SWIMMING WASHES AWAY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

        

    When I returned from the U.S. in December of 2007, my right knee began to swell up like a balloon.  At first, I thought that I had a swollen hamstring that needed serious attention.  Hence, our first line of treatment was to assume that there was an infection in my knee.  However, after a week it was obvious that the swelling was reducing very little.  Thankfully, 2 servants among the Wulari believers, Dr. Anietie and Dr. Eni administered a “Rheumatoid Factor” test that revealed the presence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

          Following the disclosure of RA, a “Magnetic Resonance Image” (MRI) was performed on both of my knees to further investigate.  It was revealed that I had some cartilage degeneration in my right knee while my left knee had little deterioration.  Therefore, Dr. Eni faithfully administered 9 doses of “Synject” into my knees to restore any cartilage disintegration.  He also recommended daily consumption of “ArthoCare” to rebuild cartilage erosion.  These 2 medicines has reconditioned my joints allowing me increased mobility.

          Nevertheless, exercise is what I really have missed and longed to renew to reconstruct the strength in legs.  Fortunately, much information about RA on the web revealed that swimming is the best exercise for those suffering with this condition.  Thus, I began to survey the 2 swimming pools available in Maiduguri for recreation.  The first was the International Hotel where I took Ibrahim and Rahamatu for swimming.  Unfortunately, from the first to the last time that we used this pool; the water quality had become so poor that we couldn’t use it until it was cleaned.

          After this frustration, Musa and I went to the Mashidimami Water Company that formerly supplied the INTERCEP farm with water tankers to fill our reservoir.  After finally locating the site, we went into a pool with clean water adjacent to a gym and badminton court.  It costs us an expensive $4 each time that I take one of the children to swim with me but it is well worth it feel the strengthening in my joints and the smiles on our kid’s faces.  Last Tuesday after I took Rahamatu to the swimming poor she said, “Daddy, this the very best day that I have ever had with you.  I love you so much!”  Needless to say, the strain that swimming puts on our budget is well worth it to hear this expression of joy.

          Last Saturday as our family went to the INTERCEP farm for our weekly workday, they decided to wade into the reservoir to keep cool.  The hottest period of the year in Maiduguri comes during March, April, and May.  All of a sudden, Jen and all of the kids decided to dive into the water for relief from the heat.  It’s almost as if swimming is quickly becoming the favorite recreational activity for our family.  We give the Almighty the glory if He has used the pain of RA to remind us how important it is to recreate. 

 

SWEET SATISFACTION FROM SOLAR SOURCE

When we first started composting at the Pompomari farm in western Maiduguri in April of 2006, we borrowed water from the earthen cistern owned by our Methodist neighbor.  As we raised our first plant beds at this site in August of 2006, we rented our first tank of water to be dumped into the Methodist’s cistern.  This lasted no time as all of the Fulani shepherds came to fetch water for their cattle, goats, and sheep.  Thus, when Arewa Aid first formed in February 2007, our initial priority was to create a permanent water source at the INTERCEP farm in Maiduguri.  We researched diesel, gasoline, hand, and winds pumps but any Borno resident knows that Maiduguri is known for continuous sunlight.

Our initial barrier to the solar powered bore-hole (well) was the appearance of an exorbitant expense.  This is because few understood that the solar system was guaranteed to endure for a minimum of 20 years.  With the recent fuel scarcity in Maiduguri, a gallon of gasoline is now selling for nearly $8.  To power our home gasoline generator at night for just 4 hours, we need at least 3 gallons.  One can easily calculate where all of our household money is going and we were determined not to let the farm fall into this same trap with a gasoline powered generator.

 Several recommended working with a hand-powered bore-hole (well) pump but many of the Wulari believers countered this assessment.  UNICEF has drilled many hand-powered bore-holes in northern Borno State only to find that few of them are still functioning today due to the poor maintenance culture.  We also had no idea of how deep we would have to drill to find water while hand-pumps don’t function beyond 85 meters.  I witnessed hand pumps in usage in northern Adamawa State but this was several hours south of Maiduguri in a different climactic zone.  Hand-pumps are certainly far cheaper but there is no guarantee concerning their durability.

