.VISION:MINISTRY.

The fact is, my life should look the same no matter where I am. In other words: my surroundings, environment, cultural adaptation, and what I'm actually doing may change, but my heart, my actions, and my "calling" shouldn't. As Christ followers, we are called to bring glory to HIS name, be HIS hands and feet, to love HIM and others, and spread the gospel through word and deed. So, regardless of where I am, this will be my vision and ministry.

However, life and needs are obviously very different in a third world country and I want you to know what it will look like over there(and know that you are always welcome to come see for yourself! :)

I am going to be living and ministering in a home where there are currently 31 children. It is located in a small village in Opi, Enugu, Nigeria. All of the children have at least one dead parent and the living family isn't able or willing to care for them. They are not in the business of just taking children off their parent's hands because the family wants them to have a better life than they can offer. Each situation is carefully examined and this would be the last option for them. The kids that are there have dealt/are dealing with so many different things: They've seen death, more than I can fathom. They come with illnesses(most preventable and treatable) and HIV/AIDS. Many have never been to school(like the 11 and 12 year old boys that came in 2010). Some have permanent disabilities and would've been left to die(we have one with down syndrome and autism and one with permanent brain damage and seizures from meningitis).These kids are not being raised in an institution but in a very family oriented, joy-filled, laughter-filled, Christ-seeking, loving, and clean home, 
and unless a family member steps up, these kids are going to grow up with their 
new family at APOH.

So, anything that you can imagine that would be a part of raising 31 kids, ages newborn and up, is what I will be doing(add to that the complications of living in an underdeveloped, disease ridden, corrupt environment). 

My heart and passion is to see these kids grow to know, accept and seek their Savior while I seek to show the love of Christ, give support, and provide Biblical and educational training as I take part in raising these kids. I want them to take part in ministering along side us, not just grow up receiving hand-outs. I believe that these children are the future and hope for their country. They are the ones that will bring real, Godly, life-altering change, because they are the ones that understand the culture and heart language like an expatriate never can. I want to give these kids Christ, first and foremost, discipleship, and offer them a good education, opportunities and encouragement to do what God is calling them to do for as long as I know them. 

Outside of the kids at APOH, there are HUGE needs. Right now, Bev attends to tons of medical needs in the surrounding villages and does what she can to get them treated and educated. We know that just nourishing the physical needs of people is not the ultimate goal. We want to see their spiritual needs met and see them spiritually fed and restored into right relationship with God. The people in the surrounding villages, the vendors that we buy from at the market, the curious people that come to our church, the medical professionals that we have constant interaction with...they are all witnesses to our every day lives and I pray that as we try to minister to those all around us, that they will be seeing Christ and that we will boldly speak truth.

Me and Bev also have a heart for the women in the church and village and want to teach them the Bible, show them how we are called to live as Christians and to teach 
them how to study the Word for themselves. 
APOHA also has 3 church plants in different villages, Bible and pastoral training, and a campus ministry at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. So there is no lack of places to serve!

In addition to the kids and Bible studies, there are many other needs that I will be praying about being a part of and for the extra finances to make it happen. Two that I have been aware of from my first time there are:

1. Ministering to the families and patients that are in the hospitals. The family is expected to buy everything that is needed at the hospital and can't leave until their bill is paid. A ministry could be sharing with them any supplies we may have, bringing food, entertaining the kids with coloring books and games, praying with them, and just loving on them.

2. The prison. I had the opportunity to visit a men's prison when I was there the second time. Talk about horrible conditions. We had met a Nigerian woman who took it upon herself to take these men products for hygiene, extra clothes, and to share Christ. She also looked into a lot of their cases because many of them had been there for years and years with no end in sight for a petty crime just because their case hadn't been seen by a judge and there was no one to fight for them and their rights. The woman who used to do this moved and as far as I know, there hasn't been anyone that has taken over this ministry.

So that is a brief glimpse at what life will look like there. Please, please be praying. I don't ever want anything we do to be about us or bringing ourselves recognition. We need your prayers for the work that God is doing over there, that we would always be seeking more of Him and less of ourselves, and that we don't get in the way of HIM being glorified. Pray that we never forget that we are but, "jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."