The task of just staying alive is so great for most of the locals. The "haves" just increase their holdings and the "have nots" seem to lose what precious little they are trying to hold on to.
Our driver's father has been quite sick. The doctors determined that he needed surgery. We encouraged Jide to get a second and third opinion -- which he did. The final verdict was that the surgery was necessary and would be costly, over $2,000 in U.S. terms. And the value of the naira has been steadily dropping, causing prices to go up but wages to stay as they were. Therefore, what becomes cheaper for us gets more costly for the locals. In naira, the almost N300,000 ends up being a little less than than Jide's annual salary. The family took up a collection but even if they reduce their food intake, they have very little funds for any donation.
One of the boys who helps us at our beach hut, Gbenga, is ready to graduate from Secondary School but can't afford the exam. Jide never completed high school for that very reason. (Actually, the same holds true for many in Thailand so this problem is not just limited to Nigeria!)
We are humbled and privileged to be able to help out in these kinds of situations but we often wonder how they will make it when we are not in their lives. We are sooooooo looking forward to being transferred out of here but we truly worry for Jide and the others who have become a bit dependent upon us. We've wracked our brains, trying to think of work that Jide could get in the U.S. or elsewhere. But it gets so complicated with the whole extended family in Nigeria, with the reality that living in a colder climate would be very tough for him, and with our reality that we won't be heading back to the U.S., ourselves. No easy answers.
By the way, Jide's father is recovering from surgery and doing well. And Gbenga will be taking his exams in mid-April! (Photos of each of them are in past blog entries.)
We are all so very blessed, aren't we?! Here, our food-related stressors relate to the cost of the imported cheeses and such -- prices we are fully able to pay but just reluctant to pay! Here, the average locals' food-related stress relates to how they will get their next meal -- rice is now too costly so it's usually some slimy, fried flour and maybe some dried fish, at best.
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11 comments:
Do you think it will be safe to send money after you are gone from there? If they were able to communicate with you when a great need arose, would you be able to bring it to a church group for a collection to be taken and sent? Or would the money not ever make it to the people you were trying to get it to?
Linda
Do you think it will be safe to send money after you are gone from there? If they were able to communicate with you when a great need arose, would you be able to bring it to a church group for a collection to be taken and sent? Or would the money not ever make it to the people you were trying to get it to?
Linda
Do you think it will be safe to send money after you are gone from there? If they were able to communicate with you when a great need arose, would you be able to bring it to a church group for a collection to be taken and sent? Or would the money not ever make it to the people you were trying to get it to?
Linda
OOPS, SORRY, DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IT WAS TELLING ME I HAD ENTERED AN INCORRECT PASSWORD, SO I KEPT RETRYING WITH DIFFERENT PASSWORDS. DON'T KNOW WHY IT TOOK ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TRYS.
Linda,
That's something we've been trying to figure out. Getting money to the right people is very difficult. A friend here, from the UK, has a church that has raised quite a bit of money for water wells in a particular village but they can't even give it to the pastor of the church in that village. We're trying to figure out some plans so that we can have avenues to help after we leave. 'will keep you posted!
No wahala (problem) on the multiple entries! It got my attention!
SK
This post sure made me look at my leftover rice differently last night. Thanks for the wake up/ reminder.
Zona,
You are welcome! I should add -- it's amazing to watch a local eat a piece of chicken. I now feel guilty when I leave even a bit of fatty-meat stuff hanging on the bone. They eat it all -- even the bones. It was weird to see it the first time I treated our driver and maid in Port Harcourt to lunch. We each had chicken and rice ... by the end of the meal I had chicken bones on my plate and their plates were clean!
Hey Sharon,
Long time no talk. I logged on to an old computer which had your blog site still on my tool bar. So the last couple of times I logged on I have read your blog. Its clear that God has put you in an interesting place. I have enjoy your perspectives on where you are at emotionally & spiritually. Good job! Hugh fruit is going to come from this.
Kjell
Hey Sharon, I'm Facebook friends with Skip and Ruth Sorenson from MSB, and they are missionaries in Uganda. Thought you might be interested in making contact. Also, Rob and Nancy Congdon (also on FB) are missionaries in Kenya - really tremendous people. Yes, son of Dr. C at MSB as well. All this is probably as relevant as someone in France saying, "Hey, I know someone in Oregon - do you know...?" But I thought you might connect somehow. Just thinking of you!
Kjell -- great to hear from you! Thanks for your feedback. Please give a huge hug to your wife!
Zona -- It's great to have those contacts. I remember Ruth and Skip. Small world. Yep, it's like me telling you, in Oregon, to check in with someone in Nova Scotia! But nothing is beyond the scope of possibilities when it comes to this small planet --- when we were visiting our daughter, Jeri, in Thailand and meeting her future husband and planning a wedding and all, in a Christian book store in Chiang Mai who should I see but your cousin and his wife -- Dick and Sue Steward! They were there with Voice of the Martyrs. Crazy!
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