As they all did, the woman's eyes widen slightly as she sees the observers red hair. She greets the observer and the counselor, hands the two pieces of paper to the counselor and sits down, adjusting slightly the infant who sleeps securely tied to her back. Jane opens the two pieces of paper, glances at them then asks, as she has asked them all, "What will you do if you have HIV?" They talk for awhile about it, about life with HIV, about God's grace then Jane tells her that both she and the baby are positive. For just a moment the woman's face crumbles, then just as fast, strengthens. "You must not think of this as a death sentance" Jane says, "You have an illness, there is no cure yet, but there is medicine that will help you." Jane tells her about what she and the baby must do next, then asks about other children. There are three more children. "They must be brought in and tested," Jane says, "and your husband too." The woman shakes her head. She lives with her mother because her husband left her when she started being sick all the time. They continue to talk, Jane encouraging the woman, helping her to accept that her life has just radically changed, telling her what she must do to give herself and the children the best chance of survival. With a small smile the woman thanks the counselor then leaves, taking the paper that she will give to the lab for the next series of tests that will determine the level of her infection. Only after she leaves does the observer allow her tears to fall.
Thursday was a very difficult day for me as I sat with Jane. This incredible woman - one of several couselors at Faith Alive - works with people as they come over from the lab, holding the results of their "rapid test" in their hands. The results are sealed so that the counselor can talk to the client and do their best to prepare them for the results of the test. Most of the results on that day were negative and Jane talked to them about how to keep from becoming positive. The four that were positive were more difficult, but through it all, Jane stayed encouraging and loving, doing her best to cushion this difficult blow
I have spent most of the week observing in all of the different departments of Faith Alive. In the lab I watched as they administered a "rapid test" to a young woman who was there with her three children. It is a lot like a pregnancy test - one stripe and you are negative, two stripes and you are positive. I prayed as we waited, and gave a sigh of relief when only one strip appeared. I also observed in the pre-natal clinic with Dr. Ogbey, worked in the outpatient clinic with Dr. Peter taking lots of "snappies" of the children and thier mothers. There were too many of the green folders as the people came in to see the doctors. My "snappies" were a big hit in the sewing and knitting clinics, where woman (and some men) learn skills that will allow them to survive and thrive as positives.
I am just astounded at what this hospital does, the number of people they serve, and the knowledge that along with medical help, they dispense hope and a belief in the future. They work in conditions that are challenging - to put it in the best light possible - and yet they manage to gbet done what they need to get done and to see all who come to them.
Now before you think that it has been all work and no play, let me reassure you that I am doing lots of other stuff too. On Tuesday I went with Naiomi to exchange my American dollars for Nira. The exchange rate is about 125 Nira to a American dollar. I wish that my wallet bulged like this all the time. We have gone out for dinner to Afri-One for fajitas and they were great!. Today we went to the market and bought material for clothes. If you think I dress brightly now, just wait until you see the incredible colors of the materials that I bought - and I was conservative in my choices!
Nigeria is a land of music and colors. It seems that there is always somebody singing - sometimes it is from the bar across the street - sometimes it is the church next to the bar and sometimes it is our nieghbor as she washes her clothes outside. The colors and patterns of thier clothing is fantastic.
Although I miss you all more than I can tell you - I am quickly coming to the realization that a piece of my heart will always be here in Nigeria with Dr. Chris and his incredible staff.
Thank you all so much for the e-notes and messages of encouragement that you are sending me. I read and appreciate all of them - even if I can't respond to all of them.
Biana sends her greetings and says thank you for sending to her. For some reason she feels better having somebody to cook for - and I sure am enjoying her cooking. (Even though Baba cooks for us most of the time - when it is just the two of us, Biana cooks). Biana and I are having a great time together.
Dr. Chris told me that a wife with a big butt is a sign of weatlhy man - because he can afford to feed her well. If this is so - then I am worth my weight in gold! Health-wise I am doing great! Not only had my diabetes stabelized, today I have reduced the amount of insulin I need to take. All of the walking around and the lack of junk food is having a great effect on me! I have adjusted to the lack of running water, and the spotty electricity - proof that the human being - even at 53 - can adapt to her surroundings.
Well, enough of my nattering on. I love you and miss you.
Until the Shout!
Valerie
Today was my first full day at the hospital. I am going to spend a couple of days learning the differen departments of the hospital, observing what they do and how they tie in together. Then I will start in the accounting department. One of my first jobs will be to set up the new "peanut butter" venture. They are starting a program that is making peanut butter with vitamin additives. The peanut butter will be used to fight the child malnutrition that is a serious problem - particularly in the villages.
