Our last five days have been very eventful. It feels like we have driven across most of northern Nigeria and met half of the population.

Let us begin with our time in Bauchi. It was bound to be a good visit over the weekend when we were offered beer within seconds of our arrival at Fr. Leo’s house.

The purpose for our visit here was to observe and take part in the Youth Formation project set up by Leo and led by local young people, Sharing Education and Learning for Life. The project focuses on a variety of topics in 6 modules that engage young adults with life shaping issues and assists them to make conscious choices on how they will live their lives and shape their communities.

The module that we took part in was on peace building module, which was particularly relevant to the recent violent crisis between Christian and Muslim communities. This experience has given us the inspiration and the encouragement that work like this taking place here in Nigeria, could have a really positive impact in the communities back home in the UK.

The rest of our time in Bauchi was taken up mostly by some much needed leisure time and a chance to see more of the Nigerian countryside. We visited Yankari national park where we had the chance to take a dip in the natural hot springs and venture out on a short safari excursion. Being in the hot springs was an odd experience, relaxing but somehow uncomfortable as children, men and women of all ages seemed to gather near to us and stare even more than usual.

On safari we saw a few animals, including a distant elephant!!! Evenings spent in Bauchi were a bit of a treat as Leo’s house includes the very hidden during the day ‘Brooks Bar’, the only Irish bar in Bauchi state- let’s just say 7am starts weren’t easy.

From Bauchi we went straight to Kuru water a CAFOD supported partner project. Cletus and Shegun accompanied us on an overnight visit deep in the bush. Water supply is a huge problem for many rural Nigerian communities. The struggle to find constant and reliable water supplies all year round is all too common and an issue that has worsened over the past 10 years.

If people are lucky enough to have access to water, the sanitation of it is a troubling issue. This is where the work undertaken by Kuru Water comes in to play. During our time spent with this project we visited four different communities engaging with Kuru water to work together towards solutions for constant and clean safe water supplies. Kuru water has a variety of strategies for communities to put into place depending on their situation and geographical environment. On our visit we saw wells, water catchment tanks, water filtration units and storage tanks collecting water from the surrounding hills.

The stories we heard from the local people describing their struggles before the introduction of these simple water collection points and the impact since, clearly establish how important the work Kuru water has done and continue to do here is. The communities we met were diverse in religion and faith but yet were more unified than anywhere we have seen before.

Talking to Cletus it is clear that his work involves a lot of patience. Each community has to be ready to work together themselves and with Kuru water to be successful. This can be a very long process as Kuru water needs to be sure that each of the communities will take on the responsibility and ownership of the water points before installation.

It is so hard for us to put everything we have learnt and seen with Kuru water into this blog. The work they are they are doing is so important and inspirational. The nature of this trip has involved in us meeting so many people including kings, chiefs, and hundreds and thousands of people of the communities. Not to mention the things we saw and experienced that we hadn’t before during our time in Nigeria.

Do you ever wonder if you are making a difference in God’s kingdom?  I have pondered that many times, and then God reminds me I am doing what He called me to and not to always be looking for end results.

Teaching high school is very tough.  Have I mentioned that a few times already?   There is such an interesting blend of students here.  The different cultures interacting with each other (English, Arab, Korean), the missionary kids, and then some wealthy (and sometimes spoiled) Nigerian kids.  They are the hardest to understand, having been served and having every need met throughout their lives.  Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier and more rewarding to serve the poor who may be more appreciative.

I have had some good interactions and discussions with kids, sometimes as a group, and a few one on one.

In Health class we were discussing mental illnesses.  After a discussion on suicide and a story with questions,  they answered the question  “If you commit suicide you will not go to heaven…agree or disagree.”  Many of the Nigerian teens answered ‘agree’ which surprised me.  After I consulted with our Bible teachers, we had a great discussion on sin, forgiveness, grace, and specifically why Jesus died for us.  It was animated and interesting.  I learned later, the topic moved into their Bible class and continued with their Bible teacher.    It is refreshing to have these kinds of discussions in a school setting.

Another time I was asked by a student  if we are ‘pushing Christianity’ on unwilling people by making all the kids take Bible class, since there are other religions at Hillcrest.  We had a good discussion on evangelism versus education.

