"go slow" is what the traffic jams in Nigerian cities are sometimes called -- its the motto for life here. This effects us profoundly in the camp. "Tomorrow" is when repairs are made. The patios being built off the back of every home take an average of three months to complete ... and then three months after that to repair. Construction work is designed for short-term happiness; the quality is such that lasts for two weeks. Why get rid of the cause of the mold when you can paint over it?
We've felt this in our house -- a small leak in the Master Bath is now a full ceiling of "rain." A leak in the pipes in the cement above us has been "fixed" many times. The musty smell has now permeated our furniture, clothing, ... It doesn't help that 3 ACs aren't working and that carpets have been wet. So, I "lost it!" (no one here understands that expression, only the feeling!) last night, telling Jim that you can spray perfume in a garbage dump but it's still a dump!
I begged God all day yesterday to make a way for a clean and decent home and indeed, He has! You see, working with the facilities people has been fruitless. So Jim called the Fac. Director and asked if we could move into a smaller, vacant place. This man said that he didn't have the authority to move us into a house that was being repaired for someone who was arriving soon and he said we'd have to talk to the "Big Boss" (BB in the future) in Lagos (the other side of the country -- western side). Jim and I had visited quite a bit with the BB in our Abuja mtgs -- a fantastic leader, a problem solver, a radical follower of Jesus, and a very kind man. So Jim called his cell phone. BB answered and asked Jim where Jim was -- which Jim thought strange for he knows we're in the NTC camp. Jim said "at home." BB said, well I will see you in 10 mins. at the clubhouse for dinner; I'm arriving at the camp gate just now." So, he bought us a great dinner, came over to see our house, was totally unsatisfied with the stink that hit him upon entering. We made a long list of the problems; he contacted the Fac. people and gave them a deadline of 2 wks to have verything fixed!!! We are now packed and will move into a temporary place for the next 2 wks! I'm clapping and giggling and thanking God!!
I really didn't want to move to a new place permanently because our view out the back is filled with amazing green trees and vibrant flowering bushes. I envisioned doing a lot of writing in the patio when it's done. Well, it'll all be done soon!
We don't know how much to put our roots down here, anyway, because it will be best for Jim if we move to Lagos before the end of '06 and after he has trained a team here. It's actually a wonderful combination of experiences -- to live in PH and then Lagos. PH, though 5 million people strong, feels very rural and primitive. Lagos is a bustling city of 13 mill. and is right on the ocean w/ the office and houses on a large island. In PH we live in a camp with lots of helpful people all around. In Lagos we'll live in an apartment on Victoria Island and have access to great restaurants and shops. The best of both worlds, I believe!
Our diet will mainly be local foods because they're so much cheaper than the imported foods -- and soooooo fresh! I think we'll do alright with mangos, pawpaws (papayas), pineapples, bananas, cucs, tomatoes, cilantro (Yes, I already have a vegetable stand operator well acquainted with my cilantro obsession. As I walked past him on my way to Jim's office just now, he called out "tomorrow, I will have more cilantro for you, Mother!" Last time, at the end of the day, he brought what he hadn't sold to my house and just gave it to me with a big grin!), fish, prawns, crab, ...
Not bad, aye?
In a "coffee party" w/a bunch of wives, I finally realized I was the only one from the US. In fact, out of 60 homes we are the only North Americans. A few are from France, one from UK. The majority are from Asia, the Mid-East, and South America. Curious. It seems that people from developing countries are more willing to come here than are those from developed countries. Their loss!
The learning opportunities abound as we visit w/ people w/ amazing backgrounds and skills. And learning opps come in "standard" forms -- I'm going to join a French class, get a personal trainer @ the gym, and we(some gals) are hoping to get a water aierobics class going before the rains come.
When some women heard that I've served at churches (a "priest" one woman from Brazil said!) they became interested in my teaching their children Bible classes. Please pray with me about that -- so many backgrounds and faiths in one setting ... But what an opportunity!! Another gal wants me to teach @ her church. To each request thus far I've responded with "I'm interested but I need time to settle, first."
"go slow" -- It certainly applies to more than just traffic!!
('camera/docking/computer difficulties thus far! 'hoping to solve this weekend and add photos!!)
3 comments:
"painting over the mold"...hmm...smells like a teaching to me! Lots of parallels and application to other dimensions of life, No? Will pray for your capacity to remain an observer/learner along with grace for being an enduring participant.
You're right, I can catch the scent here, too!
When I'm in observer mode, I'm able to laugh. Like this morning, when I unpacked our stuff and found that a framed photo of Mt Denali that had made it from Colorado to Nigeria couldn't survive in the hands of the facility guys who helped us move the 150 yards to our temporary housing. There was a huge crack in the glass. Lucy, our maid, was so worried for Madame and thought it strange that I was laughing -- you understand, yes?
It seems that most of our experiences here have parallels to other aspects of westernized life. We can so often see things in ourselves or "our way" when we view someone else's "way."
And, Brig, I wish you could catch the scent around it, too. The "perfumes" coming from blossoms is breathtaking. I'm always running around camp, trying to connect the scents with the blossoms. They're all so different. One is very stinky and I can't locate it, either!
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