Wounds Begin to Heal Green Mangoes Recovery

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May 23, 2015 Missionary Update: Wildman Family

Wounds Begin to Heal A friend from one of our partner churches in the US emailed us recently to ask if we are in any way in contact with women/children impacted by Boko Haram. Later she wrote that she is praying that some of those impacted could come to Jos for trauma healing. Just a few days later, our SIM teammates Bill and Lorraine, who lead workshops using the excellent book Healing the Wounds of Trauma, mentioned that they had been invited to help facilitate a workshop for 20 of the Chibok families. These are a few of the families whose girls have not yet been returned to them, and they would be brought to Jos for the workshop. Adena asked Lorraine to let us know if there was any way we could help. Lorraine called yesterday to say they were on day 3 of the 4-day workshop, and that the workshop has been very impactful for these families. She wondered if we could organize the gift of a Hausa Bible for each family – and a pair of reading glasses for those in need. Randy and one of our Nigerian office staff were able to locate a shop with Hausa Bibles and another shop whose owner supplies eyeglass frames and lenses of various strengths. We were also able to get 20 copies in Hausa of the Pilgrim’s Progress lessons Adena helped to adapt for Nigeria. Today, just as the workshop ended, Randy and a man from the eyeglass shop, who turned out to be a trained optometrist, went to the workshop venue to greet these grieving families, help fit them with the eyeglasses, and present these tokens of our concern. The families were appreciative of the gifts and being helped through the workshop down the path toward forgiveness and healing. We stand along the sidelines, sharing in a small way the grief of these families over their lost daughters, and trusting God will show Himself not only to these 20 families but to all those who grieve the loss of family members because of Boko Haram.

Green Mangoes Adena had the chance to present books to another group last week. Many of you will remember the book Growing Up that Adena edited for use in West Africa from Ken Taylor’s book Almost 12. Adena was invited to address a group of 300 teens who gathered for a leadership conference last week, presenting a copy of the book to each of the teens. There were 6 other speakers whose talks covered drug abuse, how to open a bank account, children’s rights and responsibilities, and bullying. Adena used an unripe mango to illustrate how partaking of something sweet and wonderful and good, before it is the right time, spoils it. A few days later one of the teens from our Saturday group told Adena he saw part of the event on the local news including Adena gnawing at an unripe mango. Well, for sure, everyone who saw it will remember the crazy white lady and will hopefully link it to the bookGrowing Up, which Adena had in her hand.

Recovery Awareness Earlier this month, Pastor Paul, Randy, and other helpers did an outreach to spread awareness in the community of the opportunity for help to deal with addictions. They took food to one of the areas nearby where these young men hang out. Storm clouds gathered just as they left, and they were concerned the fellows wouldn’t be around. But by the time they arrived, the storm had driven about 30 guys inside an unfinished building. The team distributed food, introduced themselves, encouraged them to seek help, and said they would be back another time.

Adena is Learning …some lessons along the way as she continues in the role of SIM Nigeria Personnel Director. It’s a busy role and sometimes it feels pretty heavy.

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Having a prayer partner to share confidential issues for prayer is a lifeline. Adena has been doing this

weekly by skype with an experienced missionary.  She needs to pace herself if she’s going to be effective for the long haul.  Being part of a leadership team, rather than a lone ranger, is essential.

Prayer Folks here are so very thankful that Nigeria’s federal elections and Plateau state elections happened with very little bloodshed. Handover to the new president will be May 29.

Luke finished his second year at Taylor this week and moved back to Warsaw for the summer. He hopes one of the jobs he has applied for will work out for full-time summer employment. He plans to go to York, England, first semester for study abroad. Anna Beth continues with CEF in Chicago.

Every missionary who comes to do ministry in Nigeria must have a position on one of SIM’s quotas. Three of SIM’s quotas have been marked “non-renewable” and that affects about half of our missionaries (including both of us). SIM has written to the Ministry of Interior appealing for the re-instatement of these positions and is awaiting a response. Please pray that these positions will be reinstated and other positions renewed. In Bill Thrasher’s book Living the Life God Has Planned, he points out one thing that keeps people from finding God’s good will for them is their distrust of Him. He says, “In order to cast down the thought of God’s will becoming burdensome, we must have a correct perspective of God’s loving nature.” One of the most basic strategies of the devil (whose name means “slanderer”) is to distort our understanding of God. Viewing God through the grid of events like the atrocities being committed by Boko Haram and difficult situations close to home, rather than the other way around, creates distortion. Keeping our eyes focused our powerful and loving God is something we need to keep going back to. SIM has people on the ground responding to the earthquake in Nepal. If you are interested in helping in the relief effort through SIM, write to SIM and mention Project 88600. We appreciate so very much your prayers and faithful support. Randy and Adena After the bead-making, one of the girls chose to go somewhere else instead of returning home, but told the aunt she lives with that she stayed to help clean up and that was why she was late. Pastor Paul and Joel, who we assist with these meetings, are thinking about ways to make sure the teens are safely returning home afterwards. It seems the lessons the kids are being taught may not be sinking in for all. Randy has begun meeting with Joel each Saturday to go through the Equipping the Saints discipleship series. “Be JOYFUL in hope, PATIENT in affliction, FAITHFUL in prayer.”

Randy and Adena