult wall hanging done. She was really concerned about it because it seemed to be a lit t le too challenging for the level that her ladies sew at . Her part is over and it has been handed off for the finishing touches. Sooo, now that that is finished she can work on what she s been planning for her students to do. Lois has come up with some really great ideas for her quilting ladies. Right now, she s teaching them how to make pastor s stoles. She already has several beautiful designs worked out . The ladies are learning a new one almost every week. Her goal is to make a bunch of them and take them to the 2007 LWML National Convention in Sioux Falls. She wants to sell them there for the Mashiah ladies. We always see her at the kitchen table with her graph paper and ruler working out another design ( or perfecting one ).<br />Zachariah, our son, is in the 5th grade this year. In Bible class, they’ve been studying the Psalms. They even got a chance to try and write a Psalm in their own words. I had a surprise today when the 5th grade lead chapel. They told about the different kinds of Psalms they learned about, recited some of their memory verses ( Psalm 8 and 23 ) and read some of the Psalms that they wrote. To my surprise Zachariah got up and read his Psalm! It received a few chuckles and I think he was smirking just a lit t le as he read it . But I thought that was a great way for the kids to really learn about how the author of the Psalms may have been feeling when he wrote them. And it provided a neat way to express yourself to God. Writing a letter to God is different than just praying whats on your mind or in your heart. Put t ing your words on paper seems to cement them just a lit t le bit more, makes you edit and re-edit your words and really think about what you re trying to express. It helps you to understand what God already sees in your heart . I finally finished teaching the vicar s kids in September. Not because they were experts already, but because they moved to Obot Idom. That s where the LCN (Lutheran Church of Nigeria) Seminary is located. Their dad is going to go back to finish his pastor s t raining. The kids were really doing very well. After only about 16 or 17 lessons, they were reading at about a first grade level. They showed real promise.<br />At the end of our lessons, we would sit and read books together. They did pretty good, struggling just a lit t le bit . Then I would leave the books we read so they could practice for the following day. When they would come back and read the same book again, they would sail right through it. This gave me great hope that they will be able to continue. I worry, because we had so few lessons. On the night before their last lesson I really had a hard time.<br />I was trying to decide which of the numerous things we hadn’t yet covered I should finish with; there was still so much they needed to learn. It’s in God s hands now. Lois and I were talking about it and she said it really was a miracle how well they picked it up. She never met anyone who learned to read so fast. God must really have plans for those kids. Please pray for them. I did have some discouraging news from their mom, though. It seems that the daughter probably won t be going to school after grade six due to school fees and the fact that girls are needed to help in the home. That really made me sad to hear, she really seemed to like learning. The bright side is that at least she can read now! And if you can read, you can learn anything. And most especially, the Bible. That s the most important studying they’ll do! The father has been out of school for 6 years now. We were pleased to be able to help him with some of his school fees. (He was sooo happy! He s praying we stay in Nigeria. He has three more years of school left ahead of him. ) Some of Everett s memorial money was designated to come here for missions and we are enjoying being able to help in ways we were unable to before!<br />Questions??? If you have any questions you’d like answered, or are curios about something you think should be in the Notes on Nigeria, let me know at mrsjpersec@yahoo.com. We’d like to hear from you! Please let us know how you are, too. I f you can, write to us at Nathaniel and Theresa Watt; c/o Hillcrest School; Box 652; 13 Old Bukuru Road; Jos, Nigeria, West Africa. Our email addresses are: f or Nate: jpersec@hotmail.com and for Teri: mrsjpersec@yahoo.com . We love to hear from you! Or if you’d like to add another email address to our list, please let us know.<br />Thank you! Wed like to thank everyone who helped us and encouraged us to come to Jos. We f eel that we are here to do Gods work and to help spread the Good News of Jesus, and that wouldn’t be possible without your support. We appreciate all your gifts and, especially, your prayers. Thank you so much! I f you would like to help support missions in Nigeria, you can send your gifts to: LCMS Mission Senders; 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63122. In the memo line: Watt/Nigeria. Thank you! I f you would like to stop getting this newsletter please email us at jpersec@hotmail.com or mrsjpersec@yahoo.com. I f you get it through the mail, please send a short note to the return address on the envelope.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-116031362762207919?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1158952016772688042006-09-22T11:58:00.000-07:002006-09-22T12:06:56.796-07:00<center><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;">August 2006</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em>“ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. <br>The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Jos, Nigeria West Africa</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Nate and Teri Watt</em></strong><br /><strong><em>In association with LCMS World Mission</em></strong><br /><a href="http://www.stjohnshoward.org/NateandTeriNews/August newsletterhjr.pdf">Download the Newsletter in PDF Format</a></center><br /><p>August News…</p><p>Well, school finally started and everything is in full swing. The kids are adjusting well and I think Nate is too. He’s doing a fine job of working with the little kids and they really enjoy him. I help out by being in the computer lab to help answer the easy questions. The kids only have about half an hour, so the quicker they get helped the more fun they have. They are already doing well with the hard part: getting the computer on and logging onto the network. Now the hardest part, at least for us, is answering questions about how to play the teaching games. Some day, when we have oodles of time, we’ll have to go down there and “play” so we can answer their questions better during class time.</p><p>As for his big kids, they are doing well too. Chemistry and AP Calculus are off to a good start. He has added an extra study night during the week, so now he has a study night for each course. That way he can give each set of students equal attention. Nate is one of the sponsors for the Junior Class and by default, so am I. This year they host a craft fair in November. On Monday nights we go down to the Home Ec. Room and the Shop to help them make their crafts to sell. It’s funny to listen to the students jokingly grumble about their chemistry homework while they work. Sometimes I think they forget who I am married to.</p><p>Along with the start of school, came the first chapel service. It was lead by the superintendent like usual. He started out by telling us the new theme for the school year: “Watch and Pray” taken from Matt. 26:41.</p><p>I just love the way everyone incorporates the school theme into just about everything. Last year the theme was “Called to Serve” from John 13, the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. The fifth grade teacher posted a sign on their door which read “servants entrance.” Simple, but it acted as an important reminder of how we should all be acting. ( She’s a neat teacher, and Zachariah is really enjoying her.) Using a school theme everywhere, one can’t help but be affected by it. You have Bible class once a day and the teachers try to put the gospel in where ever they can, but being surrounded by the theme like that adds something extra. It is applied to how we live and how we are to interact with one another. In Bible class you learn stuff for a test and when the teachers talk about how God relates to their subject you can distance yourself from what you hear, but when they talk about the school theme, it’s different. It is not something you want to ignore. It’s everywhere. People talk about it in class, in chapel, at school events, it’s in the hallways… everywhere! They put it into a perspective in which a kid can really see how God wants us to live.</p><p>They relate the theme in so many different ways, that somewhere, one of those times, it just has to get you. One of those times that it is presented to you, it has to be clear to you just who God is and how His grace is our salvation! God is working!</p><p>As for the rest of us…</p><p>Lois has a helper. There is a couple here who are short term missionaries. The husband is an electrician and working on the Lutheran Church of Nigeria’s ( LCN ) electrical problems, of which there are many!</p><p>She came to help with the VBS in July and since has been going to Mashiah with Lois on Tuesdays and Thursdays.</p><p>They enjoy working together, and she brought some new ideas to the quilting table, as well. Right now Lois is working on teaching the ladies how to make stoles for pastors. She is having to make her own patterns and turn them into paper piecing patterns. It is challenging and hard work, but she is enjoying it.</p><p>She is happy to be working with such up beat ladies. One lady we met on the first day as we were touring Mashiah had only been there for a couple of days. She was very quiet, I don’t remember her even saying anything, and she seemed very sad. The director who was with us giving us the tour, put her arm around her and asked her how she was doing. The woman didn’t respond. The director spoke to her kindly and then we finished the tour. The next time we saw her was maybe a week later in Lois’ class. This time she smiled and spoke a little bit. She was still very tired looking and we suggested she go rest. Then when Lois saw her the third time, only a few days later, she was singing and laughing right along with the other ladies! She doesn’t even look like the same lady we saw that first day! Lois says she thinks of her when she starts to feel a little down. She says that lady’s new found hope for life gives her hope, too. She is really an Inspiration to us all. The new life she has in the Lord and her new “family” gives her the energy and the joy to go on. He has awakened her spirit and given her new life in His love.</p><p>As for me, I’ve been working with the vicar’s kids in their own literacy class. While we were doing the VBS last month in Mado Village, I found out that his kids can’t read. They are about 10 and 14, going into fourth and seventh grade. I was talking to the vicar’s wife one day and it just came out in conversation that they couldn’t read. I thought I wanted to help, but the problem was that they are leaving soon. He is going back to the seminary in Obot Idom in the middle of September. I wasn’t sure I could be of much help if they were going so soon. I asked Lois about it before I offered to help. ( I’m so glad she is here! ) She seemed pretty confident that we could do something for them. The first day, we evaluated just how much they knew. They couldn’t read the first word of “Go, Dog, Go!”</p><p>Lois was shocked, but didn’t show it. We got right to work and by the end of the second day, they could read small sentences! They were sooo happy! They have an old chalkboard that we use for their lessons. I was getting ready to erase everything at the end of the day and the kids stopped me. They said they wanted to use it to help the other kids in the area. It is scary and sad to think of how many people here in Nigeria, and around the world, can’t read. Think about how many times a day you read. I’m not talking about finding time to sit down and read a good book, or The Good Book. But how many times a day do you read something, a sign to show you where you’re going? Or at work, how much do you have to read there? How about reading the newspaper? Or a recipe? Or your emails? When you know how to red, you can learn anything. When you can read, it becomes just a natural part of your day that you don’t even think about it. It is so important in my prayer life to be able to read from the Bible. It makes my heart ache to know that others don’t have that luxury. And some not only because they can’t read, but because they can’t afford a Bible.</p><p>Think about it, how many Bibles do you have in your house? How many books do you have? How many books do your kids have? I doubt most households here own more than one or two books, if any. And what about those people in the other parts of the world that aren’t even allowed to own a Bible, let alone confess their faith? They need our prayers so much. Pray that they will be strengthened and encouraged by the Lord through their fellow believers, so that they will continue to grow in their faith even in such strenuous conditions. Pray that God will protect them and keep them safe.</p><p>Notes on Nigeria…</p><p>This time I’d like to talk about how we get from point A to point B, in other words, the roads. ( There is a positive note or two at the end. ) The roads here are very dangerous, as you may have heard from us before. They are laid down very thin. Then the overloaded trucks (lorries ) drive over them and help to create gigantic potholes ( ones that will swallow a car ). To top it off, rainy season washes away the dirt underneath the thin roads, leaving even less of them to try and drive on. As for traffic, well, there are rules to the road. I’m not talking about the ones that the government has set up, I’m talking about the unwritten rules. These are not easily figured out until you have broken one. At this point your fellow travelers will let you know that you’ve goofed by looking at you like an idiot, shaking their fists at you, and sometimes yelling a bit. Even then it can still be unclear as to just what you did wrong.</p><p>Before we came over, we were told it’s not nice to complain about traffic, and I’m not. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. Here comes one of the positive notes. I have figured out one rule of the road and I like it a lot. You see, no one else here really wants to die, either. So the guy who’s coming straight at you because he’s passing the lorry ahead of him, is in fact, not suicidal. He has spent his driving life learning how to gauge oncoming traffic and he knows you don’t want to die either, so you’ll slow down and scootch over a bit to avoid him. ( Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work. There are too many examples along the road to prove that too many times people gauged incorrectly. Having a car accident here is almost always tragic, there are not a lot of little accidents.