We arrived at work at 8:00 to 250 people already waiting to get in for thier appointments, etc. By 11:00 they had signed in 500 people. I spent the morning working and learning in "records" with shelf after shelf of patient files - the ones that were green files were (HIV) positives and the ones in pink were there for another medical reason. the green files were about 4 to 1 to the pink files. It was a madhouse as they tried to serve all those people! Both waiting rooms were full and people were filling the walkways outside. I thought that most of the children were there with thier parents - but I was told that many of the kids were there because they were positives. It broke my heart. There are five doctors on staff to deal with all those patients. Many of them are "check-up's" on existing paients - but they had 147 new patients today.
After records I came home for lunch (we have both a driver and a cook) then back to Faith Alive to work in the pharmacy. The drug storage space was either bins on the floor or shelves made of wood and cinder blocks. Again I was blown away by he number of people they were serving. They fill 500 prescriptions a day - unfortunately they are so busy they don't really have any time to consult with thier patients. The situation is further complicated because they have to log all of those prescriptions into a journal by hand because they do not have enough computers to be able to computerize the process.
Atg 6:00 I was pulled out of pharmacy and went to help Dr. Chris as he saw his patients. He lets me be very interactive with all of the patients. He saw one patient - a "positive" he had put on HIV drugs awhile back. She had started experiencing weakness in her legs and some other things - so she went to another "doctor" The doctor pushed on her stomach a few times and told her that she hade hepatitis and then on the medical referral wrote cancer of the liver. He then gave her some ineffective drugs and charged her $600 (american). Dr. Chris was livid - because she was hustled - big time and as a widow with a child - she could not afford the loss of that money. The symptoms she had were sideeffects from the HIV drugs. Dr. Chris says that this type of medical fraud is rampant in Nigeria. Then he did a couple of "check-up's" that are gaining weight and thriving with the help of the drugs.& nbsp; One woman has been positive for three years. Without the drugs - she would have died by now. Each of the patients are counselled and prayed with - that was my main job.
There is an attorney on staff at Faith Alive whose job is sort of like a legal aid attorney. He works with widows whose husbands have died from AIDS and the husband's family has kicked her and the children out of the home and taken possession of everything. Traditionally there is not much that she is able to do to stop them but this attorney is starting to have limited success in the courts in getting the possessions back for the wife.
Although Northern Nigeria is predominately Muslim - in Jos it is about 50/50 with Christianity. Up until 5:30 this morning I thought that was pretty cool - but at that time the street preacher next door started preaching over his very loud loudspeaker. He kept shouting that there was a heaven and a hell - there was a heaven and a hell. I briefly considered going out on my balcony and shouting if he didn't shut up I was going to teach him about hell - but at the last second the sane part of my mind prevailed.
The children (adults too) like to touch my hair to see if it is real. They seem to think that I am wearing a wig. I am adapting to only having electricity for a couple of hours a day - and to taking showers by pouring buckets of water over my head.
Well, I have blathered on enough - and yet have only begun to scratch the surface of this life.
Talk to all of you soon!
Valerie
Today was my first full day at the hospital. I am going to spend a couple of days learning the differen departments of the hospital, observing what they do and how they tie in together. Then I will start in the accounting department. One of my first jobs will be to set up the new "peanut butter" venture. They are starting a program that is making peanut butter with vitamin additives. The peanut butter will be used to fight the child malnutrition that is a serious problem - particularly in the villages.
We arrived at work at 8:00 to 250 people already waiting to get in for thier appointments, etc. By 11:00 they had signed in 500 people. I spent the morning working and learning in "records" with shelf after shelf of patient files - the ones that were green files were (HIV) positives and the ones in pink were there for another medical reason. the green files were about 4 to 1 to the pink files. It was a madhouse as they tried to serve all those people! Both waiting rooms were full and people were filling the walkways outside. I thought that most of the children were there with thier parents - but I was told that many of the kids were there because they were positives. It broke my heart. There are five doctors on staff to deal with all those patients. Many of them are "check-up's" on existing paients - but they had 147 new patients today.
After records I came home for lunch (we have both a driver and a cook) then back to Faith Alive to work in the pharmacy. The drug storage space was either bins on the floor or shelves made of wood and cinder blocks. Again I was blown away by he number of people they were serving. They fill 500 prescriptions a day - unfortunately they are so busy they don't really have any time to consult with thier patients. The situation is further complicated because they have to log all of those prescriptions into a journal by hand because they do not have enough computers to be able to computerize the process.
