August 28, 2007
Update Number Two!
Yesterday (27th): We've had a busy day today. We're in the rainy season and it rained all morning so that was spent preparing for my meeting with the High Commissioner.
Then at 2 pm we were picked up by our faithful church members, Adeola and Shola who are ensuring we are well taken care of! Their friend is out of town so they have let our us use their luxury Infinity SUV. They drove us all around the city showing us some the nicer areas and how Abuja is being developed into an amazing place.
Then we went to the meeting with the Dept High Commissioner who was a quirky Brit who has served his last assignment in Basra, Iraq. He was accompanied by the head of their visa section. We were able to discuss the high quality of our the training we do in our ministry training centre in the UK and how we've recently had a couple problems with refusal's. They were very helpful, and having taken the list of our Nigerian applicants, said they would ensure that all was rectified. Towards the end of our 30 minute meeting, Pastor Julie presented John Maxwell book as a gift and told the Commissioner that back in England we are praying for our civic leaders and we want to include him as well. Both men were so taken back that we offered to pray for them and asked them for prayer requests.
Afterwards we went to some of the more typical areas outside of Abuja and stopped off at a roadside 'cafe' for some goat and pepper soup! It was very hot, but Julie and the kids were quite brave and we all enjoyed it so very much!
After the spicy soup, we went to minister to the church leaders of our host church. In the theme of the conference - mission - they asked us to share our missionary experiences so I shared a bit about how we got to England and Julie shared some really good keys regarding family and ministry. They loved the stories I told. However, Jonathan was so amazed that he had not heard some of my missionary adventures and for the rest of the night asked me to tell him story after story.
Today we went to some more remote areas and visited some 'really traditional missionary opportunities' as our host described them. The children in the area were memorized by Jonathan and Elisabeth who were taking pictures and video clips of the area. Also, Pastor Julie and Elisabeth tried to balance a large container of puffballs on their head. There were dozens of children who gathered and pushed up close to see the action. They laughed so hard because both of the white girls couldn't do it! After this spectacle our hosts purchased the entire container - holding about 60 of the donut like snacks - and Pastor Julie and the children handed them out to all the children.
It was a great afternoon. We are now getting ready for our evening service tonight taking place at the Hilton Hotel here in Abuja.
Then Pastor Julie will preach Wednesday night in our host church. We fly home Thursday at 10pm so we don't arrive in Manchester until Friday morning.
Thank you for your prayers... and be watching for pics to follow!
Blessings!
PM
see some pictures here
posted by Michael in category: Mission Nigeria.
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#1 - jane fern - manchester, england - September 12, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Well done you guys. I have just caught up with your travels. It sounds like you had a good time in Nigeria. Well done Julie and Elizabeth on staying in control and getting the paper work sorted out, and well done Matt and Johnathan for keeping cool and still going ahead with your journey. The photoes and video are really good. Its good to see you getting to the nations as a family.
#2 - Tonya - Reno, NV - September 27, 2007 at 06:41 AM
Hi 'you all'---do I sound like I'm from OK? ha ha What a hectic but rewarding trip for you to be together traveling to Africa-Amazing! Love to you All. I enjoyed reading about the church marriage and all your adventures! God Bless You
#3 - jonathan beemer - - February 07, 2008 at 12:08 PM
im at school writing this i want to say it was fu n in africa