</p><p>That is why we ask for your prayers when traveling, we really need them. ) Ok, now for the other positive note. The roads being as they are, with giant potholes, have created a small source of income for some hardworking individuals. These industrious people have taken it upon themselves to fill in the potholes with dirt and rocks from the side of the roads. As you pass by they hold out their hand for payment. Many people don’t pay, they just drive by. But they keep doing it anyway.</p><p>They do it for the few people who do stop and give them a small token of their appreciation. Industrious, hopeful, and persistent. God bless them. Questions???</p><p>If you have any questions you’d like answered, or are curios about something you think should be in the Notes on Nigeria, let me know at mrsjpersec@yahoo.com.</p><p>We’d like to hear from you!</p><p>Please let us know how you are, too. If you can, write to us at Nathaniel and Theresa Watt; c/o Hillcrest School; Box 652; 13 Old Bukuru Road; Jos, Nigeria, West Africa. Our email addresses are: for Nate: jpersec@hotmail.com and for Teri: mrsjpersec@yahoo.com . We love to hear from you! Or if you’d like to add another email address to our list, please let us know.</p><p>Thank you! We’d like to thank everyone who helped us and encouraged us to come to Jos. We feel that we are here to do God’s work and to help spread the Good News of Jesus, and that wouldn’t be possible without your support. We appreciate all your gifts and, especially, your prayers. Thank you so much!</p><p>If you would like to help support missions in Nigeria, you can send your gifts to: LCMS Mission Senders; 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63122. In the memo line: Watt/Nigeria. Thank you!</p><p>If you would like to stop getting this newsletter please email us at jpersec@hotmail.com or mrsjpersec@yahoo.com. If you get it through the mail, please send a short note to the return address on the envelope.</p><p><br />Prayer Requests…</p><br /><ul><li>. Please thank God for the rain that has helped the farmers.</li><br /><li>. Please thank God for safe travel.</li><br /><li>. Please pray that more children would not fall through the cracks and that they would learn to read so that even the unbelievers will be able to read a Bible and learn the Truth</li><br /><li>. Please pray that people around the world will be able to pray and confess their faith without fear of retribution soon.</li><br /><li>. Please pray that God would be with them and keep them safe until such time comes.</li><br /><li>. Please pray for more missionaries to come to the field and reach out to those who haven’t heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.</li><br /></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-115895201677268804?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1156418298696464312006-08-24T04:18:00.000-07:002006-08-24T04:20:31.430-07:00<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"></span></strong><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">In this edition:</span></strong><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">&nbsp;&nbsp; * </span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Nate’s new job</span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">&nbsp;&nbsp; * </span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">the schpeel on the first-time-ever VBS in Mado village</span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span></strong><br/><strong><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;">What’s going on over here…….</span></em></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s hard to see Nate behind all those books!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">When he came back from his Advanced Placement Calculus conference last month he weighed about 80 lbs more than when he left, due to the exciting new math and chemistry books he picked up.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, he sits on the couch with open books to his left and open books to his right, plus the ones open on the coffee table in front of him! ( Nate has been immersing himself since he came back so that he can build up a good, usable curriculum.&nbsp;&nbsp;School starts August 2nd already, so he doesn’t have much time left.&nbsp;&nbsp;About a week before school starts he and the other two computer lab gurus will be spending all their time down there getting the labs ready.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nate will be teaching </span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">AP Calculus, Chemistry and </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Elementary Computers this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">He also supports the computer network half-time.&nbsp;&nbsp;That means that while one of the other computer gurus teaches a class, Nate “puts out fires” and vice versa.&nbsp;&nbsp;If a computer goes berserk, he straightens it out; if one of the administrator’s computers goes a little buggy, he gets the bugs out, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s a big job.&nbsp;&nbsp;As for the Elementary Computers, well, he’s a little nervous there.&nbsp;&nbsp;The elementary classes ( 1-5 ) each take a&nbsp;&nbsp;computer class once a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;He’s not nervous about the computer stuff, he’s nervous about the little kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said, </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">“I teach High School, I don’t know how to teach little kids.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">He was assigned to do it because the teacher who taught it last year went back to Canada; her term was up.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think Nate will do fine with the little kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;Plus, he has already </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">recruited his mom into helping him to understand the mystery of “the little kid mind.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">He will come up with some stuff to teach and she will help him to put it into little kid terminology.&nbsp;&nbsp;They’ll make a great team.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This school is so amazing!&nbsp;&nbsp;When a kid graduates from Hillcrest they have received a great education.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think I’ve mentioned before that this school is considered to be such a prestigious school that </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Muslims are willing to “take the chance” that their kids will become Christian</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">, just to receive the quality education they receive here.&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, to me the religious education they receive here is one of the reasons why it is such a high quality education.&nbsp;&nbsp;These kids receive the Word of God from day one at Opening Chapel to the last day at Closing Chapel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some of them end up in a very difficult situation.&nbsp;&nbsp;I mentioned that the Muslims “risk” the chance of their kids becoming Christian, </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">but they </span><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">highly </span></em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">discourage it</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;So the result may be that the kids can’t express their faith openly.&nbsp;&nbsp;They confide in teachers and don’t often confess their faith freely until they are in college or beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">That’s a lot of pressure for a kid</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">, for anybody.&nbsp;&nbsp;We need to </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">continue to pray for the graduates </span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">and for the kids who are still attending Hillcrest.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their hearts and give them faith and the courage they need.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s hard to put a number or a percentage on the amount of Muslims who convert due to their start here at Hillcrest.&nbsp;&nbsp;It would be wonderful if we could, but it is not for us to worry about in the end.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">God will take care of it; </span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">He keeps those numbers close to His heart.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><strong><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;">As for the rest of us</span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">…</span></em></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It is really hard to keep Lois idle!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">As I mentioned in our last letter, she has completed a project already, and now she is working on teaching them a couple of new patterns.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ladies at Meshiah do their most beautiful work when they use the paper-piecing technique to quilt.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ¼” seam gives them a hard time and they are not as precise.&nbsp;&nbsp;But give them a paper-piecing pattern and they really go to town.&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, this means that Lois (and I, just because I wanted to) had to learn this paper-piecing technique.&nbsp;&nbsp;The director helped us to understand how it works and a couple of light bulbs went off over our heads.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">she’s re-doing all of her patterns </span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">to fit the paper-piecing technique.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">She’s very pleased with the ladies and their work</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;She’s always commenting on how happy they are.&nbsp;&nbsp;With all that they have been through, being ostracized from their families, becoming widows, losing their means of support, how is it they can still sing and laugh?&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s all because of the hope they now have in the Lord.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is always there when everyone else shuns you, and He promises eternal life.&nbsp;&nbsp;Why aren’t </span><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">we </span></em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">singing and laughing for joy more often?&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Plus, she helped with VBS!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">We helped with the first-time-ever VBS held at the Mado village Ottoemeller Hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;( Mado is a village that has become part of Jos. )&nbsp;&nbsp;I heard them asking for volunteers to help during the announcements at church.&nbsp;&nbsp;When they said that they only had one volunteer besides the director, I figured I better see if they wanted my help.&nbsp;&nbsp;I told Lois I was going to the planning meeting and </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">asked her to come </span><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">just to give ideas</span></em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;( I should have known better. )&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">I said that she had a job and didn’t need to volunteer, just give us ideas for the lessons and crafts.&nbsp;&nbsp;I knew they didn’t have a regular VBS program to work with and could use some advice.&nbsp;&nbsp;When we got there, it turned out that they had no idea about the number of children they would have.&nbsp;&nbsp;The director was thinking about a hundred and the Nigerians thought maybe more.&nbsp;&nbsp;There were only going to be three expatriates and five Nigerians as “staff.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Hmmm… that could be tricky because </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">we only had two rooms to work in</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;The vicar’s wife said that if some little kids came ( 6 and under ) she would take them over to “have class” in her house next door.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lois decided that she’d come to help on her&nbsp;&nbsp;three days off.&nbsp;&nbsp;I wanted to tell her “no,” but knew we could use her help.&nbsp;&nbsp; Well, the first day we had a hundred kids…plus fifty!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">By the time Friday rolled around we had about 300 kids!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">The first day we thought we’d give everyone nametags and take attendance.&nbsp;&nbsp;We ran out of nametags pretty quick and realized that if we took attendance everyday it would probably take 30-45 minutes!&nbsp;&nbsp;We had planned for story/lesson time and a craft time, then we went outside for games.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since there were sooo many kids, Lois and I took the smaller kids and played games with them.&nbsp;&nbsp;We taught them some of our games and </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">they were eager to teach us </span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">some of theirs.&nbsp;&nbsp;We had so much fun!</span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But with so many kids and so little resources, we were pretty stressed after the first couple of days</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;We were trying to come up with solutions to bridge the gap between too little supplies and “too many” kids and we were feeling frustrated.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wondering if we could make it work, I could only turn to the Lord in prayer.&nbsp;&nbsp;When all else fails, pray, right?&nbsp;&nbsp;Sometimes it takes a great deal of stress to get it through my thick, sinful skin to remember that </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">He is in control, not me</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">. And man, oh man!