Finally, one of my Nigerian students wrote me a note asking me to pray for her since she had been having a rough year and wanted a ‘fresh start’.  It touched me that she asked!

We are now into the topics that Health class is known for…reproduction, pregnancy, STD’s, & HIV/Aids.   I am truly being stretched and challenged!

They just finished their ‘Egg Baby Project’ where they took care of hard boiled eggs for 5 days and had to do various activities with them.  One activity was bringing their egg to the library for story time to listen to “The Emperor’s Egg” (about an emperor penguin) read by the  friendly school librarian, Mr. Payne.

 Jos – cool and comfortable

We have been here now for four days, and we certainly feel at peace and relaxed. Straight away from stepping off the plane we could feel the change in weather in comparison to Lagos. The cool breeze, the hot sun, the lack of sweat, we can’t ask for anything more…but whilst its perfect for us, its obviously cold for people around us, as we pass the locals in any combination of fleece jackets, hats and scarves all in 30 degree heat.

CAFOD’s dedicated partners at work

After settling in to our long term accommodation here in Jos, we headed off for an overnight trip to visit a CAFOD partner working in primary healthcare: Our Lady of the Apostle in Zawan. They run a hospital and several health care outposts, key to the communities around them. On site they also have an orphanage.

On arrival we were shown about the compound of hospital and orphanage. Passing around the hospital we couldn’t help but feel we were intruding upon patients’ privacy and dignity, who were clearly in a lot of pain. The suffering of pain is much more private in the UK.  We found this a very difficult aspect of the visit, but after talking to Sister Ogo we understand that this is very much part of the culture in Nigeria.

Hope for a brighter future

One of the most important things the sisters do here is to take in babies and children who have been abandoned for various reasons. They care for them in the orphanage, often all the way through their education, giving these children a really good start in life. We met one of the newest arrivals in the maternity ward, a young baby girl less than a few months old, who is now certain of a brighter future.

We got to spend an evening meeting the children in the orphanage who were clearly excited to have us there. Instantly we had become glorified climbing frames.

A highlight of our trip was to visit the outpost clinics run by the project. Talking to the staff working at these clinics it is clear to see how vital they are to the thousands of people spread throughout a number of local communities, and how hard they work with such limited resources. The outposts provide maternity care and testing for malaria and typhoid, diseases that are a big problem here. Without these outposts the communities would have a very limited access to any healthcare. Our visits to the outposts were cut short as they sun goes down at 6 and by 7 its pitch black all year round.

Cows’ lungs for dinner!

Our overnight stay at Zawan was certainly an interesting one. The menu consisted of many hearty dishes, or shall we say lungy?!  Lunch was made up of a variety of traditional Nigerian dishes- cows’ lungs in crushed melon seed, Okra soup, resembling slimey gloop and thankfully for us spaghetti in a spicy pepper sauce. Our rooms were comfortable, not only for us but for the ants in Lou’s bed and the lizards in Chris’ roof.  Oh, and not to mention the swarm of bees that tried to pop in with Helen through the night. God Bless Mosquito Nets.

Poftim fratilor votati Basescu , sincer nu stiu ce e in capul celor care l-au votat , chiar nu v-au ajuns 4 ani de mancat cacat , mai suportati mult? Mai ales cand vad ca uni ii iau apararea , uitati-va si voi ce comportament are. Mai vreti 5 ani un om ca asta presedinte? Eu unu nu mai vreau. Se duce tara asta de rapa , din ce in ce mai multi tineri pleaca in strainatate , de ce? de “bine” ce le este acasa. Chiar daca e din 2004 , asta nu e comportament de presedinte!

Explicatia lui Basescu in legatura cu copilul lovit : “Poate m-a injurat”

JOS BASESCU !!!

Päivän kuvan sinulle tarjoaa Nettimuori

Delays are a normal part of Nigerian life and culture…”go slows” (traffic jams getting around in the city, driving in monsoon-like rain (all but impossible!), wading through government processes of any sort at all levels (I am still waiting for my permanent Nigerian driver license, a process started in May!)…the list is ongoing and seemingly endless.

