The Old and the New...

During these last couple of weeks we have been re- evaluating the function of our ministry here in Kings Kids, weve been writing policies and looking at a holistic approach from the day children come in to how we should best exit them and all the training we aim to do along the way..
Its great to be able to have an overview and to see all the amazing ways that God is helping to shape and mould us to meet the needs in this society.

At present we have 6 new boys from the street at Gidan Bege and in the last two weeks we have had two new girls brought to us. We are currently visiting some of our older boys families to see who can be reconcilled back this summer after living with us for a number of years , and at the same time weve visited those who left us a year ago and we have heard lots of stories about how well they are doing and what changed people they are :)



These are our two new girls... Blessing on left aged 14 years and Emmanuela aged 8 on right.
Both came to us running for their life as a result of occult involvement. Already in such a short time they have lapped up the love and attention shown to them. Praise The Lord we got a new aunty to live with them the day Blessing arrived...great timing.



This picture shows another cycle to the ministry...the Uncle here Waisu was one of our original boys who came from a M background and lived on the streets until aged 10 he came to us. Now he has finished schol and has recently been to a discipleship training course in Ywam and is now serving as a junior uncle in Gyero. He is doing great at teaching the little ones and an excellent role model with such a lot of experience to share.

The old and the new...God is in control of this ministry and as we continue to welcome new ones in and send old ones out He is glorified.

A night in the village....

For all those of you that have been wondering just what exactly is it like to spend the night in the village with our girls....read on and enjoy the pictures.
Last night was a typical night...The children are all in classes till 4pm and when they come out have lots of energy...so I decided we would get some exercise and so we went to play football...They are gradually learning how to play together as a team...but it generally is very noisy but they get to run around a lot. So after all that exercise they need to bathe....Now bathing is a fascinating process here as the is no running water in the village . All afternoon buckets of water from the well have been sitting in the sun to get warm, the girls stand in the middle of the compound and are lathered from head to toe with soap and then water is carefully tipped over them. I started this last night but was quickly demoted as i was using too much water !! I sometimes forget that water is in short supply here . They then have to rub their entire body in vaseline....It is amazing to watch as the bigger ones scrub their little sisters and grease their bodies....



After bathing we had electricity and so started to watch a film...breaking in the middle to eat food, last night was touwe (made from ground maize) and okra soup , everyone ate with great enthusiasm.

after the film, all were worn out from the day including Aunty Nicky and it was only 8.30pm !! so as is custom we had evening prayers and off to bed.:)

Some were out like a light, others took the opportunity to be doing their homework, all sisters big ones helping little ones it is so lovely to see how they look out for each other in that way without being prompted...

AS you can see it is custom here to put clean clothes on after bathing and then to sleep in them. Getting up in the morning and putting you then put on your uniform for school.

We slept .......until around 4.30 when the cockrels start going and the the church next to us starts ringing its gong at 5am calling people to prayer and so we hear singing etc... and then at 6am its time for our girls to get up and start their own singing and praying for morning devotions :) so an early start...as school starts by 7.45 .... All of the older girls have their jobs to do, looking after little ones, washing plates, sweeping the rooms and compound etc...while I drink my tea :)

Then off to school and a chance for the biggest three to have discipleship with their Aunty....They are so keen and enthusiastic to read the Bible and discuss their faith it is great to help them grow. In the picture below are Elizabeth (left to right) Alherei and Ruth. We pray and then its time for getting in their uniforms and off to school. It is by now 10.30 am but it feels like we have done so much already....the girls have an hour walk to school....no small task in the heat and dust.

So there is a typical night/morning in the village. It is great to spend such quality time with our girls , watching them grow and mature and have such a zest for life in a safe and loving environment.

It really makes me appreciate my shower and toilet everytime i come back to my home and yet i see them with so little so happy that it is very challenging to me ... and to us all

Praise God that He is helping us to make a difference in these children's lives.

Back to school........

These last couple of weeks have been a bit hectic as we have been getting all our children back to school and indeed starting some that have transfered to different centres into school. This is obviously costly and we Praise the Lord that despite the financial crisis He has provided enough for us to put all our children into school this term again.
For those of you who read previously about our new little girl 'Favour' check out these new pictures of her.....we started her in nursery school last week....




























It was an emotional moment as i took her to register her in school, she clung to me and I could imagine what it feels for all mothers to send your child to school !!!
What an awesome priviledge we have in this job...to care for these little ones whom God has given to us...

