I was reminded the week through an email from Ebenezer of one of the behind the scenes works that Arewa Aid has been doing for some time. Prior to the recall of the Blakes a Bible Class at the College Hills Church of Christ in Lebanon, TN was providing some assistance for one of the handicapped members of the Wulari Jerusalem Church in Maiduguri. In May of 2008 Arewa Aid took over this responsibility. Everybody has a story, some more compelling than others because of their need. Ayuba Kwagui Alamson is that kind of story. The following article was written by Brad Blake back in September of 2007.
The Weak say “I’m Strong”
I first met Ayuba in December 2004 at Chibok in southern Borno State (our home state in northern Nigeria). He was tall, strong, and a great communicator especially with little kids in his local elementary school where he taught. His Kibaku (local tribe) parents were so proud that one of their sons, against all odds, in the village had made it. He was an active believer, successful primary school teacher, and renting his own apartment in the capital city of Maiduguri. He was my translator when I first visited Chibok and he could interpret my words from Hausa into Kibaku with ease.
In July of 2005 when our family first moved to Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria from Jos in central Nigeria, we always asked about Ayuba. He was conspicuously absent at local assemblies and we began to inquire from the local leaders on his whereabouts. One day at a congregational meeting, the subject of Ayuba came up and my best friend, Dr. Eni, began to cry. Ayuba had gone from being this strong, vibrant, and competent elementary school teacher to a crippled beggar. Dr. Eni thought that a local unqualified “quack” doctor might have prescribed unnecessary medicine but it was unfortunately worse than that.
There are so many mysterious sicknesses in Africa that have no explanation and even qualified doctors are giving “their best guess.” In Hausa, the word for sickness is “ciwo” and no one ever qualifies the type of “ciwo” because in the local worldview to specify the “ciwo” gives it more power. Therefore, all we knew is that Ayuba was slowly becoming blind, his spine was weakening, and his legs were so incapacitated that he could barely walk. He went to an eye hospital in Cameroon (neighboring eastern country to Nigeria) but they could do little. He even went to his hometown of Chibok to announce to his parents that he didn’t know what was going to happen to him now.
However, through all of Ayuba’s severe pain, his faith has been a powerful testimony to the rest of the believers. Ayuba in Hausa is actually the name for the most awe-inspiring Old Testament character of suffering: Job. Whenever, I meet Ayuba at assembly, in the office, or at his house, I always ask him: “Yaya jiki?” (How is your body?). His response forever remains the same resilient answer from a man of deeply-held faith in the Almighty: “Alhamdu lillahi!” (Praise be to God!). Ayuba will never let on to how much pain that he is really experiencing with his degenerating eyesight, weakening spine, and shriveling legs but he will tell you: “Mun gode wa Allah saboda alherinsa” (We give thanks to God for his grace).”
(Picture above right is where Ayuba lives)
I share Ayuba story with you again in hopes there might be an individual, Bible Class or Church that might be willing to help Ayuba. Arewa Aid presently gives him a meager 70.00 a month. This hardly meets the needs of this faithful child of the King. If you would like to help drop me a personal note at rabboniblog@yahoo.com. This is a true “cup of water in the name of Jesus” opportunity.
