I have Decided to Follow Jesus

We sang those words today during the invitation at church. I love those words. I wanted to share them here. I hope you read them and dwell on them. Allow them to sink into your ears, and heart.

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
   I have decided to follow Jesus;
   I have decided to follow Jesus;
   No turning back, no turning back.
2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
   The world behind me, the cross before me;
   The world behind me, the cross before me;
   No turning back, no turning back.
3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   No turning back, no turning back.
4. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   No turning back, no turning back.

I mean how wonderful is that? It's our lives as Christians in one song. 

I have decided to follow Jesus.

The world behind me, the cross before me. 

Though none go with me, still I will follow.

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

No turning back, no turning back. 

p.s. Sorry I haven't posted in well months, it's just that school and life have gotten crazy this semester. I'll try to be better! 

Home?

Well I landed August 4th at about 4 pm. And well, it feels good to be home, but it's just really weird.

I honestly can't decide whether I feel at home, or feel like I just left home.

While driving some where the car I'm in doesn't almost get hit like 50 times. I took a shower using something other than a bucket and a cup. I wasn't woken up by a rooster or by people sweeping. I can't walk out my front door and see beautiful kids everywhere. I wont be riding a motorcycle anytime soon, which I'm sure makes my mother happy.

But I have gotten to spend time with my wonderful friends and family! I have loved getting to sit down and talk to my Mama, brothers, and some friends. I have missed so much!

Going to my wonderful church feels the most like home. I love sitting in my Sunday School class. I love being in Children's Church. I LOVE worship I can understand fully. [Not saying I didn't love worship in Nigeria, but I couldn't understand a good deal of it since it was in Igbo.]

To see more pictures you should check out my facebook. I have posted some there, not all by any means.

I also really wanted to say thank you to all of you. Your prayers this spring and this summer were appreciated more than you could know. Also knowing you guys read my blog means so much to me! I loved going to church and having so many people say something about reading my blog. It really meant  so much knowing that while I was across the ocean so many people were checking on me. Your love and support means SOOOOOOOO MUCH. I can't even begin to tell you.

But continue praying for A Place of Hope. The kids are still there. They are still growing and learning. There are still so many hurting people out there. And just I'm not there doesn't mean you should stop praying for them.

I really do love y'all dearly. I can't wait to see how God continues to change my life.

Goodbyes, Painting, Clinics, VBS, and Possible Returns.

I have less than one week left here. In fact I have 6 days left. 4 more days until I leave Opi, the village I am currently leaving in, and travel to Lagos while I wait for my flight. Can you feel my heart breaking? Because I can.

Goodbyes suck. I have decided I just don't like them at all. 

I can't wait to see my wonderful friends and family! I am so looking forward to the mass amounts of hugs, laughs and stories waiting for me in the States. But I don't want to leave the mass amounts of hugs, laughs, stories that are here for me.

We got some visitors this past week. A pastor, doctor, two college students and the Starlings daughter Anna. While they have been here we painted the boys flat. It is half blue and half red, for Chelsea and Manchester United. The team logos were just finished yesterday. The boys love it so much! For the past few days there have been an endless yells of “Manu for lifffffeee! Chelsea for deathhhhh!” And of course “Chelsea for liffffeee! Manu for deathhhhhhhh!” They also painted the main room in the girls flat, just light blue.

We have done two medical clinics. I got to go to one. I worked as the pharmacist with Bianca, one of the college students who came for the week. It was exhausting, but I enjoyed it. But I now know for sure, God did not create me to be a pharmacist.

VBS is this week. It ends today. It has been going really well. I am in games with Chuks. The kids loved Red Rover, and Tug of War best. The little kids are the hardest to do anything with. The age groups turned into 1 year to 5 years. Do you know how hard it is to get a 15 kids under 5 years old to play the same game? It's nearly impossible.

Tomorrow we are going to hike to a waterfall. It will be me second time to go there. It is sooo beautiful, but there are these bats that are everywhere. And I don't really like them, at all. But I'm excited!

The kids have been asking me when I am coming back. So I am thinking about planning on coming back for at least a short time next summer. I just don't know how long I can go without seeing their sweet little faces.

Well I should roll. I'll see your lovely faces next week! And I am pretty excited about it. I hope you get ready for story time! :]

The box.

I have two weeks left here. And goodness I just don't think it's enough time. I am already making plans on how and when to come back next summer. I just don't know how I ma going to go an entire year without seeing these sweet little faces.

Ever since the kids heard my parents were sending them a box they had been asking almost everyday "Brie! Will the box come today?!" I always told them it will come with Anna. They knew which day Anna would get here, so they had been counting down. 

Well Anna arrived yesterday, so THE BOX got here last night. We called them into my room one at a time so the others were lined up outside of our flat. Kara said it correctly when she said “It's like 12 year old girls waiting for a Jonas Brother's concert.” When some of the kids came in they couldn't even sit still they were so excited. They all left beaming. My favorite might have to be Baby Joy. She is 2 years old. I had my mom send her some dress up shoes, because she is ALWAYS wearing shoes that don't belong to her. So before she walked in our room I put the shoes on the floor. She walked in smiled and simply put them on and began to walk around without saying a word. But as soon as the shoe touched her foot she lit up. We had some trouble getting her to sit still enough to show her the new clothes and toys. She was soooo focused on those shoes.

The kids played with all their new toys all night. And last night for prayer about 5 of them came in wearing their new clothes. They looked SO cute! Good job Mom and Dad!

I don't have much time, so I'm sorry this is so short.

My flight lands in DFW in 14 days. I can't wait to see your beautiful smiling faces. I love you!  

For Miss. Kara Rainwater.

Well I have two more weeks left here. And it's just weird. Kara and I talk a lot about what we are going to miss. And how we are going to go through withdrawals without each other. I mean, spending almost every hour about 5 feet away from each other for 2 months and our beds are about 5 inches apart. Then we will suddenly be a few hours away. WEIRD.

