Ibrahim’s Interest in the Village

Last Thursday, our family took off from Maiduguri at 5AM on a 9 hour+ journey to reach the US embassy in Abuja before 3PM.  The northern states campaign team was also meeting in southern Kaduna state last week.  Therefore, we decided to maximize our trip by visiting the embassy and joining the campaign at the same time.  Fortunately, we reached the embassy just before it closed at 3PM last Thursday to renew Ibrahim’s passport.  While there, the consular general also requested that our family consider serving as the volunteer warden for northeastern Nigeria.

From the moment we entered the federal capitol territory of Abuja last Thursday, Ibrahim was really in awe.  Well-constructed roads, skyscrapers, air-conditioned buildings, safe drinking water, and clean restrooms could be found everywhere.  After we renewed his passport at the embassy, he asked if our family would move from Maiduguri to Abuja.  Jen and I tried to explain to him that the poorest Nigerian people are located in the north which is why we are living there.  He seemed to understand but still had his reservations as to why we wouldn’t relocate to a city with an easier life.

Nevertheless, on Friday morning when we left the comfort of Abuja for the scenic beauty of southern Kaduna state, Ibrahim’s attitude changed.  He now began to contrast the urban asphalt of Abuja with the natural landscape of Kaduna.  When we left the blacktop to ride on the bush road, he grew really excited to see wild animals in their natural habitat.  Providentially, we arrived in Kudiri village on market day which allowed us meet with a large crowd of indigenous people.  However, Ibrahim’s greatest joy became the opportunity to play with the village children throughout the day.

On Friday night, all of these village children surrounded the white bed sheet hung on 2 tall sticks to watch the artistic biblical pictures in the filmstrips used to share the good news.  The next day Ibrahim woke up early to rejoin the village children in playing the simplest games in the sand that one can imagine.  That morning, I shared a message on “Who is a Follower?” designed to convict the hearts of both believer and unbeliever on the new covenant implications of discipleship. Later in the day, I was opportune to meet with some of the new saints who had decided to follow the Messiah. Furthermore, we engaged in serious discussions with the entire team concerning the inclusion of a drip irrigation workshop into the itinerary of the campaign.

All glory goes to the Almighty for the 9 new births that resulted from the week’s proclamation.  As we were leaving the village yesterday, Ibrahim was sad because he was leaving behind many new friends.  He was also disappointed that we were departing from a village nestled in the Kaduna hills.  Ultimately, INTERCEP will become most effective in humanitarian outreach in the villages of northern Nigeria.  It is these rural areas that hold the most promise for our news to be perceived as good.

Brad with Two Kaudiri Followers

Brad with Kudiri Village Chief

Jen among northern evangelists wifes