&nbsp;&nbsp;If only I had put it in His hands earlier, instead of trying to fix things myself, I wouldn't have needed to be so stressed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course things turned out great, His plans are always far greater than anything I could come up with.&nbsp;&nbsp;He reminded us why we were there in the first place, to share the love of Jesus and the good news that He is our Savior.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">We were there to show them the love of Jesus and they gave it back ten fold!&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">They don't have much, but they sure know how to enjoy what they have!&nbsp;&nbsp;The last day we gave them some school supplies like school bags, crayons, spiral notebooks, pencils, some construction paper, scissors, coloring books and rulers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those kids sang and danced around like my kids do at Christmas when they get a whole pile of toys.&nbsp;&nbsp;It made my heart sing to see them so happy.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as we were getting ready to send everyone home at the end, it started raining – hard.&nbsp;&nbsp;So we ended up singing and dancing and enjoying each other’s company a little while longer.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those kids are truly amazing.&nbsp;&nbsp;I’ll never forget the blessing they were to us that week.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Sunday, we invited the kids to come and worship at the hospital’s weekly chapel service for a special thanksgiving service.&nbsp;&nbsp;Usually, the vicar says, there are about 35 adults and children in attendance.&nbsp;&nbsp;That Sunday </span><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">we had all the kids </span></em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">and some of the parents.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was huge! </span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The vicar came to our house later the next week and told us of </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">the impact our little VBS had on the community.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">The adults said they needed to have one, too.&nbsp;&nbsp;They wanted to learn more about the church because there had been some strange ideas about what kind of church he was leading.&nbsp;&nbsp;And it was the vicar’s first time ever experiencing something like VBS.&nbsp;&nbsp;He had never heard of it before, and now he says he will take that wherever he goes and use it as an outreach to the communities he is placed in.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Lord certainly knows what He’s doing!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">He turned a small idea into His greater, more perfect plan!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Amazing!&nbsp;&nbsp;All praise be to God!</span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><strong><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;">Nigerian Notes….</span></em></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We had advertised the VBS for kids between the ages of 8-12.&nbsp;&nbsp;We quickly learned that this is culturally not possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;The older siblings, and sometimes they are not much older, take care of the younger ones.&nbsp;&nbsp;So when the older kids tried to come to the VBS without their younger siblings, the little ones would cry and follow anyway.&nbsp;&nbsp;We were also surprised at how well they took care of each other during the time they were with us.&nbsp;&nbsp;We rarely had to deal with any discipline issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;If a little kid fell down and cried, 6-10 other kids would come and pick him up and make him feel better.&nbsp;&nbsp;You’d think with so many kids there would have been a lot of problems with fights.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think I saw pushing twice and it was easily redirected.&nbsp;&nbsp;They are remarkably independent.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><strong><em><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;">Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks…</span></em></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><ul><li><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Pray for Nate as he begins a new aspect of his job.</span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Pray for the students at Hillcrest, and everyone, who is struggling to know and understand God.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pray that they will have the courage and strength to develop a strong faith in the Lord.</span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Pray for the kids who were at VBS.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pray that they grow up healthy and that they may grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.</span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Praise God for His wisdom through the VBS program and that the community may continue to be moved by the Spirit to learn more about what Christ has to offer.</span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Give thanks for opportunities laid before us to do God’s work.</span></li></ul><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span></strong><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">We’d like to hear from you!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">Please let us know how you are, too.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you can, write to us at Nathaniel and Theresa Watt; c/o Hillcrest School; Box 652; 13 Old Bukuru Road; Jos, Nigeria, West Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our email addresses are: for Nate: </span><a href="mailto:jpersec@hotmail.com">jpersec@hotmail.com</a><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;"> and for Teri: </span><a href="mailto:mrsjpersec@yahoo.com">mrsjpersec@yahoo.com</a><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;"> .&nbsp;&nbsp;We love to hear from you!&nbsp;&nbsp; Or if you’d like to add another email address to our list, please let us know.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Thank you!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">We’d like to thank everyone who helped us and encouraged us to come to Jos.&nbsp;&nbsp;We feel that we are here to do God’s work and to help spread the Good News of Jesus, and that wouldn’t be possible without your support.&nbsp;&nbsp;We appreciate all your gifts and, especially, your prayers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you so much!</span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">If you would like to help support missions in Nigeria, you can send your gifts to: LCMS Mission Senders; 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63122.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the memo line: Watt/Nigeria.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;">Thank you!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></strong><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:78%;"></span></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">If you would like to stop getting this newsletter please email us at </span><a href="mailto:jpersec@hotmail.com">jpersec@hotmail.com</a><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;"> or </span><a href="mailto:mrsjpersec@yahoo.com">mrsjpersec@yahoo.com</a><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;">.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you get it through the mail, please send a short note to the return address on the envelope.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-115641829869646431?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1155905897069879732006-08-18T05:58:00.000-07:002006-08-18T05:58:17.110-07:00<div>Hello again!</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>It's Friday already!&nbsp;&nbsp; The kids have been in shcool now for two and a half weeks!&nbsp; They seem to be getting along well.&nbsp; Zachariah's class had been expecting to get a new missionary kid in his class but they have been delayed.&nbsp; He's the only missionary boy in his grade and it makes him kind of lonely.&nbsp; The new guy should be coming by January.&nbsp; ( Please pray he makes it okay, as Zachariah would really like a friend in his class.&nbsp;)&nbsp; Deborah is doing great.&nbsp; Second grade seems to fit her well.&nbsp; She's so proud of her new responsibilites as a second grader.&nbsp; </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Teri has been teaching a new literacy class as a result of VBS.&nbsp; It turns out that the vicar's kids were unable to read, so she offered to help out.&nbsp; The catch is that they leave the first half of September!&nbsp; But they are doing great!&nbsp; They are about 10 and 14 and just had slipped through the cracks at school.&nbsp; Here you get graduated to the next grade even if you haven't met all the requirements.&nbsp; A lot of kids are illiterate.&nbsp; They also don't teach phonetics.&nbsp; From what I've heard ( I haven't visited any schools ), but they make the students memorize all the two letter words, then the three letter words, and so on.&nbsp; It doesn't really seem to be as affective as the phonics.&nbsp; Well, after about 9 or 10 lessons, these kids are really catching on!&nbsp; They are so proud of themselves!&nbsp; And so are we!&nbsp; I think by the time they leave, they'll be able to continue on themselves.&nbsp; It will be very hard for them in school, though, considering that they will be expected to understand 5th and 7th grade reading levels.&nbsp; Please pray for them, that they will be able to continue learning and growing.&nbsp; Also, please pray for all the kids and adults around the world who are unable to read.&nbsp; Pray that someone will be put in their lives to help and encourage them, so that they will be able to one day read the scriptures for themselves.&nbsp; </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In His Grip,&nbsp; Teri and company</div><p>&#32; <hr size=1>Want to be your own boss? Learn how on <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=41244/*http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-index"> Yahoo! Small Business.</a> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-115590589706987973?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1153827571580033692006-07-25T04:39:00.000-07:002006-07-25T04:39:31.586-07:00<p class="mobile-post">21 July 2006 Weshoo! That's done! ( more on that in a minute... )<br />Hello all! Welcome to my first attempt at blogging. I pray this<br />"blog" ( I think that is such a funny name! ) finds you all doing<br />well. Well, we did it! We just got done with VBS! For the first<br />time, the Mado Village Clinic held a VBS. They announced at church<br />that they needed volunteers and some and Lois stepped up to help. And<br />we had, as our fearless leader put it, our best hopes and fears<br />realized as we had about 300 kids! AAAAAAHHHH! The first day we had<br />about 150, but it grew and grew! And guess how many teachers...on a<br />full day we had 10<br /> plus two teenagers helping. It had been advertised for only 8 to 12<br />year old kids, but later we found that culturally that just doesn't<br />work. The older kids pretty much take care of their younger siblings,<br />so the little ones cry and follow the older ones, even if they try to<br />go without them. Oh well, the more the merrier! We were pretty<br />stressed after the first couple of days. After trying to come up<br />with solutions with the other staff and not feeling like we could<br />make it work, I could only pray that God would take care of it.<br />Because that's why we were there in the first place, right? To share<br />the love of Jesus and the good news that He is our Savior. And man,<br />oh man. If only I had put it in His hands earlier, instead of trying<br />to fix things myself, I wouldn't have been so stressed. It takes a<br />maximum of stress sometimes to get it through my thick, sinful skin<br />to remember that He is in control, not me. And it sure is a good<br />thing He is,<br /> because He does things so much better than I could ever dream.<br />Those kids were so amazing. I think I got tons more out of it than<br />they did. We were there to show them the love of Jesus and they gave<br />it back ten fold! They don't have much, but they sure know how to<br />have fun! The last day we gave them some school supplies like school<br />bags, crayons, spiral notebooks, pencils, some construction paper,<br />scissors, coloring books and rulers. Those kids sang and danced<br />around like my kids do at Christmas when they get a whole pile of<br />toys. It made my heart sing to see them so happy. The director<br />wanted to make sure the "staff" had something for thier kids to show<br />her appreciation for helping all week. When she asked me if I wanted<br />to take something home for my kids, I had to timidly decline. My<br />kids have all those things in abundance, and it made me feel ashamed<br />to know my kids would appreciate them, but such a gift would not<br />bring them the sheer joy it brought<br /> to those kids. It rained, no it POURED, as VBS came to an end<br />today. This meant that we could not send the kids home just yet. So<br />we sang and danced and enjoyed each other's company. They are so<br />smart and inquisitve. Two girls about 9 and 11 came up to me and<br />sang me songs they had made up. They both said they were going to use<br /> thier new paper and pencils to write them down. When the rain<br />finally subsided enough for the kids to go, the staff had our final<br />meeting. We prayed for the children, that they would be safe and<br />continue to grow in their faith. I ask that you help me pray for<br />those precious little souls. God bless them all!!!!! I will<br />never forget the way God has blessed me this week and I pray that He<br />will continue to keep and protect those little ones. They truely are<br />the jewels of His crown. Sunday we will go to worship with them and<br />they ALL said they would be there. I hope so. :) More later....<br /> Grace and peace to you all,<br /> Teri and company</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-115382757158003369?