I think I will dedicate this blog to Kara Morgan Rainwater. [Isn't that a cool last name?]

Well for those who don't know I met Kara last summer at Mission Arlington. She worked with Brittany and I for two weeks. She read something about me going to Africa on facebook and called to ask me about it. And then BAM! She was coming!

I'm so glad out of all the people who could have come with me, it was her. We get along really well. Like really well. I don't think we have had any problem at all. Our joke for this is “Well if I have to sleep a few inches away from you, I don't want to have to worry in my sleep.” But really it's just because she's stinking awesome. I LOVE our late night talks about what we are learning while we are hear, what we have experienced with God, and just life in general.

I am so thankful that God knew what He was doing when He brought her with me. I'm pretty sure I would have gone crazy without her. It's just good to have someone to sit and go over the day's events and to remind me of things I have to do.

I'm going to miss her terribly. Seriously. I may have to call her like 50 times a day just to tell her some random thought, joke, or story. I'm sure there will be many trips to Tyler to go visit her.

Side note: We have been painting for the past few days from when we wake up to the point we fall asleep. No exaggeration there. There has been nonstop painting. The flat and the staircase look great, but smell terrible right now. Our next painting project is the flat the boys stay in. One wall will be Manchester United, and another Chelsea. I'm pretty excited about it! Manchester and Chelsea are the two favorite soccer teams around here. Randomly you can here someone yell, “Manu for lifffffe!” And then someone will reply “Chelsea for lifffffe!” So their flat should be too legit to quit.

Oh, tonight Kara and I ate some lizard. This thing was a pretty beastly thing, it looked like a small komodo dragon . It was about a foot and half long, at least. Some of the boys killed it on the way back from the field. They cut it up and put it in a pot. Kara and I ate part of the tail, I thought it tasted a lot like fish. So add lizard to my list of foods I ate while in Nigeria.

There have been many times when I have thought in class, “You know I'll never use that in Africa.” One of those times was when I made an interactive powerpoint in my computers in the classroom class. Well just now I had about 10 kids around my computer looking at my little zoo.

I felt so accomplished that I was teaching kids with my own homework assignment. And they enjoyed it! Man if I ever felt like a teacher it was then!

Well I'm super tired, and we have more painting to do tomorrow! So goodnight!

One month left?

I love skype. I got to talk to some of my wonderful family the past few days. And I am so thankful for it! Man I didn't even realize how much I missed them! And the kids LOVED getting to see some of my family. They jump into the frame, seriously. Some of them jumped.

Well I have less than a month left. And I just can't believe it. I mean, I've lived in Africa for over a month already? Huh? I keep thinking sooner or later I'm going to wake up in my bed and find out it has been a dream. And everyday I thank God that I wake up still in Nigeria and find out it's not a dream. It is in fact reality.

I have been working on my nursing skills. I wont go into great detail on here, when I told Darby he was making faces so I'll spare you some details. But I'm pretty excited about it. I'm learning random things about how to clean wounds, and how to correctly treat things I have never seen before. I LOVE IT. Man is it weird I love this stuff so much? Kara thinks so. I jump at every chance to help Bev take care of someone.

The other night I cleaned a boy's big wound on his ankle. He got hit by a car back in January and still has a large burn on his ankle. I had watched Bev clean and out a bandage on it a few times. And she let me take the reins. I don't like knowing I'm causing someone pain, and the poor boy is in a great deal of pain when his leg gets cleaned. I had to keep reminding him that if I was a doctor I would not be so nice about it. Doctors here are not known for bed side manner. Bev was with someone who had a broken leg getting an X-ray and was crying because well, they had a broken leg. And the doctor yelled, “SHUT UP! Are you a baby?” And I have been told several stories of someone being told their family member died and the doctor told them to stop crying.

The point of that was I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. But I felt bad that he was in so much pain.

I help in Children's Church every Sunday. But this week they started a class for the kids 7 and under that is separate from the older kids. I was in there, and I loved it of course! The lesson was about creation. I made up motions for each day so the kids could remember on what day what was created.

During church there is a time for testimonies about what God has been doing in people's lives. For the second time now someone brought a chicken as an offering. During a baby dedication the family brought a chicken as well. Kara and I are always thrown off just a bit by it.

Oh hey I got African clothes! And I really do love them! I give Tochi, staff member, a hard time for being so picky about what kind of fabric I buy for myself to wear. But when it comes down it, he picked some good stuff. I guess the boy's got taste. 

Here's a picture of Ugo and I for ya! I hope you enjoy!

Answers.

I have been asked a lot of questions by my friends and family about my stay here. So I figured I'd answer the most common here so all of you can know too!

One of the most common questions is...[insert drum roll] How's the food?- Well I live with Americans, so we eat a lot of American food. We make tortillas at least once a week. We eat A LOT of rice and beans. The Nigerian food I eat the most is yams, fried roasted, and mixed in our gina beans. The strangest things I have eaten is Aku, fried termites and a piece of chicken heart. The termites are different than our own. They are much bigger, and can fly. I ate two Aku because the first I ate didn't have wings and I was told the sweetest ones are with the wings.

Another common question, What time is it there?- For those in Texas, look at the time and add 6 hours.

Are you having fun?- OH. MY. GOODNESS. Yes I'm having fun! I love it here SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much! I love everything, minus no cheese and not much meat... The people are so great, the kids are amazing. I love learning about the culture and trying to learn the language!

Joy. She lives up to her name, sometimes.

