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

TCHADIAN SERVANT DEPARTS FOR SERVICE

Adelene On The Right

          What we normally know as “Chad” in north-central Africa is actually spelled “Tchad.”  During our 4 years in Jos, we had the distinct blessing to meet a wonderful friend named Pierre Rimorbe.  Pierre eventually finished his education in Plateau State (Jos is state capital) but was in poor health.  He had actually contacted tuberculosis while in Jos without receiving proper treatment.  Pierre finally settled in Maiduguri for a season while Dr. Eni and Dr. Moses (deacons among the Wulari believers) helped to treat him at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

After 3 months, Pierre was ready to re-enter his native homeland of Sarh, Tchad in the southern region near Cameroon.  Since he has begun serving the indigenes of the Sarh area there have been 10 fellowships created!  Now the great difficulty is finding men of spirituality who will shepherd these new communities of faith.  Thankfully, Pierre had an old friend in Maiduguri named Paschal Yoguerman who came to belief in 2003.  Shortly thereafter, Paschal decided to begin studying at the same institution where Pierre was trained in 2004 at Jos.

While Paschal studied at the Jos school, the Maiduguri spiritual family was left with the task of assisting Paschal’s family in his absence.  This eventually meant that our family had to take in his oldest daughter, Adelene, into our home from 2006 until 2007.  The experience was a brand-new one for us because Adelene arrived with nearly no academic background as a 15 year old.  Thus, we started her with home tutoring with a nearly schoolteacher visiting 3 times a week for her instruction.  Adelene struggled through these most basic tutoring sessions but her heart was obviously not there.

Nevertheless, it was at the INTERCEP farm at Pompomari where Adelene’s gifts really began to emerge.  As she served at the farm, it was as if everything her “green thumb” touched thrived in Maiduguri’s sandy soil.  Adelene’s father, Paschal, eventually finished his Jos training in December of 2007 and has been preparing to join Pierre for the past couple of months.  Today was his family’s last day to fellowship with the Wulari believers and he thoroughly expressed his appreciation.  Paschal, his wife, and youngest daughter will officially depart for Sarh, Tchad this Saturday and we are grateful that their commitment is being fulfilled.

The Almighty has blessed Maiduguri to be a strategic 4-nations nexus bordering Cameroon, Tchad, and Niger.  It is our contact with the indigenous people of Tchad that have created wonderful opportunities there.  INTERCEP has even been requested to open an international branch office at Sarh by Pierre.  Our hope is for the INTERCEP and the Wulari believers to host a drip irrigation workshop in southern Tchad after the rainy season in late October.  If it is the will of the Most Compassionate to do so, we will follow His lead to the remote regions of Tchad. 

Adelene and Ketura Making Bread

Adelen Tending Green Peas

Paschals Family’s Farewell Speach

Pashcal On Right Listening At Drip Irrigation Workshop

INTRODUCING THE INTERCEP MAIDUGURI TEAM

Ebenezer with Dave Goolsby of Healing Hands International (Above)

          For any fellowship, organization, or team to be effective, there must be collegial, committed, and competent workers.  INTERCEP in Maiduguri is blessed with 5 such servants that effectuate our local operations.  First, Ebenezer Udofia is the Executive Agricultural Administrator that creates efficiency, experience, and professionalism in the INTERCEP farm at Pompomari.  Before Ebenezer came to INTERCEP, he served for 3 years with Rahila and Toomsa Commercial Farms just 1 ½ hours west of Maiduguri in Damaturu, Yobe State.  Ebenezer is planning on marrying his sweetheart, Regina Okon, by the end of the end of March.

Justina Tsesar (Above)

          Next, Justina Tsesar is a wonderful agricultural assistant serving under the leadership of Ebenezer on the INTERCEP farm at Pompomari.  Justina is from the Mahargi ethnic group of southern Borno state speaking fluent Hausa.  Her ability to tenderly care for the seedlings, budding crops, and harvested vegetables has created an oasis in sandy soil.  Justina’s demeanor is perfect as visitors arrive at the farm she receives them with a congenial personality.  Please keep Justina in your prayers as, God willing, she will deliver a child around July.

Ephrain Tsesar and daughter Yabo (Above)

Justina’s husband, Ephraim Tsesar is the hard-working farm maintenance assistant working with Ebenezer on the farm.  I first met Ephraim when he was a student of mine in an institution at central Nigeria.  Ephraim first encouraged me to inquire about the environment in the Borno state’s capital of Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria.  Ephraim supported his wife, Justina, for 2 months on a volunteer basis without pay.  Ephraim’s passion for the INTERCEP vision drove him to apply for the position in January causing us to strongly consider him because of his fervent spirit of servanthood.

Habuh Maiguru preparing turkey (Above)

          The current INTERCEP driver and mechanic, Habuh Maiduguri, has a long history with the Blake family dating back to 1989.  When Ken Klein first introduced Brad to northern Nigeria in the summer of 1989, Ken took Brad to Habuh’s village in southern Taraba state.  From 2001-2005, the Blake’s helped to train Habuh in auto mechanics and driving while they resided in central Nigeria.  Habuh is responsible for the maintenance of both the Blake’s vehicles and gasoline generators at the INTERCEP office and the Blake’s residence.  Habuh’s family is still in their southern Taraba village and he hopes to bring them to Maiduguri by the end of April.

Comfort Misari Thliza (above)

          Last but certainly not least is the beautiful Comfort Misari Thliza who serves as the executive administrative assistant to Brad.  Comfort first served on a volunteer basis with INTERCEP from July of 2005 until March of 2007 as an understudy required by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.  When the INTERCEP office officially opened in April of 2007, Comfort was officially invited to serve full-time as the office manager.  Comfort parents are agricultural lecturers in the University of Maiduguri and the College of Agriculture.  We give the Almighty glory for assembling such a magnanimous team of selfless servants to share His compassion in northeastern Nigeria and beyond!