A wind-powered bore-hole pump was certainly a consideration but the local M & W distributor informed us of its limitation.  As long as there is wind, the water may be pumped to the surface continuously.  However, if there is no breeze, then there is no means of pumping water for farm utilization.  In this semi-arid climate, the Sahara Desert winds blow frequently but during this hot March through May period, there is hardly a draft.  We may use wind in the future as an alternate source to solar energy but it appears unwise to use it as a primary source of power.

Today, April 5, 2008, at 1:30PM, our first water was pumped up from the bore-hole using the solar-powered system.  It is difficult to contain our excitement now as this long journey has reached its conclusion.  Our vegetable crops will now experience such a relief as we are free to create a “river-bed” environment.  Through the assistance of Healing Hands International, our supplemental livestock will commence in May with this permanent water source from sunlight.  Ultimately, we pray that this will be a tool for the light of the Almighty to penetrate the hearts of those in darkness.

Solar Panel Construction Team In The Foreground

Under Construction

Bore Hole and Storage Tanks In The Background

April 5th. Harvest Team

 

THE PROCESS OF MAKING “POTTERY”

The attached pictures and story below are an illustration of how our “Potter”, Allah (God), is working in the life of one of his “pots” (a follower).  Last night, I received a number of text messages around 9:00PM requesting a meeting at a local venue to discuss with an “undisclosed believer.”  When I arrived this morning, I met a person from northern Borno State close to the border of Niger.  The person was influential in the local government serving in a prominent ministry.  The person’s command of the English, Hausa, and Kanuri languages was quite formidable.  I began to wonder as to the type of persecution that such a prominent citizen in northeastern Nigeria would receive.

I will call this person “AK” similar to the star Russian basketball player for the Utah Jazz, Andre Kirilenko, who is nicknamed “AK47.”  AK began by telling us of faith in the Prophet Isa Almasihu beginning 4 years ago.  Since AK established trust in the Messiah, life has not been something taken for granted.  AK’s spouse threatened to leave along with the children who are all pre-teenagers.  AK revealed that it even came to a point when the bullying from extended family became so strong that the spouse nearly left with all of the small children.

An interdenominational agency called CAPRO in Nigeria has been circulating materials for years enhancing the knowledge base of workers sharing the good news in northern Nigeria.  It was CAPRO that first contacted AK and helped facilitate belief in the Prophet Isa four years ago.  CAPRO is located in the central Nigerian city of Jos in Plateau State where the majority of residents are believers.  However, Borno State is a different “kettle of fish” where any discussion of faith conversion is met with stiff discrimination.  Therefore, after AK was pressured from family and community leaders, he decided to keep his devotion in isolation.

AK went on to remind us that his former faith allows for life to be taken in 3 situations: 1) adultery; 2) murder; 3) conversion.  AK doesn’t seriously believe that the taking of life is really an issue because of the prominence in the family, community, and society.  AK’s initial desire is to study abroad where the knowledge of secular work and faith can be strengthened.  AK’s belief is that after a period of years that a return visit to northeastern Nigeria will bring additional resolve to maintain faith.  Our concern this morning was merely to get to know AK and build a relationship not to critique life choices.

Nicodemus is a prominent example of “secret faith” in the Injil (Gospel) that came to the Prophet Isa Almasihu in his first encounter by night because he feared maltreatment from the top tier of the Jewish hierarchy.  Nicodemus’ second encounter with the Messiah was an attempted defense to give the Prophet Isa a “fair trial” which was met by rigid opposition from his Jewish counterparts.  However, Nicodemus’ last encounter with “The Word” was his team effort with Yusuf of Arimathea to bury “The Light of the World” with expensive spices.  The life and times of Nicodemus reveal a man gradually moving from “secret trust” to “public conviction” during the Prophet Isa’s 3 year pilgrimage.  The patience of the Messiah reveals the same type of endurance that we should demonstrate with our “clandestine followers.”

The Prophet Irimiya (Jeremiah) reveals to us how the “Potter”, Allah (God), works with His “pots”, His followers, even as they suffer intensive ostracism, the “Potter” is molding beautiful vessels for His glory.

Northern Nigerian Potters Local House

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