Which brings me to my next one. Are you learning the language?- I'm trying. I know some words, and can understand a few more. All the people enjoy hearing an onyocha, white person, speaking Igbo. And the staff really gets a kick out of my trying to repeat after them. It's hard to learn Igbo because thye have sounds that we don't have in English, and my English brain tries to make them that way. The kids also LOVE to try to teach me. One thing that makes it hard to learn is the different dialects. I live in Opi, so there is an Opi dialect. Nsukka is a nearby town, which has it's own dialect. And then there is standard  Igbo.

What are you learning?- Well! I'm learning a few things. But the one that I think is the most life changing is that this is where I'm supposed to be. This is exactly where God wants me to be, and not just for the summer. He has used this summer to show me what I knew He told me. Africa is where my heart is, Africa is where my home will be. I can't say 100% that it will be in Nigeria. But it is very possible. I have also been learning, and thinking a lot about religion. Religion is dumb. Why did it get so tangled in our relationship? When did going to church become more important than loving our Savior? And why don't we do anything? Do you know what God says about religion in James? “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep the oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 This is the only kind of religion I want in my life.

What do you miss the most?- Well other than people of course. I miss sleeping with the blankets my mom made me. Every night I wish I had one. I miss my church. Which is funny to say after the question above. But I miss the worship there. The worship here fills my heart with joy because it's just so beautiful to hear praise in another language. But it's hard to truly worship too when I don't know what is being said.

See what I mean about Simdat's smile?

What are you going to miss the most?- The kids. Every single one of them. Kara and I randomly sit and talk about how we can't picture our lives without them. I'll miss giving two little boys a bath at around 7 pm. I'll miss waking up at 3 am to take Terry to the bathroom so he doesn't wet the bed, and I'll miss giving him a bath every morning because he still wet the bed. I'll miss Dajan's hugs. I miss Tokshi sitting in my lap. I'll miss Jurbe holding my hand. I'll miss Simdat's beautifully sweet smile. I'll miss playing at the field and arguing what time we will go home. I'll miss the giggles. I'll miss the nightly prayer and song time with the kids. I have 30 days left to love these kids so much it hurts me, and I plan on it. I could go on forever, but it's killing me now so I'll stop. I'm going to miss Kara so much! I can't picture waking up without her next to me. I have no idea what I am going to do when I have a day without being with her 24 hours a day. For those who will be with me, you are going to have to deal with my massive withdrawals. 

Are you married yet?- No I'm not. But some of the kids have informed me we are getting married. And one day in the market one man I walked by said “Onycha! I love youuuu! Marry me!” I just smiled and kept walking. And then we walked by him later and he said, “I knew you would be back! I love you!” And a girl in the market asked me to marry her brother. I politely turned both offers down. But I have 22 days to follow in family footsteps;]

This picture takes my breath away.

Also I was not asked this but I wanted to share it with you. I now have braids. How did they braid my short hair you may ask. Well I have extensions in. So my hair went from being short to like a foot longer in a matter of two long hours. No, it didn't hurt. It just gave me a small headache. My goal is to have them in for 4 days, we will see if I can make it.

I hope you all enjoy the 4^th of July! We are going to celebrate here by playing some patriotic songs and having a roast for dinner I think.

As always I love you! And I loved reading your comments on my last blog. Y'all are so encouraging!

Brie Meegan and the Joy Thief.

 Before I left someone said that sooner or later I will see something that will take away my joy, and they hoped it would be in Africa. They said they wanted this to happen for two reasons, maybe I'll “grow up” and also maybe it would end my dream of Africa.

This summer so far I've met kids who seen people tortured to death, who have been rejected by their families, who have been abused, who survived only because of they worked to find food. All before the age of 12. I have gone to the hospital to see, and pray for the woman who got a shot to abort her baby. She bled for over a week and almost died because of it. I hear several times a day the worship of a local cult crying out to their god. I walk past a pagan shrine every time we go to the field to play soccer.

If something exists that could take my joy away I feel like I heard about it, prayed for the person, and often met the person. And still I continue to learn more.

And yes it breaks my heart beyond belief. And it steals my happiness. But never does it touch my joy.

My happiness is found in a child's smile or laugh, having clean clothes, waking up and finding that Terry did not wet the bed, having African clothes made. It is stolen by a child's cry, realizing I have to wash clothes, Terry wetting the bed again, waiting another day for my clothes, and finding out we are having yam and beans for dinner again...

My happiness is found through earthly things. It can be a roller coaster, with highs and lows. But my joy? My joy has nothing to do with this world. It is not found in any human being, or thing, or even being in Africa. If my joy was found in earthly things it would have been ripped from me long ago.

My joy is found solely in the Lord. He is what fuels me. He keeps me breathing in and out. Without him I doubt I could move due to the depression this world would cause. It would be more than crippling. But guess what? “Do not be grieved for the joy to the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. If that joy is my source of strength how could I not be full of joy? How could I not jump at the chance to follow Him, to Arlington or to Africa? How could I contain myself if He is my joy and my strength? Tell me how your still sitting there and trying to find joy in the world? Please. It's fleeting. It fills you with false hope and then crushes you.

I thank God that no matter what happens, no matter what I see, no matter how much death I face head on. Yes I may be heart broken, in fact I pray for a broken heart for what breaks His heart. It keeps my humble, it keeps me close to him. Psalm 34:18 “ The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

I hope and pray you find your joy in the Creator and the Savior, and not in this world. 

AKA The Kind of Things I'll tell stories about.

Here's a list of random things I think you should know, want to know, or things I want to remember. aka the kind of things I'll tell stories about:

I made up an awesome story about a mustache the other night to tell Terry and Ugo. It was Ugo's turn to pick the bed time story topic and he said some word Kara and I didn't understand, and once getting Thank God to translate we found he wanted a story about a mustache. SO Max the Mustache was born.

I'm getting to be an expert story teller.

Chris Brown is very popular here. I laughed out loud when I heard that.

Not all orphans' parents are dead. In fact many kids here have at least one parent alive. But their parent, or parents, didn't want them or couldn't take care of them. So they just gave them away. WHAT? If that statement doesn't break your heart I don't know what will.