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1153099451014795472006-07-16T18:24:00.000-07:002006-07-16T18:24:11.033-07:00<span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;">Nate and Teri Watt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;May & June 2006 </span><br/><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;">Jos, Nigeria&nbsp;&nbsp; West Africa</span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Centaur;font-size:180%;">“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that</span><br/><span style="font-family:Centaur;font-size:180%;"> I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…”&nbsp;&nbsp;Ephesians 6:19</span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:130%;">A big </span><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:180%;">“howdy” </span><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:130%;">from West Africa!</span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;">In association with LCMS World Mission&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; www.lcmsworldmission.org</span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">I began this letter some time in the middle of May and then one thing after another… when I became a missionary some how I thought as I got on the plane and flew over the Atlantic I was leaving my shortfalls behind.&nbsp;&nbsp;I guess they got tucked neatly away in my baggage…so here is a compilation of news for you to peruse.&nbsp;&nbsp;As I said, it starts in May…</span></em><br/><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span></em><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;font-size:130%;">A ( </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;font-size:130%;">couple </span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;font-size:130%;">) months’ worth of&nbsp;&nbsp;mission news…</span></strong><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, as I’m writing this school is almost at an end.&nbsp;&nbsp; With everyone counting the days,</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Nate’s Advanced Placement Calculus class took their big test.&nbsp;&nbsp;The AP test counts as a final exam, so the last few weeks of school they don’t really need to prepare for a final.&nbsp;&nbsp;So what to do with them for the time remaining?&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, more studying anyway, and watch a couple of math movies ( yes, there really do exist ), and of course a field trip!&nbsp;&nbsp;Nate gave them a chance to come up with some field trip ideas and </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">the kids decided </span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">to do some </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">math tutoring to second graders at a nearby Nigerian school</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;They had a really great time, and it allowed them to give back to the community in an area that they excel at and enjoy.&nbsp;&nbsp;The little kids were taught in a very different way than what they are used to, and </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">they really treasured the high school students’ attention.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">I’m always glad to hear of high school students volunteering for community work, </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">even if they’d rather have major dental work done</span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;It gives them an opportunity to see how very blessed they are and how very much the rest of the world needs their help.&nbsp;&nbsp;To see that people are all very much the same, even if they don’t have the same material advantages.&nbsp;&nbsp;This kind of experience </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">really opens their eyes to what God expects of us</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;He wants us to take what we have, our materials, our talents, and our love, and reach out to those who are in need.&nbsp;&nbsp;We are all His children and He will provide for us through the love He gives us for each other.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Another teacher who taught AP Psychology took his class to the local Sanitarium and asked Nate to come as an extra chaperone.&nbsp;&nbsp; Let’s just say he saw some things that he will never forget.&nbsp;&nbsp;It really brought him back to the reality of where he is and the lack of money many institutions have to care for their patients.&nbsp;&nbsp;I have been to the “regular” hospital here a number of times and have spoken to a couple of nurses and patients, so I already had a little more of an idea what doctors and nurses have to work with and what their challenges are.&nbsp;&nbsp;This visit to the Sanitarium was a shocking reminder of how fortunate we are in the more industrialized parts of the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">And here at Hillcrest, we have a very nice piece of the industrialized world to work with.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a very nice computer set up that allows us a neat way </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">to stay in touch with our supporters via an on-line video chat</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;We did that with a school in Iowa this month ( </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">in May </span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">).&nbsp;&nbsp;It was really neat to see a gym full of curious kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;It helps us to stay in touch with life back home, even if we only see a small window of it.&nbsp;&nbsp;We hope that by talking with them and answering their questions they might be able to </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">understand how we live and work here</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, we are subject to cloudy skies in the rainy season, which can cause some glitches.&nbsp;&nbsp;But it is well worth the effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;If this is something you’d be interested in, please let us know and we can arrange an on-line chat with you and/or your church or school.&nbsp;&nbsp;We love to do it!&nbsp;&nbsp;You can email Nate at </span><a href="mailto:jpersec@hotmail.com">jpersec@hotmail.com</a><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"> or me at </span><a href="mailto:mrsjpersec@yahoo.com">mrsjpersec@yahoo.com</a><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;font-size:130%;">Teri’s news…</span></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To make things easier in these letters I’m going to give people names.&nbsp;&nbsp;They won’t be their real names just to be on the safe side.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll call the mother-daughter team that take me teaching on Sundays, May and Faith.&nbsp;&nbsp;May, the mother, has been </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">asked by the Muslim tribe surrounding the teaching center to set up a program for their kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">She still wants them to show more interest, but in the mean time she is working on a schedule and looking for a possible extra teacher.&nbsp;&nbsp;When we got in the car to go home, she turned to me and said, </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">“ This is no small thing we are trying to do.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">May said that we really need to ask our supporters for prayers in this.&nbsp;&nbsp;The leader of this Muslim tribe has been known in the past to be fanatical, but seems to have softened.&nbsp;&nbsp;For him to have </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">even considered </span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">help from Christians, let alone </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">ask </span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">for it, is </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">a big step in the right direction</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;The materials we are using are from a Christian based program and May was sure to make them fully aware of that.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is praying, as are we, that they will continue to show enough interest to get things started.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is a real opportunity to witness to these people, and they really need it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For the sake of making life easier, we’ll call the adult woman I’ve been reading with, “Katie.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Her and her daughter, who speaks very good English, came up to the house one day.&nbsp;&nbsp;Katie’s daughter explained that she came with her mother to help ask for English lessons as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Katie wants to learn to read English</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">, and her daughter explained that she would also like help in speaking it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sometimes when Katie talks to others she is not always able to get her point across.&nbsp;&nbsp;( This is most certainly true.&nbsp;&nbsp;On many occaisions when talking with Katie I thought I understood her stories, until the very last sentence or two, which completely changed the meaning of them. )&nbsp;&nbsp;When I went to get the reading materials, the missionary who sold them to me said that adults tend to learn it faster than children.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is definitely proving him right.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Katie has only had about 8 lessons and has already gotten farther than the children I teach on Sundays</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course we usually work together about twice a week, which helps </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">a lot.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">I really like the teaching program we’re using, but my biggest complaint is with some of the materials, the kids and Katie can’t really relate to them.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, the card showing the letter “B” has a picture of a buffalo on it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, I’ve only been here a year, but I haven’t seen one buffalo around and I don’t know anyone else who has either.&nbsp;&nbsp;( The “A” card has a picture of an antelope on it.&nbsp;&nbsp;When I showed it to Katie and described briefly what the animal is like, she looked at it thoughtfully and asked, </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">“So, do you eat this one?” </span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">)&nbsp;&nbsp;I keep debating over whether or not I should make up my own cards with my own pictures that these people could better relate to.&nbsp;&nbsp;The only down side is that although they don’t know what a buffalo is, they </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">learn </span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">what a buffalo is, sort of.&nbsp;&nbsp;And more knowledge can’t be bad, right?&nbsp;&nbsp;On the other hand, they are just being introduced to these things, and wouldn’t it be more beneficial for them if they had a picture of something they knew of to better relate with the sound/letter?&nbsp;&nbsp;Like “boy” for Bb instead of “buffalo”, or “Nigeria” for Nn instead of “nightingale.”&nbsp;&nbsp;(Before I had the cards with pictures of animals, I used “Nigeria” for “N” because frankly, I couldn’t remember the animal the real cards used with “N.”&nbsp;&nbsp;And now </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">the kids still shout, “Nigeria!,” when they see the “N” </span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">card, even though the picture is of a nightingale.)&nbsp;&nbsp; I was reminded in an email of something someone told me before I left the country, that </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">God gives us a job to do and then He gives us the love to do it wholeheartedly</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;That certainly seems to be what has happened to me, and look out it could happen to you! (&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Rainy season </span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">is upon us and with it come many exciting things.&nbsp;&nbsp; When the first rain came, school was still in session.&nbsp;&nbsp;We live on the school campus and within five minutes of those first drops hitting the ground, </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">I could hear the children had ran outside of their classrooms screaming with delight</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;The roofs are made of tin and when the rain comes down, it makes it impossible to hear a teacher trying to give a lesson.&nbsp;&nbsp;So, the tradition here is that when the first rains come, the elementary kids run out of the classrooms screaming like banshees to play in the long awaited cool rain.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">And everyone thoroughly enjoys God’s blessing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Along with the first rains come the </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">flying termites</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;They swarm out of their flooding homes and are clapped out of the air by hungry children.&nbsp;&nbsp;When they catch a good amount they take them home and they get fried up in a little bit of oil.&nbsp;&nbsp;I hear it’s </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">a lot like popcorn</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nate and our neighbor, who is from Canada, could not wait to try these little treats.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our neighbor asked a Nigerian lady to prepare some for him and he brought them over and proudly offered some to Deborah, our 7 year old daughter.&nbsp;&nbsp;She took one look at them, screamed, and hid under the couch.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nate eagerly tried them and says they’re </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">not too bad if you don’t get the soggy ones</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;Eeeeeew!&nbsp;&nbsp;That took the adventure right out of me, so I haven’t tried them yet. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">May 26th was our last day of our first year of school here in Nigeria.&nbsp;&nbsp;It ended with tears at graduation, jubilant cheering at closing chapel, and grades above board all around.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not a bad start…</span></em><br/><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span></em><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;font-size:130%;">Now June has arrived…</span></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;…and with it came Nate’s mom</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nate went back to the States in mid June for an Advanced Placement Calculus conference.