Atg 6:00 I was pulled out of pharmacy and went to help Dr. Chris as he saw his patients. He lets me be very interactive with all of the patients. He saw one patient - a "positive" he had put on HIV drugs awhile back. She had started experiencing weakness in her legs and some other things - so she went to another "doctor" The doctor pushed on her stomach a few times and told her that she hade hepatitis and then on the medical referral wrote cancer of the liver. He then gave her some ineffective drugs and charged her $600 (american). Dr. Chris was livid - because she was hustled - big time and as a widow with a child - she could
This morning when the sun rose - it rose on me in Nigeria! We arrived in Abuja at about 5:00 am - then went to a breakfast meeting at 7:00 am with the president of the Board for the Faith Alive Foundation - USA. After the meeting we drove into Jos.
What I described to you as how Biana described driving in Nigeria did not even scratch the surface of how they drive! I had to close my eyes for most of the drive because I didi not want to further complicate matters by having a massive heart attack!
We cleaned up, ate lunch, took a bit of a nap and are now headed to the clinic. I have made friends with a bunch of kids across the street - something to do with my hair.
It is 8:45 am there - it is 4:45 pm here.
Keep us in prayer - with all the time change and traveling my diabetes is acting up a wee bit. But I am excited to be here - excited to be part of something great!
I miss you all - and will see you in six weeks
Until the Shout!
Valerie
Worship brings all kinds of responses, as I observed in church recently. An elderly woman was standing with eyes closed and hands raised in prayer and praise. The three-year-old standing in the pew in front of her turned around and gave her a high-five!
—Jennifer Smith, Fort Gratiot, Michigan. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom."
Sean Cooney was released from Stanford in time to make the Emmaus Men’s walk! He looked tired, and had lost more weight – but the light of Christ shone bright on his face.
Vicki Benson, who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, is still unable to start chemo due to her blood work. Please pray that she will get well enough to start chemo.
A friend of mine, Charles, is very ill. He is an elderly gentleman, active in the Salvation Army, and a doll collector like my mom.
Kelli Hastings will be seeing a kidney specialist this Saturday – please pray that some medical person can figure out what is going on with Kelli. She is in constant pain.
The Emmaus women’s walk is this weekend. Please keep this life-changing ministry in your prayers.
Jan and Larry Martin are home for awhile. What a joy is was to see them and to hear about what is happening in Thailand this past Tuesday at our life group.
Biana is home! She had her doctor appointment today and as far as I know – all went well. Biana and I take off for Nigeria next Wednesday. Please keep us in prayer. We will be commissioned in both services this Sonday.
The e-Ministry will be fairly quiet for the next several weeks – six of them to be exact – as I am in Nigeria. I am hoping to be able to send out an update once a week on what is going on in Nigeria.
Kim Sanchez, one of our Care Fresno mom/volunteers, underwent surgery last week. She will be missing services for about a month. Neil Baird picked up Ryan and Rachel, her children, and brought them to services. Thank-you, Neil, for standing in the gap.
Matthew Watson will be teaching for the next six months at the Golden Gate Seminary. Please continue to keep Matt, Lisa and Nathan in prayer as they seek God’s long-term plans for their lives.
Judi Wright continues to suffer from numbness as a result of an accident some months back.
We continue to pray for: Remo & Susan Paul, Nola Ambler, Bianca & Stephanie, Tony McDonald, Ellen Burton, Walt Couch, and Michael Ferris.
Pray for our missionaries – Judy, Faye & Miisaw with New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, Bounkham & Khamla in Laos, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Biana in Nigeria, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Don't forget your prayer challenge of two minutes a day praying for unity within the Body and that we all are given opportunities to witness for Christ.
To our great and majestic God be all honor, glory and power!
Lord of Life, we worship in awe before You. We lift our voices in praise; our words echo the song of our hearts; our lives are lived in Your presence, with joy we call ourselves Your children.
We continue to lift Sean Cooney and Vicki Benson before You. We pray for continued strength for both of them and that they will continue on the road to recovery.
Abba, beloved God, sometimes we don’t understand what is going on around us – at these times it is hardest to trust You, and yet, at these times we need to trust You more. You know what is going on with Kelli, You know and guide her path. We don’t understand why her doctors can’t determine the cause of her pain and so we ask you to give her doctors understanding so they can help her.
Holy Spirit, work in the hearts and spirits of the women who are on the Walk this weekend. Open their hearts to the fullness of Your love.