I love it here more than I could ever tell you. THIS is where I was created to be. I realize I have only been here a short time, but still. It's true.

Kara and I are beginning to plan for VBS. It is a very different process here. There isn't materials to do “normal American” crafts. And the materials they do have the kids don't know how to use. So we have to plan to do much of the craft.

We also don't eat meat very much. And for a carnivore like me this is a sad day. Expect tuna. Shelby I hope you smiled at this.

My hair is always a mess. I miss my straightener. That's one thing I deeply miss from the U.S. I understand that sounds super shallow, but it's true.

I am at a place where there are no “big African animals.” So no giraffes, but there are a lot of lizards!

The people here are hilarious! Seriously. I laugh all day long. I also laugh for a good part of the night, because I sit and talk, and help, to whoever is cleaning the kitchen.

There are no dairy products here. No cheese. No milk. No nothing. The only cheese I have had here is some Velveeta. I really miss cheese too. Like seriously.

We may be getting 3 new kids soon. Which is exciting! But also sad. A woman recently died. One of the kids is her 10 year old daughter, and the other 2 are her grandchildren. Her older daughter don't have the means to take care of her children so they may come here soon. The grandchildren don't speak much English, so if and when they come it will be an interesting experience.

I have begun to teach the older boys multiplication. They are given the answers ALL the time in school, so they don't know these very well. It seems to be going well.

They LOVE the fact I'm teaching them math. They ask about our lessons all the time. I missed today due to Kara being sick and also going to the hospital to visit a woman. So today Dajan asked if we could do the lesson tomorrow. On Saturday. What American kid would ask to have a lesson on Saturday? Pretty much none.

Dajan gives the BEST hugs ever. You are all missing out.

I haven't gotten a sunburn yet!

I'm sorry this is so long, but I have been writing and adding to it for quite some time.

I just love you guys. I love getting online and seeing all sorts of encouragement on facebook, on here, and in email.

Sooner or later I want to have a blog answering some of the random questions I know y'all have. So ask away! On comments, email, facebook. Just let me know if you have any questions and I'll try my best to answer them!

It's past midnight here and I need sleep. Goodnight!

Oh my what a Sunday!

We had more than 10 baptisms yesterday at church! That's right MORE THAN 10. Sorry, I stopped counting...

But one of the many was a boy named Chijindu. Does that name look familiar? It should. Go look at my blog called Pictures and Prayer to see his picture. He is one of the newest kids here. He has been here for about 2 months now. Yesterday during junior church, what most of you know as children's church, he told Bev he wanted to be baptized. She pulled him aside and really got to talk to him about it. So he was saved and baptized all in the same day! What an amazing day!

It was so wonderful to see so many people come and get baptized. There were several times we thought it was over and then  someone would say "Wait! There's another one coming!" There is no baptismal here, it's a small inflatable pool on the ground.

One of the men baptized yesterday came to know Christ because of Joey's shooting. He told Joey he wanted to know the god who saved him. [For those who don't know Joey, the missionary whose family I'm staying with was shot in the face back in October.] He recently had heart problems and was very close to death, but is doing MUCH better. So the fact he could sit on the ground was a big deal in itself. Papa Ebuka was also a former pagan. And the head of pagan worship in his village. He also wanted to go to church because of the real Christians he saw there. He saw the difference in their lives and wanted to go to a church that lives were changed at.

Another man has elephantiasis in his leg. Bev, Joey's wife, began to treat him. He didn't understand why she did this so much without complaining. She explained she loves him  because God loves him, and he only payment would be to see him getting better. His foot is so large from the sickness he hadn't been able to wear a shoe on that foot for about 12 years. Well they had a shoe made to fit him. He heard from Papa Ebuka [man in above story] about God, and how he was saved. He said that if that pagan could go to church he could too. He hasn't missed a Sunday since.

Isn't God just plain amazing? Doesn't He blow your mind? I hope so. i hope you realize that the God in America is the same God to reach this remote small town in Nigeria. It's so amazing to see lives that have been changed. And to hear the amazing stories.

Did I mention that every Sunday since I have been here several people have come ti know Christ? I mean every Sunday. And they don't do the alter call in a dim lit Sanctuary. At the end of service they ask "Who wants to know Christ today? Raise your hand."  No emotional music, or dramatic thing. A simple question, with a simple life changing answer. Oh it's amazing to see those hands come up from all around.

Also on a slightly related note, church is outside under a covering they built. The kids and "youth" class are inside a building. By youth I mean like 16 to early 30's. While the adult class is outside under the covering. The junior church is inside as well.

Please pray that God would continue to move here. He's doing some amazing things.

 I love you, because He loves you. I'm here because He is here.

Insert Catchy Title Here.

I don't remember the last time I posted, so it's about time right?

Well Sunday is Father's Day, and I most likely wont post before then again. So I wanted to give a shout out to the man who gave me my red hair, sense of humor and so much more. Dad here's to you. I love you my fellow uncrazy person left in the world! Thanks for once again for letting me go out in our Father's name for the summer. I love you bunches! And I miss you dearly!

We have started planning for VBS here. Which is a very different process than in the States. A lot of churches will buy a package that has lots of things predone. But here, those aren't available. So we plan the theme, the lesson, the crafts, the games, the music, the snacks. EVERYTHING. And planning the crafts are also a whole different story as well. 1. A lot of standard craft supplies isn't here. We are having a group the is coming bring paper plates, paper bags, and a bunch more. 2. Many of the kids here have never made a type of craft like this. In the U.S we grow up learning how to glue, use scissors, and such. Not true here. So we have to make super duper simple crafts and plan on making half of them.

