Twenty Years and Counting!

Three weeks ago I marked twenty years in Nigeria. When I look back over the years I am amazed at how rich my life has been as a result of my accepting God's call. Sure, I've missed out on family events in the US, but in return I found a husband and we have formed our own family here. Yes, I have lost touch with many friends in the US, but I've also made many friends here and with the help of Facebook have reconnected with friends from years past and kept in touch with my extended family.

I am also very fortunate to have work that is rich and and rewarding. Granted, teaching is never easy and the workload only slows down when we have a long holiday, but I enjoy my colleagues and my students keep me young at heart and challenge me in ways that are never boring...frustrating at times, but never boring!

This past year I have also watched my children grow and mature in ways that make me proud. Both Nat and Annette are now taller than me and I love that Daniel still comes in from his play to give me a kiss. Nat is developing into a top notch soccer player and Annette has just become a teenager and is showing talent on the clarinet and becoming a more serious student.

I pray that God will continue to bless my family and our work here in Nigeria. Amson and I are often on the go with his pastoral duties and my teaching duties, but fortunately the lifestyle here reminds us to keep family as number one and allows us to slow down when needed.

God, it's started again...

Tension again, cars burning, people dieing,

Shots in the air,

What's happening out there?

"Stay at home, don't go out."

Shots in the air,

What's happening out there?

School cancelled, events postponed

God, why has it started again?

School work sits,tests and projects postponed,

It's hard to read today,

When there are shots in the air.

What's happening out there?

God, why is it happening again?

Don't shut down,

Keep the pessimism away.

Let optimism and creativity rule,

Even though there are shots in the air.

Remember, God is in control.

God, let our dreams of peace, when neighbors can live without fear and suspicion, become a reality again.

This poem was written during the August 30-31, 2011 crisis. After my summer in the US I returned to Nigeria with the determination to live with a more pro-active perspective. This was written after I realized I was starting to shut down and just go on auto-pilot where I just live by responding to comes before me instead of thinking ahead to what needs to be done and planning ahead with more creativity and purpose.

Home Is Where You Hang Your Hat

I don't know where this saying came from, but I tend to agree. I've lived outside of the United States for nearly twenty years now and Nigeria has become home. As I write this I am visiting my home of origin and am even sleeping in the same room that I slept in about 45 years ago with three of my sisters.

I've been back for over a month now and I have certainly enjoyed my time back with my mom and visiting other family members and sharing bits of the American culture with my kids and husband, but the thing I think I have apprecited most is the order I see in the institutions that are the social caretakers and the orderliness of most citizens living within the society. Most of all, I love my nearly daily walks around Lake Sacajawea, a lake and park system that has been such a part of my childhood.



As I walk around the lake I see how well it is cared for, as I observe the preperations for the Independence Day weekend I am amazed at how well the details are planned out. I see how people drive on the highways and how most follow the rules of the road. I see how organizations have concern for making positive contributions to the well being and education of the children it serves.



Granted, there are parts of the society that are not so great or seem so trite after my years in Nigeria, but I'm lucky to be a part of two cultures. It's funny, I'd say the US culture is one to be admired from a distance and the Nigerian culture is better close up. It's people that make the difference and I have great friends and families in both cultures

Family Memories

I received word last week that an aunt died. Living outside of my home country for nearly twenty years means that years can pass before I see some relatives; such was the case with Aunt Beverly. As such, when I was able to view a slide show of her life on the internet I found myself somewhat detached in the beginning.

Nonetheless, as I watched the slide show memories came flooding back from childhood experiences with extended family. I thank God for the many times we traveled back to the Midwest for holidays and family reunions.

It has been nearly fifteen years since I last attended a reunion so I look eagerly toward this summer when my family hopes to attend the next gathering. My kids only have memories from visiting the Northwest so it will be exciting to not only introduce them to extended family, but also more of the United States.

I'm thankful that my children know their Nigerian aunts and uncles well, but look forward to introducing them to their extended family on the American side. Memories are special things, but sometimes they take a lot of planning; I hope our plans work out well for this summer.