Catching up...again

It's a miracle!

 After trying for several months, I have been able to successfully load some pictures to my blog.  I had just about given up and then tonight I thought I would try once more.  This is just a post of a few pictures I just clicked on to see what I would get.
Every once in a while we get a little bit of flooding inside buildings.  One morning our classroom was flooded.  Grace and Evan quickly got the mess cleaned up.  If you will notice, it looks like Grace is using a dust pan to clean up the water.  It actually works quite well.  Another interesting thing, the dust pan is called a "packer".

 Our mission president is a pretty awesome man.  His wife is pretty fabulous, too.  They came to an open house at our PEF Self Reliance Center a couple of weeks ago.

 Our Stake President got into the action by getting on ldsjobs.org to see what we are expecting participants to do.

Tim found these two birds outside our living room window.  He thought they were pretty cool.
There are too many things that have happened.  I couldn't catch everything up in one post.  I will just have to begin again and try to stay current.

Catch-Up Time...No pictures

I am having an incredibly difficult time with Blog. For a while all I could get was Blog in French.  I don't speak French.  I don't write in French.  Now I can't get pictures to post with my words.  That is so boring.  I think I will write a little any way.  Sorry if it bores you.  But, I want to write something to let some know we haven't dropped off the face of the earth.

It has been a month or so since our last "inside the building" rainstorm.  I hope I didn't just jinx myself.  The Facility Management people are working on getting the problem fixed.  That is one great thing.

We have been doing a little day trips.  We have been to other branches outside of Ikeja and plan on visiting many more.  The President would like us to go and observe and see where help could be offered.  We have met some wonderful Brothers and Sisters while doing this. 

We have visited fish farms and poultry farms.  At one fish farm we were instructed by the owner on how to raise good fish for eating.  We asked quite a few questions.  He was a wonderful man to talk to.  He is a member of the church and attends his meetings each Sunday.  The baby fish have to be fed every 2 hours.  As you know, church alone is three hours, plus travel time to get to the church house.  We asked him the question what he does on Sunday when he has to feed the baby fish every two hours.  He turned to us and said, "I get us very early and prepare.  I feed the fish and do what needs to be done.  I then turn it over to the Lord."

The last two Saturdays have been Relief Society activities.  The first Saturday was a ward event.  We were to bring our cooking samples to be judged...and eaten.  I was volunteered to bring cookies.  Last Saturday was a Stake event with about the same agenda...and, yes I grought cookies once more.  I think I am done making cookies for a week or two.

Today is Tim and I's 36th wedding anniversary.  No presents...just gifts of the heart.  Tim has done much better than I.  He has washed the dishes, all of them, all day long.  He has tried to let me do what I want, all day long.  I am a very blessed person. 

District Conference at Ile-Ife

I enjoyed this picture because it is something we see often.  Notice the woman with a baby on her back and holding another child's hand, carrying something on her head.  We were in a vehicle following the mission van.  Always travel in 2 or more cars.

Roadside "Toys R Us".

We went to a village to see if we could help them get a borehole for water.  The people are to do several things before it will be done.  When we got there they hadn't done anything on the checklist.  Elder Winget was very discouraged.

This is the chief of the village.  He looked like the oldest man there!

Churches are all over her in Nigeria.  Many different names.  I think this one was called "Deep Life Church".  Kind of small, isn't it?

Sunday morning, at breakfast, Pres. Adebayo's baby was a little bit fussy.  He was rocking her, talking to her, and holding her.  Pretty cute to see him with his little ones.

Tim tried a traditional dish.  He had boiled yams (the white stuff), eggs in sauce (spicy), and beef chunks.  He said it was pretty tasty.

I just loved this sign.  I don't think you would want it outside the Bishop's door hanging there when a Bishop's Court was going on.

Brother Ojo

Two weeks ago Tim got on line to look at the announcement of the new missions being created around the world.  One of the new missions is to be in Nigeria.  As he read he notice the name of Brother Ojo, who is an institute director we work with.  It is exciting to see someone we know to receive this big calling.  The next day (Monday morning) in walked Brother Ojo from Calibar.  It was so much fun to talk to him about his new calling and how he received it.  It was a super special morning talking to him.  He brought a big portion of spirit into the room as he talked to us.  He is a humble and special man.  His missionaries will do well when they follow this inspired leader.

Fun February Continues

 Just having fun with John (man on the left) and Williams (man on the right).  Both are PEF participants and fun. John has taught himself how to play the organ...and does a very good job!  Williams is always high energy and busy.  They went on the same mission and lived in the same apartment but were not companions.

 We eat at a local KFC sometimes.  While there one day we saw this group of little boys.  We couldn't resist taking their picture.

 All the missionary couples made a dinner for the Chimezie family, who are an important family to all of us.  We also welcomed the Reynolds who are short term missionary specialists who came to be with the Wingets for a week and a half.  We had a great meal and enjoyed the company with them all!

 Cynthia Chimezie (who ALWAYS has a smile on her face) and Sister Reynolds enjoying an American meal.

This is just a crazy "all girls" picture at the end of the meal.

February 14-15, 2013

 Valentines Day was a wonderful day!  There was such a fun and exciting spirit in the air.  Everyone was excited and happy all day.  We knew there was a General Authority coming to speak to the saints in Lagos.  People were encouraged to take time off work to be there.  The fireside was scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.   It was fun to anticipate Elder and Sister Clayton's arrival to the chapel.  So much work went into the preperation for the visit.  The picture above was taken of the Ibe family right after the fireside.  Tim and I work very closely with Ike.  He is a great young man with a beautiful and nice wife and three adorable little boys.
 After the fireside we got to go out to eat with Elder and Sister Clayton, Elder and Sister Sitati, Elder and Sister Ojideran, Elder and Sister Madu, Elder and Sister Inyon, Elder and Sister Ekong, Three Stake Presidents and their wives, President and Sister Adebayo (baby Fayi) and the missionary couples.  This is a picture of baby Fayi and her three adopted grandmothers.

