The process has been bittersweet because we like AIM and will miss them. We served with them for nearly 10 years. We also like SIM and have enjoyed working with them in Nigeria for the last three and a half years. We look forward to many great years with SIM.

So why are you changing organizations? In 2009 AIM made a new policy that limited secondments (the process of loaning people from one organization to another) to two years. So that meant we could not be with AIM and work in Nigeria. Therefore we needed to choose between our ministry in Nigeria and AIM. We felt that God had led us to work in Nigeria, and we were enjoying our ministry there, so we decided to join SIM.

We are in the process of sending out a newsletter explaining this and more. If you want a copy you can download it (PDF File) by clicking here. You can also download a copy (JPG file) of our latest prayer card by clicking here. If you want to be on our mailing list you can sign up by clicking on the link on the right side of this blog.

By God’s grace we will return to Nigeria on January 5th, 2012. In the mean time we hope to reconnect with as many of our friends and family as possible. You can contact us by leaving comment below. We would love to hear from you.

]]> http://snyders.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/we-are-now-sim/feed/ 0 Snyder Family http://snyders.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/one-of-my-favorite-projects/ http://snyders.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/one-of-my-favorite-projects/#comments Sun, 08 May 2011 17:16:02 +0000 Richard http://snyders.wordpress.com/?p=287 ]]> Soon after beginning my ministry as director of construction for City Ministries one of my goals was to improve on the kitchen design for the women who work as cooks at City Ministries.

Many Nigerians, and Africans for that matter, cook over open fires in an enclosed room. Most of the time these rooms have little or no ventilation with no means for the smoke to escape. Therefore, these rooms quickly become unbearable death traps, with thick choking smoke and intense heat. A typical westerner (myself included) would only last a few seconds in these rooms and yet these women spend hours every day breathing this smoke. It is little wonder that there are many people here with lung disease. The picture on the right is the old kitchen.

Up until the end of last year there was no money to build a new kitchen. However, a church in northern Ireland, who had some members visit the Gyero CARE Center, gave money for the new building. I had been researching alternative wood burning stoves and was ready and anxious to build the new kitchen. I found a design call “The Rocket Stove” on the internet for a virtually smoke free wood burning stove and adapted it to the conditions and materials found in Nigeria. I had a hard time finding the same building materials but in the end I think we did a great job.

This project was a stretch for my Nigerian masons since it was a totally foreign design for them. There were also many curious onlookers as we built the stove. They had a hard time imaging what we were building or how it would work. However, when we tested it and there was practically no smoke they were amazed.

The picture on the right is of the new stoves. There are 3 stoves, the wood goes in the slots on the floor and the fire is completely enclosed under the pots. The heat from the fire will hit the underside of the pot and travel around the outside of the pot thereby heating the underside and the sides of the pot. This will make for a much more efficient stove which will use much less firewood.

This stove will be a radical change for the cooks, but if they can adjust they will have a virtually smoke free environment that is much cooler and more comfortable to work in.

So far we have only done small-scale tests, but it should go into full-scale operation in the next week or so. I am looking forward to see how it will work and praying that it will be a blessing to cooks. If this works then we will make plans to build similar stoves in our other CARE Centers.

On the way home we were talking to our driver (David) about his life and family. This came up because we asked him where he spent the previous night. He said that he slept in our car in the parking lot of the apartment complex. Even though we gave him enough money to get a bed for the night he chose to sleep in the car so that he could use the money to provide more for his family. He said that he will buy extra food and that his family will be very happy.

David is married and has 6 children. His mother, two brothers and an aunt also live with him in the same house. He is the only one bringing home money and earns less than $150 per month as a driver/shopper/gardener (an average wage for that work). David said that his dad died when he was young so he did not have much growing up and learned to live with little. He said that he now only prays for 3 things; to be used in God’s kingdom, a house for his family, and school fees for his children. He does not need anything else. While I am sure he would like more he is for the most part content.

