Reunited!

I went to visit the boys at Gyero on Saturday. The last time I went, there were not many boys around and I only saw a few that I knew. I spent the whole day there, just hanging out with the boys, playing football, Volleyball, drawing and playing games. I got to talk to lots of the boys that I already know from before. It was great to spend time with them all again. I am going to try to visit them every other Saturday. I think it's important to keep in contact with them.

Gyero has changed so much, but for the better. They are split into family groups and live in separate houses, in separate compounds. It's better for the boys, because Gyero now feels more like a home to them. You can check out the pictures, and if you have been to Nigeria before, I'm sure you will recognise a few faces :).

Work so far and answered prayer :)

I have been here for just over 2 weeks now. Everything is going great! I love working at Open Doors. This week I got more involved and took a few 1-1 therapy sessions and helped take group therapy. Today was a bit stressful, I was on my own and kind of thrown in at the deep end. Uncle Japeth, who I am working with was off due to a family bereavement, so I may be on my own on Monday too. It is good experience for me but it's only my 2nd week at the school. I think I coped quite well though and got quite a lot done with the kids but it wasn't easy. I am hoping to help lead the kids praise at the devotions in the afternoon with Uncle Japeth who also plays the guitar, and one of the kids who is really good at singing. He has a problem with his speech when he talks but no problems when he sings, which is amazing, so he's the Nigerian Gareth Gates!

Thank you for all the prayers so far, I really do appreciate it. Since writing my previous post, I have found a church! For those of you that know Nigeria, I am going to the Bishara 2 (ECWA). I went there the first year I came out to Nigeria. I went last Sunday with my housemates. I had been talking to them about this church but couldn't remember the name. One of the girls in our house had heard about the church and wanted to try it. It turned out to be the church I had been talking about and the service was fantastic. The singing was great and very lively and the sermon was also great and I got a lot out of it. Normally in Nigeria the preaching is a bit dodgy or they use about 10 different passages for the one sermon, which don't actually connect in anyway. So, I am very happy that I have found a church to go to and it was only my 2nd Sunday. I truely believe it was God answering prayer and leading me to that church.

Attached are some more pictures of the beautiful kids I am working with.

THE FIRST WEEK

I began working at Open Doors on Monday. On the first day I was given a tour of the school and shown all the different departments (Vocational training, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, the sensory room and I was taken into each class to be introduced to everyone.) I received a warm welcome from all the staff and kids. The kids are great. They have a range of individual needs. Most of them have delayed speech, Cerebral Palsy, Autism or Down’s syndrome.

For the full 6 months, I am going to be working in the Speech Therapy Department alongside Uncle Japeth, who is a Nigerian Speech Therapist. Even though I have only been working here for a few days, I know I am going to love it at Open Doors. This week I have just been assisting in different therapy classes but next week I will be getting more involved and possibly taking a few of my own classes towards the end of next week. I have also been shown how to assess a child and have already done this with a new pupil who started at the school the same day as me J. The methods we are using involve a lot of the things that I learnt on my course. I think I might actually be appreciating my Linguistics degree. I never thought I would say that! I am definitely going to learn loads here!

There has been a slight change of plan. I went to a City Ministries meeting (the street kid’s ministry that run all the Care Centres). They were saying that there is not enough help at EMS, a school for Nigerian Missionary kids, which is also under their ministry. So, I have volunteered myself to work there a couple of afternoons a week, to do some musical stuff with the kids and minister to them through bible study and generally spend some time with them. This is instead of Gyero, but I will still visit there when I get a chance to. There are currently lots of volunteers at Gyero. I need to go where I am needed and where God can use me.

Prayer points:

• Please pray that I will get settled into a church here


• The Nigerian way of disciplining children is a lot different to home. This is something I know I am going to struggle with and I have already witnessed it. When I see a child being hit, or worse, I am not allowed to say anything. Please pray that God will help me during these times.

The Internet doesn’t always work here so I am not sure how often I will get to update my blog, but I will try. Just keep checking! Thanks.

Lynsey

In Nigeria at last

Well my Visa finally arrived last week and after a very bumpy flight I arrived in Nigeria yesterday (30th) at around 4:30am. We then travelled by bus to Jos, the City I will be working in.

This week is a public holiday and today was Independance day, so I am not doing a lot yet but I begin work at Open Doors Special Needs School on Monday, so I am really looking forward to that. In the meantime, I am just getting to know the girls I am living with. There are 6 girls in our house altogether - 3 from Canada, 1 from England and another girl from Northern Ireland! They are all really nice and so far we are all getting along well.

A lot of people have been asking about the food here, well so far I am being looked after really well. Last night we went to a Restaurant down the road from our compound. We were able to have Pizza and chips, which was actually quite nice and tonight I was out for dinner at a Missionaries house. I can assure you it will not always be like this! Last night was really to welcome me here.

Tomorrow I will be going to a meeting for the Ministry I am working with out here and on Saturday I am going to visit the Care Centre I worked in last summer. I am looking forward to seeing all the boys again.

It is definately great to be back in this amazing country! Thanks for all the prayers about my Visa and thanks for checking out my blog. I will write again soon.

Yours in Christ,


Lynsey