Thank You for the safe return of Biana, Larry and Jan Martin from the mission field. Bless them during the time they are with us and when they return.
Great Healer, our prayers for Charles, Kim and Judi come up before Your throne. We ask that You touch their bodies and restore their health.
Continue to be with those who are on our long-term prayer chain, Spirit of God. Work in each life to Your glory.
Bless our pastors and leaders of our communities of faith. Provide for the needs of the Church. Provide and protect the missionaries who serve You in places around the world.
Help us to share You with the world. Help us to be intentional in our witnessing to others. Give us courage to speak, the words to say, and the desire to see others come to You.
Your grace is more than enough for us. Your grace has given us a new life and a reason to live. Your mercy, grace and love covers us, sustains us and supports us for all of eternity. We love You, LORD.
Inspired by Joe Varian’s First Sermon
Valerie Rae Hanneman
John 4:7-10 (Message) “A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, "Would you give Me a drink of water?" (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.) The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, "How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans.) Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking Me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."
There came a day when I had a face-to-face encounter with our living God. In the shadowless light of His glory I saw myself for who I really was. I tried seeing only the façade that I had built, but it wasn’t the truth and in God’s light there is only the truth. I knew that He saw the truth of me too, He saw the drug addict, the party girl, He saw the times my children suffered because of my drug use, He saw the lies, the viciousness, the coldness to others, He saw me exactly as I was. In shame, I bowed my head before Him.
Jesus and His disciples are passing through the Samaritan village of Sychar on their way to Galilee. They stop and Jesus takes a seat by the well. The disciples continue on into the village to buy food. It was midday and a woman is approaching to draw water from the well. She hasn’t noticed Jesus yet, but He is most certainly aware of her. She is the reason He has come to Sychar. And He intends to rock her world.
Let’s freeze-frame the moment when the woman realizes Jesus is there and take a look at the two people we see. There is a look of puzzlement on her face, a small smile on His. He has everything going for Him. He is a Jewish man, a rabbi, popular with the people and He is God. Eternal power flows through Him. The same cannot be said for the woman. If Jesus has everything going for Him, then this woman has everything going against her. She is a woman in a male-dominated society and to make matters even worse – she is a Samaritan. Samaritans were half-breed mongrels scorned by the pure-blood Jewish people. Second class by her ethnicticity, third-class by her gender – it only gets worse. She is coming to the well at midday and she is by herself. Women generally came to the well in the morning and in the evening to draw their family’s water and trade a little gossip. This woman, however, comes at mid-day, when nobody else is there. It is because she is an outcast from her community.
When Jesus speaks to her, the woman is positively astounded. On their worst day, men did not lower themselves to talk to unknown women, and for a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan woman was even further off the scope of reality. Surely he understood the ramifications of her coming to the well at midday. He, Who has everything going for Him, should have nothing to do with a woman who has everything going against her.
Then the story gets even more interesting. They talk for awhile and then Jesus says, “Go get your husband” The woman hides behind the façade of her half-truth, “I have no husband.” “Actually,” Jesus answered, “The truth is that you have had five husbands, and you are living with a man who is not your husband.” The woman is shocked that Jesus knows the truth about her and immediately starts a debate on whose religion is right. Jesus taught her that it isn’t the religion of God; it is the relationship with God. He knew her but He did not condemn her. Then He makes one of His first declarations that He is Messiah. The woman immediately left her pitcher at the well and went back to the village. It did not matter anymore to her that she had everything going against her, it only mattered that she told everybody about her encounter with God. “Come and see the man who has told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” And then in verse 39 of John 4 – “Many of the Samaritans of that village believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony.”
This woman, who had everything going against her, had a face-to-face encounter with God and it changed her into a woman who had everything going for her. How do I know that she had everything going for her? Because she immediately went into the village that scorned her and said, “Come and see the Man….” And because of her changed life and because of her testimony of what Jesus had done for her many of the Samaritans of that village believed in Him.
In my own face-to-face encounter with God I also had everything going against me. I had accepted Christ as Savior when I was a child, but had purposely turned my back on Him to pursue a life of pain, anger and immorality. When I turned back to Him and stood in the light of His truth I saw the same thing that the Samaritan woman saw. He knew me completely but He did not condemn me. He opened His loving arms and welcomed me back home. Like the Samaritan woman, I, who had nothing, was given everything. Also like the Samaritan woman, I won’t stop telling others about what Jesus has done for me.