For the past 4+ months the teachers at primary and secondary schools in Plateau State and the lecturers at universities in all of Nigeria have been on strike. The universities are now finally back in session, but the primary and secondary schools are still not all in session. Private Nigerian schools (primary, secondary, and trade/academic colleges) are an option, but even though the cost for those schools are much less than tuition expenses for private schools in the United States, is it still more than many Nigerians can afford. As I have been reading the news, and listened to the growing frustration of parents of younger children in primary and secondary schools, and university students wanting to begin, continue and/or finish their college education, I am also struck by the impact these strikes have had on Nigerian society. Immediate impacts have been felt through the large number of young people without jobs, stuck in the midst of their education, waiting around, and losing hope in their future.

The past few weeks have been filled with all sorts of school-related activities, along with adjusting to life (and less sleep) with our new puppy (Echo), and the change to dry season, and the sneezing, coughing, and runny noses caused by harmattan (the dust that blows in from the Sahara desert 500+ miles away)!

November 9-13 was Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) here at Hillcrest School. One week per semester, the middle/high school chapel meets every day, and the elementary school usually meets three times during the week. Sometimes outside speakers and/or mission teams come and lead for the week, but this semester we did it “in house,” with the HS praise team leading worship every morning, and our school chaplain leading services with the assistance/participation of students and other staff. Thursday was the “high point” of the week, with a focus on sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and opportunity for students and others to commit/recommit their life to Christ and “nail” their cares, concerns, sins onto one of three large crosses constructed specifically for this service. Needless to say, it was intense and emotional. One of the long-time security guards (a Nigerian) approached me later and said that it was one of the best services he had experienced at the school and had obviously had a huge impact numerous students. Please join us as we pray for students to continue to be impacted by the messages of SEW.

November 14 was the bi-annual PTA International Food Fair. The school community comes together for an afternoon of food and entertainment from all the cultures represented within our student body. The possibilities were seemingly endless…Korean, Ethiopian, Indian, North American (US/Canada), European, Lebanese, and of course, Nigerian. The school band and choir performed, and there were impromptu dances from various groups as they brought me selections of music representing their culture to be played on the sound system we set up on the basketball courts.

And this past week has been the dress rehearsal and 3 performances (the last one tonight, Saturday) of the annual play produced, directed and starred in by the senior class. I have been running sound for them this year. I have been helping to upgrade our sound booth and sound/light systems, so we now have 10 wireless mics available for theater productions. It has been a fun challenge since it never seems to go quite the same way twice and we have  to keep up with light, music, sound effects and mic level changes!

And as I am writing this post, I am listening to Christmas music being played over the school PA system for the annual craft fair sponsored by the junior class. Community craftsmen, mission organizations, and the junior class all have tables of all sorts of items for sale. It seems a bit odd to be sitting here in the warm afternoon listening to songs about winter and “folks dressed up like Eskimos”!

It’s hard to believe that we have been here in Nigeria for 10 months already, and that Thanksgiving is approaching this coming Thursday. It is not a holiday here in Nigeria, but is celebrated among the American mission community. We will be gathering with two other missionary families and will be giving thanks for the many ways you continually bless our lives with prayer, encouragement and support.

Deze vraag stellen we, wanneer we de uitnodiging voor de sinterklaasbrunch in het Cultuurcentrum op zondag 6 december vanaf 10u30 mogen geloven. Immers de socialistische mandatarissen wilden graag een vroeg sinterklaasgeschenk en ze kregen, inderdaad, Hilde Claes uit een zak springend gepresenteerd. Of zij zo stout is, dat ze volgens sinterklaas in de zak thuishoort, is kennelijk uit den boze.

De echte familiebrunch bestaat uit een ontbijt, warme dranken en dessertbuffet. Voor 12 euro per persoon krijg je er bovenop nog koffie en twee consumptie. Kinderen kleiner dan 1,20m betalen slechts 1 euro. We weten niet of dit tarief ook telt voor volwassen dwergen?

Kinderen die een oud nog bruikbaar spelletje of speelgoed voor het goed doel meebrengen, krijg van sinterklaas een extra geschenk.

Inschrijven vóór 28 november door de deelnamesom over te schrijven op 335-0571903-37 is nodig om een gereserveerde tafel te krijgen toegewezen.

Een strenge Jos Liebens verkleed als zwarte piet kijkt toe op het goede verloop van de inschrijvingen. Men weze gewaarschuwd.