&nbsp;&nbsp;And he brought back his mother!&nbsp;&nbsp;Nate’s parents had planned on doing mission work in their retirement years.&nbsp;&nbsp;And they were able to make a few trips in the years when Everett was feeling good.&nbsp;&nbsp;One trip took them to Venezuala for a year.&nbsp;&nbsp;When Everett was called to his heavenly home, </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Lois felt the Lord calling her here</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;She has a ton of ideas to show the quilting ladies at the Meshiah Foundation vocational training center.&nbsp;&nbsp;These ladies are living with HIV, but with the hope they have found in the Lord at the Meshiah Foundation, they are living positively.&nbsp;&nbsp;Most are widows who didn’t even know why their husbands died until the doctor asked the lady to be tested.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are many stories to be told from Meshiah.&nbsp;&nbsp;We will be filling you in on some of them in the months to come as Lois starts teaching them new quilting ideas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">She plans on staying for about a year with us</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">, and really, she has enough ideas to stay for two or three years!&nbsp;&nbsp;The director wanted Lois to start working “as soon as she was able.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Which means she asked me almost daily for the first week and a half after Lois had </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">first stepped off the plane </span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">if I thought that would be “soon.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Actually, she was more patient than Lois probably was.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lois seemed to adjust very quickly to the time zone change.&nbsp;&nbsp;The third day she was here she was asking what she should be doing around the house to help out.&nbsp;&nbsp;( I remember my first week I was barely functional! )&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, we let her start her work, but had to keep reminding her to start slow.&nbsp;&nbsp;That’s not easy for her, she’s got so many ideas and is so excited to help.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meshiah was given an order for a tablecloth that needed to be done ASAP because it was a gift that needed to be sent to the States.&nbsp;&nbsp;And the person making the order knew someone was flying back to the States in a week!&nbsp;&nbsp;Not to mention it is a design they have never done before.&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, thanks to Lois and the quick stitching of some talented Meshiah quilters, it looks like it will be done with time to spare.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">The director says that the ladies are only working at about 30% their capacity </span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">and she just doesn’t have as much time to give them as she’d like.&nbsp;&nbsp;That’s why </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">she was sooooooo excited to hear that Lois was coming to give her time to them!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In June, I was able to take a Hausa class </span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">offered by the Hillcrest Hausa teacher.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was excellent.&nbsp;&nbsp;I was so amazed one day when I was listening to some people speaking Hausa and I realized </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">I knew what they said!&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">We met from 8:30 – noon.&nbsp;&nbsp;During our tea break one day, the teachers were discussing something in Hausa.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of them said, “They will hear,” meaning us students.&nbsp;&nbsp;And the other teacher replied, “Let them hear.”&nbsp;&nbsp;After a few moments I realized I understood them and blurted out, “I heard that!”&nbsp;&nbsp;Everyone laughed because they all </span><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">hear faster </span></em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">than I do.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">I am hoping this will help me with my kids on Sundays</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;A lot of them don’t understand English so well.&nbsp;&nbsp; And learning to read and write a foreign language you don’t speak much of is kind of futile.&nbsp;&nbsp;We may have to do something else with them.&nbsp;&nbsp;But </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">I’d really like to be able to start our reading sessions out in a prayer in both English and Hausa</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;If they get nothing else out of our time together, I’d like them to know that we can all speak to God as we would to our own Father because that’s who He is, only better.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;font-size:130%;">Nigerian Notes…</span></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the things I learned in my Hausa class is that they call the motorcycle taxis here an “achaba.”&nbsp;&nbsp;In Hausa it basically describes what happens to you when you fall off the motorcycle, “achaba” means “to be crushed.”&nbsp;&nbsp;By the way, I don’t ride them anymore.&nbsp;&nbsp;(</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><strong><em><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;font-size:130%;">Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks…</span></em></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"> </span><br/><ul><li><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Give thanks to our Father for the safe travel Nate and his mother had in getting here.</span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Give thanks for strong bodies and minds to do the work He lays before us. </span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Please pray for Nate as he prepares for another year of teaching at Hillcrest.</span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Please pray for me and the students I have on Sundays.</span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Please pray for Lois as she begins working with the ladies at Meshiah Foundation.</span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Please pray for our kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;Me and Nate would love to sign up for another two-year term, but want our kids to be very happy here, too.&nbsp;&nbsp;Right now, our son is still not excited about staying.&nbsp;&nbsp;Please pray that God’s will be done and for us all to embrace His will. </span></li><br/><li><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Let’s give praise to the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amen!</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">We’d like to hear from you! </span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Please let us know how you are, too. If you can, write to us at Nathaniel and Theresa Watt; c/o Hillcrest School; Box 652; 13 Old Bukuru Road; Jos, Nigeria, West Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our email addresses are: for Nate: </span><a href="mailto:jpersec@hotmail.com">jpersec@hotmail.com</a><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"> and for Teri: </span><a href="mailto:mrsjpersec@yahoo.com">mrsjpersec@yahoo.com</a><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"> .&nbsp;&nbsp;We love to hear from you!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Thank you!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">We’d like to thank everyone who helped us and encouraged us to come to Jos.&nbsp;&nbsp;We feel that we are here to do God’s work and to help spread the Good News of Jesus, and that wouldn’t be possible without your support.&nbsp;&nbsp;We appreciate all your gifts and, especially, your prayers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you so much!</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">If you would like to help support missions in Nigeria, you can send your gifts to: LCMS Mission Senders; 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63122.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the memo line: Watt/Nigeria.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><strong><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">Thank you!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></strong><br/><strong><span style="font-family:Perpetua;"></span></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">If you would like to stop getting this newsletter please email us at </span><a href="mailto:jpersec@hotmail.com">jpersec@hotmail.com</a><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"> or </span><a href="mailto:mrsjpersec@yahoo.com">mrsjpersec@yahoo.com</a><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;">.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you get it through the mail, please send a short note to the return address on the envelope.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Footlight MT Light;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-115309945101479547?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1151446316162111042006-06-27T15:11:00.000-07:002006-06-27T15:17:04.210-07:00<span style="font-size:85%;">A note from Lois Watt (Nathaniel's Mother), now In Nigeria on a mission trip;</span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;">Dear family,</span><br/><span style="font-size:85%;">We got here with no problems. I was a long ride and I didn't sleep very much. It seemed as though they were always feeding us on the plane. We got on at 5:30 and so we had a meal , then we changed time so we ate breakfast at my time of 12 midnight. The Nigerian people are so friendly. Nathaniel and Teri have really made it their home. The kids are happy and have lots of friends. I am sure I will like it too. I have not gone over the Mashiah Foundation (A mission project for women with Aids) yet but Nathaniel said I should rest a week. I feel really good. All for this time. I Love you all and God bless you. Mom</span><br/>-- Lois Watt.<br/><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-115144631616211104?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1146779404453235232006-05-04T14:49:00.000-07:002006-05-04T14:50:04.476-07:00Nate and Teri Watt April 2006<br />Jos, Nigeria West Africa <br />In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.<br />From His temple he heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.<br /> Psalm 18: 6<br />Greetings, once again, from Nigeria…<br />In association with LCMS World Mission www.lcmsworldmission.org <br /><br /> I chose this Bible verse this time because we’ve had some distressing times since I wrote our last newsletter. Many of you may already know, but for those of you who may not have heard, Nate’s father passed away on February 10th. We were told that he was very ill and we needed to come home quickly. We made the arrangements as quickly as possible, hoping and praying to be able to give him one last hug, say one more “I love you”, and see one more of his infectious smiles. Unfortunately, with all the people working on plane tickets, visas, and substitutes for Nate’s classes, we still didn’t make it. He passed away only two days before we got on the plane to come home. We came home as planned, and were able to make it to the funeral. <br /> As I read what I have just written, it makes me sad all over again. But I have to let you know of the wonderful ways in which God works in our lives. Through modern technology ( not available to missionaries of old ), we were able to talk to Nate’s dad on the phone the night before he died. All of us, even the kids, could still hear the love in his voice. That’s one way, here’s another: he died surrounded by love; with his wife, their kids, grandkids, and his pastor. Hymns were sung, prayers were said, and the love overflowed. We would have done anything, and we tried everything, to be apart of that. But knowing he passed away surrounded by so much love, only to walk into our Heavenly Father’s arms, brings us comfort. “From His temple he heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.” It is so comforting to know that not only can we call on God in our darkest hours, but that He will also hear us. Praise be to God!<br /><br />What has been going on in Nigeria…<br /><br /> Nate has been working on his second semester of teaching here at Hillcrest and cannot believe where the time has gone. The Calculus class he is teaching is an AP class. That means if the students pass a test, they will earn college credit for the class and not have to re-take it in college. Well, the test date is set for a predetermined time and that time is coming up FAST. Seeing the way he has his nose in three textbooks at the same time, I’d guess Nate would like more time with the kids before the big day. (Don’t teachers always wish for more time preparing the students in their care?) He continues to offer an open study session once a week, which I have heard many parents thank him for. A couple of days ago, I was beginning to wonder how much of a difference we really make here. I was having some doubts. The devil was doing his thing, trying to make it easy for me to say, “Maybe we should just pack it up and go home.” Then, the Lord stepped in. He put several parents in my path; parents of Nate’s students. I don’t really know them or have occasion to meet up with them. But, for some reason, I kept bumping into them and they said they just had to stop me and “tell me how much they really appreciate my husband.” They all had very nice things to say about how their kids really like him and his style of teaching. They didn’t just make small little compliments to be nice, either. They told me over and over again how much Nate has made a difference. I almost felt like I was on candid camera or something. I kept wondering, “How did they know that I needed to hear that?” It was really weird. One mother told me how much she had worried about how her son was ever going to get through chemistry. He was not a very serious student and science was not one of his strong subjects. She said her and her husband prayed and prayed for quite some time last year, knowing it was going to be difficult. She said she was so excited to hear of the new teacher coming (Nate) and that he would be teaching the chemistry class this year. They felt an answer to their prayers was coming. They thought the new face in the class would help. Not only did it help but, now this once casual student is doing well and unhappy if he is late to the study sessions.