Bature

Final morning in Emi-Woro, saying goodbye to all our Fulani friends in
Emi-woro, including Bature and his family.

Goodbye

We've been officially 'sent off'. Yesterday Church service was a combo
Thanksgiving, dancing, celebration/Myer's family send off (which Aaron
and I have decided to join for practical purposes). We were blessed with
prayers, final words and special gifts. It's pretty humbling being given
all this special attention, having fancy gowns made for you and your
family and knowing it came at a sacrifice to the gift givers. We feel
honored to be the recipients. We have a few more parties planned and
plan to enjoy every minute of our last two days.

Progress

The work continues on our 4th classroom block. The final for our primary
school.

'goodbye house'

Who says you can't have class while lying on the ground? We finished
yesterday, packed it all up, everything on the walls and tables is put
back in the library ready for whoever comes next. We divided all the
flash cards we've made this term among our class and played our final
game of 'Go Fish' alphabet style. I probably won't hear them begin the
day with 'good morning house' for a very long time but I'll sure
remember it.

Continuing the rounds

'We go America', it is tough to say goodbye to our friends. The end of a
season also brings anticipation of...'what's next'? We ask the Lord that
everyday. What's next for this place? Pray for our team as we have 6
days left in country. Pray for the transition of the school and the
friends we leave behind.

Congrats Ali

The same man who invited us to build a school in his camp, the same man
who sweeps the school every morning all on his own, the same man coming
to adult literacy classes is the same man who began building a permanent
house in his camp. Happy day!

Timber

Time for the tree to come out. We began construction on the final
classroom block for our Primary School last week.

How do you live it up for a weekend in the village?

Wear traditional clothes and plait your hair of course. See Bridget all
in, celebrating with the people in every way.

see my students

How I will miss them come December 7!

We love marching

I think our kids secretly love marching. They complain 'cause it's hot
but when they are chosen to march you see the smiles come out. Who
doesn't love walking around to the beat of new band equipment? Thanks to
Aaron drum lessons are happening twice a week now and thanks to
our teachers our students are learning right from left, how to stand at
attention and how to walk confidently.

Drum lessons with Aaron

leads to impromptu marching.

Just your average cookout

We went to a Fulani wedding yesterday, the bride and groom weren't
around, which we found out after coming home is very normal- in fact
it's tradition to agree to the arrangement in the morning and then hide
away to the bush for a few days (not on a honeymoon mind you, but 'cause
they are shy?? and well it's just like that). Don't worry we still had
fun with the parents and family of the couple- plenty of no-no to drink,
cow to be cooked and party to be had. We count it a blessing to have
been invited, to walk in the midst of hundreds of Fulani from all over
Nigeria and to call them our friends.

Sunday morning sunrise

Sallah

for the old and the young.

Monkey Cage

I guess it works for kids too.

Always happy to help

Aisha x2

Dad and his new favorite girls.

today is Friday...

On our way to class this morning.

WFMC/ITEC

The crew.

Power

See how they work, work, work. Thank you WFMC and ITEC for your effort
this week.

Time to build

The old, the new and the not yet finished. These boys are in the process
of building new houses. Pretty sure at age 8 I couldn't have built my
own house, these kids have skill! They collected palms and sticks and up
it went with a whole lot of effort from the team. These boys are
boarding students in town. Not our own, they stay with another Fulani
man in Emi-woro, but they live without parents and away from home. They
are faithful to come to school, learning English by day and Arabic from
their boarding master in the afternoon. They also fetch water and
firewood, build houses and farm in their spare time. Many of them were
in my transition class last year. Since we don't get to hang out much
anymore (they are very busy) its a really special afternoon when I get
to visit their place with books and colors and jump rope.

This is one way

to sport your red, white and blue. We emptied out our 4th of July bag;
meaning we divided the goods among the kids- what else are you going to
do with a ribbon really but wear it?

Really?

Could he be any cutter? See Ayuba. The boy in the middle has the
greatest smile. All these cuties were around for the party/naming
ceremony today.

All dressed up with somewhere to go

This sweet girl has her best on for a naming ceremony that happened
today for Bature's newest child.

Times 2

Have you met Ibrahim yet? I can't remember if I've introduced you. Both
of these boys would not only do great in a photo shoot for an album
cover but both are named Ibrahim, both are new this term and both are in
my Transition classroom. They have almost all of their alphabet down,
and can write their name with out 'copy copy' as we say here. I think we
can all relate to being a 'newcomer', these guys impress me all the time
with their courage and skill and ability to absorb all that happens on
our compound. A mixture of tribes and cultures, new languages, exposure
to a different religion, new food, new people, new everything. I think
you'd be impressed too if you had the chance to meet them. One is very
quiet, while the other learns through experience- he wants to touch and
be a part of everything.

Stephanie, what's.....

We really love to read around here!

this is the way I wash my food?

Cleaning cassava is a team effort- eating it is too.

Welcome Back

Kadir, a boarding student here in 2009 returned this week after a two
year absence. He left to help his family- his brother was sick. But now
he's back, wracking his brain to remember everything he knows. Praising
God that he found education and our place here important enough to return.

Time

This week Primary Two learned to tell time, thank you dollar tree for
your contribution :)

wedding

Devin and Bridget looking very Nigerian while celebrating with our staff
at a teacher's wedding this weekend.

Wedding

Our PN teacher got married yesterday. It was a beautiful celebration of
their commitment to choosing God's best, which just happened to be one
another. I would have thought that the wedding party would have been
more interesting than the whites but I guess not everyone agreed.

show and tell

Bridget and about 20 kids in our kitchen, sampling vegetables in a tin,
testing out the blender, learning about the oven and asking about all
the other little gadgets we have around- like spatulas and kitchen
knives and potato peelers.

jealous?

This is who we spend our afternoons with...

Nature walk

Collecting flowers from the bush.