30 Days of Thankfulness

On Facebook, many people have posted something they were thankful for each day this month.  I took the time on the first day to think through my whole list ahead of time.  I have way too much time in the evenings to stare at the walls.  I do believe; however, this exercise was good for me because it did get me thinking about what was the most important to me.

30 Days of Thankfulness

#1 Jesus Christ my Savior
#2 My Mom and Dad who are still married and in their mid 80's
#3 My husband who puts up with my adventurous spirit and lack of domestic ability

#4 My most precious treasures, my gifts from God: Cyndi and Tim

#5 Knowing God has used me to benefit someone’s life

#6 Siblings who stay in your life after you all leave home (even with different religious and political beliefs)

#7 My best friend, Bunny, who has always faithfully prayed for me throughout my soap opera life. 

#8 Friends who span the world and all parts of my life who genuinely care

#9 Finally having a career not just a job.  I love teaching children.

#10 Finally finishing my college degree just 2 months before my oldest child graduated from high school and then getting my masters 4 months before she finished college.  I guess you could call me a late bloomer but at least I finally bloomed.

#11 An opportunity to serve my country in the armed forces.  Enlisting in the Idaho Army National Guard was one of the best things I have ever done.  It wasn’t easy at 32 with two small children and a husband.  It was a goal of mine I should have done at 18.  I was inspired by an amazing mother in my parent’s church and my father and two brother’s service.  I only served 6 months before I got hurt and was discharged but I have never regretted it.

#12 Having health insurance and no life threatening health concerns.

#13 Finally being a homeowner.  We bought our home in 2009.  It feels good to have roots planted.

#14 A chance to travel and learn about other cultures

#15 A community garden on my own property where I can get my hands dirty all summer long

#16 for the courage to care for my dying brother when it hurt so bad to see him suffer   

#17 Clean water, safe food to eat and a secure shelter to live in

#18 My safety living in a Third World country where there is Muslim and Christian tensions.  We have a driver and an armed guard both at our home and school compounds.

#19 The freedoms and rights I have by being a U.S. citizen

#20 A soft place to lay my head at night after a long day

#21 Friends to go walking and talking with

#22 Those times when you just have to say, “It was a God thing.”  It just couldn’t have happened for any other reason

#23 My daughter got her college degree in Ministry Missions and is using her skills to help others

#24 My son is in college and finally taking some art classes.  I have always known he was an artist.

#25 The Internet, so I can stay in contact with my family and friends and still get to live an adventurous lifestyle

#26 Shopping at my favorite second-hand stores in Oregon when I am home

#27 Watching chick flicks with my daughter when we can

#28 My favorite TV shows which are downloadable so I can even watch them on the other side of the Earth.  We can only watch about one a night because of the cost to download but it is so fun.  For that time period I can forget how far away I am.

#29 My favorite food “chocolate ice cream with nuts”

#30 The unconditional love and attention from my cat, Jack who remembers me when I come home for the summer.  He follows me from room to room and always has something to say to me.  He even knows my voice when I talk to him on Skype video calls.

Praise Week Activities

          This week our school had a Praise Week to thank God for all he has done for us and to share what we have with others who are less fortunate.  The teenagers gave testimonies to the younger students, we had a food drive, a Christian movie night, a Bible quiz, a praise and worship service, a church service and two trips to visit children's centers here in Calabar.

          As my Thanksgiving Day came to a close yours was just getting started.  We had a normal school day.  In class, I broke down in tears reading, "When the Relatives Came".  It reminded me of the family gathering I was missing.  But the most amazing thing happened.  After school, the teachers and teenagers visited  The Destiny’s Child Center.  It was established in 2009 by the same lady who founded our school, her Excellency, the Governor’s wife.  The Center is for the abandoned children which had been living on the streets of Calabar. 

The Destiny Child kids sang to us.

This is where they were cooking the rice and chicken.

          Our students sang with their students, "We are the World."  I realized at that moment just how incredible it was, to be in that place, at that time.  It was a once in a lifetime experience.  I am so glad I was here in Nigeria on Thanksgiving to experience it.  They also sang to us and one of the students told us a story.  A volleyball and soccer game was started which included both sets of students and the adults who were there.  We brought sodas and they fed us IndoMie rice and chicken.  

