We had such a great time with our field trips during summer school that we just had to write and tell you about it! Thank you so much for your prayers for this program – it was very successful! Each class went to a different institution, but each got to go to a restaurant afterwards to order whatever they wanted, and then each class visited Mama (Caroline) Gross at her home before returning to Otutulu.
Thank you for your prayers for safety, too. The day before our field trips began, I
traveled to Anyigba to make last minute preparations. On the way home, around 5 p.m., the rear, driver’s-side tire had a big blow-out. I immediately pulled to the side of the road, looked for a motorcycle to carry me and the tire back to Anyigba (about a ten-minute drive). So, holding the tire on my lap, we went to look for a tire shop. The size tire needed for a Land Cruiser is difficult to find in Anyigba, but the Lord provided a used one for only 8,000 naira. The problem is that they are tubeless tires. They put the tire on the rim, sealed it with cassava food, and discovered it was leaking. They removed it from the rim, fixed the leak, put it back on the rim…and discovered another leak. This time, after taking it off of the rim, we put a tube in it before trying again. The third time was successful. It was now almost 8 o’clock at night. The man asked me how I was going to get the tire back to my car. “The same way I brought it here,” I answered, “by motorcycle.” “How did you tie the tire?” they asked. “No,” I answered, “I fit carry ‘em for leg.” (meaning I’m can hold it on my lap). Once back at the car, we were able to replace the tire without further trouble. I was so happy that this mishap happened while I was out by myself and not with a carload of antsy kids! No one was hurt, and we had safe travels the rest of the summer.
Class 1 – Hospitals
On August 12, our class one pupils took tours of Blue House Hospital and Kogi Diagnostic and Reasearch Hospital, both in Anyigba. They got to see an ambulance, an operating room, x-ray and ultrasound machines, and all the other rooms and offices in a hospital. The matron at KDRH even showed them how vaccines are kept cold in the refrigerator by giving them each some cold water from the fridge. They were so excited, but kept moving the containers from hand to hand because their first experience with fridge temperature water made their hands feel as if they were burning! Before leaving, each child distributed the two care packages (toiletries and gift) they’d made to patients in the hospital. On the trip to and from town, it was as if the children didn’t have enough eyes in their heads to see everything they wanted to see. Their little heads kept swiveling around as they exclaimed in excitement over everything from big trucks to bank structures.
Class 2 – Post Office and Onuh’s Palace
On August 14, class two pupils first went to the Anyigba Post Office, where they were shown how a post office works and enlightened on how a letter travels from one place to another. The counter officer then helped them to buy stamps and mail their own letters to friends in U.S. Licking the stamps was exciting, but there is such a thing as too much saliva J They were also impressed by the vault, which the man assured them could withstand burning flames and the guns of armed robbers. We then drove out to Egume to see Ministry of Mercy’s own post office box. Before leaving Egume, we paid a visit to the king of Egume who greeted all of them, treated them to soda and cookies, and then had pictures taken of them with his son. When we went to the restaurant to eat, and I asked them what they wanted to order, they all said, “Meat!” They had heard from their friends in class 1 about the meat they’d had with their meal. Laughing, I promised they would all get meat, but I needed to know what they wanted with their meat.
Class 3 – Police Station
On August 19, we loaded twelve children and their teacher into the car and headed to the police station. The deputy police officer of Anyigba spent more than an hour explaining the training and duties of a police officer and showing the children around the offices and the court building. The children were most impressed with the holding cell for prisoners. The one small plastic bucket for toileting is a great crime deterrent! Our children then presented gift bags and condolence letters, that they’d put together themselves, to the families of the officers who were killed in the line of duty during an armed robbery at First Bank. Each family received some toiletries, picture frames, rice, and a Bible. The children then got to ride in the motorized, three-wheeled machines that provide public transport in the town.
Class 4 – Orphanage Home and Bank
On August 21, our class four students went through the boxes of gift items I usually save to use for their prizes for school activities and their Christmas gifts and packed up two boxes full of toys, clothes, baby supplies, jewelry, school supplies, and sports equipment to share with the children of God’s Will Orphanage Home in Anyigba. We spent two hours visiting with the children there; holding babies, sharing songs and stories and playing together. Before leaving, the students handed out the gifts they’d brought. It was neat to see them getting such joy from giving. From there we went to First Bank, where they learned how a bank runs, how to open and run an account, and how to detect counterfeit money. They continued their giving by learning how to make a deposit as they deposited their offering money into God’s Will Orphanage Home’s account.
Class 5 – Kogi State University
On August 26, class five students as class five students and I were headed to the university, we met Joshua Omonoji (Pastor) headed to Otutulu from the hospital where one of our babies was on admission. “Did Daniel or Unekwu send you any message for me?” he asked. “No.” He said he had sent about 10 text messages in hopes that we’d get one; the baby needed a blood transfusion, and they needed a donor. In order not to waste any more time, and as I’m O+, I told him I could stop by and donate before continuing to Anyigba, so that’s what we did. At KSU, they spent the bulk of the time showing us the Faculty of Agriculture, as there is so much to see there. The labs were great – soil testing, food testing, nutrition, and tailoring – as well as a farm with everything from fish to rabbits to cows. Many students’ interests were piqued to enter the sciences, and even I started to consider registering for a degree in Home Sciences! While there we learned how to preserve and make better use of cashew fruit and mango. Before leaving the university, the students presented to the campus pastor the care packages of school supplies and Bibles they had put together for needy students.
Class 6 – Internet Cafè
On August 28, in a heavy downpour, class 6 rushed to the shelter of the car and we headed out to learn about the internet. They were given a brief tour of the computers and servers, and then they received a brief (but interesting!) lecture on how a network works, how a server works, how information travels electronically (including a fax machine), what viruses are, and an encouragement to learn how to use computers as a necessary skill for any future employment. Each child was given a computer to use, and after setting up their own e-mail account, they sent e-mail messages to friends in the States and then learned how to browse for information on the internet. Despite the fact that we “tied-up” three of their computers for more than two hours, the proprietors of the cafè wouldn’t allow us to pay for the computer time – amounting to almost 1,000 naira – that we owed.
Praise for:
a successful summer program
safety during our field trips (even when passing stalled cars on muddy embankments)
the generous hearts of our children as they learned about sharing in practical ways
renewed health and strength that enabled me to facilitate the field trips
seeds planted by the good emissaries our children were for Christ as we interacted with many Muslims during our outings
Pray for:
our Class 6 students who will be entering secondary school this month – as they must board away from the ministry, it is a new experience that can take some adjustment
our four secondary students who have completed their high school and are taking exams for their O-level certificates
our nine other graduates (2 secondary school, 6 college of education, 1 university) who will be commissioned this month as we encourage them to go into the world and look for jobs – their own mission fields
Mark Samuel who has applied for a position with MoM and will be going to our Lokoja branch to serve as Director of Personnel there
our four university students who have started their semesters already
our nursery, primary, and secondary students who will be resuming their studies this month