Semmikép ne igyál alkoholt!
Az emberek kétharmada nem bírja ezt feldolgozni Magyarországon.

Ne dohányozz!
Ezt meg kb. a fele…

Semmilyen drogot ne fogyassz!
Ez, és a felső kettő együtt, főleg a 40 év alatti korosztályokban vált ki éles visszatetszést, nem megértést, sokszor dühödt megvetést.

Táplálkozz egészségesen!
Ebben egy kicsit toleránsabb lett az utóbbi 2 évtizedben a magyar társadalom, de még mindig kevésbé nézik el neked ezt, mintha nem dohányoznál.

Ne utáld a cigányokat!
Pártszimpátiától függetlenül a teljes lakosság 90%-a utálja a cigányságot, a maradékból 7-8% cigány. Várható eredmény: lecigányoznak vagy hülyének fognak nézni.

Ne szavazz a fideszre!
Ezzel a tettünkkel a felnőtt lakosság 70%-ával megyünk szembe.

Ne legyen semmilyen hiteled!
Ha valaminek nem szeretnéd az árát 2-3x kifizetni, szintén kb. 90%-os nem megértést eredményez.

Ne nézz tévét!
Ezek után megfigyelheted, hogy igen erős kommunikációs problémáid támadnak. Történeteket, motivációkat, de kifejezéseket, sőt szavakat sem fogsz egy idő után érteni embertársaid beszélgetéseiből. Ők belőled meg semmit sem!

Minden betegség esetén gyógyíttasd magad, ha lehet előzd meg azt!
Még az orvosok is meg fognak rökönyödni a viselkedéseden, ha beoltatod magad, esetleg minden betegség nélkül beutalót kérsz valamilyen szűrővizsgálatra.

Sportolj!
Ha futó embert látsz, te is keresed azt aki kergeti?
Az emberek 80%-a így tenne.

Ne nézz sportot!
Senki sem fogja megérteni, hogy miért nem nézel olyan versenyeket, ahol vagy nem indul számodra érdekes szereplő, vagy soha nem győzünk, vagy csak a reklám miatt van az egész, vagy semmi másról nem szól, mint a doppingról vagy a korrupcióról.

Ne higgy a szellemekben, túlvilágban, reinkarnációban, jósokban … !
Magyarul ha úgy gondolod, hogy most az egyetlen életedet éled, és csak te éled, tehát te irányítod, akkor mérhetetlenül tudatlannak és pökhendinek fog mindenki tartani.

Ne légy rajta az iWiW-en!
Parasztnak fognak tartani (főleg a parasztok).

Ne szidj senkit!
Ez aztán végképp gyanús lesz! Vigyázz, mert rövid időn belül lekommunistáznak, vagy lezsidóznak! Veszélyes terep, nem is ajánlom senkinek! Néha tessék valami jó távoli akármit szidalmazni, vagy csak együttértően bólogatni.

Ne lázadj!
És ezt ne súlyosbítsd azzal, hogy hozzá teszed azt is, te ismered ezeket e folyamatokat, és megérted, hogy ennek kell történnie! Azonnal agyonvernek! Ezt csak a legkeményebbeknek ajánlom!

További eredményeket érhetünk el sötét bőr, homoszex, idegen anyanyelv, régi mobiltelefon, államtól pénz nem elfogadása, időre megérkezés és távozás, valaki/valami dicsérete, sikeres vállalkozás, boldogság, stb. igénybevételével.

Ha a fentiek legtöbbjét betartjuk, igazi egyéniségekké válunk, akik a világ orra alá dörgölhetik büszke másságukat!

Written on November 1, 2009.  The next few posts were written while I was in Nigeria.

Imagine, if you will, going home from a long day at the office only to find that your electricity is cut off.  You have been having this problem for days and the electric company is saying that they are working on the problem.  Imagine just as you are going to bed the electricity comes on.  Thinking that the problem is fixed you jump in the shower only to have it go off again.  Standing in the shower all soaped up you begin to think about sitting on a beach in the Caribbean because it must be better than here.

That is how most of the missionaries live in Jos, Nigeria.  They don’t have consistent power and there is nothing they can do about it.  Their only recourse is to go buy a generator to give their house some electricity.  But the gas to power the gen (as they call it; my theory is if you have a nickname for something you are probably pretty familiar with it) costs money.  In fact, Nigeria is known as the gen capital of the world.  That is how much they rely on gens in Jos.

