Exciting New Appointment For Ebenezer

One of the major goals of our farm operation in Maiduguri from its beginning was to train street children and their families in the skills of drip irrigation to enable these young people to provide for their families and get them off the streets. Some of the first to attend our drip irrigation workshops were members of the Borno State Youth Empowerment Forum. This Islamic organization’s leaders not only saw first hand how drip irrigation works, but witnessed the actual training of a few street children and their family members. Leaders of the BSYEF were very impressed and Ebenezer was granted a special pass that enables him to go to any government building in Maiduguri without first securing special permission. This unprecedented access to government offices and cooperation with the BSYEF has now opened even more opportunities.

 

Here is a letter received this week from Ebenezer with some very exciting news. “Yesterday the Borno State Youth Empowerment Forum carried out a one day sensitization seminar for the Borno state and its environment. All the Stakeholders were present, including Legislators, all the Service Chiefs and all those that matters in the State…I have been nominated as the Vice President of the Forum which is a Coalition of all major NGOs in Borno State. Our organization is actively involved in enlightenment and empowerment of the economically stricken society.”

 

Ebenezer also shared a picture of the new fish pond that the BSYEF members are digging on their own property under Ebenezer’s capable direction. Other BSYEF members have already developed their own personal drip irrigation gardens, and are spreading the word about the value of drip irrigation.

 

As a supporter of Arewa Aid and the training you enable us to provide, lives are being changed and saved.

Ebenezer And The Staff Of The Pompomari Farm Hold Their First Solo Drip Irrigation Workshop

 

Ebenezer and the Pompomari Farm staff recently conducted their first solo (Without U.S.  Onsite assistance) Drip Irrigation Workshop. This is of course the independence we hoped to see from such a quality group of Christians.

 

Here is a portion of Ebenezer’s letter about the workshop.

 

“Our drip irrigation started on Monday, Nov. 17th through Friday, Nov. 21st 2008.For the Community around Pompomari Farm in Maiduguri. It was quite successful to the glory of God.

The participants were very appreciative as they put-in their effort in carrying out all the directives given to them which yielded to us a 2 meter square well constructed compost heap.

They were awarded a certificate of attendance and promise of Drip -Kit in a forth-night.”

 

How exciting it is to see this work moving toward total self sustaining status.

 

 

A Time Of Transition For Arewa Aid

Brad and Jennifer Blake have been recalled to the states from their work in Maiduguri, Nigeria for a much need period of rest and restoration. After much prayer and seeking the direction of the Lord it was determined that this step was necessary for the well being of this wonderful family. The work that Brad and Jennifer have done in association with Healing Hands International over the last two plus years in Maiduguri, Nigeria has truly been ground breaking. While there work as “planter” has come to a close, the Lord has provided a very capable replacement to lead this work in the person of Ebenezer Udofia. If you are a regular reader of this blog you will remember that Ebenezer is not only a devoted following of Isa, but exceptionally talented to take this work into the future.

A completed solar powered well is now providing cool clear water for not on the needs of the training farm, but for the entire area surrounding our farm operations through a faucet made available through the wall around the farm. What a picture this is of the water of life freely available to all who will come and drink.

Work at the farm continues to expand. Healing Hands International has just provided funds for the addition of small animals and a fish pond to the farm operation. This will enable us to not only teach drip irrigation and food preservation, but now courses in raising small animals and fish as well.

These are life saving skills that are needed for existence on the edge of the great Sarah Desert. Families are learning not to just be victims of their circumstances, but ways they can live in harmony with the harsh existence in this aired part of the world.

We continue to seek your partnership with us as we bring “Good News” this those the “Arewa”, north.

MARRIAGE IN THE NOONTIDE HEAT

There’s a song that we used to sing at Camp Wyldewood in Searcy, Arkansas that used a phrase I never understood which was: “A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, from the burning of the noontide heat and the burden of the day.”  After Ebenezer’s wedding last Saturday in the pre-rainy season heat of Abuja, I appreciate this phrase more than ever.  In the sweltering assembly hall of the Lugbe believers off of Airport Road in Abuja, Ebenezer Udofia and Regina were married.  Ebenezer’s best man and Regina’s maid of honor were constantly fanning the hot bride and groom because of the high temperatures within the venue.  Nevertheless, after 5 hours in this hot house of marital celebration, Ebenezer and Regina deeply appreciated the wide participation in their union.

It’s important to note the ultra-conservative nature of the saints within Nigeria that believe that weddings inside houses of worship are unscriptural.  However, Ebenezer and Regina wanted full involvement from all disciples in Abuja to demonstrate the viability of such an event.  Interestingly, there were some followers there who ordinarily offer long treatises on the lack of scriptural support for such a celebration in the assembly hall of a local congregation.  Yet, as the acapella singing began, there were no cries of scriptural illegitimacy that could be heard within the venue.  Everyone seemed to be fully engaged in an event where all believers felt comfortable celebrating the unification of Ebenezer and Regina.

Still, the greatest witness to Ebenezer and Regina’s wedding was its simplicity.  A cultural factor in many Nigerian weddings is witnessed as young couples spend more money than they can afford.  In fact, often Nigerian weddings are overwhelming displays of ostentation that appear to be nonsensical in a context of poverty.  Nonetheless, Ebenezer and Regina’s wedding was simple because it was held in an assembly hall for believers with no electricity.  The only power entering the building was from a small gasoline generator that amplified the sound system.

The other impressive characteristic of Ebenezer and Regina’s wedding was the socio-economic diversity of those who attended.  In the Nigerian context, brides and grooms typically invite highly-placed people in the society who will create an aura of prestige.  Therefore, at a typical Nigerian wedding, politicians, traditional rulers, and religious leaders often come late arriving with much fanfare.  Yet, at Ebenezer and Regina’s wedding, the well-dressed sat with those clothed in casual attire.  Actually, there were also several Muslims in the environment who felt respected by the front seats given them.

The wedding of Ebenezer and Regina was a powerful testimony to a couple committed to values of faith in a hot environment.  Any new marriage which puts the Almighty first will gain tremendous blessing despite the climactic conditions in which they find themselves.  Husbands and wives committed to simple living will avoid the multiple pitfalls of our wealth-driven world.  A God-fearing couple will give honor to those from poor and affluent backgrounds.  Faith, simplicity, and empowering the poor are the key concerns of INTERCEP which will now only be augmented through this couple committed to the Most-Compassionate.

Ebenezer and Regina – Wedding Cake

Wedding Party