news from nigeria

IKEJA
It was really encouraging to hear from you and to know that my very little work was appreciated.  The desire was borne out of some arguments that came up at that time.  They were so frequent, and I got to know that many people just claimed to be Christians but, even though they read the Bible, they did not know what it really said.  I then felt that since the topic was one of the fundamentals of the Christian faith, more light had to be thrown on it and it had to reach more people.  I completed it at home and gave it to my dad who read it through and was happy that even though I was in isolation I still had time to do a thing like that.  My school is in Ondo State, about three hours away from where I live – Lagos – and since there are no brethren there I have to do things on my own.  I am in my first year reading microbiology and turned 18 last May.  I also have no siblings and so do not have the hope of anyone joining me here.  In school, people think you aren’t a good Christian if you do not go to church on Sundays, but I try as much as possible to let them know that their general beliefs are different from mine, and since we aren’t in agreement we can’t worship together.  Many people are surprised that I read the Bible every day, even though I do not attend church and even quote me as an example to some of my friends, and when it is time to talk about the Bible, those around call on me.  I have been able to make some of my friends see reasons why the Roman Catholic church is out of place, though I have problems with some of my Catholic friends because of that;  those who agree with me on some things disagree with me on others.  I really am used to living a lonely life, but it gets harder by the day because here in school I have no friend who I am close to.  On many occasions I either cry, talk to myself, read the Bible or pray for strength, but the thought that maybe something is wrong somewhere keeps coming back.  Though I know that friends can let you down, I still know that there could be one true friend in a million.  I have Christadelphian pen-pals and one other friend who was like my sister, but she left school after our one-year pre-Degree course; I felt I wasn’t going to survive; though we talk on the  ‘phone, it’s not like the real thing.  Please pray for God to help me pull through academically, morally, spiritually and financially. I really am happy to be a Christadelphian.
Sis. Julie Omotayo

Comment: This is a letter from the heart.  Would some Sisters please encourage her.

ENUGU
We pray that you are all well and holding fast to the things we have received, lest at any time we should let slip. Such is the warning from the apostle and such are our experiences that in the face of continuing hardship, with no end to be seen in sight, some may weaken and fall away. It reminds us that we belong to each other and are responsible for each other.  None of us is as strong in the faith as we may feel we are, and we must help each other along the Kingdom road (Ecc. 4:9-12). The Brother you see here (Bro. Gabriel) has been our choir master since the ‘80s. He was struck by a mad man; the wounds he received have been treated but his two hands are paralysed.  He was referred to have orthopaedic treatment, but our ecclesia alone could not afford the money needed to help him.  We take the opportunity to thank his family who rushed him to hospital, and Enugu ecclesia who contributed a lot at that period. There are 15 Ibo-speaking ecclesias across Nigeria and we can use as many Bible Basics as you can send us.
Bro. Goddy Nwosu