I was out at a mission hospital in Jos the other day and the doctor there said that the hospital would be making a profit if it weren’t for the gas expenditure on the gens.  The missionaries and Nigerians have adjusted to the lack of consistent power, but can you imagine the frustration and stress this adds to their life.  I’m frustrated with it and I’ve only been here a few days.

Albastrule,

Am căzut.

Sper doar că ai auzit de căderi treptate în masă și că nu sunt singura entitate destul de deziluzionată ca să le cuprindă atunci cînd le pleacă sufletele de acasă într-un act de rebeliune revoltătoare, aruncînd amintiri în gloanțe peste geam.

Țin în mine toată metamorfoza paranoică a unor secrete dezvăluite interpretatorilor greșiti, și sunt furată de noapte cu greutatea poveștilor nescrise și a zîmbetelor nocive din capătul ieftin și nesigur al silogismelor uzate. Suntem cu toții pe aceeași frecvență hipnotică, dublurile aceluiași circ sinistru și catastrofele unor comunicări nesatisfăcătoare, și, Albastrule, vrem să ne facem auziți și salvați, deși ne-am rătăcit, și toată ceața unui noiembrie plin de vid și criminal ne hrănește cu absurdul sufletului, iar noi îi înhațăm mîna și îi consumăm căldura pe picioarele dezgolite.

Asocierea omului cu un prădător e un mit atunci cînd porți lentile de știutor – suntem jalnici prin definiție, flămînzi pentru cer și apă sărată și prizonieri ai celei dintîi judecăți, care ne spunea că fiecare e unic, deși într-un autobus supraglomerat sunt zeci, Albastrule, zeci de carcase cu chip de om și inimi goale, cu același început și cu o minciună care se coboară să îi sărute pe frunțile transpirate după fiecare asfințit arzînd și să le cînte că, dragă, va fi bine, iar apoi să facă dragoste cu amintirea tremurîndă a unei trăiri inocente. Fiecare dimineață e prima notă a funebrului de după-amiază și a disperării din ultima cafea din programul obsesiv și bolnav, iar noi suntem pictați în esența lui, plutind în neantul așteptării știrii din încheierea euforică a piesei, de la un necunoscut nemotivat, și destul de nebun ca să-și împartă fărîma de magie de la reduceri cu noi, însă nu mai știm că și autorul, sau autoarea, pentru că în durerea afirmării mulți otrăvesc ironia sexismului, a plîns bucuria pe coală pentru un somn liniștit și o încuviițare din cap, fiind o jucărie de metal stricată și rece, din moment ce în lipsa de flacără, caloriferile și inimele mor a opta oară în aceeași iarnă, iarnă a bocetului nostru pe umeri nepăsători și grăbiți, iarnă a caselor bătute de steaua unui zero – zero la mijloc de axă numerică, necunoscut, da, recunosc, dar fără putere și cuvînt.

Zero care poate fi împins.

Zero care nu va cere mai mult decît căldură ca să alunece spre minus unul din cimitir.

Ne-am izbit cu toții înainte de a putea simți țărîna între degete și soarele pe umeri, și acum nu strigăm decît pentru a isca vîntul care ne-ar lua de mijloc cu el spre bine, și nu vom asculta pe nimeni, oh, nu, Albastrule, pentru că zeroul ar cădea ca să fie pozitiv.

Și nu numai.

Punct?

Da, punct. Punct pentru că și tu, și eu, suntem zerouri care ar dezlănțui valuri de abis și furtuni cu praf de vise inedite pentru a crede și a aduce sufletele noastre adolescente în prag de bătrînețe pe colțul unei inimi pline și iubitoare, pentru vederea unui viitor primăvăratic, și cît calc pe glacialitatea gresiei scărilor tale, inspirînd cancer de la vecini și privindu-ți ochiul cel albastru, care se inundă, nu-ți voi promite iar nimic, pentru că încă mai cad, cad sub tine.

Niciodată a ta,

 Eu.

Åh Leo, Charlotte och Magnus knäckte årets roligaste idé förra terminen.