And kids learn a bunch of games at schools and other places. Well the games we know and love they don't know here. Remember, I taught them Go Fish and how to thumb war. So the games we are planning have to be simple to explain and still loads of fun. Oh one of the staff and I are in charge of games. I'm stinkin pumped! Last year they did tug of war and it was the first time the kids had done it and I have been told they LOVED it. So we are doing it.

Here everyone is all about what church can do for them. How can they go to church and be blessed? Or healed? Or get money? Many of the churches are named things like “Day of Bliss.” They will advertise about some preacher who heals everyone, and how everyone who attends that church gets money. It's all about show. They don't care about anything other than what God will do for them.

I said that so you will understand our theme. “The Power of God.” People wont come if the theme is about space, or hiking through the forest. They want glory, but they want it for themselves. So we are going to teach about the TRUE power of God.

Last year was the first time they did VBS, and it was the first time EVER it was done in the area. About 200 kids came last year, so we are expecting much more. Sp pray as we get ready and plan and prepare things. That God's true power will be shown and people will come to know the true Him.

Keep praying for the kids! They are just so precious. Tokshi and I spent like an hour last night just sitting and talking. Oh goodness it was wonderful. I seriously love him a ton. Tokshi is 12 years old and wants to be a teacher. I told him I want to be one too and plan on coming back to Africa to teach and he lit up. Pray especially for Tokshi please. I'm not sure why but he is real heavy on my heart and has been for about a week or so. I put his picture on my last blog, I'm pretty sure. I spend a pretty good deal of time with him and love him more each time.

I love you. And thanks for all the prayers I know you're sending up. I'm so very grateful!

What just happened at the table:

Kara: “Chase are you putting you're Mac Daddy on?”

Chase and I confused looks.

Kara: “He's Iming.”

Chase: “To my grandma!”

This went down like 5 seconds after Chase said he was talking to his grandma...

Pictures and prayer.

Here are some pictures for you! 

This is Chizoba, Mesoma, and me!

Dajan. I mentioned him in an earlier blog.

Chizoba wearing my pj trousers and a pillow. 

[Pants here means underwear. So what we call pants they call trousers. Shorts are knickers. And underwear in called pants.]

Ugo and me thumb warring. I taught them how to thumb war and they love it!

Chijindu.

Tokshi.

I wanted to share a few pictures. I can't post a whole lot because there is a limit of how much uploading and downloading that can be done in a month.


Everyone has heard stories of poor little kids in Africa. And often think "Well isn't that sad?", or "Surely that doesn't happen." Well you are both wrong. It happens, and no it isn't sad. It's utterly heartbreaking. Some of the kids here have family that is still alive, but either they couldn't take care of them, or they didn't want the child anymore. So many of the kids here had to work all day and night to try to save money to buy food, clothes, and hopefully go to school. While their villages were burned they would go hide in near by trees waiting for the people to leave.

I don't want you to read this and cry, and think about how awful it is. I tell you this so you will pray for the kids. And not just the kids here, but also the kids where this is still their life. Please join me in praying for the children who are struggling to get enough money together to eat, and go to school.

Also please know that every night we have a prayer time. It's my favorite part of the day. But just about every night the kids will pray for our loved ones no matter where they are. So you are getting prayed for by some of the sweetest kids you'll ever met.

Worst nightmare, and sweet dreams.

My worst nightmare came true today. The kids found out I was ticklish. How this happened was that Tokshi, 12 years old, was sitting on my lap outside. I was messing with him and tickling him and then he reached back and tickled me. I tried SO HARD not to react at all, but when I did he yelled “WOAH OH!” I wish you could hear how they say this, I just love it. And then began to tickle me more.

After a game of Little Sally Walker, which they love by the way, some of the boys tried to take my Nutri- C bracelet. [Nutri-C is powder you put in your water to make it taste amazing. In some packages there are bracelets. I got one today.] While trying to steal my bracelet I started to run upstairs to our flat. About 6 or so boys were chasing me tickling me the whole way.

When half way up the stairs Swardat blocked the staircase with his body. When I was trying to move him the others took advantage and all began tickling me. I hit the ground. They thought this was the funniest thing to ever happen. And they kept tickling me. So I lay on the ground in the staircase, still sore from yesterdays soccer game, trying to breathe. While I'm yelling for Kara to help they just yell “Don't come Kara! Don't come!” She only hears them yell her name and stays upstairs. Luckily Tochi, a staff member, came to my rescue. I handed him my bracelet so they were chasing him while I made my get away upstairs.

So now the cat is outta the bag. I'm ticklish. So the rest of the night they would randomly come tickle me...

At some point I took over the nightly job of giving out band aids. I'm not when this happened exactly, but it happened none the less. So every night after prayer I scoot my way into the tiny bathroom and begin to put bandages on various wounds. [Any type of scratch, cut, etc is a wound. And band-aids are bandages. Makes things seem a little dramatic at times.] Last night Chuks, a staff member, did it while I was doing something. I walk in to check on the progress...There were several kids who had multiple bandages on a small cut. Tokshi had a big gauze pad and was taping it to his ankle. Other bandages wouldn't stay so this must be the only answer right? While he was cutting the tape with a large kitchen knife. It may sound awfully dangerous here, and it wasn't the best idea. But it was rather humorous to see. I asked Chuks what happened and he said “What? They can't do it?” I laughed and took over once again.

Well this job often carries over into the morning because someone has a new wound, or someone's bandage fell off in the night. So after Kara and I get Terry and Ugo ready for school I lay back down and wait for a knock. Like this morning someone knocks and I ask “Who is it?” And I hear “Brie! It's Dajohn! Get me a bandage!” Which is exactly what I told him to say if I was in bed when he came.