<br /> As part of Nate’s job, he helps with the computer network here at the school. Well, apparently when someone is able to help with computers, the word spreads quickly. Nate has been approached to work on other missionaries’ misfit computers. He loves to work on them. He takes these gadgets apart and usually gets them going again, if he can get the right parts. He was recently asked to fix a portable DVD player for a Nigerian whose ministry is to help handicapped people get wheelchairs. He was a victim of Polio when he was a boy and now walks around on his hands. His father stopped paying school fees for him when he was in elementary school because his father said it was useless to spend money on a cripple. Eventually, he went back to school at 19 and became a theological teacher. He started a small shop that makes special wheelchairs for other Polio victims at no cost to the recipient. He finally gave up teaching when the shop grew too big to just run on the side. In addition to the wheelchairs, the handicapped kids and adults more importantly receive a Bible. So as our new friend says, “Even the Muslims receive the Word of God.” This man relies on donations to build the wheelchairs, so he made a DVD (video) to use when he travels around giving presentations. When his machine to play the DVD was broken, he asked Nate to help. He was able to fix it and the man was so very thankful. That’s another way that Nate is working for the Lord, he helps others to do their jobs.<br /> Nate led chapel again last week. I really like sitting in on his chapels. He did such a good job of describing what the road to heaven looks like. It is not paved by our good deeds, our adherence to the rules, or how much we give to our church. This is somewhat of a challenge over here. It sometimes confused, even in the churches, that we are not going to get ourselves to heaven. There is only One who is the truth and the life. And there is not one of us will get to the Father, except through Him. The road to heaven looks like Jesus. His love for us, His sacrifice for us…that’s what the road to heaven looks like.<br /><br /> Teri has been busy with a new project. One she never would have expected to be apart of … ever. I’m leading a class teaching children how to read. For those of you who don’t know why this seems so far from what I envisioned doing here, let me fill you in. I am terrified of the head of the classroom. I always cringed at the thought of 16 little pairs of eyes looking at me, waiting for me to DO something. My mother-in-law was (and still is at heart, I think) a wonderful primary teacher. I must have told her a dozen times that it was something I could never do. I thought it was terrifying to be responsible for helping some trusting young child to learn something so important as reading. I was sure I would botch something like that up. I figured if I were in charge, kids would end up reading backwards or worse. Well, I am learning that the words “I could never do …this-or-that” must really perk up God’s ears because here I am, at the head of the class. ( Did I mention that I have no teacher’s training? Yikes! )<br />It all started with dinner at one of Nate’s student’s house. After the kids went out to play after dinner, the mother talked about how her daughter, Nate’s student, had been teaching a group of women to read on Sundays. The class had grown because a bunch of children started coming, too. The mother ended up taking over the women’s group and the daughter the children. Now that that class had already almost doubled, they were looking for some help. The classrooms they use are just outside of Jos, and a Muslim tribe surrounds the area. The mother was hoping that the Muslims would see how well the Christian kids are learning and want her to start a class for them. She would love to use it as an outreach and bring them the Gospel. My original thought was to go and see how all this is done; maybe it would help me with the “teaching” I was doing with the woman I mentioned in my earlier letters. I had asked to go with them on the following Sunday to observe. Somehow on the trip out to the classrooms, I had agreed to take over half the class and teach it the following Sunday. I am telling you folks, it was like someone else (hint, hint) had control of my mouth. I would never have agreed to do that, not in a million years. But, now I am doing it, with God’s help. And I am more surprised than anyone, but I LOVE it. Sometimes, I can’t get to sleep at night because I am thinking of how to do this or that better. ( P.S., it worked! The Muslims have seen the success of the other children and have asked if a class could be set up for them, too! So, again she is looking for more volunteers to help. ) Sooo, if you are sitting at home reading this letter about some missionaries out in Africa and thinking, “I could never be a missionary,” be careful. Someday you may find that someone else (hint, hint) has taken you over and you wake up far away from home doing something you never thought you could.<br /><br />As a family we’ve been busy with a baby! No, no, it’s not like that. There is a pro-life mission here that helps young pregnant women. If they won’t be able to take care of their newborns, they help find adoptive homes so the women don’t choose to have abortions. If there isn’t a home approved by the government social services before the baby is born, then the mission finds foster homes for the little cuties. One of those foster families recently had to travel out of the country for a week and asked if we could watch their little guy. It was quite a neat experience. I was glad to see how well our kids really loved him, too. I was worried they might be jealous because of all the attention he was going to need. Instead they loved to play with him and helped a lot when I just had to get stuff like dinner done. He’s about five months old and has been with the same foster family since he was born. They pray that the paper work for the adoptive family goes through soon because the adoptive family is missing so many “firsts.” There is an amendment before the Nigerian government that would allow for international adoptions and for private adoption agencies to open, like the one the pro-life mission has ready to go. This amendment would also allow the orphaned children of AIDS victims to find loving homes. Please pray that this change would come to pass. All of God’s precious little ones deserve a loving home to grow in.<br /><br />Some more good news …<br /><br /> Someone, we don’t know who, bought us a wonderful new stove! The workers were over doing some repairs when the head maintenance guy asked the others to bring in the new stove. I thought perhaps the constant smell of burnt food had somehow softened (or annoyed) someone at the top of the ladder, and I was getting a different used stove. When I saw the beautiful new stove coming into my kitchen, I was speechless (really rare for me). I said they must have the wrong house, but they assured me they didn’t. I asked, actually I begged, to know who did this. The head maintenance guy just said, “Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah! I know and you don’t!” When I found my words again, I told them that it was a beautiful stove but that there was just one problem. They looked, but couldn’t see anything wrong. I told them the problem was that now if anything burned I couldn’t blame the oven! They laughed and said it was such a great stove that it would probably tell me when something was done! So whoever you are out there, thank you! We thank you from the bottoms of our happy tummies! We want you to know that we have been thanking God for you ever since. God bless you.  <br /><br />Nigerian Notes:<br /><br /> A wise person suggested to us that we have a spot in our newsletters that tell you a little something about Nigeria. Here it is! I thought I’d start with the size. Nigeria is about the size of two California’s side by side. It is divided into 36 states. It is said that one out of every four Africans lives in Nigeria. Generally speaking, the Muslims live in the Northern half of Nigeria and the Christians live in the Southern half. Jos, the city we live in, is right in the middle of the country. There has been a “gentleman’s agreement” between the two, so we’re pretty safe. It has been said that if there were a Christian revival in Jos, it would spread to the whole of Nigeria. If Nigeria had a Christian revival, then it would spread all over West Africa. If West Africa had a Christian revival, then the whole continent would soon follow. Let’s pray for a revival and see what the Lord has in store for us. <br />When I ask how many people live in Jos, I hear anywhere from 1 to 4 million people. The current guesstimate of the country’s population is between 120-160 million people. We were part of the census that took place in March. When we find out the current statistics on just how many people there really are, we’ll let you know.<br /><br />Pray for us:<br /><br />If you’d like to pray for us, here are some prayer requests: <br /><br /> Thanks to God for whoever bought us the new stove. We pray that God let them know how much we truly appreciate it. <br /> Thanks to God that next year Hillcrest will have a chaplain! The gentleman whom I wrote about and asked for prayers has agreed to be our chaplain next school year. ( so thanks for all your prayers! )<br /> Thanks to God for all the times He allows us to see His work through us.<br /> Please pray for our family over the loss of Nate’s dad. Pray that we can get back to the joy we first had when we got here. It’s been hard coming back to the place that kept us away from “one last hug,…”<br /> Pray that all the children in foster care ( all over the world ) be placed in loving adoptive homes that will bring them to Christ.<br /> Please pray that I am always able to meet the expectations of all those little eyes waiting for me to DO something. Pray that through their new knowledge of reading, the kids will come to know Jesus, and share Him with others.<br /> That the Holy Spirit continues to work in the hearts of the non-believing students here at Hillcrest, that they would come to know Christ as their Savior.<br /><br />We’d like to hear from you! Please let us know how you are, too. If you can, write to us at Nathaniel and Theresa Watt; c/o Hillcrest School; Box 652; 13 Old Bukuru Road; Jos, Nigeria, West Africa. We love to get letters, hope to hear from you soon! Thank you! We’d like to thank everyone who helped us and encouraged us to come to Jos. We feel that we are here to do God’s work and to help spread the Good News of Jesus, and that wouldn’t be possible without your support. We appreciate all your gifts and, especially, your prayers. Thank you so much!<br /><br />If you would like to help support missions in Nigeria, you can send your gifts to: LCMS Mission Senders; 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63122. In the memo line: Watt/Nigeria. Thank you!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-114677940445323523?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1138124705025880872006-01-24T09:45:00.000-08:002006-01-24T09:45:05.066-08:00 <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border: medium none ; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border-style: double none; border-color: windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 4.5pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.15in;" valign="top" width="590"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">"I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples."</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Psalms 108:3</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">God's blessings from Nigeria!</span></b></p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border: medium none ; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 215.6pt;" valign="top" width="287"> <p class="MsoNormal">Nate and Teri Watt</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jos, Nigeria</p> </td> <td style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 215.65pt;" valign="top" width="288"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right">LCMS World Mission</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><a href="http://www.lcmsworld/">www.lcmsworld</a><a href="http://mission.org">mission.org</a></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">January Newsletter</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">What's been happening?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 3pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>There's been <i>aaa lot</i> going on since I wrote our last newsletter some time ago.<span style="">&nbsp; </span><b>We've celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's! </b><span style="">&nbsp;</span>They all seemed very different and yet something was familiar about them.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We celebrated Thanksgiving with the other LCMS missionaries here in Jos – outdoors around a couple of picnic tables (which is very different from the usual chilly Nebraska Thanksgivings.)<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We had a huge selection of delicious foods, which were actually very similar to the traditional Thanksgiving fare.<span style="">&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For Christmas and New Year's we were a little further south and we nearly melted from the heat ( <i>very </i>different from the winter's we are accustomed to.)<span style="">&nbsp; </span>I've been torn between the excitement of creating new family traditions and missing the old family familiar routines back home.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Things <i>were</i> different over the holidays, but one thing remained the same, the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He is always there for us, waiting for us to turn to Him in times of sorrow and in times of joy.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For New Year's, we traveled to Uyo to join in the <b>Lutheran Church of Nigeria's National Conference</b>.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It was quite the celebration, with the Sunday church service lasting from 9am to 4pm<i> </i>( and you thought <i>your</i> pastor could be a little…long-winded!).<span style="">&nbsp; </span>( Sorry, to any pastors reading this.)<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It really was a <i>very, very</i> neat experience!