Pappa, du måste titta på den här. Och du måste tycka om den. Nothing more, nothing less.

Mer då? Ska jag bara prata reklam idag?

Nej jag kan berätta lite saker också.

Idag har jag med mig två mackor till lunch, jag har sovit lite i bilen på väg hit, jag är redan lite kissnödig, vilket känns problematiskt eftersom jag fortfarande inte vågat mig in på toaletten och sett standarden där. Jag tänker att det faktiskt kan vara så att det bara är ett hål i marken, och dessutom har jag sandaler på mig vilket kan leda till stora missöden=kiss på fötterna. Och jag har ingen som helst lusta att gå runt och lukta festival idag. Tack men nej tack.

Jag har så himlans mycket kläder på mig idag, jacka, halsduk (nåja, sjal) tights och klänning, men det kan inte hjälpas, det är så fruktansvärt kallt här att jag fryser fingrarna av mig om jag inte klär på mig ordentligt. För att undkomma det kalla har jag kommit på tricket att komma till jobbet lite tidigare. Jag är här 9:30 varje morgon, alla andra är här runt 10. Det sätter mig i en bra position. Jag är det effektiva praktikanten. Den andra praktikanten är sen på morgonen och tidig på kvällen har jag märkt när jag spionerat lite på henne, men det faktum att hon är så fruktansvärt vacker överglänser nog alla hennes fel och brister. Hon är 31 och talar flytande engelska om någon är intresserad. Jag kan posta en bild på henne senare kanske.

Nu ska jag öppna världens bästa festis om ett litet tag. Den ser ut som på bilden nedan.

Igår åt vi himlans sent, det är lite av en tradition här. Att äta sensensent. Runt 22, eller kanske senare. Så nu äter jag sent mamma o pappa, kan ni förstå det? Jag som alltid vill äta så tidigt. Men nu tar jag seden dit jag kommer och äter sent. Igår åt vi grytor (ja, det brukar vara typ två) med bröd till. Alltid bröd. Ni ska veta att ris inte är sånt man äter precis hela tiden och precis varje dag här. Oftast är det bara bröd till. Det passa mig.

Ikväll ska jag träffa Uma och Somesh dotter Sakrikas kompis som jag inte riktigt minns vad hon heter. Vi ska i alla fall ses och hitta på någonting!

Guma de mestecat stă în stomac aproximativ şapte ani, oamenii îşi folosesc doar 10% din creier, mâncatul în timpul nopţii îngrasă, barbatii se gandesc doar la sex…
Toate aceste mituri, şi nu numai, au fost combătute de studiile oamenilor de ştiinţă. Cu toate acestea continuăm să credeam în ele, mai mult decât atât, chiar şi unii medicii le consideră adevărate.

Mitul 1: Oamenii îşi folosesc doar 10% din creier

Oamenii au această convingere de peste 100 de ani, însa studiile au demonstrat ca ea este eronată, potrivit DailyMail. Diferite analize făcute creierului, cu cele mai performante aparate, au demonstrat că nicio zonă din creier nu este “inactivă”.

Mitul 2: O bucată de mâncare scăpată pe jos maxim 5 secunde nu ne poate îmbolnăvi

Microbiologii contrazic această părere. Câteva studii de laborator au scos la iveală faptul că bacteria Salmonella typhimurium contaminează alimentele în cele 5 secunde, provocând diaree şi stări de vomă.

Cât de repede se transmit bacteriile pe mâncare? În 99% din cazuri, bacteriile de pe faianţă s-au transmis în mancare în exact cinci secunde. Transferul bacteriile de pe suprafeţele din lemn este puţin mai lent (până la 68% din bacterii au contaminat mâncarea), iar transferul bacteriile de pe covoare se face şi mai greu (0,5% din bacterii au fost transmise in mâncare, în mai puţin de 5 secunde).

Mitul 3: Părul şi unghiile continuă să crească chiar şi la cadavre

Se pare că aceasta este doar o iluzie optică. Corpurile neînsufleţite se usucă, pielea îşi pierde elasticitatea, iar acest lucru apare mai evident în zona unghiilor şi cu pilozitate. Pentru a creşte, părul şi unghiile au nevoie de un complex de hormoni care “se deuactivează” în momentul în care organismul îşi pierde funcţiile vitale.