For me, David is another lesson in contentment. I have so much more than David, and yet many times I am not content. I either want more or something different. I think I am growing in this area and I do not chase after things the way I used to, but I still desire more.

Living in Nigeria can be hard, especially when you miss the comforts of your home country, but instead of wishing and praying for more I need to learn to be content with what God has given me, especially with the blessing I have received through Jesus Christ. God has blessed in many ways. I am thankful that God has reminded me of this, through David, and pray that God will continue to bless David with himself.

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil. 4:10-13 ESV).

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I open my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.

Words: Malt­bie D. Bab­cock, 1901

I love the hymns of old. Many of them speak the truth of the Bible so eloquently. The hymn “This is my Father’s World” is a great reminder that this is God’s world. He is the one who created it, breathed life into it, sustains it, holds it all together, and loves us enough to send his son to die for us, and he is the one responsible for it. Sometimes Christians, maybe missionaries in particular, have the idea, or desire to ‘save the world.’ We think that we are called to ‘right the wrong,’ ‘defeat the enemy,’ and ‘solve all the world’s problems,’ to quote a few clichés. Maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but sometimes we think that way. We somehow think saving the world is our responsibility. What we need to do is let God be responsible for saving his world – he is much better at it and much more capable.

I think this one of the hardest things about the Gospel to accept. The Gospel is not about us doing anything, except accepting his free gift. The Gospel is all about what God does for us; it is the outpouring of his grace and mercy upon us that allows us to be saved. He does it all! We either want to do it or feel like we need to do something. We make it out to be about us when it is all about God.

“This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget. That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.”

There is however plenty of evil in this world and it is easy to despair and feel there is no hope. Working with the children in City Ministries this becomes very obvious. Recently I led a small group Bible study with some of teenage boys. One of our discussions was about how David responded when Saul threw a spear at him. The boys asked how they should respond if someone was trying to kill them. Should they run away or should they come back as David did? I asked them how many of them had their lives threatened, and most raised their hands. This is the reason many of them are at City Ministries they literally ran for their life and were living on the streets until they were brought in by City Ministries.

But, as Christians we know that there is hope, and that God is in control. We know the end of the story; that Jesus will return and there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth. We need to remind ourselves of this every day and not lose hope. I need to remind myself that God is in control and that he is more than capable of handling the situation. “This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?

“The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.”

Let us rejoice and be glad, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, knowing that God is in control, and loves us more than we could ever imagine.

“The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” Habakkuk 2:20 NIV

Richard

This is a picture of the main road near our house. They started widening this road about a year and a half ago beginning about 5 miles from here. Part of that process is to put in a new drain on each side of the road. To do that they hand dig with a pick and shovel a trench about 4 feet wide by 3 feet deep. I suspect that the men who do this are grateful to have a job. I am grateful I do not have their job.

Why don’t they use a back hoe? I don’t know, they could but then that would put several people out of a job.

I am not sure how, but somehow he connected with Joseph and he decided to care for him. He took him into his house, gave him food, bought him a mattress, and found him a place to stay. According to Joseph this family shares a single mattress barely big enough for one person. Joseph told me that one day the man came to him and told him he had not eaten for 2 days, so Joseph went and sold his mobile phone in order to buy food for him. He continues to help him.

This kind of thing is common in African culture – taking care of each other, giving a hand up. I was convicted by this story. I rarely allow my self to be inconvenienced like this. People ask me for money and sometimes I give I help them, but I have never allowed them to move in or even find a place for them to live. I have not sold anything of mine in order to help them out.

In the ultimate example of inconvenience and radical love Jesus left the comforts of heaven to become a man and live with us, suffer, and die. God is calling me (and all of his people) to a life radical love not to a life of convenience. A life where we help those in need, and love our enemies.

We need God to show us what this looks like in our individual lives, but this story is a good reminder of what God is calling me to do and I need to walk in obedience. While I do not have any work for this man I am giving him some food to help him through the next few months. A small inconvenience.

