R & B's Happenings

Where we've been and what we are doing.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Trip to Nigeria

Trip to Nigeria: October 2008

We left for Nigeria at 8PM on a KLM flight out of Chicago. Kristyn took us to the airport in our Rav4. We had had a busy month. First a trip to the Dominican Republic, then 3 days for meetings in GR and then Mexico for a consult – leaving six days later for Nigeria. We were excited when we found out that we would be able to go back to Nigeria to consult with libraries and give a seminar to librarians and the heads of universities. Our flights went well and we arrived on time. First we flew to Amsterdam where we had a 3 hour layover. There we met up with Dirk and Jean VanderSteen, Roger and Joan Sikkenga, Joel Hogan and Matthew Lanser. We spent our first night in Abuja at a guesthouse – JUTH. It was your very basic African guesthouse – although we did have a TV and a/c. However, we weren’t able to get hot water for a shower in the morning so we waited until we arrived in Jos and got settled.

Sunday morning, October 12 we met for breakfast at 7:30am and then left for Jos – a 3 hour drive. The roads have improved since 1972. Nigeria had grown quite a bit – Abuja wasn’t even in existence when we left Nigeria. We arrived at Mountain View compound shortly before noon and had lunch with Al and Jackie (Browneye) Persenaire. After lunch we were taken to Andy and Linda Horlings where we were to spend the night. They have a beautiful compound.

They had purchased their home from a sheik and it was in very run down condition. They completely redid the home and the yard – it is gorgeous with lots of beautiful flowers, a fountain, birds, turtles etc.
We rested, showered, watched the huge turtles and then headed back to Mt. View for a Canadian Thanksgiving supper (potluck). Met lots of W. African missionary families as they were coming in for the regional meetings that started on Monday, October 13. The food wasn’t exactly what we were used to for Thanksgiving dinner but we really enjoyed the food and the fellowship. We sang songs for a while and then it was time to head back to our hosts home.
We had a good night’s sleep and joined the Horlings for breakfast at 7am on Monday morning.
Ray had already decided what he would take to Miango for the meetings and we planned to leave our larger suitcases in Jos. Dirk picked Ray up at 9:30am. They headed for University of Jos to talk about the conference/seminar we are holding the week of 11/13/08. I stayed at the Horlings trying to call people who had tried to respond via phone about the seminar. I found out that some of the calls were for the phones previous possessor. I did get through to one gentleman but the connection was bad. He texted me beginning with…Aunty Barbara…Phones and computers connections are frustrating here. Ray was going to Mt. View compound with Dirk for our lunch appt. and I was to be picked up by Phil Beck. However, I was forgotten – finally Phil arrived about 12:45pm and I went over for lunch. Spent an hour reading and having coffee with the Dykgraafs. We found out that we have had similar lives with our kids, grandkids etc.
We left for Miango at 3pm. The road leaves a lot to be desired. It took us about an hour to get there. On the way Jan Dykgraaf was telling us about the hijackings on the road to Miango and their experience with having their car and possessions hijacked and their lives almost lost – just what I wanted to hear as we will be going back home over that road on Thursday evening. Miango looks the same as it did in the 60’s and 70’s. In fact they say that it has improved over the last few months. We are in the “blue cottage” while here in Miango. We settled in and then took a walk around the compound. What a small world we live in – we met Rex Hoekstra’s sister-in-law here. She is visiting her sister and brother-in-law, the Hoogeterp’s who are missionaries here in Jos. She said that Rex talks about us a lot!! We had an intro meeting, had a good dinner and then headed to bed quite early. Slept fairly well. Food is good here the meetings are BORING!!!!! Same ole, same ole as years ago. Nothing has changed with CRWM. Most of the missionaries feel the same as we do. Meeting and talking to new mission people has been interesting. In a lot of ways it feels like we have never left. Seems we have so much more in common with the people here than we do with our friends back home. After dinner Ray had a meeting on higher education projects. Said it was okay but nothing mind boggling. Tomorrow more meetings etc.

Nigerian people haven’t changed much. Although the towns have grown quite a bit, the peoples clothing etc. living conditions are the same. Will be interesting to go back “down bush” next Monday.

Following are a few picture in and around Jos:

The house we lived in in Jos while teaching at Hillcrest School:

ACTS book shop in Bukuru:
Shopping in Jos: Getting ready to leave for Miango:

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