Paroikos

Although no one (at least no one over here in Africa) believes that I am in danger, we have taken certain prudent steps so as not to invite danger. For one, instead of staying in Efa I am now staying at Martin’s house and driving to Efa when I can for meetings with boards and people. Furthermore, I am leaving the area as soon as possible, namely next Tuesday, instead of remaining the rest of next week. The Pastors in Efa insisted that there was absolutely no danger at all, but Martin who has a better idea of what is going on and has talked to a number of policemen and other government officials thought it was a prudent step. Besides all that this will allow my sisters and mother to sleep more soundly at night knowing I am surrounded by high thick walls, in a well guarded community, where no one knows where I am. There is of course always risk, but having done what was prudent we continue in our work knowing the Lord is at hand.

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Sunday, November 8, 2009

This incident I am about to relate, might seem to some proof of how unsafe it is for us in Africa.  In reality the story shows just the opposite, because it makes very evident that the Lord is present and able to deliver whom he will from the very mouth of oppression. It reminds me that we are as safe here as we possibly could be, here or anywhere else.

Last night around 9:00pm a group of three armed bandits came to Pastor E. E. Essien’s house, which is right next to the mission house where I stay when in Efa. Apparently they went there looking for me in order to kidnap me and take me to Port Harcourt for ransom. They asked Pastor Essien, where the American missionary was. Pastor Essien refused to tell them saying only that, “He isn’t here.” They ransacked his house looking for me. When they could not find me after about 2 ½ hours, they stole about $133 from Pastor Essien and his car keys and left. Sometime around 11:30pm I was taking a shower about to go to bed, when I heard people outside the house. Thinking it was probably Immanuel come to ask about something, I called out asking who it was. They answered but I did not understand what they were saying. I grabbed a towel and came out into the living room, where there are windows to that side of the house. Again I asked them what they wanted. They said they had run out of petrol and asked if I had any. I told them I did not, and I was sorry I could not help them. They left and a little later Pastor Essien found his car returned to him and the bandits gone. Although the porch door to the house was shut at the time it was not locked, and even if it had been, one good kick would have opened it anyway.

Thanks be to God!

Other than that quick little incident, everything here is quiet and coming along nicely. This morning I was able to join them for worship here in Efa. What a blessing. My schedule for the next two week is also filling up very quickly, with meetings and church visitations. My time here is so short and there is so much to be done.

Other than the protection. The Lord has certainly given me great blessings on this trip. Last time I came the electrical power was on at the house maybe two hours in the entire two weeks I was here. In the last three days that I have been here it has already been on for probably 24 hours. Including all last night, which means that I was able to sleep with a fan on. This is probably the greatest physical comfort the Lord could provide here in Africa. With even the smallest breeze the climate of Nigeria at this time of year isn’t bad at all. Normally however the air is humid and completely stagnant, which makes it quickly uncomfortable.

Thanks to everyone for all your prayers,
May the hand of the Lord surround you all as He has me,
In Chirst,

Matthew Ude

(This is one post I wrote yesterday, but I do not have it with me at the moment and will have to post it later)

Friday, November 6th

I finally made it to Efa (where our seminary is) to find Pastor E. E. Essien, telling me that they had planned a conference for the  3rd, 4th, and 5th of November, thinking I would be here by then. I arrived the day after. I was indeed supposed to be in Nigeria by the 3rd but as mentioned previously, was delyaed by British Airways. It’s too bad I missed the conference but what are you going to do.

Pastor Essien is as chipper and talkative as always, and his wife is visiting the hospital raguarly for diabetes and hypertension but is otherwise healthy and active. When I arrive she insisted on sweeping my porch for me, when the young man Pastor Essien had called to do it wasn’t doing it the way it “should” be done. I should mention I had every intention of doing it myself but while greeting Pastor Essien the young men snuck in behind my back and were busy working before I had my bags out of the car.

