SEEDS FOR AREWA AID

Children have an honest idealism that causes them to often see problems and challenges as having very simple solutions. They often challenge us adults with their spontaneous compassion to do something about the needs of the suffering and hurting in our world. Nathaniel Hamm is one such young man. He is the 10 year old son of Darin Hamm, Teaching Pastor for the New Heights Church in Owasso, Oklahoma. Nathaniel heard about the street children that we are working with through our farm in Maiduguri, Nigeria, and how we train these young people, much the same age as Nathaniel, in the skills of drip irrigation that enable them to return to their families and help provide food year round in this aired desert region of Northern Nigeria. He also learned of our constant need for seed for our farm and to send home with these trainees to begin their own farming efforts. What follows is Nathaniel’s story in his own words. Read and be blessed as you see what a 10 year old can do for the cause of Christ.

Seeds for Arewa Aid by Nathaniel Hamm,

I came to dad and complained that people should do more. I wanted him to get something done. He asked me why I didn’t do something.

He told me about Arewa Aid and said they could use seeds to help people in Africa. He explained about irrigation and what was happening and we agreed that I could do something to help.

So I asked my school principle if I could try to get other kids to raise seeds. She told me that I needed to talk to the Superintendent so my dad helped me send them an email.

Oh, I also emailed the man from Arewa Aid, Lee, to seed if this would help and be a good idea. He said yes and gave me a list of seeds.

So the school said I could set up a table for a week at my school. The week came and I set up a table and made poster signs with information about the seeds and what they would be used for. I had bags that my dad gave me and they each had a flyer with the information.

I also had my dad tell people at church and he put something in our church bulletin.

In the end I collected seeds from people at my school and from people in my church. I boxed up the seeds and after finding the right address my dad took me to the post office where we mailed the seeds.

I hope it helps those kids on the street find a way to stay with their family. I hope they know it is because of Jesus that this was done.

Thanks for letting me help.

Nathaniel Hamm

Through Nathaniel’s efforts we are shipping a box of 234 packets of seeds to Nigeria. Great job Nathaniel and thanks for letting God use you to help the young people of Nigeria.

If you are encouraged and challenged by Nathaniel’s example and would like to learn how you can help drop me a note at rabboniblog@yahoo.com. There are many ways to help, both large and small all of which allow you to make a difference in the lives of people today.

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.

ACCESSING ALL COMPASSIONATE RESOURCES AVAILABLE

It’s been quite an interesting week in northern Nigeria as I’ve traveled to Kaduna, the solar equipment for our bore hole (well) arrived from the United Kingdom, and the March heat of Maiduguri is boiling.  The week began with an airline flight from Maiduguri to nd serve humanity.Abuja (Nigerian capitol) followed by a 2-hour car ride to Kaduna.  Kaduna is the former northern Nigerian capitol during British colonial rule from the early 20th century until 1960.  Through Barrister Clement’s (INTERCEP director) intervention, UNICEF invited me to critique a lengthy document on the “almajiri” child phenomenon.  It was quite an experience as I gained more insight into the patronage system that continues to encourage this army of Muslim beggar boys (almajirai).

On Monday night, I received a phone call in Kaduna that our solar panels and submersible pump had arrived in Maiduguri.  This was exciting because this is the apparatus that will pump water from the bore hole (well) to the surface.  Our solar engineer, Kunduli Mustapha (from the University of Maiduguri), has been creating the structure this week that will support this new setup.  It was thrilling to visit the farm today and see the 5 boxes of “Sharp” solar panels and the long tube with the “Grundfos” submersible pump therein.  We look forward to the connection between bore hole (well) and solar devices being arranged next week.

Jen has also been privileged over the past 3 days to participate in a conference for indigenous Borno non-government organizations (NGO’s) sponsored by the German embassy in Maiduguri.  This is the type of training that we needed way back in July of 2005 when we first began this work.  However, we have learned “on the fly” and the Lord has blessed our efforts.  Nevertheless, this was special because Jen is beginning to be recognized as a capable humanitarian servant in the Maiduguri NGO community.  It is these kinds of gatherings that remind us that we are not alone in our struggle to honor God and serve humanity.

Yet, the overwhelming life change lately has been the intense March heat of Maiduguri.  This has really affected INTERCEP’s Pompomari drip irrigation farm as our vegetable crops are struggling.  Therefore, efforts have been made to create some local shade structures with thatch and tree branches.  The crops under these local shade canopies are experiencing some relief but the seedlings exposed to the scorching sun are struggling to survive.  I don’t know if one ever really acclimates to this kind of weather as all plants in the ground are quickly suffocated.

As one of the Wulari believers visited me yesterday in the office, I had an opportunity to publish him a copy of the new WBS 2007 study on “God’s Prophets.”  All of these experiences reminded me of how diverse our work really is in northern Nigeria.  It would be such a blessing to simple be able to “go with the good news” but God has guided us in other directions.  Our experiences with UNICEF, solar engineering, the German embassy, INTERCEP’s Pompomari farm, and WBS remind us that the Almighty demands a vast array of tools to accomplish His mission.  Our prayer is that we will comprehend the scope behind the vision of the Most Compassionate.

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