December 2009

Since I am the compound manager I am in charge of paying the guards, they also come to me for salary advances. Today our senior guard came to me with a request that typifies some of the problems for many people in Africa.

This guard had three boys, they are now all full grown and working, but living with their parents (each one has his own room at their parents house). The middle boy got married several years ago, had a baby girl and then divorced sometime later. Well the girl is now ready to go to school. However,is refusing to pay the school fees even though has a job. He only completed 4th grade, because he refused to go to school, and now he does not value education.  He is now working in another state of Nigeria and has left the girl with his parents. The fees are 4700 Nigerian Naira (about $30) for the first term and then 2000 Naira for the second and third terms.

Well the grandparents and other families do value education and cannot bear to not send this girl to school. The girl also wants to school since her two cousins (also living with the grandparents) are going to school. The girl is asking granddad why he is not taking her to school since he is taking her two cousins to school. Therefore, the grandparents and their youngest son discussed this and decided that they would find the money and send this girl to school even if it meant that they have to give some meals, which it might! Therefore, the guard came to ask for a salary advance from me to pay the fees. I gave it to him. He is hoping that by the end of the month he can convince the father of this child to pay the fees. If he is not able then I will help pay for the school fees.\

These kind of stories tear at your heart, and while $30 is not much for us, but most people here are in a similar situation and we cannot help all of them. We need to hear from God to know how to best help.

I am writing this only to give you a glimpse into the lives of the people here and not to make you feel guilty or ask you to send money. The tragic thing about this story is that the father is able, but is not caring for his child. Another demonstration of the corruption of the human heart and for our need of God to change our hearts.

Despite the hardships that many Nigerians endure they are thankful people, grateful for what they have and do not complain. There is a lot we can learn from them.

The people of this community are Muslim. Many Christians in Nigeria believe that Muslims hate Christians. I believe this is a generalization and that not all Muslims hate the Christians. However, work of compassion that City Ministries is able to do among the Muslims serves as a witness to both the Muslims and the Christians. For the Christians it demonstrates that Christians can reach out to their supposed enemy and do good. And for the Muslims it shows that Christians do care about them and it shows them the love of Christ.

We praise God that he has allowed us to serve him and that he is working among these people. Please pray that God would continue to show himself to these people even though they are physically blind.

Below are before and after pictures of the project.

Richard

One of the frequently asked questions is “how is your work.” The answer is always “we thank god” or “with thanks.” I was talking with my Nigerian colleague about this and his explanation was that Africans are very religious and that since the Bible says to give thanks in all circumstances they give thanks to God for their work regardless if they have work or not. He went so far to say that they recognize that God allows all things so they give thanks in all circumstances. He said for example that suppose a reckless driver hit and killed a child. The father of the child might just say that it was God’s will that child should die, nothing could be done so the driver should just go in peace. This seems a bit extreme to me and I have a hard time imagining it happening.

It also seems fatalistic to me. It seems like this world view would say that no matter what happens God allows so why try and improve things. God is in charge, no question, but he also gave us intellect and ability to learn from circumstances and improve upon them.

On another cultural point, one of the compounds came to me with a request for a $2oo loan to build a cement block wall behind his house. It seems that his neighbor is continually asking him and his family to give him basic household items such as buckets and brooms. When the guard said no the neighbor began to call him wicked and selfish. The culture here is very communal with resources being shared and people take this to an extreme. For example it is common for a friend to ask another friend for money and if they have it the friend is obligated to him. This can also happen between complete strangers. This system sometimes works, but most of the time it abused.

Anyway our guard has become quite annoyed with his neighbor so he is building a wall to keep the neighbor out.

I am not trying to judge the Nigerian culture, all cultures have there good points and bad points. It is however interesting to learn and try to understand the Nigerian culture. This is something that we will as long as we live here.