 The next day we had a meeting with all the missionaries in the area and the General Authorities and then another meeting a few minutes later with all the service center employees. Personally, I loved meeting Sister Clayton the very most.  She is a warm and enthusiastic woman.  She makes all feel like they could be her best friend!  They were wonderful days.

Peeling Paint...Lekki Market

We heard there was a General Authority making a visit to Lagos, Nigeria.  With that announcement the cleaning and painting and spricing up began.  It was decided that our office needed a coat of paint.  As we pulled off a dry erase board we could see a bubble of paint.  As we pulled on it we got a whole bunch of old paint to peel.  It was so fun to peel paint in preparation of the painting to begin.

 I went to Lekki market with Elder and Sister Brown one day.  I had to take a picture of the market place road leading to the parking lot and shops.  This looks a lot nicer than it really is.  You just have to be here to believe it.  I am getting more use to it the more often I go.

 Elder Ojideran (Man on the left) came in to our office to talk to us.  Wlder Ojideran is the area seventy over the Lagos, Nigeria area.  We work closely with him to keep the PEF program moving the way it should.  As we were talking to him President Adebayo (our mission president) came into the office also.  It was so fun to be involved with their conversation.  They have known each other since they were young.  They could laugh about the past and tell us how much they care about each other.  This is two powerful young men to help lead the country of Nigeria, and the gospel to spread.

Miracles in Nigeria

 "God does notice us, and he watches over us.  But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs." President Spencer W. Kimball
Tim and I experienced this personally. We came on our mission to help others and serve them.  Not the other way around.   One day we went to the mall to go grocery shopping and out to lunch with the other missionary couples.  To make a long story really short, the other couples were in the grocery store and Tim and I were in the food court.  While there Tim passed out (with me trying to catch him), and, as he was going down he pulled over a fake plant on my head, cutting it.  The miracle is this: A young man we know, Phillip, was in the area of the mall.  He has never been in the mall.  He felt impressed to go.  He fought the feeling and eventually went.  He stepped inside the mall. He started down the hallway just in time to help me try to catch Tim.  He helped revive Tim.  Drove us back to our apartment, helped Pres. Adebayo give Tim a blessing.  Pres. Adebayo took Tim and I to the Dr. to check Tim out and to put a stitch in my head.  When they cleaned the wound the doctor just  let the watery blood just run down my neck onto my white shirt.  We are fine.  Phillip has checked on us often.  He feels he saved Tim's life.  Maybe he did.  I am so grateful.  This has taught us so many lessons...Life is fragile...appreciation for my husband...miracles happen...Heavenly Father is watching over us...etc...

Top picture is my shirt I was wearing.  With many washes it came clean.  Next picture is of Tim and Phillip.

Birthday celebration, rain storms, and cross-stitch lessons

 We got to help our friend, Andrew, celebrate his birthday.  His birthday was the day after Tims so we got birthday cake two days in a row.  Although, on Tims birthday we ran out of cake before Tim got any cake.  Saved us some calories.  Andrew brought his girlfriend to share his cake, too!

 We are in the middle of the hot and dry season.  It does not rain at this time of the year...yeah, right. We got 4 days of rain.  It was wonderful!  One morning we got rain before we got up and it cooled things down a bit.  We went out to exercise at sunrise and it felt a lot cooler as we ran.  We didn't get nearly as sweaty as we normally get.

 We found another place to eat.  It is more of a southwest American cuisine.  They even serve milkshakes.  Tim and I shared one with our meals.

Today two of our favorite young students came in to say hello.  When they stepped in I was cross- stitching.  They showed an interest on learning how to do it.  I gave them a quick lesson and here they are, trying to do it.  I may need to get them a hoop, a decent pattern, more Aida cloth, and floss.
 
This was the end of a trying week.  We are trying to learn some new ropes.  Program is changing and it is unclear how it is going to change.  We had another water leak in the apartment, and other great events.  Really, we do work.  It just looks like we only play all our days.  Pictures of phones and calling lists and computers really doesn't lend to enjoyable viewing.  Our week ended much better.  We helped make pizza for dinner tonight and ate with Pres. Adebayo and his family, Elder and Sister Winget and Elder and Sister Brown.  Then we sat around the table and talked for quite a while.  We have a mission president who is quite amazing.  He has been given many challenges and deals with them with great faith and determination. 

Day on the Farms

Traveling through the city from one place to the other is difficult but if you keep your eyes open it can be quite entertaining. The picture above is a sample of the furniture stores we see.  We have seen furniture stores directly by goat farms or it could be the meat market.  I am not sure which.  I don't think I want to know.

 I just saw this rooster strutting on the top of the pig pen and thought it was cute.

 Look how clean these pig pens are!  There were about 90 pigs at this farm.  The farmer was very kind to us in showing us his farm.

 This is what we see all over the place.  Unfinished homes...they are built as time and finances allow.

We were driven around by a man who works at the service center in the mail department.  He is also in charge of the service center vehicles.  The shop in the following picture is owned by his wife.  This is his niece.

 A papaya tree.

 Cletus and his wife.  They were so happy to have us in their home.  You felt like it was an honor for us to be there. 

 This is a pumpkin.  It just doesn't look like any pumpkins I have ever seen.  They don't use the pumpkin, they use the leaves for their soup.

 One of Cletus' sons.  Such a cute little boy.

 Another one of his sons.  I love looking at the little one that was asleep on the desk.