Speaking of Dajohn, he gives the best hugs EVER. And he gives them often. They say good morning, good afternoon, and good evening here. Even if they see you all three times, and if they left for a minute they will come back and greet you again. Greetings= a big deal. You are seen as rude if you don't greet. While every time Dajohn greets me he gives me a massive bear hug. He is 11 I think. And has the biggest smile. But every morning, afternoon, and night before bed, he sees me smile that adorable smile and hugs me so tight I can barely breathe. Goodness. He is also an amazing little soccer player.  

This is where we play soccer. I love it a little more every time we go. 

This is Jurbe and Tokshi. I mentioned Tokshi so I'm giving you a face. He is trying not to laugh in this because one of the boys was trying to run in and photo bomb. 

Both are 12 years old. 

It's almost midnight here, and my computer is about to die so goodnight from Nigeria! 

The List.

Everyone has a list of what they want to do in their life. Most have something about traveling, and then details about what to do in a foreign country. Well I have been creating, and checking things off my list.

Here's what I have so far:
Things that I put on the list.
- Go to Africa. Check.
- Love on orphans. Check.
- Walk in the jungle. Check.
- See an African thunderstorm. Check.
- Play soccer with Africans. Check.
- Eat native food. Check.
- Get African clothes. Check.
- Learn some of the language. In progress.
- Eat things I wouldn't normally eat. Check, check and triple check.
- Not get a sunburn. Still check.
- Get a sweet  chaco tan. In progress.
- Understand the accents. In progress.

Things I didn't know that were on my list:
- Listen to the heart felt prayers of children,
- Ride motorcycle. Check. [Sorry Mom, it's a main form on transportation here. Also it's a great way to see Africa!]
- Eat a bug. Check. I actually ate 2, yes they were cooked. I'll post pictures later. :]
- Take baths using a bucket and a cup.
- Eat part of a chicken heart.
- Hand wash clothes while being laughed at by several children. Check.

I'll add to this as the summer continues.

Mom, this isn't all the way done but I'm posting it for you! LOVE YOU MAMA!

Holding Hands Walking Through the Jungle.

I can't yet describe a normal day here, because every day has been different. So I will do my best to describe my days here.

Be woken up by my two roomies, Terry and Ugo, around 6:15. Terry is 4 years old and Ugo is 5. I have to bath Terry because he wet the bed. Make sure they get ready for school, and send them down to eat breakfast by 7, the bus leaves at 7:30 for school. 

My Roomies and Me!

I try to go back to sleep, but never can. So I go to the kitchen and talk to some of the guys there. Oh my goodness they are so funny! They are trying to teach me Igbo, which they find just hilarious. I am learning some though! Which is exciting!

I hang around and read my Bible and/or journal when most people are still asleep. And then go talk to the guys more. We eat breakfast, and do some random things. Eat lunch at 2. The kids get home between 3 and 4. While sometimes around noon I hear. It just depends on when the teachers decide to be done. From what I hear the teachers here are awful. Which breaks my heart. They kids love to get out the Leap Pad Reader Thingy and practice reading. They also LOVE to be read to. But they aren't learning very much at school. But they really do love to learn!

After the kids get back we hang out, play a lot of Mother may I?, and “go to market” which you know as Go fish. I taught them how to play and they changed it to go to market because it makes more sense to them. It is so funny to hear the kids yell “GO TO MARKET!” I love it!

I played soccer yesterday with some of the kids! They say I did pretty good. I did do pretty good for my first time playing in a few years. We play barefoot on a sand field. The field has the most amazing view! One side is the jungle. The other three have “mountains.” My Texas mind calls them mountains, but I'm not sure if they are considered hills or mountains. But either way It's just plain beautiful! I will try to take my camera out there so you can enjoy it too!

I have not officially been proposed to yet. But both my roomies and several other boys have told me that they are going to marry me. So no worries yet Mom!

My favorite thing here is when the kids grab my hands. We will be walking somewhere, or just sitting, and one will come up and grab my hand tight. Makes. Me. Melt. Every dang time. My favorite memory so far is walking with a kid on either side walking hand in hand through the jungle while it was raining. It was truly a beautiful thing.

Every night the kids have prayer. They sing a few songs and pray. Which I also love SO MUCH. I can't put it into words. I just love it. Goodness. They prayed for me for weeks before I came, did I tell you that? Isn't that the sweetest? I think so.

Tomorrow I am going to the market to get some skirts made! I'm excited!

I love you!

Pray for:

-Kara coming this week

-I would finish adjusting to the time difference. I have just about done it, but I still have some trouble.

- The kids! But especially the older kids. The oldest is 15, the youngest is about a year and a half. But some of the older ones have seen so much before they came here. And it breaks my heart in every way to hear the stories. Maybe I'll share one later.   

Pictures take FOREVER and a day to upload! So I'll try to post some randomly!

Dejee!

Dejee is a greeting here! Hey guys I'm here! The flights was so LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG and bumpy.
One here I spent the night in Lagos, which is where I flew into and then the next day flew to Enugu, the state where the orphanage is, had about an hour car ride. [Driving here is nuts.] So after 17 hours of traveling, not including the time I spent in the London airport or in Lagos, I arrived.

And man what a welcome! SO. PRECIOUS. I was surrounded by beautiful children all saying "Welcome Briet!" Which is how they say my name. Oh goodness I fell in love instantly.

I have two roommates. They are 5 year old boys. I give them their bath and help them get ready for school in the morning. I love it! But they snore all night....

I'm adjusting to the time...kinda...

I'm trying to learn all the names and some of the language, but I don't think I'm very good. My accent is already changing, so it helps them understand me better.

I'll post more pictures later. But I'm in a hurry now. The kids are out of school for Children's Day. I love you guys and hope all is well!

Today?!

Well I leave today. In one hours I leave for the airport. I have had a week full of goodbyes. All of them sweet, with a hint of bitterness. 

