Having spent about 4 months in Egypt, ministering in Cairo, encountering persecution from the religious "pharisees", the Lord directed us to Nigeria. But we lacked the finances for the trip. People in America beckoned us to come home, but we held firm - either we go to Nigeria or we rot in Egypt. The Lord surprisingly also wanted a very talented Egyptian youth minister to accompany us. The Lord had even showed his wife them getting TWO VISAS! But she balked, and that was his weakness. He was willing to sacrifice, but he could not bear watching his family suffer should conditions in Nigeria be difficult. Sadly, we had to go on without him, even though he knew he was to go to Nigeria with us.
And the Lord opened a door whereby we could get to Nigeria cheaper flying Ethiopian Airlines via Ethiopia first, and so we did. We landed in Lagos' airport with no where to go. But someone in the airport told us about a Bible guest house, and so at least we had a place to sleep! Glory to God. Later, we would meet a pastor who helped arrange accommodations (temporarily) at an Assembly of God guest house.
Early on the Lord began to tell us personally of what was going on in Nigeria - serious issues, or prayer points - from all the violence, to the police corruption, to the promiscuity, to witchcraft in the government, to the NEED for reconciliation. I compiled a list and began to share it with various people and church leaders. It was our "LETTER OF INTRODUCTION" since no one knew us. We literally became messengers for God, urging church leaders to pray about what God obviously wanted targeted. It was positive in that obviously God was ready to move on those issues if the church would but address them in prayer. And since prayer is such a strong suit of the Nigerians, it should have been a relatively simple matter. No one could dispute anything on the list. How could someone so knew to Nigeria know so much about the country? It even addressed the church - specifically, that 40% of the pastors were in it for the money! But after a while, it became obvious that the church was not specifically addressing these issues in prayer. Again, it was time to leave.
While there, we again faced persecution - for taking a homeless lady in to stay with us at our living quarters on church property. After fasting and praying, church people came as a mob to drag her off church property. Later, the daughter of the pastor came to visit us and urged us to flee from her dad unless something worse happen to us! A short time later, indeed, the Lord warned us not to return!
We also encountered disease there. I came down with malaria -an excruciatingly painful disease that takes many lives - over and over in a short span of time. My weight lowered so much. Four months in Egypt, and 11 months in Nigeria, and already we had experienced the wonder, power, and glory of our Lord, as well as the sufferings, trials, and tribulations associated with the Lord's work. We were naive - to mission work and to Africa, but we were beginning to grow up as missionaries.
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