We're back! Had a great time in Nigeria. For the medical details of our time there, please see the following blog we set up for that purpose: nelsonmissiontrips.blogspot.com
For this posting, we focus more on the AMEN conference and other details of our time in Nigeria.
Rachel arrived two weeks prior to the rest of our family. But once Kristy, Eric, Harry and Lynda all arrived, it was a very busy time preparing for the AMEN-Nigeria conference. It started Thursday afternoon and immediately prior all of us were bustling around trying to accomplish stuff. It reminded me of preparing for WYC, except that now I didn't know where anything was, and couldn't understand half of what people were saying.
I (Eric) was put on the programming committee which turned out to be quite the challenge. You see, over half the speakers either cancelled or showed up late for their talks. So there was lots of last minute reshuffling of topics, addition of new speakers at the last minute, etc.
Rachel was on the registration committee and the registration packets were quite impressive. Polo shirt with the AMEN logo, name tags, pads of paper for notes, pens, bag, room keys, schedule, CD of other AMEN talks, surveys, as well as taking care of money in a strange money system (the "Naira").
Eric and Harry gave a four part series called "Physicians of the Soul" that was previously developed by Dr. Phil Mills, the AMEN president and fortunately, my father-in-law. He graciously supplied the powerpoint slides and all we had to do was read them and make appropriate comments. It was good. Not as good as if he had given the talks, but I think people were blessed. My dad also gave an excellent sermon on Sabbath comparing the exodus experience to our day.
Here are a bunch of pictures from the AMEN conference, Sabbath School, and the church service. The african choir that sang for church was marvelous!
Other things we enjoyed doing included worships and eating at the Giebels and Lohrs. These two wonderful but very different families took good care of us while we were there. The Giebels have been there for about 11 years now. They have two teenage daughters as well as several informally adopted african kids that stay with them. Eric gave some violin and guitar lessons to them. The Lohrs have a 4-year old boy and a 5-year old girl who simply adored Rachel.
Mrs. Giebel and kids:
Dr. Lohr and kids
Mrs. Dr. Lohr also has so much spare energy that she conducts a 40 member african children's choir. Very noisy group of kids. I would go crazy in under 5 minutes but she enjoys it. They have produced two CDs and regularly tour around the country. Usually for a short distance because they fit all 40 kids in one LandRover. Really. Here are some pictures.
For this posting, we focus more on the AMEN conference and other details of our time in Nigeria.
Rachel arrived two weeks prior to the rest of our family. But once Kristy, Eric, Harry and Lynda all arrived, it was a very busy time preparing for the AMEN-Nigeria conference. It started Thursday afternoon and immediately prior all of us were bustling around trying to accomplish stuff. It reminded me of preparing for WYC, except that now I didn't know where anything was, and couldn't understand half of what people were saying.
I (Eric) was put on the programming committee which turned out to be quite the challenge. You see, over half the speakers either cancelled or showed up late for their talks. So there was lots of last minute reshuffling of topics, addition of new speakers at the last minute, etc.
Rachel was on the registration committee and the registration packets were quite impressive. Polo shirt with the AMEN logo, name tags, pads of paper for notes, pens, bag, room keys, schedule, CD of other AMEN talks, surveys, as well as taking care of money in a strange money system (the "Naira").
Eric and Harry gave a four part series called "Physicians of the Soul" that was previously developed by Dr. Phil Mills, the AMEN president and fortunately, my father-in-law. He graciously supplied the powerpoint slides and all we had to do was read them and make appropriate comments. It was good. Not as good as if he had given the talks, but I think people were blessed. My dad also gave an excellent sermon on Sabbath comparing the exodus experience to our day.
Here are a bunch of pictures from the AMEN conference, Sabbath School, and the church service. The african choir that sang for church was marvelous!
Other things we enjoyed doing included worships and eating at the Giebels and Lohrs. These two wonderful but very different families took good care of us while we were there. The Giebels have been there for about 11 years now. They have two teenage daughters as well as several informally adopted african kids that stay with them. Eric gave some violin and guitar lessons to them. The Lohrs have a 4-year old boy and a 5-year old girl who simply adored Rachel.
Mrs. Giebel and kids:
Dr. Lohr and kids
Mrs. Dr. Lohr also has so much spare energy that she conducts a 40 member african children's choir. Very noisy group of kids. I would go crazy in under 5 minutes but she enjoys it. They have produced two CDs and regularly tour around the country. Usually for a short distance because they fit all 40 kids in one LandRover. Really. Here are some pictures.
Me "practicing"
African Army ants. I followed the trail in both directions for about 10 minutes and never came to the end.
My fine african ladies.
But Rachel really hated the hats. They look so good though!
My fine african ladies.
But Rachel really hated the hats. They look so good though!
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