<span style="">&nbsp; </span>The chapel is huge, and there were probably 6,000 or more people there.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>From my understanding the chapel was built in large part with LWML funds.<span style="">&nbsp; </span><u>One</u> of the neat things about it was that when all the seats inside were filled, people crowded around the outsides to hear, it is an open-air type chapel.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>And there were young kids peeping in the windows to hear, too.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>One of the more disappointing things about it was that there seems to be a trend in Nigeria to give the congregation <i>what they want</i> to keep them in the church.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Unfortunately, that means wavering on some of the Lutheran standpoints, as we see them.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It's a challenge that our Lutheran missionaries are working on with the pastors here, and praying about regularly.<span style="">&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">So what's really been happening?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 3pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="">&nbsp;</span><span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><b>Nate </b>is working very hard at keeping up with his students.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He has quite a bright group of kids to work with.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>His kids are very dedicated; on the rare chance that he <i>and I</i> forget about his Tuesday night study sessions, the kids come to the house looking for Mr. Watt (we live on campus).<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He really enjoys these sessions.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>One night he didn't have time to even come home for dinner, so I took it to him in the classroom hoping he could nibble between questions.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>I quietly took in his dinner and waved hello to several of the kids as I put it on the table by Nate's textbook.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Then, as I slipped out, I waved to Nate.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>When Nate got home I asked how dinner was and he said he didn't know that I had brought it until he was packing up to leave.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He was so engrossed in answering a student's question that he never noticed me coming in!<span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Nate hasn't had the chance to lead chapel again, but we did just have <b>a visiting chaplain</b> this last week.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He and his wife, who is a middle school teacher, are prayerfully considering coming next year to serve here at Hillcrest.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He was very good with the kids, you could tell they liked him by their responses to his chapel service on Monday.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Hillcrest has been without a chaplain for a few years and he seems like he'd be a very good fit.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Please pray that he and his wife will <b>decide to join the Hillcrest team next year.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Nate also had the <b>opportunity to give some work to some kids off the street.</b><span style="">&nbsp; </span>There is a mission project here that helps boys who are living on the street.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>They give the boys a place to live, food to eat, an education, and train them for work.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It's a widely growing mission project and is really helpful to the boys who would, otherwise, have no future.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Nate contacted one of the missionaries who works with the boys and asked him to send over two of the boys to help us cut up some firewood.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>The school had cut down a dead tree in our yard and since we have a fireplace, we kept some of the branches.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>When they got here we were able to find out a little about them.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>One of the kids told us that he was forced to live on the street because <b>when he became Christian, his family was very angry with him</b> and it became too difficult to live at home any longer.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He knew of the work being done at this mission project and went by a few times.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>The other younger boys liked him so much they asked one of the missionaries in charge to talk him into coming to stay.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He said he loves the work there.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>He seems very up beat and has great plans for the future.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We ask that you pray for his continued spiritual growth and his growing independence.<span style="">&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><b>Teri</b> continues to work at a clinic just out of town.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>I help the missionary nurse there by taking vital signs of the patients as they come in.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>There was a short-term missionary who was here helping with the files (actually, she started the filing system because there was really none to speak of).<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Since she has left, I'll see if I can't be of some help with those as well.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>I also help out at a mission project to assist women with AIDS learn the trade of sewing.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>They had many projects before Christmas to accomplish.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>They were able to sell quite a bit of items at 4 craft sales. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="">&nbsp;</span>I also had the fun of working with <b>a local lady who is learning to read</b>.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Her regular teacher asked if I could take a few of her sessions and I said sure!<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It's really cool seeing someone read the Bible for the first time!<span style="">&nbsp; </span>The catch is, and what I didn't know until I sat down with her and her Bible, is that she is learning to read…in Hausea!<span style="">&nbsp; </span>I don't know Hausea.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>But I remembered hearing once that it is a very phonetic language.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Luckily, she's been taking lessons for about a year and knows what she was doing.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>So, I just watched the words as her finger glided across the page and looked at the letter groupings.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>When she pronounced something differently than she had before and it seemed that the word confused her, I pronounced the letter groupings the way she had before.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It must have been right because her face would break into a smile and she would say it again with meaning and nod her head in agreement with the apostle's thought.<span style="">&nbsp; </span><b>She was reading Matthew, I think.</b><span style="">&nbsp; </span>I'm so happy for her to be able to read the Word of God.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>That's something I've always taken for granted, but not anymore.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>I now read my Bible with new appreciation.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It's such a great feeling.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It made me understand why Nate loves teaching so much.<span style="">&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">Prayer Requests<b>:</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-size: 3pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For the families this Christmas season that have lost loved ones, that they would continue to be strengthened by their faith in God</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For the students and staff at Hillcrest that God would continue to keep them safe </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For the unbelievers in the classroom, that they would finally come to accept the Truth they hear there</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For the mission project that reaches out to help the boys on the street, that they would continue to be able to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those that come to them for help</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For the ladies and their children being helped by the AIDS ministries, that they would continue to grow stronger in faith, as well as their new skills</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For the clinics here, that those seeking medical help would also understand the Message of those who<span style="">&nbsp; </span>are giving them care</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For the LCN to stay true to the doctrines taught to us in the Bible</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">For more people to volunteer for missions in this and other areas where God's Word needs to be heard</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Thanks for the many supporters of missions without whom many, many people would still be lost without the salvation which Jesus brings</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">Thanks to all of you! </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">We thank you all for all your prayers and financial support.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Please keep those prayers coming, that must be how we made it through the Christmas season so many miles from family.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>It sure helps knowing we have an extended family in Christ looking out for us in prayer!<b><span style="">&nbsp; </span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">We'd like to hear from you too!<span style="">&nbsp; </span></span>Please let us know how you are, too.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>If you have time, write to us at Nathaniel and Teri Watt; c/o Hillcrest School; Box 652; 13 Old Bukuru Road; Jos, Nigeria, West Africa.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We'd like to know if you have anything we could pray about for you as well.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Hope to hear from you soon!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2">If you'd like to support missions in Nigeria, please send your gifts to: LCMS Mission Senders; 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63122<span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Memo line:<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Watt/Nigeria<span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-113812470502588087?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1127832157556208032005-09-27T07:42:00.000-07:002005-09-27T07:42:37.686-07:00<div class=Section1> <div> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:14.4pt'><strong><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:black'>LCMS WORLD <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">MISSION</st1:City></st1:place></span></font></b></strong><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>1-800-433-3954&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lcmsworldmission.org/" target="_blank"><font color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>WWW.LCMSWORLDMISSION.ORG</span></font></a>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://us.f532.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mission.info@lcms.org" target="_blank"><font color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>mission.info@lcms.org</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Nate &amp; Teri Watt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; August 16, 2005<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Serving Christ in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Jos</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place>.......<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>We're here!&nbsp; At long last, after many years of praying ( and only a few short weeks of packing ) we've arrived in <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>!&nbsp; We landed in <st1:City w:st="on">Abuja</st1:City>, the capital of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>, on Sunday, July 10th at 4:15 in the morning.&nbsp; Arriving so early, we were able to enjoy seeing the wonderful country God has sent us to.&nbsp; So many people coming and going!&nbsp; We sat back and drank it all in.&nbsp; Suddenly the realization of being half way around the world from all that is familiar hit us.&nbsp; I (Teri) prayed&nbsp;that&nbsp;God would be able to use us to do His work, even though we are now like fish out of water.&nbsp; I had no idea just how quickly He would answer that prayer...<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>School started on Wednesday, August 3rd and although we arrived with &quot;plenty&quot; of time to get ready, I'm sure Nate and the kids would have liked another week's preparation ( and freedom ).&nbsp; Nate is teaching seniors Advanced Placement Calculus,&nbsp;juniors chemistry, and freshman computers.&nbsp; He is also helping with the school's computer network system.&nbsp; The school is working MSA accreditations, so all the teachers are&nbsp;working&nbsp;extra hard on their lesson plans to show how they bring a Christian viewpoint into their classroom subjects. It's hard doing more paperwork, but it is more than worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>When the kids started school, I knew I would be more available to find a useful niche for myself.&nbsp; My skills as a nursing assistant came in helpful when three of our missionaries were involved in a car accident.&nbsp; We thank God that they were not injured more seriously.&nbsp; However, they needed help doing basic, everyday things that we all take for granted.&nbsp; I was asked to help decide what kinds of things they might need and how to best help them.