Mitul 4: Urina curată demotă un organismul sănătos

Câtă vreme urina este limpede şi are o culoare galben pal, nu avem motive să ne îngrijorăm pentru sănătatea noastră. În schimb, atunci când ea capătă o nuanţă mai închisă, mai mult ca sigur organismul nostru este deshidratat.

Acesta credinţă este pe jumătate falsă. Culoarea urinei depinde de cantitatea de substanţe care se dizolvă în lichid. Astfel, cu cât sunt mai multe substanţe care se dizolvă în urină, aceasta devine mai închisă la culoare.

Mitul 5: Guma se lipeşte de stomac şi rămâne acolo vreme de mai mulţi ani

Chiar dacă este mai greu de digerat, sistemul digestic are armele sale în lupta cu mâncărurile pe care la înghiţim. În ciuda părerii generale, guma de mestecat ajunge în intestine la numai două zile după ce a poposim în stomac. Chiar dacă este lipicioasă, guma nu are nicio şansă în faţa sucurilor gastrice din stomac.

Mitul 6: Niciodată să nu trezeşti somnambulii

Cei mai mulţi se tem să trezească un somnambul de teamă să nu-i provoace un atac de acord sau un şoc puternic care i-ar putea provoca leziuni cerebrale. Este adevărat că dacă trezeşti un somnambul s-ar putea să se sperie, să fie confuz sau ar putea devii violent. În câteva cazuri rare, s-a întâmplat ca unii somnambuli să comită crime. Cea mai bună strategie este să încercaţi să îi ghidaţi spre pat.

Mitul 7: Dacă mâncăm în timpul nopţii riscăm să ne îngrăşăm

Logica acestei sugestii este că dacă mâncăm foarte târziu în noapte, după care mergem la culcare, organismul nu mai are când să ardă caloriile. Sau o altă explicaţie ar fi că metabolismul se “leneveşte” spre sfârşitul zilei.

Însă, cele mai multe studii au arătat că nu ora la care mănânci contează, ci cât de mult. Secretul păstrării siluetei este să nu mâncaţi mai multe calorii decât poate organismul vostru să ardă.

Mitul 8: Vaccinurile ne îmbolnăvesc de gripă

Ideea că dacă faci vaccin te poţi îmbolnăvi de gripă este greşită. Vaccinul se face pe baza unui virus mort care protejează organismul. Virusul mort nu îmbolnăveşte şi nu provoacă infecţii. Se poate ca unele persoane să facă febra sau să se aleagă cu o durere de cap după ce se vaccinează antigripal. Acestea nu sunt simptomele unei gripe, sunt doar efectele vaccinării.

Mitul 9: Bărbaţii se gândesc la sex odată la 7 secunde

Dacă ar fi să dăm crezare acestei idei, un calcul arată că un bărbat care stă treaz 16 ore pe zi, se gândeşte la sex de 8.000 de ori. Ceea ce înseamnă că face acest lucru cam de câte ori respiră, pe zi, în timp ce este treaz.

Un studiu realizat în SUA, a arătat că 54% din barbaţii chestionaţi se gândesc la sex în fiecare zi, iar 43% de câteva ori pe lună. De cealaltă parte, 19% din femeile care au participat la sondaj, au spus că se gândesc la sex în fiecare zi, iar 67% de câteva ori pe lună.

Mitul 10: Gura unui câine conţine mai puţine bacterii decât cea a unui om

Acest mit provine din literatura medicală. Mai multe studii au arătat că muşcătura provocată de un om se infectează mai degrabă decât una provocată de un câine. Cu toate acestea, se pare că oamenii şi câini au aproape acelaşi tip de bacterii în gură.

Sursa: Realitatea.net

Grade 2 Multicultural Day

It’s been awhile since we have posted a blog…it’s been a bit busy for all of us keeping up with school days and activities!

The end of this week was filled with several social and cultural events, along with adjusting to life (and getting less sleep) with our new German Shepherd (we think!) puppy, Echo.

The Elementary school had their yearly Multicultural Day where the kids dressed up in traditional clothing or anything representing their home country.  Cypress dressed as Junie B Jones and Isabell as Dorothy from ‘The Wizard of Oz’. The kids had a “parade of nations” through the chapel, then performed songs and skits for each other. Following the chapel time, there was a performance by Nigerian Tiv dancers accompanied by drums and flute out on the basketball courts. There was also huge potluck lunch for all the kids and parents with foods from all the different represented countries.

