Arriving in Nigeria...

Arriving in Nigeria is still, and probably always will be, a supremely hectic experience.

We landed in Port Harcourt after dark with seven people and 30 suitcases to process through customs. Nerve-racking, to say the least. Customs officers were asking questions in English – but not a dialect of the English language very easy for southerners to decipher. There were forms to fill out, an officer asking to see proof of our yellow fever vaccinations, porters desperately seeking to carry luggage for a price, and “the man in charge” wanting me to come and sit with him on a bench. (I suspect he wanted a "gift" but I handed him a letter of reference for Right Steps and asked him to allow us to get all of our suitcases of clothes and supplies safely and freely through customs. It felt a bit like I imagine a good hazing would feel.)  But, even navigating this maze of outstretched hands brought amazing blessings from God. One Nigerian lady on our flight from Frankfurt inquired about our purpose for travel, and when she learned of our mission she opened her wallet and gave one of our members $100 for the cause. Two Nigerian engineers returning from a conference in Houston became so interested in our mission and the purpose of Susana Homes that, even with their families waiting for them at the airport, they stayed with us throughout the customs process, paid the necessary bribes from their own pockets, and shepherded us safely through the onslaught of “helpers” to the smiles and waving flags of Chi and her bus load of children waiting just outside the gate.

After a restful night in Port Harcourt to help us adjust to the jet lag and the heat and humidity, we left for Susana Homes around noon on Saturday. Our arrival at Susana Homes was just as glorious as I had remembered. As we turned off the highway and made our way through the village of Umuahala – it actually seemed like things were improved from five years ago. Just after 1 p.m. we turned right onto the new road the government is building – just for Susana Homes – and saw the children in the distance, dressed in their red and white school uniforms and lining both sides of the road. As we got closer we could hear – first the welcoming drum beats, and then the singing and cheering of the children of Susana Homes and the students of Right Steps Christian School.

A Royal Welcome to Susana Homes

There have been so many new additions to the project since I was here in 2008. Additional acreage has been added to the property. A fence surrounds the compound. And, numerous new buildings have been built. But Susana Homes still has the peaceful feel and, as Sarah Oats said, “You feel immediately at home.”

Worship at Susana Homes

Sunday was a busy day. We worshiped with the church at Susana Homes. Steve Watson, minister from the Campus View church in Athens, GA did an outstanding job preaching and several of us assisted with the worship or classes in various ways.

With the Widows Served by SH Church

Brother Friday Adima - Our Friend and "Chief Protocol Officer"

The afternoon brought with it the opportunity to meet with church leaders from eleven different congregations from the region around Susana Homes. Six of these churches have actually been planted or assisted by the church at Susana Homes. Several of them have had ministers serve them who were also supported as teachers or workers at Susana Homes and Right Steps Christian School. We heard reports from all of the churches and tried our best to advise and instruct and support these leaders in their needs and challenges.

Today got to spend the day with Junior High and Senior High students of Right Steps Christian School. We did an overview of the Bible and led them in creative learning experiences so that they are better equipped to go to their home churches and teach Bible classes for the children. Many of these students are boarding students and come from various religious backgrounds – but over forty were baptized during the last year and we wanted them to have some training to make the Bible come to life so that they can go home and teach in their own families and churches.

The highlight of my day, personally, was the privilege of sitting on a cement wall for about 45 minutes with children gathered around – and reading stories to them. I read Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Stellaluna, and The Sneetches, along with a few other famous children’s stories. (I actually found this compilation book of 44 stories at Goodwill for $7, and I’ve gotten my money’s worth already!)

Thank you for reading about our trip and for praying for us. We are all well and enjoying serving. Sondra Alexander spent the day today working with Wanda Spiers (our nurse from Sarnia) at the medical clinic. Alan Moore was our videographer. Steve Watson taught two sessions of an overview of the Bible as a story. Kendra Smith and Sarah Oats and I taught two sessions with the students helping them to think creatively about ways to teach the Bible to children in their home churches.

Scenes from the Beginning of the School Day at Right Steps Christian School

We will try to write more as we can get Internet connection. Till then – because of the cross,

Ken – for the Susana Homes Team.

We Made It!

We arrived in Port Harcourt and were greeted at the airport by a school bus load of beautiful children. We connected with our friend, Wanda, the nurse from Sarnia , Ontario in the Frankfurt airport and had good flights on into Port Harcourt. We made it with 23 checked bags - and seven or eight other carry-on bags. Whew!!!
We spent the night here in Port Harcourt and will head to Susana Homes soon!
We are glad to be here and thankful for your prayers! I will write more when I have the opportunity. God Bless!

Susana Homes, Nigeria - For the Children!

In just a few days (five to be exact) I will leave Atlanta with six others to travel to Susana Homes, an orphanage and Christian school in southeastern Nigeria, directed by Dr. Chi Ekwenye Hendricks. We will spend two weeks at Susana Homes - observing, learning, leading, serving and encouraging Dr. Chi (or Mama Chi as she is known), the children of Susana Homes (about sixty), the children of Right Steps Christian School (about 300), and the women (and men) who attend the annual Ladies Bible Lectureship - March 1 and 2 - (about 3000 this year).

2008 Ladies Bible Lectureship

I was so blessed to travel to Susana Homes in 2008 and it has been my honor to serve on the board of directors for Right Steps, Inc (www.rightsteps.org) for the last four years. As you might imagine, I am looking forward to seeing the children - five years later - and witnessing first-hand the progress of this mission.



You may wonder why I have become so passionate about this work when there are many places in the world that would be easier to get to and easier to embrace. After all, isn't Nigeria the land of e-mail scams, bribes, corruption and violence? Isn't Nigeria the one country in the entire continent of Africa that possesses not one single tourist destination to attract the world to visit? And, isn't Nigeria dangerous - with kidnappings and muggings and ethnic and religious clashes? Yes - all this is true.

So why, you may ask, are you so passionate about Nigeria and Right Steps and Susana Homes?

Here's why - these smiling children!

These children are some of the 160 million Nigerians - the most populous nation on the African continent - who live in a crowded nation the size of Texas.

And, I happen to believe they deserve to have this kind of joy - not just as children - but throughout their lives. I think they deserve to get an education and even go to college. I think they deserve to have reasonably decent healthcare so that when the young girls in this picture grow up and become mothers - one in five of them will not have to die giving birth. I believe they deserve to know that God made them - each one with a unique personality, with talents and abilities, and that he loves each of them so much that he gave his son, Jesus to die on a cross - just for them.  And, I really believe they each deserve the opportunity to become a part of the mission to change Nigeria for good and to offer the peace of Christ to their fellow Nigerians.

Yes, I suppose there are easier, less dangerous places to get involved. And I'm sure there are countries where it is much more convenient to offer relief and to do good. I wish success to every effort around the world which seeks to provide hope and relief and a better life to children - wherever those missions exist. But, I am passionate about these kids and their future.



So, I have a question for you. Will you pray for us and for these children over the next few weeks? We'll be six hours ahead of you (Eastern) so - if you will - say a prayer for us if you are up at midnight - when we'll just be rising. And, say a prayer for us at 4 pm each afternoon - when we are headed to bed. Pray that we'll be safe, that we will be a blessing - accomplishing what God desires for each day, and that we will learn from these children what it will take to help them grow just like Jesus.