Have you had a face-to-face encounter with God? It is nothing to fear. Sure, you will have to face the truth about yourself – but, if you are honest with yourself, you know that truth already. In the light of His truth and glory you will not find condemnation. Only love. He wants you to come home to Him and you will find His arms open wide to accept you.
If you would like to know more about being face to face with God please contact either myself, one of our pastors at (559) Bap-tist – or go to our website at www.fresnofirst.org and go to the tab named “Knowing Jesus.”
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at Valerie@fresnofirst.org
We are told that Christ was killed for us, that His death has washed out our sins, and that by dying He disabled death itself...That is Christianity. That is what has to be believed. -C.S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"
Slowly but surely the e-Ministry is coming back together! It feels like I am starting from scratch in many areas – but particularly in the prayer ministry. If you have sent me a prayer request that is not reflected here please e-mail me again.
Our Kelli continues to face health challenges. Her bladder has quit working and her blood pressure is off the charts (it’s no wonder her blood pressure is acting up – considering the challenges she faces!) Please continue to keep Sandy, Kelli’s roommate, in prayer as she battles her cancer.
Please pray for Sean Cooney. He is a brother from Emmaus who recently underwent a heart transplant. He was doing great – but recently had to go back to Stanford because it appeared that his new heart was being rejected.
An Emmaus sister, Vicki Benson, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She started chemo but had to stop. Her blood work needs to improve before they can start her again.
The Emmaus men’s walk is this weekend. Please keep this life-changing ministry in your prayers.
Eve Dangaran was in services this past Sonday. She looks great! Please continue to keep her and the family in prayer.
Larry Mead was also in services on Sonday. The operation took a physical toll on Larry, but his spirit is just as strong as ever. He is truly an iron man of faith.
Biana will be traveling home next Tuesday to have the kidney stone shunt (?) removed. Then the following Wednesday she and I will take off for Nigeria. People have been asking if there is anything I need before I leave – and there is. I need Polaroid 600 film. A friend has leant me a Polaroid camera so I can take pictures of children with their parents. In a few years the pictures may be all that the children have of their parents.
We continue to pray for: Remo & Susan Paul, Nola Ambler, Bianca & Stephanie, Tony McDonald, Ellen Burton, Walt Couch, and Michael Ferris.
Pray for our missionaries – Judy, Faye & Miisaw with New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, Bounkham & Khamla in Laos, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Biana in Nigeria, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Don't forget your prayer challenge of two minutes a day praying for unity within the Body and that we all are given opportunities to witness for Christ.
Holy God of Israel,
You are so beautiful to us. You are everything that we have been seeking for all of our lives and we are complete in You. To sing our praises to you is our greatest joy. You reign over all of creation, over all of eternity, and You reign in us.
LORD Jesus, we lift up Kelli and Sandy before You and ask that your mercy and healing be upon them. Help the doctors find the proper diagnosis for Kelli and give her the help that she needs.
We pray for Sean, Abba, and ask that You touch him with healing and allow his body to accept this new heart. We praise You, Father, because no matter how Sean’s physical heart is beating, his spiritual heart remains strong.
We call out for Vicki, LORD, and ask that You give her the spiritual and physical strength to face this cancer.
Holy Spirit, there are many people and events that have changed me and brought me closer to You and I thank You for every one of them My Walk to Emmaus weekend had a profound impact on how I follow You. I pray for the men who are taking their walk this weekend, that they will experience You fully.
Comforter, continue to be with Eve and her family as they continue to mourn Ron’s passing.
Abba, we thank You for how You have worked in Larry at this time. Continue to heal him, Father,
We lift up those who are on our prayer chain Jehovah Jirah, and ask that You provide for them.
Triune God, we ask that You fill our pastors with your glory and with Your presence. We pray for the Church Eternal, and for our part of the Church here at FFBC. Help us to remember that we are called to be Your witnesses. Give us the opportunity and the courage to share our faith with those we know.
We pray for Your missionaries scattered throughout the world. Give them a fresh vision to sustain them as they serve You.
Bless our country, LORD of All. Bring her back to You.
Today was a rough day, LORD. Lots of ups and downs – maybe more downs than normal. But as this day closes, I am reminded that it is just the world and has nothing to do with who I am in You or what I have in You. Thank You for my life, and for my joy. We love You, LORD. You are the center of our lives.
There are two freedoms: the false where a man is free to do what he likes; and the true where a man is free to do what he ought.
-Charles Kingsley
Our father's God, to thee,
Author of liberty,
To thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by thy might,
Great God our King.
-The Rev. Samuel Francis Smith