Ardill's News
September 1997
Safe Arrival
| Our trip
to Nigeria went very well and we are especially thankful our bags came
through customs without incident. We spent the first several weeks
unpacking, getting settled and putting the house in order. Our telephone
is not working, the hot water pipes needed to be replaced, a security
system was installed, backup 12-volt lights were installed and we have
tried to get the van in good running order.
We have been studying
the Hausa language for about 6 weeks and are bravely using the LAMP
method. This relies almost entirely on learning the phrases and
conversations you think you need and then spending a great deal of time
out on the streets practicing what you have learned. We have a great Hausa
teacher named Mallam Garba who tutors us each morning before we hit the
streets. Interestingly, he was working in the kitchen at Kent Academy when
I was there as a student a "few" years ago! He is 62 years old and has 46
grandchildren! We appreciate your prayers for minds like a magnet, tongues
that are "loose" and the courage of a lion! Marie is enjoying first grade at Hillcrest School. She has an international class and the names of her classmates challenge our linguistic ability. (E.g. Gwana, Haysam, Ezinne, Sangjat, Sujata, Utibe) This week they learned about Senegal and how to count in Hausa. She is reading well, loves collecting bugs in her bugbox and making flags and signs. |
 Heather is
talking more than ever and is usually in charge wherever she is playing.
She loves to make people laugh and we hope her face does not "stick" in
one of her funny faces. Anna was telling me yesterday about a "runny
babbit"," is very sensitive and is the dress-up queen of the compound.
They have many friends on the compound and our house is usually the center
of activity. All the girls love swimming, playing house and eating candy.
Pretty normal!
At Evangel Hospital, most of the major surgery is being done by a short-term surgeon who is here for 9 months. We are thankful his being here has allowed Bill to concentrate on language study. The Vesico-vaginal Project is going well and this year 98 women have already had surgery for this dreadful illness. Please continue to pray for these needy women and their spiritual needs. Dorothy is delighted the Street Children's Ministry is going well. There are now 150 Moslem boys coming on Thursday for the feedings and lessons. Five have accepted Christ and are waiting placement in the Transition House. About 50 blind and beggar women are coming Wednesdays and at least five have accepted Christ. They have invited us to come into "blind town" in Jos and start a school for them and their children. A group of 30 deaf Nigerians will begin using the Gidan Bege facility this month and we are anticipating starting working with a group of crippled children soon. The opportunities are amazing... we lack full-time personnel with vision and adequate funding. Because of the increasing need for use of the Gidan Bege facility, we are pursuing purchasing it. Details will follow. If you are interested helping in this project, it is Nigeria Project #96041. Dorothy has also accepted responsibility for coordinating the annual SIM spiritual renewal conference in January 1998. This week is a wonderful time of spiritual, emotional and physical refreshment for all the SIM missionaries in Nigeria. We appreciate your prayers as Dorothy seeks the Lord's wisdom to plan a conference that encourages the missionary family and glorifies the Lord. Lastly, we appreciate your prayers and interest in us. God has been so faithful to us by protecting us and providing for our every need. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing some of you here in Jos. |