My favorite goodbye was yesterday in Children's Church. As I tried to sneak out to make it in time to make it to Big Church to see the baptisms Mrs. Angie waved to me. I then got tackled with just about all of children's church. I was surrounded by children hugging me, kissing me, and then it happened. There's always a kid who does it. Someone yelled "TICKLE HERRRRRRRR!" Then all the kids who were lovingly hugging me started tickling me. Two children wrapped around themselves my legs.

Heels+ tickling+2 kids wrapped around your legs= a horrible combination. 

Walking to Big Church I already missed them. 

I have been reminded by the mass amounts of wonderful people that God has surrounded me with. The ones who are in my house, and the ones who live far away. I love you guys and I am SOOOOOO thankful for you! Without the love, support, prayer, and listening ears you gave I would not be where I am today. Seriously. Even as I sit and type this I'm getting texts and facebook comments telling me people are praying for me. Y'all are great!

Speaking of texts. PLEASE DO NOT text me or call me this summer. If you feel the need to, please feel the need to send my parents some money. International rates are ridiculous. If you want to get a hold of me use skype [brie.meegan is my screen name], facebook, email, or my blog! It's not that I don't want to hear from you. I just don't want it to cost my parents an arm and a leg! 

It's just that I still don't feel like I'm leaving today. And I'm leaving in an hour. I think it will hit me once I have been there a few days. Or maybe when I land in Nigeria and realize not everyone speaks English.

I just printed my boarding passes. WEIRD. I got to pick my seats, window seats! I'm so excited! I have wanted to fly at night for a really long time and I get to do it tonight! Well I feel like with only one hour left here I should be doing something other than this...If I can I'll update in London to let you know I'm there! And I will update as soon as I can once I get to Nigeria!

5 Days.

I leave in exactly 5 days. Saying that, even thinking about that, forces a mass amount of emotions. This week I'm trying to finishing buying things for my trip, pack, spend time with people with friends and family, and relax. I'm not sure all of these things can happen. So I'm giving up relaxing until the others are done. I'll have time to relax on the plane right?

I got my visa today! I must admit I was beginning to get a little nervous. I kept reminding myself that God took care of the bigs things, he will take care of the little ones. I want to say thanks to everyone who prayed with me, and listened as I voiced my frustration. I just love you guys.

Tonight is my last Wednesday at church. Very bittersweet. I'm rocking the waterproof mascara for the next few days. [Shout out to Twinkle, you know who you are, for the first tears  regrading the trip. I love you a lot.]

If I think about the trip, which is just about every other thought, I get chills can't help but smile and sometimes even tear up [again with the waterproof mascara...] because, well, it's just a dream come true.

My friend Carli is going to North Africa for a month. She leaves on Saturday. Please pray for her safety while traveling and while she is there. She is going to a closed country. I just love that we will be on the same continent!

You guys are awesome! I hope you are having an awesome summer!

Terrified and Full of Joy.

As my own words fail me I found others that fit wonderfully. Once again from Kisses from Katie said exactly what I was thinking.

I can see the women with their eyes wide as they tremble in front of the empty tomb.
They listen to the angel's words – can it be? - and they scurry, terrified and full of joy.

Terrified and full of joy - I live there. It is possible to be afraid of what obedience might bring next and be full of thanks and overflowing joy and TRUST anyway. This giddy anticipation because we see all that He has done for us and we believe that He can only bring more good. Good, even in the ugly.

They see Him and they fall and the grab hold of His feet, clasp them, tangible, real feet. I live there too. Just holding on for dear life, choking back joyful sobs into the feet of my Savior.

Risen from the dead. And He does that with my life, this broken body, these broken dreams.

Beauty from the ashes. Beauty from the torture and the nail scars and the blood red life spilling out everywhere. Beauty from the black of the tomb


Terrified and fully of joy. That's exactly where I am at. 


I'm terrified because I leave for Africa in 20 days, and still so much needs to be done, as my loving parents keep reminding me. When I look at what I need to do part of me wants to just sit and breathe, while the rest of me knows I need to get up and get working. 


I'm full of joy because I am exactly where God wants me to be. I currently can't do anything to move some things along other than pray, have faith, and make what feels like millions of phone calls to people who don't answer their phone, or reply to emails.


 I'm also going exactly where God wants me. Despite the crazyness of everything going on and the many questions running through my mind nonstop I have no doubt Nigeria is where I am supposed to be this summer. God worked out the big things, now he is working on the details. I'm just trying to remember to breathe while I wait. 


In other news I will bring my computer to Nigeria. Which means I will be able to update this lovely blog, and skype! Yes you read that right! So add me on skype and let's talk this summer! :] If you don't have a skype, you should get one. I think it's pretty exciting even if you don't. 


I'm starting to get asked the questions of "What are you going to miss most this summer?" and "What are you most excited about?"  To hopefully avoid getting asked these by all of you I'll answer them now.


I'm going to miss my family the most. Summer has always been a time for us, my brothers parents aunts uncles grandparents cousins and friends of all listed above, to spend a TON of time together. Late nights playing video games that I'm awful at with my brother laughing the whole time. That is what I'm going to miss the most. 


I have already touched on what I'm most excited about. I can't wait to be living out God's call on my life. I can't wait to love on beautiful children for the summer. I can't wait for everything that includes. I know is this exactly what God wants me to do with my life, and I get to do it. THAT'S what I'm most excited about. That's what brings me to tears when I think about it. That is why I'm so full of joy. 

Finished. Përfunduar. Gotowy. 完成.

That is several languages for the word finished. Because I am officially done fundraising for Nigeria! If you heard a yell, or squeal earlier today it was most likely me.

Last Thursday I talked to my brother Daniel and he said he was giving me $100. I was blown away by God's provision then. Little did I know the MASSIVE things He was preparing me for.

This morning I was unbelievably blessed my Sunday school class, and my discipleship group. They gave me $697. WOAH NELLY. Yes I cried, a lot. They also gave me a card with such sweet words. I cried again when I read the card, and counted the money.

