The Home Stretch

We last posted after Christmas about how we had been going through some difficult weeks here. Soon after that, God provided us with an amazing, soul-refreshing gift- our dad. On January 11, our dad arrived in Egbe, Nigeria to do construction work at the hospital that is just down the road from the orphanage where we live. We had so much fun getting to share our experiences in Africa with him.

 

Dad taking a motorcycle tour of Egbe. We were on another motorcycle next to him.

Making s’mores with the kids… Let’s just say they experienced quite the sugar high :)

Dad meeting Dami, the child he and my mom have been sponsoring for over a year.

The three of us wearing traditional Nigerian dress before church

 If I could describe the effect our dad’s visit had on us in one word, it would be revitalizing. Which is funny, because the project he was working with in Egbe (through Samaritan’s Purse) is called the hospital revitalization project. Not only did he bring about revitalization at the hospital, but he also brought about revitalization in Courtney and me. The two weeks we spent with him were exactly what we needed to get re-energized, re-focused, and renewed. We are so thankful for our earthly father who came, and for our heavenly father who sent him to us right when we needed him most.

After he left, we had made it to the “home stretch” of our time in Nigeria with only five weeks left. We soon reached a fork in the road. We could go the easier route- start backing away from the kids for our own emotional protection, start solely thinking about plans for our life once we return to the states, and start gradually leaving Africa mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Or, we could choose to remain present in the place where God had us currently, even when it was hard.

What we initially began leaning towards was, of course, the easier option. We noticed ourselves beginning to withdraw in different ways- until Courtney remembered something that happened back in July before we left. A few months before we left for Nigeria, we realized an issue with our visas that would cause us to cut our trip short two weeks. We were extremely disappointed, so the organization we’re working with (H.E.L.P.) went out of their way to fix the issue. At the end of it all, we got our two weeks back and were able to stay the full time.

Why would God have made a way for us to resolve that issue if he just wanted us to spend our last few weeks sitting around waiting to leave? He wouldn’t have! He had a purpose planned for our last few weeks. In fact, he has a purpose for every single minute of our lives, and that’s why it’s so important to spend our minutes, hours, and days being present exactly where we are. So that’s exactly what we decided to do, and… it was awesome.

We climbed a mountain and played with sling shots.

We spent our Sunday afternoons just hanging out together.

We traveled deep into the bush to a camp of Fulani people.

And we somehow built relationships with the women and children there despite the fact that we didn't speak their language and didn't have someone interpreting for us... So amazing.

We had a really fun and encouraging send forth party. Here is Courtney with one girl who is going to miss her like crazy, Titi.

Then finally today, we had to say our goodbyes. Heart-wrenching doesn’t begin to describe it. These children are so dear to us, and we will miss them every single day from now until we get to see them again. Here are some of the last pictures we took in Egbe:

Courtney with Dami

Me with Seun

Last snap in Egbe... So glad it was of these sweet faces