We went to a ‘Hallelujah’  party with several other families complete with pumpkin carving, hide & seek for treats, costumes, and an “American” theme potluck, complete w/ grilled hotdogs, baked beans, potato salad, homemade potato chips and some yummy desserts.

We also went to a 2 year old birthday party which was different from any party I have been to before.  The kids were all outside and the adult women were all inside.  The families were Arabic (except me of course) and this was an opportunity to take off their robes and head scarves and get dressed up.   As one woman said, it was a chance ‘to let down their hair a little’.

Another time we were invited to the same home, just our family and theirs.  They are a Muslim family, where the father graduated from Hillcrest, and have had many other family members attend.   I asked why they chose to attend a Christian school and if it was confusing for them at a young age.  He said they are appreciative of the teaching they received about many different religions at Hillcrest.   He talked about the similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity which was very helpful to me since I know little of Islam.  We also talked about Bible history and accuracy.  I felt a bit inadequate with my knowledge, but my short time in Bible Training Center helped.  It was a challenging but fun time of interacting and talking about God.   I admit, I was surprised by the many similarities of our faith, but I was shocked at the lack of assurance they have in their ‘performance’ in life and where they will spend eternity.  Their sins are cancelled out by good works and suffering in this life.  If the seesaw weighs too heavy in the wrong direction, the outcome is severe.  I left feeling sad for this wonderful family, yet God has shown me that we have a connection with them and I am excited to be His witness.   I am now reading ‘The Cross and The Crescent’ by Phil Parshall which has been a great source of understanding of Islam.

Written on October 30, 2009

My two colleagues and I left from our homes in Ghana at 5am to get to the airport.  All of us got up much earlier than that to put the finishing touches on our packing.   I packed pretty light for this trip because I find it easier to pack light and wash than to pack heavy.  Our departing plane  on Virgin Nigeria was on time and we landed in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, about 20 minutes late because of a VIP landing (they closed the airport; it’s a whole other story).

From here everything looked the same but different.  It felt like I had been in Nigeria before because the buildings had a similar look to Ghanaian buildings.  But then some of the architecture was, I guess, strictly Nigerian.  The roads in Abuja were smooth and relaxing like Accra, but there were very little street vendors.

When we arrived at our first destination, Jos (which incidentally got its name from when it was first settled by missionaries and stands for Jesus Our Savior), the streets were congested and looked the same as Ghanaian streets, but they were different because Nigerian police had stands in the center of intersections to direct traffic.  There were many Nigerians zooming by on machines (their word for motorcycles) like Ghana, but Nigerians were bundled up because it was in the high 60’s.  I was and am cold, like the Nigerians.  I guess Ghana has made me weak and thinned my blood.

Africa is strange like that.  Everything is the same, but different.

Last weekend we had the opportunity to spend a few days @ Miango Rest Home (MRH) with other missionary families to start off the Fall Break. On Saturday while the girls enjoyed activities with the other kids based on the “Wild West” theme, Kimberly and I enjoyed hiking out along the NESCO aquaduct again. It was a restful, relaxing, fun weekend, filled with delicious food (including apple pie & ice cream…yum!), games of all sorts, square dancing, line dancing and en evening of western music, “Hee Haw Style!”

I didn’t know what to post for a while, I even asked Antix what to post and he only told me to link to his blog. Thankfully Roeland Bentvelzen and Bas Janssen both e-mailed me about Roeland’s new edits.

Jos Theisens

Roeland comes with two new montages, one of Jos Theisens and one of Sewa Kroetkov. Jos’ montage was filmed at the ‘blauwe hipje’ and his fs 360 and fs heelflip over the hip are reason enough to click the play button.

Sewa Kroetkov

Sewa’s first trick is definitely setting the standards! Ss fs flip wheelie flip out? That’s really impressive! And a nollie inward heel bs tailslide? Damn!

I want to give a heads up to Roeland for making two dope montages (although a little too much slow-motion for me, even Ty Evans would say this is a little excessive) and Roeland let me know the next time you’re in Utrecht!