Pastor Udo also sounds healthy and well although I saw him only briefly just before I was about to leave for Uyo to pick up some supplies (where I am now).

Akpan (I think I spelled that correctly) Ekpo, Pastor Essien’s old driver apparently passed away a few months ago. I’m sure he is enjoying his time with the Lord, but I fear the driving in heaven might be a bit too tame for him.

Pastor Essien, Martin Essien, and Pastor Udo send their greetings and love to everyone. Pastor Essien is very excited about the mission calendar I brought for him. I’m sure I will have more news in a few days.

It is very good to be back. Praise the Lord.

-Matthew Ude

Tuesday, November 03, 2009 – 3:13pm

Chicago,  Airport –

I was supposed to leave  yesterday.  My travel agent called me early Monday morning to let me know that somewhere in the middle of phone lines, mail servers, and austere British accents, my ticket lay canceled and unaccounted for. Ed from Pelitravel, always very helpful, tried to get me a seat on the flight that I had been booked on at least six months ago. But no one at British Airways was willing to make the necessary commitments apparently, and so I had one extra day. I’m leaving on Tuesday instead of Monday, and I am currently sitting in the Chicago airport instead of London.

Finally about to leave, I just wanted to say one more quick goodbye and thank you to everyone who over the past three months gave me a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and especially a warm and heartfelt welcome in the name of our only Lord and Savior. Read the rest of this entry »

“Thus you see how David keeps praying in the above-mentioned Psalm, ‘Teach me, Lord, instruct me, lead me, show me,’ and many more words like these. Although he well knew and daily heard and read the text of Moses and other books besides, still he wants to lay hold of the real teacher of the Scriptures himself, so that he may not seize upon them pell-mell with his reason and become his own teacher. For such practice gives rise to factious spirits who allow themselves to nurture the delusion that the Scriptures are subject to them and can be easily grasped with their reason . . .” (Luther’s Works, Volume 34, p. 285) – Taken from Tuesday’s Daily Devotion ( http://www.redeemerclc.info/devotional.html )

I find this an appropriate and much needed rebuke of myself, for how often I have approached a passage saying let me now learn what is here written. I will parse the verbs, and consult many lexicons, and compare other scripture, meanwhile the wisest men of faith speak truthfully, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” – Thus we pray “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”

Due to heavy rains resulting in vast flooding in Andrah Pradesh, India many villages and people including many of our own churches are suffering greatly.

Click here: For more information including how you can help.

Click Here: For more pictures.

After the Mission Helper Trip we stopped in London for a few days, where a couple of us went to visit the British Museum. Here are some shots from that Museum, many of these have Biblical significance.

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And not the late September type, either.

The day started routinely enough. At least routinely enough for a group of American’s in a fairly good hotel in the midst of a relatively normal sized (1,000,000 pop) city in India. We went out to the orphanage where I was teaching on the journeys of Paul, (I made it as far as the stoning of Stephen) and Katie and Dorena played with the kids. Later at night found us sitting in the dark of a remote village as we waited for the villagers to gather so we could begin our VBS program. We had already taught the lessons four or five times and we were starting to feel like we had ironed out all the wrinkles. But there is no place like an Indian village for expecting the unexpected. Read the rest of this entry »

1 Timothy 2:1-6 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

At the very end of “The Ruin of the Roman Empire” by James J. O’Donnell he writes

Old errors are easy to re-enact — as fading empires, bereft of self-awareness, struggle again to use their old power to preserve themselves, and in so doing risk weakening beyond repair; as religious communities mistake their faith for destiny and find pretexts for behaviour that goes beyond even the unconscionable and imaginable. Today, as in the sixth century, a calm sense for the long view, the broad view, and a pragmatic preference for the better rather than the best can have a hard time overcoming the noisy anxiety of those who would transform —- that is, ruin — what they do not understand.

Civilization is a thing of the calm, the patient, the pragmatic, and the wise. We are not assured that it will triumph. Read the rest of this entry »