Later on during the day I was texting some people about how God used my class to bless me, and I received a phone call saying the remaining $118 was taken care of. More tears.

For those who know me, I'm pretty talkative. But I spent a good deal of time silent, unable to find words to express how I felt. For a while I was having trouble thinking about anything other than God's provision, but I didn't have much else I wanted to think about. As I sat in silence at the table watching my nephews paint they asked why I was so quiet, and why I kept smiling. My reply "God is good."

I really can't say thank you enough, to those who gave. But most of all to the One who planned this from the beginning. Jehovah Jireh, the Lord provides.

As I sit in a far to quiet BSM I can't help but think of a few things.



1. When we are little our dads throw us into the air. Never do I remember doubting he will catch me. In fact I remember one day I was on the roof, for some reason, and to get down I had to jump off the roof and into my dad's arms. I didn't hesitate. I waited for him to get ready and then jumped. And of course he caught me. I want that faith again.  I want a filial faith. That means "a faith befitting a son or daughter." I want the faith that three year old has in their father when they think their dad is the strongest, greatest, best, bravest, and any other good adjective. Well my heavenly father is the strongest, greatest, best, more powerful, most loving, most just, most almighty, and most perfect.  Why do we lose our filial faith when we grow up? It's such a sad thing. And I'm working to get mine back.

2. I have a lot to do and not much time to do it. I have papers, projects, paperwork for Nigeria, shots to get, finish raising about $900, and then finals. All within the next two weeks, finals in four. I am trying not to get overwhelmed, because my Father is the strongest, greatest, most loving, perfect, providing I think you get the picture... But please pray for me as I try to get things done.

3. I am unbelievably blessed by my friends and family. Seriously. Just when I think, "surely they can't do anything else to bless me." I get a phone call. And then I'm blown away [quite literally today, it's really windy].

Now it's back to my homework!

Now 43.

That's all it will take. 50 43 people who give me $30. If I can find 50  43 people to do that my trip is paid for, IN FULL. This trip is feeling more and more real by the day.

So here's some things I would love for you to do:
1. Pray for me and my trip in general.
2. Pray and think about giving me $30.
3. Think about who might give me $30, and talk to them and tell me who.

That's not too hard right?

I leave in 51 days. 51 days 21 hours 50 minutes 37 36 35 34...seconds. 48 days 11 hours 28 minutes 50 49 48 47... seconds Why yes I have a countdown n my desktop... And woah. It's coming fast.

In other news, I got my degree plan yesterday. Which I'm one step closer to graduating! 11 classes and student teaching and then I'm done! That's also pretty exciting! Not nearly as exciting as Africa, but still it ranks up there. :]

Help me go to Nigeria!

Here it is guys! This is the shirt I'm selling to help raise money for my mission trip! 

It was designed by my ever so talented brother Darby.

For those wondering, or who don't know, the orphanage I'm going to is called A Place of Hope. 

It will cost $15. If you want one, or 50, click on the the paypal logo on the right side of the page. Donate $15 for each shirt you're buying [or more:] and let me know what size by  paypal, email, or comment here on the blog! My email is briemeeg@gmail.com Add $5 if I need to ship the shirt. 

I have $1,000 already for the summer ad need $1,500 more! Thanks in advance for the prayers, and donations! I love you guys! 

If you have any questions please comment or email me and I'll get back to you ASAP. 

Harroll, Derrick, and Ajah.

Well we got back from New Orleans yesterday. And I long to go back soooo badly! While we were there many people we met on prayer walks told of us of how they NEVER go down the street to 7th and Danneel. This is because the last time they went down there they were shot at, beat up, robbed and so on. While we were there we saw nothing of this. As Mike said "We owned the street" by the end of the week, while not us, but Jesus. Over the week we handed out more than 750 copies of the Bible, and over 15 people came to know the Lord. I think that's a pretty good week, wouldn't you say so?

But let's move on to some of the beautiful kids I spent time with:

This is Harroll:

He is 3 years old. His mother was shot and stabbed to death on Friday, the day we drove back to Texas.  I had the chance to talk to his mother a few times during the week, she was a very nice woman. They lived not to far from where we worked all week. Please pray for him, his family, and the neighborhood in general.

This is Derrick [aka D]:

Photo credit Ashley Howard.

D is my best friend from New Orleans, he is 9 years old now. While I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with him this year it was still so amazing to see him again! Alex, a middle schooler from my church, was teaching him drum beats. Whenever D learned a new one he was sure to find me to show me. Whenever he did, or was about to do, something he was proud of he would find me. It made my heart soar to hear him yelling my name over the music, and to see him running to me to let me know something. I LOVED getting to sit back and watch Alex love on D. It really meant so much to me to see someone else love on him for Jesus. My first year there, 2009, D prayed to accept Christ. This year I got the chance to talk to him more about that. While he didn't remember praying with me, he told me about a time when he prayed last month for Jesus to come into his heart. We talked about what that means exactly, and how it affects his life. BEST CONVERSATION EVER. Not only did I get to share Jesus with him years ago, I got to further explain what a life following Jesus means. Oh if I could put into words my joy. 

I spent a good deal of my time this year with this precious child, Ajah.

Ajah is four years old.  She is so sweet. She didn't talk to many people other than me, unless I told her to ask them for something or to say hi to them after they said hi to her. She and I laughed and laughed, I have her raspberries on her face and she would squeal and then give me one. I can't think of a sweeter sound than a child squealing and laughing. She took my camera and loved taking pictures. I have several of her beautiful face that she took herself. On Wednesday we talked for a bit about Jesus and His love and sacrifice for us, but being four she wanted to go play rather than talk. Pray that seeds were planted in her life. Pray for her and her brother Tyrell. 

If you have a lot of time to kill ask me about my amazing spring break. I would love to tell you all about it!