The goat was only a week old.

          Within the compound there were several goats and chickens running loose.  I held a week old baby goat.  I wanted to hold one of the chicks but the hen was staying very close to them.  We did not get to tour inside the buildings but they looked well kept and the children all looked happy.  I tried to talk to some of them but they were really shy.  I wondered if they spoke the Native tribal language and did not understand everything I was saying.  The principal pointed out one of the girls. He said she had attended our school in the past, but was expelled for bad behavior.  He did not elaborate but I wondered if her family had abandoned her.  The youngest children I saw were probably 8 years old.  Most were middle school and high school age.  The Center is teaching them a trade so they will be able to make a living when they are graduated from the program.

The donated food during Praise Week.

          Saturday morning, we went to the Infant Jesus Orphanage Home.  It is operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Calabar.  We brought food from our food drive to present to them.  We were allowed to walk through the buildings.  All the children were in one room which looked like a living room/classroom.  The bedrooms were filled with cribs and a few single beds and bunk beds but most of the children looked too big for the beds.  We were told the children sleep two to a bed and the oldest students have to sleep on the floor. The bathroom had a strong odor and had no privacy doors. 

One of three bedrooms

I finally gained her confidence and she let me hold her.

Little Miss Shy - She had two left flip-flops on

          After the presentation and formal pictures together we were just standing there staring at the children.  It was so awkward and I felt so stupid just standing there.  I asked if it was okay if we play with the children and requested a ball.  I must have been inspired because I have never played football (soccer) in my life but I started a game and played with them until others joined in.  I tried to talk to the younger children but all I could get was their name.  I finally gained the confidence of one girl and she let me pick her up.  Another one after that came and sat down beside me and put her arm around mine and held my hand.  It was really special.  I realized we should have brought toys and books.

          I am going to try and get a book drive going and bring some books for them when it gets close to Dr. Seuss’ birthday in March.  Maybe I will even wear my Cat in the Hat costume.  We will see what the Lord has in store.  These two trips were such amazing experiences.  The best I have had so far here in Nigeria.  If I came here for no other reason than to visit these two places it would be satisfying enough.  Clint is working on a project to gather money to help support the Orphanage.  I am going to attempt to persuade some of the teachers to go with me to read and listen to readers on a monthly basis.  We had to have armed guards because of the location of both Centers so I do not know how all this will all work out.  It will cost money for the guard and the driver.  If it is in God’s plans it will happen.  I will just have to have faith.  I do believe God has me here for a reason and this feels right.

It was so special spending time with the kids at the orphanage.

Palm Oil Production Tour

          I got these pictures from the first grade teacher.  She went on this tour the same day as the trade school tour.  Opportunities like these come up at a moment's notice sometimes and so without pre-planning it is hard to bring others along.  She told me about each picture and I did some reading on the Internet and found out more about the palm oil industry in Nigeria.
          Palm oil was first exported from this area in the early 19th Century.  Great Britain used much of the oil for candle making and as an industry lubricant so their colonies in West Africa set-up factories for processing it.  The tour guide said the factory pictured below is 200 years old.  It became too expensive to maintain so it was abandoned and the jungle has since taken it over. 

The palm oil industry was once the biggest export for Nigeria.  Due to corruption in the industry the whole production has nearly come to a standstill and sadly now Nigeria actually imports palm oil from Asia.  Local production has gone back to the primitive methods for only local use.

The road out to the farm which produces the palm oil and groundnuts.

The trail from the road.

The oil palm produce bright red palm fruits.  These fruits are normally the size of a plum.  Oil can be extracted both from the pulp of the fruit and the kernel inside. 

Equipment for extracting the oil from the pulp.

Piles of leftover dry pulp.

Further Refinement

Kernels from inside the palm fruit.

Shelled palm kernels.

Cleaning and refining the kernels.

Another refinement process.

Piles of product in various stages of production.

Palm oil is a common ingredient in Nigerian dishes.  It is used in cosmetics and medicines as well as
processed foods, chocolate, non-dairy creamers, and ice cream, and it is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin E, and HDL, or “good” cholesterol.



http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/home/1273788/palm_oil_the_hidden_ingredient_causing_an_ecological_disaster.html