Girls visit Aunty Nicky

On Friday the girls came to visit me at my house...all 20 of them..It was a great time --a first for them and me as i cooked traditional Nigerian food by myself and they liked it !!! Of course they were fascinated by my toilet and the fact that hot water can come out of a tap , so there was a constant stream in and out of the bathroom and no hot water left by the time they went home...It is fascinating what little everyday objects to us are a source of fascination to so many...we have so much to be thankful for. It was really nice to give them an occassion to dress up for and to treat them with nice things...to make them feel special as they were created to be..

Christmas and New Year Celebrations

As I write this we are beginning a new year... where has this last year gone ? It doesnt seem very long ago that it was last Christmas but then on the other hand sooooo much has happened , so many changes have occurred and we can only Praise God that he sustained us throughout the year and look forward to all that will come this one.

Because of the curfew beginning at 7pm New Year celebrations were curtailed in Jos...so I spent the night in the village with our kids...and it was one of the best New Years i can remember in a while. It was so much fun playing games with our boys and girls and laughing and joking with them, and as we settled down to watch a film I couldn't help thinking how great it was to be able to love on these girls and what an awesome privilege to be in a position of looking after 19 girls. They are all awesome and so enthusiastic, as soon as i arrive in my car i am mobbed by everyone trying to hug me all at once, carrying my bags for me, sitting on my lap (usually 3 at once) and so thankful for everything :)

Life here is very unstable and unpredictable and chalenging, but these precious children are what makes it all worthwhile, and i couldnt think of a better way of welcoming in the new year , than to be in this place at this time, knowing this is where God wants me to be , and doing what he wants me to be doing.

Below are some of the glimpses of this christmas.....

God's timing is always spot on.....

Well I am now back in very hot and sunny Jos having come from thick snow and -10C in Chicago.....quite a contrast. Many of you will know that while i was away riots broke out in Jos as a result of a closely contested election for control of our state. A lot of damage to buildings, people's property and to people was done in just two days before the army took control of the city. We are now in a relative state of uneasy peace under curfew and we pray that nothing starts again.

Being away from here at such a time was very hard as Erin and I sought to find out information about our friends and children. It brought up many questions..Why was I not there? Should I feel guilty that I am not there ? What would the city look like when i got back ? Why had God chosen that particular time to send me to America ? these and many more questions were rattling around in my head....

But...there had been so many confirmations that this was the right time for me to be away , that I knew that he had chosen the timing and so I had to trust that God's plans were best for me , and so he had a reason for me not to be in Jos.

But then came the question ok am i going to go back as planned or am I going to delay ??? A difficult decision to make going into the unknown and a lot of stress deciding....after Erin and I prayed I felt that God was telling me I should come back....Once the decision was made several things happened to confirm this was a good decision, the most miraculous was the return of my hand luggage which had got left behind in an unknown cab all intact, and the fact

that i came all the way back with free bags and they all arrived with me....very miraculous i can tell you.

Once again I have to trust that my Heavenly Father knows the times and dates and he wants me back here. Maybe I will find out one day why I was not here when these awful things happened, but maybe i wont , all I can do is trust him with the future....

Lots to be Thankful for............

This year I am actually in America for Thanksgiving to experience it firsthand ......After the heat of Nigeria it has been great to experience Autumn again and to see all the beautiful colours in the trees here...and to see all the Pumpkins everywhere, and the fallen leaves.
I love it and am so thankful for the chance to be here.




This celebration is a real family time here and it
has been really great to be able to spend time with Erin and her family, and to be so welcomed into their home.







It is a time marked by eating traditional foods like Turkey and sweet potatoes and cornbraed and of course pumpkins......... all together on one plate...very unlike England but interesting....


It is a time to be thankful to count our blessings for all the people in our lives and to look for things to be Thankful for...this started me thinking ....

What am I thankful for....
* My family who love me unconditionally and who are always supportive of me even if they don't understand my decisions, and have to sacrifice not seeing me very often.
*My friends who walk my journey with me and encourage and support me from all across the world.
*The missionaries who I live and work amongst in Jos who daily encourage me
*The "job" I have been chosen to do by God and for the many people who support me financially and prayerfully so that I can do this work.
*A completely different life now to the one I used to live, despite its many challenges and uncertainties.
* I am soooo thankful for all of the children that God has brought into my life , that I have the priviledge to love and care for.
*Ultimately I am most thankful for the Love of my Heavenly Father who has known me from the beginning and Knows everything that happens to me and can be completely trusted with my life.