&nbsp; What an&nbsp;awesome responsibility&nbsp;for me because I'm used to taking orders not calling any of the shots.&nbsp; With a prayer for guidance, I began making some suggestions&nbsp;and people began&nbsp;finding all kinds of things that we needed.&nbsp; God was certainly making sure they were taken care of.&nbsp; He worked out our schedules for us so that another missionary family returned to Jos from one of the villages down south, and another family was extending their time here in Jos before they needed to head back to the village they are working in, and then my children were starting school, leaving me free to help.&nbsp; So with everyone's help, we were able to provide round the clock assistance to our injured friends.&nbsp; They are progressing&nbsp;rapidly and we ask for your continued prayers as they recover.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Out of this, I have been asked to be on call for similar work at the hospital.&nbsp; Hospitals here are not run the same as the States.&nbsp; Families are expected to help their patient with such things as getting around their room and with meals.&nbsp; I will be helping missionaries with these kinds of&nbsp;basic needs if they have to be hospitalized.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>We want to thank you all for your prayers and support, without them we would not be here today.&nbsp; Your prayers are so helpful.&nbsp; There have been times when it is really hard, and we can tell that someone back home is praying for us because some how we get through it.&nbsp; So thank you, thank you, thank you!&nbsp; Please continue those wonderful prayers, particularly for our unpredictable stove/oven of ours.&nbsp; Please pray that I continue to build a better relationship with it ( for the benefit for my family ), pray that the kids continue to adjust to a new school and a new batch of friends,&nbsp;pray that our missionary friends recover quickly, and thank God for their safety.&nbsp; Also pray that God may put someone in each of our paths to reach and that Nate will be able to reach his students.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.4pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>God's blessings from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Nate, Teri, Zachariah, and Deborah Watt<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>If you would like to help the work in our area please make your gift payable to LCMS World Mission and on the memo line write &#8220;Support Nigerian Ministries.&#8221;&nbsp; Send your gift to LCMS World Mission,&nbsp; Attn. Missionary Support, <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">1333 S. Kirkwood Road</st1:Street>, <st1:City w:st="on">St. Louis</st1:City>,&nbsp; <st1:State w:st="on">MO</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">63122-7295</st1:PostalCode></st1:address></span></font><font size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>.&nbsp; </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>And once again, thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>__________________________________________________<br> Do You Yahoo!?<br> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around <br> http://mail.yahoo.com <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-112783215755620803?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1125325322445478702005-08-29T07:16:00.000-07:002005-08-29T07:22:02.453-07:00I hope this finds you doing well! We’re pretty good here. Nate is busy with lesson plans, papers to grade, and meetings to attend. ( And he might not admit it, but I can tell that he’s having a great time! ) I’m so happy for him that he’s finally doing what he’s worked and waited for, for so long. He is also exercising with Ivan and two of our neighbors. Three days a week they go swimming at 6 am. I stay in my nice warm bed, thank you very much.<br /><br />Zachariah is slowly getting used to life in the fourth grade. Fourth grade is a hard transition for kids because they suddenly start getting a lot more homework. I keep telling him that Hillcrest is modeled after the schools in the states and that he would have the same amount there. Sometimes he almost believes me, but since I’m his mom I automatically have little credibility when he thinks I just want him to do something he doesn’t want to do. And besides, he tells me that it must have been so long ago that I was in fourth grade that I couldn’t possibly remember how difficult it is.<br /><br />Deborah is doing pretty good. She really likes her class and her teacher. Her classroom is just huge compared to Worms. There’s all kinds of room for different “stations.” I have volunteered to help the teacher on Fridays with some “centers.” Last week they had a unit on bears, so the center that I was at we stuffed teddy bears. She had sewn two pieces of fabric together leaving a hole in which they stuffed them with pillow stuffing. Then she took them home and sewed up the hole and then on Monday they put eyes, nose, mouth, and ribbon on them. She also had a science center that she headed up where they made “telescopes” out of Pringles cans. ( Yes, you can get Pringles here. Except they are getting a lot of grief from the government about imported stuff, so it’s harder for the stores to get and so the price is like 400 Naira = $2.89. ) Anyway, she had them looking at the constellations, one of them being “the bear.”<br /><br />I’m doing pretty good. Man, the cooking has gotten so much better! I’m still nervous about trying cookies though. Our stove/oven is very touchy. The burners are either on full like a blazing bonfire or off. After many scorched dinners and pots, I have carefully figured out how to get them to a fairly happy medium and sometimes even a simmer. The oven has taken considerable more time to work out. First, it’s small. A jellyroll pan is too enormous to fit inside. So, I borrowed some cookie sheets from Jennifer that are tiny enough to fit inside. They hold about nine cookies. The other problem is that there is no thermostat for the oven. It’s just on. And it gets hotter the longer it’s on. It’s ok for bread which bakes about 20-30 minutes. But banana bread takes about an hour, so it burns the bottom and sides way before the top stops being jiggly. I also need to mention that the top and bottom cannot be on at the same time. It’s either one or the other. And the rack is not a wire rack, it’s a solid metal tray and that prevents the air from circulating. So, after having to cut off the bottoms and sides of a couple of loaves of banana bread and the bottoms of a whole batch of runzas, I figured out when to turn the bottom off and the top on. I said I was afraid to try cookies because they have a shorter baking time and I’m afraid of burning them all again. I spent a lot of time talking about our stove/oven, but that’s because that’s a good part of my time – cooking. You have to make everything from scratch and we don’t have a microwave. When you heat up leftovers for a quick meal, you’ve used as many pots and pans as when you made it in the first place. ( And like, no dishwasher. ) But hey! It’s all coming together now! I’m able to spend a little less time in the kitchen. Food has been the toughest thing to get used to. Poor Zachariah is having to do without cereal for breakfast. They have it here, but it costs about 900-1100 Naira = $6.43-$8.15 a box and that’s just too much the way he goes through it. I’m thinking it will make a nice Christmas gift.<br /><br />The kids each had a sleep over a couple of Fridays ago. Deborah had two friends over and we had pizza, pineapple, cucumbers, and cupcakes. They watched a movie that one of the girls brought over, The Princess Diary 2, or something like that. They stayed up til about 10:30 or 11. They were quite giggly. ( I’m glad I was never like that. ) Zachariah, who did not want to be surrounded by a bunch of girls, wanted to have a friend over to help him protect his room and his stuff. Before he asked me, he brought it up to his friend’s mom ( his friend is the brother of one of Deborah’s friends who was coming for her sleep over.) She had mercy on me and decided to have the boys at her house. They went to bed willingly at 10pm. The parents thought that was kind of odd, but were quite pleased. Then the parents woke up at 3:30am to find every light on in the house, the boys playing computer games, and they apparently helped themselves to a snack because the ‘fridge was open and one of the cats was at the door of it eating some leftover meatballs and the other cat was actually inside it helping himself to some leftover rice.<br /><br />Better wrap up, this turned out longer than I thought, with lots more to say. Next time! We love you and are thinking about you tons! Teri, Nate, Zachariah, and Deborah<br /><br />P.S. We bought a car yesterday! We don’t have driver’s licenses yet, but one thing at a time. J <br /><br />P.S.P.S. Our phone number is 234-73-465-410 extension 128<br />I think this will work, but I don’t know for sure. We do have a phone in our house, but we call from the computer room over the internet because it is cheaper. I have no idea how much it costs for you to call us from the states, though. Also, we are ahead of you by 6 hours. So, if it is 2pm your time, then it is 8pm our time. Try not to call after 5pm your time unless it is an emergency.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-112532532244547870?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14748694.post-1122986853105478412005-08-02T05:47:00.000-07:002005-08-02T05:47:33.116-07:00<div class=Section1> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Dear family and friends,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>We made it!&nbsp; What a trip!&nbsp; We went to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:City> and stayed for a day and a half.&nbsp; That was quite a short but interesting trip.&nbsp; We were there the day after the first bombings.&nbsp; We didn't have any extra trouble with security or anything, but traveling on the subway ( of the Tube, as they refer to it ) was a little more complicated because the tube stations and tracks were not all in use because of the damage and investigations going on.&nbsp; I got us lost on the double decker buses.&nbsp; The map said one direction ( or so i thought ) but the bus went the other direction and I didn't realize it.&nbsp; Any way, we know what we'd like to go see the next time we pass through.&nbsp; :)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Then, we traveled to <st1:City w:st="on">Abuja</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region> from <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:City>.&nbsp; What a beautiful country!&nbsp; We got here at about 4:30 am and the van ride to Jos was about 6 or 7 hours.&nbsp; So we got to see a lot of the country on our first day.&nbsp; For breakfast we had kosa (spelling?) which reminded me a bit of hush puppies, only spicier.&nbsp; They were delicious.&nbsp; Then we picked up some bananas, boiled peanuts,&nbsp; and oranges.&nbsp; Bananas are not naturally yellow on the outside when they're ripe,&nbsp; they're green!&nbsp; These are smaller, softer, and much sweeter.&nbsp; <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oranges</st1:place></st1:City> are also not orange, but green when they're ripe.&nbsp; Except they are more tart and not as sweet as the ones in the states.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>The earth here is very close to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1:place></st1:State>'s red clay.&nbsp; The people have been soooooo friendly.&nbsp; Here in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region> the people put a higher emphasis on relationships than us Americans who are so task oriented.&nbsp; Which is kind of hard to get used to.&nbsp; You are supposed to spend a certain amount of time greeting people and not just get on down to business because that would be rude.&nbsp; I have a hard time with remembering that because i don't want to be rude and keep people from what ever other tasks they need to get done that day.&nbsp; I'll learn I suppose.&nbsp; And my cousin-in-law, Jennifer, says not to worry too much because a lot of the Nigerians that I meet will understand that us white folks are kind of odd.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Our house/duplex is right on the campus of Hillcrest school and it is so beautiful here!&nbsp; We have a livingroom, three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a closet, and&nbsp; a fireplace in the livingroom.&nbsp; We laughed when we first saw it, but apparently it gets pretty cold in the night in the winter.&nbsp; The grounds are kept very nice and there's tons of places for the kids to play;&nbsp; boulders to climb on, trees perfect for climbing, big playground with lots of equipment, a track, soccerfield, baskeball courts, and Zachariah's favorite: 3 computer labs!&nbsp; We have the coolest lizzards here.&nbsp; They are everywhere and are very colorful for lizzards.&nbsp; There is a cluster of bushes that have tons of snails on it.&nbsp; It's almost like a snailberry bush!&nbsp; They also have these large ants running around called stink ants.&nbsp; I haven't stepped on one yet to see how they got their name, but someone said it's kind of like a skunky smell.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>We were entertained each night the first week, so we didn't have to do much cooking.&nbsp; Which is good because that turned out to be&nbsp;a bit of a challenge.&nbsp; We had to go to market to get our groceries and some other things we realized we needed.&nbsp; Well, it's fun, but an all day event and it's hard to try and think of all the things you need in order to cook until you go and try to cook it.&nbsp; Also, we have no car and the market is not too far away but it's not really recommended you walk because the traffic can be a hassle.&nbsp; But, now we've hired someone who will go do our grocery shopping for us.&nbsp; It's working out wonderfully.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Well, I&nbsp;need to get going for now.&nbsp; I'll try to write more later.&nbsp; Sorry it took so long to get this first one out.&nbsp; We're getting more settled in and I'm able to find a little more time to do these things.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Lots of love from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place>, Teri :)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p> </div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/14748694-112298685310547841?l=nateandteri.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jonathan Wattnoreply@blogger.com0